‘My detective inspector and constable have met them both.’
‘Gertrude can be acerbic.’
‘Have you known them long?’
‘Since my childhood, although they are a few years older than me.’
‘Where did you meet them?’
‘I’m sure you’re aware of my family history.’
‘Second son of a lord.’
‘Burke’s Peerage could tell you that. What else?’
‘That’s as far as we went. So far, we have a body with no identity, and the only people with any link to that period are the two sisters. There’s no reason to believe they’re involved, but there is a possibility that people close to them could be.’
‘My family is extremely wealthy, obscenely so. The wealth resides with my eldest brother, the lord. I’m financially secure due to a bequethment from my father in his will, but compared to my brother, it is a mere pittance.’
‘Your meeting with the sisters?’ Isaac repeated his earlier question.
‘They were regular guests at the family’s stately home.’
‘Any reason?’
‘They are cousins of mine, distant cousins.’
‘Are they independently wealthy?’
‘They both were, but now Mavis has all the money.’
‘That was explained by Mavis. Gertrude denies that she has a sister.’
‘Bad blood, goes back a long way.’
‘Do you know the reason?’ Isaac asked.
‘Gertrude made some bad decisions. Mavis, always the smarter, helped her out.’
‘We are aware that Gertrude signed over the properties.’
‘I ensured it was legal.’
‘And that’s left Gertrude living in abject misery?’ Isaac asked.
‘Abject misery in a mansion in Richmond. I do not think so. Regardless of what Gertrude may have said, that is not the truth. There’s enough money for her to live well, but she chooses the life.’
‘So, why doesn’t she accept the money?’
‘You’d better ask her. I’ve offered it to her enough times, so has her sister.’
‘According to both women, they have not communicated for a long time.’
‘I believe I’ve said enough on this matter. As you have said, there is no connection between the women and the body at this time.’
‘Can I clarify if the women have communicated in recent times?’
‘I suggest that you talk to them further.’
Isaac prepared to leave. ‘Just one more question, totally unrelated. How do you manage the stairs up to here?’
‘With difficulty. It doesn’t help only having one leg.’
‘I didn’t realise.’
‘Motorcycle accident in my youth.’
As Isaac exited the building, his phone rang. ‘I have some updates from Forensics,’ Gordon Windsor said.
‘When can we meet to discuss?’
‘Your office, sixty minutes.’
***
Isaac hurried back to the office, pushed the car harder than he should have, broke the speed limit a couple of times, but the news from Gordon Windsor sounded important. Upon arrival, he found Windsor comfortably seated with a smug look on his face. Wendy was with him, having just arrived backed from Gertrude Richardson’s place in Richmond. Larry was out with the other sister, Mavis.
‘What do you have?’ Isaac asked.
‘Forensics have been able to analyse some of the clothing, even read a tag on a shirt.’
‘The significance?’ Isaac asked.
‘Made to order.’
‘Wendy, a job for you.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Anything else?’ Isaac asked.
‘It appears that the trousers were also made to measure, but so far they’ve not found a tag. They’re conducting an analysis of the fabric, may come up with something.’
‘How about the body?’ Isaac asked.
‘They’re still conducting tests, but asphyxiation is looking the stronger of the two means of death, although the trauma to the skull is significant.’
‘Regardless of how the man died, we still need a name.’
‘I’ll get on to it straight away,’ Wendy said.
‘Any luck with the elder sister?’ Isaac asked her.
‘Apart from admitting that she had been married, not a lot. She was more agreeable, seemed to appreciate the company this time. The place is a mess, should be condemned.’
‘According to her lawyer, there’s no reason for her to live like that,’ Isaac said.
‘Then why does she?’
‘Senile?’ Gordon Windsor asked.
‘Not from what I can see,’ Wendy said.
‘We need to find out more about her and this mysterious husband,’ Isaac said. ‘How’s Bridget progressing?’
‘There are two husbands to find, Gertrude’s and Mavis’s, although both will be in their nineties now.’
‘Possibly dead.’
‘It’s possible.’
‘We need to know what happened to them anyway, but first we need to identify the body. Wendy, you and Larry better make that your priority.’
‘As soon as Bridget gives us an address, we’ll go and visit the tailor.’
***
‘Did you know about your sister’s marriage?’ Larry asked Mavis Richardson. His entrance into the elegant house, this time through the front door.
‘It was a long time ago. Michael Solomon has not been seen for years, same as my husband,’ Mavis Richardson replied.
Larry, this time asked to sit in a more comfortable chair than on his previous visit, could only reflect that the woman still had an eye for a man, especially a younger man. The woman was older than his mother, and he was happily married, two young children, another on the way. He knew all about Isaac and his legendary reputation for seducing beautiful women. He felt no need to emulate him and especially not with someone so old, even though still remarkably attractive. Larry assumed her look came courtesy of a healthy bank balance, expensive cosmetics, and a plastic surgeon. All of which may be interesting, but there was a more important issue to consider – the unidentified body.
‘Tell me about Gertrude’s husband.’
‘Attractive, well-spoken, lovable rogue.’
‘Did you like him?’
‘All the women liked him, that was the problem.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘He’d screw anything in a skirt.’
‘And?’ Larry asked, not sure of the response.
‘Yes, I’m included.’
‘What did your sister say?’
‘She never knew. Mind you, she screwed mine, so I suppose it’s all fair in love and war.’
Larry, who had
