‘The parties at the mansion?’
‘Harmless fun for those who partook.’
‘You included?’
‘Why not? I was young, and there were always plenty of women.’
‘You stated before that you ensured that Gertrude had no visible wealth.’ Isaac returned to Grenfell’s earlier statement.
‘It was clear that Gertrude would give her half of the fortune away eventually. Each time that she came to her sister for money, we would take some more and put it into a trust account.’
‘And this money?’
‘It’s all there. The records are meticulous. Gertrude and eventually Garry were still wealthy.’
‘If Garry had lived, he would have inherited money?’
‘Yes.’
‘Enough money to kill for?’
‘I suppose so. The money was not the issue then as Gertrude still had plenty.’
‘If Gertrude had so much money, then why did she live so poorly? Why did her sister allow it?’
‘But she didn’t. That was Gertrude’s choice. She was always eccentric. The crazy old woman with the cats suited her. I had offered to fix up the mansion for her, even take the cats to the vet for check-ups, but she wouldn’t have any of it.’
‘Who owns the mansion?’
‘Gertrude and Mavis own it jointly.’
‘But Mavis said she did, and Gertrude believed it did not belong to her,’ Isaac said.
‘That may be, but there was an incident some years ago when Gertrude wanted her half-share to help out Michael Solomon.’
‘And you didn’t give him the money?’
‘There was already money in the trust fund. We used that and kept the mansion. Believe me, there was never any attempt to cheat Gertrude. It was all done out of love to protect her.’
Isaac realised that Montague Grenfell had explained the situation satisfactorily. It all sounded plausible to him, but it would need to be checked out.
‘Due to the seriousness of the matter, would you be willing to allow the trust fund records to be examined?’ Isaac asked.
‘Yes.’
Isaac intended to pass them over initially to Bridget. His instinct told him that Grenfell had acted honourably. He was still not sure about Mavis Richardson.
Chapter 10
Wendy met Mary Solomon at a restaurant close to where the woman lived.
‘My daughter is looking after her children,’ the woman said. Wendy noticed that she looked a lot better away from the oppressive house in Fulham.
‘Mrs Solomon, I have a few questions,’ Wendy said.
‘Call me Mary. Besides, I am not sure if I am legally Mrs Solomon.’ Wendy chose not to comment.
‘Are you aware of a child from his previous marriage?’ Wendy asked.
‘He mentioned that there was a son.’
‘Did you have any suspicions that your husband may not have been divorced?’
‘None. It was never mentioned when we applied for a marriage licence. I always assumed it was legitimate.’
‘And the previous wife, what did you know about her?’
‘He never spoke about her. I don’t even know her name.’
‘She died last week,’ Wendy said.
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Does the name Solly Michaels mean anything to you?’
The reaction on Mary Solomon’s face indicated that it did.
‘I met a person by that name, a long time ago. He was friendly with my husband.’
‘Do you remember the year?’
‘Not really. He would have been about my age.’
‘What age would you have been?’
‘In my early thirties.’
‘Did you meet him many times?’ Wendy asked.
‘Only a couple of times. I assumed it was to do with my husband’s business. Why did you ask about Solly Michaels?’ Mary Solomon asked.
‘Subject to confirmation, it was his son.’
Mary Solomon sat back on the chair, visibly shrunken. ‘What else did my husband not tell me?’ she asked.
‘Unfortunately, we need to find out,’ Wendy said.
‘My eldest son is always in trouble with the police. Was Michael’s first son?’
‘It appears so.’
‘It must be genetic. Michael’s first son, and our son and daughter.’
‘Your daughter?’
‘A bad drug habit. She tells me she’s working up in the city, but I know the truth.’
Wendy could see that the woman had been dealt a bad hand, and that life had not treated her well.
‘Tell me more about your daughter,’ Wendy said.
‘I followed her once. She’s working in a club up there, selling herself to feed her habit.’
‘Does she know that you know?’
‘I confronted her. She told me to mind my own business. Then she lands her mongrel spawn on me to babysit. They are only children, but I can see it already. Michael’s genes have infected another generation. They’ll grow up same as the mother and the grandfather.’
‘What about the father of the children?’ Wendy asked.
‘Some mongrel or mongrels she sold herself to, no doubt. One of the children looks half-Chinese.’
‘Your son’s child?’
‘The mother walked out on Daniel after he had hit her once too often. I am the child’s mother now, although he looks fine. Maybe with this one it will be my genes and its mother.’
‘Good woman, was she?’
‘Lovely, but Daniel doesn’t know how to treat women. His father did.’
‘Solly Michaels, is there any more you can tell me about him?’ Wendy asked.
So far, they had not ordered any food. Wendy rectified the situation and ordered for them both. The woman sitting opposite appeared glad to be taking a break from the drudgery of her domestic situation. Wendy was thankful that her children were fine and adult and not causing trouble. Even her husband had treated her well until his dementia kicked in.
‘Michael’s son by this other woman, what happened to him?’ Mary Solomon asked.
‘He’s dead.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. He was a nice-looking man. Now I think about it, he did bear a resemblance to Michael. I must have been stupid not to notice, although he always
