‘I’m trying to find Mavis O’Loughlin,’ she said.
‘Address?’
‘No one there. Looks unoccupied to me.’
‘What’s the plan?’
‘Ask Bridget, see if she can come up with something.’
‘I’ll do that,’ Larry said.
Bridget spent another twenty minutes before she came up with some additional leads. Larry planned to meet Wendy and to go from there.
Wendy had tried the house in Belgravia with no success. Bridget found another possibility in Primrose Hill, three miles to the north. Wendy agreed to meet Larry at the address.
The location did not look promising on their arrival. It appeared to be empty, although it was a well-maintained freestanding property. To Larry, it looked very expensive. Wendy knocked at the door, Larry walked round to the back. As he approached the back door, it opened abruptly. An elderly woman appeared; she was elegantly dressed. Larry judged her to be in her eighties.
‘You can tell that bitch sister of mine that she’s getting none of it.’
‘Detective Inspector Larry Hill. We are looking for a Mavis O’Loughlin.’
‘What’s the police got to do with this?’
‘We’re not from your sister.’
‘Why are you here?’
‘We need to ask you a few questions about the property you jointly owned in Bellevue Street, Holland Park.’
‘She’s not getting any more money. I’ve given her enough already.’
‘Your relationship with your sister is not our primary concern. Do you think we could come in?’
‘The woman at the front banging on the door?’
‘Constable Wendy Gladstone.’
‘Very well. I will let her in. You can come in the back door. Remember to wipe your feet.’
Wendy could only reflect on the difference between Gertrude’s mansion and Mavis’s house. The property was exquisite, with everything in the right place. Wendy, who appreciated a clean house but rarely achieved it, was astonished at the cleanliness.
‘Can we confirm your name as Mavis O’Loughlin?’ Wendy asked.
‘I reverted to my maiden name, Mavis Richardson.’
‘Would it be appropriate to ask why?’ Larry asked.
‘Not really, but I’ll tell you anyway.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I caught the bastard cheating on me. Both of them naked in my bed.’
‘What did you do?’
‘I kicked them out and then threw his clothes out of the window.’
‘How long ago?’ Wendy asked.
‘Over forty years.’
‘Have you seen your husband since then?’
‘Not once. Vanished off the face of the earth.’
‘Does it concern you?’
‘Not really. He always had a roving eye.’
‘And the woman?’
‘Who do you think it was?’ She looked at Wendy.
‘Your sister.’
‘Who else? Back then she was a terrible tart. She could not find a man for herself, so she took everyone else’s.’
‘That was a long time ago. Have there been other men in your life since then?’ Larry asked.
‘Plenty, but I’ve seen no need for a piece of paper and a name change. A few have moved in here, but none have stayed for long.’
‘And now?’ Wendy asked.
‘I’m eighty-five, what use would a man be to me now?’
‘Companionship.’ Larry ventured a comment.
‘If I were lonely, which I am not, I’d get a dog. Anyway, you did not come here to talk about my love life. What do you want?’
‘A body has been discovered at Bellevue Street.’
‘Number 54?’
‘It was found in a boarded-up fireplace.’
‘I’ve not seen the house for over forty years, ever since that night.’
‘Which night?’ Wendy asked.
‘The night I caught the two of them screwing in my bed.’
‘It is a long time to bear a grudge against your sister,’ Wendy said.
‘I forgave her within a week. It’s her who can’t forgive.’
‘Forgive what?’
‘She was in love with him, and he upped and disappeared.’
‘Why did he disappear?’
‘No money.’
‘This house is yours?’
‘As well as Bellevue Street and the mansion in Richmond.’
‘We were led to believe that the house in Bellevue Street was jointly owned,’ Wendy said.
‘Legally, not financially.’
‘Could you please explain?’ Larry asked.
‘It’s simple. I was careful with my money and my men; she was not. Is this integral to your investigation, the Richardson family history?’
‘The body appears to have been placed in the fireplace in early 1987.’
‘I moved out in ’76.’
‘You owned it in 1987.’
‘That’s true, but it would have been empty.’
‘Could you please elaborate on the financial arrangement with your sister?’ Larry asked.
‘The properties, all of them, were joint ownership. Given to us by our father on his deathbed. Gertrude became involved with a few unsavoury men, who fleeced her while professing love. I bailed her out; the family lawyer kept a record. In the end, she ended up with nothing but a place to live and God knows how many cats.’
‘You let her stay there?’ Wendy asked.
‘That was the last deal. I would provide a roof over Gertrude’s head in return for no more demands.’
‘And she agreed?’
‘She had no alternative. I believe I have given you enough of my time. I’ve got a social event to attend.’
Wendy and Larry realised there were more questions to ask, but they would have to wait for another time. Besides, their DCI wanted them back at the office.
Chapter 4
Isaac saw the validity of an end of day briefing and an update on activities concluded so far, activities planned for the next day. He knew that once the investigation into the body in the fireplace became more intense, it would become a luxury.
Wendy and Larry were back in the office, as was Bridget, who was enjoying her newly elevated position.
‘I’ll update on what we know so far,’ Isaac said. Larry sat with a coffee in his hand.
‘DCI, is it a confirmed
