‘You realise why we’re meeting today?’ he asked. He had finished his meal; she had barely started.
‘I suppose it’s to do with my predecessor’s death. I’m not sure how I can help. I never met her.’
‘Is there anything you can tell me about her? Any reason why someone would want her dead?’
‘Apart from her lousy administration skills? I wouldn’t have thought that was a reason for murder, although if she had been around, I would have felt like throttling her.’
‘No good at her job?’ Isaac asked. He had ordered a second glass of orange juice. He was in no hurry to leave.
‘Virtually incompetent, but she wasn’t employed for her office skills, was she?’ Isaac thought it was a refreshingly open statement.
‘What do you know of her relationship with Richard Williams?’
‘Apart from him being the boss, and her the employee?’
‘Yes.’
‘He was sleeping with her.’
‘Yes, I know.’
‘He has a history of relationships with his staff,’ she said.
‘I am aware that Sally Jenkins enjoyed the good life he provided.’ Isaac looked for a response. He could see none.
‘Are you trying diplomatically to ask whether I was sleeping with him?’
‘It may be relevant to the investigation.’
‘The answer to your question is yes.’
‘Thank you for your honesty.’
‘He’s used me as an alibi, hasn’t he?’
‘Do you corroborate his statement?’
‘He was with me all night.’
Isaac felt the need to probe. ‘Sally Jenkins was obviously with Williams for her own personal reasons.’
‘And you want to know if my reasons are the same?’
‘It may be relevant.’
‘I’m not sure how. For the record, Sally Jenkins was incompetent, attractive, and easily swayed by a rich man with a fancy car.’
‘Are you?’
‘Not at all. For one thing, I’m competent; the car and the wealth are not important.’
‘Then why?’
‘He’s a charming man, treats me well. Neither of us is under any illusion. It’s purely fun for a while. I’ll leave soon enough. Does that satisfy?’
Isaac chose not to comment. He had a casual relationship with Sophie, and it suited both of them fine. It was not for him to form an opinion on Linda Harris or Richard Williams.
The relationship between Jess O’Neill and Williams had concerned him a lot, but he had discounted it, given her the benefit of the doubt. He realised as he sat across from a beautiful woman that he had not seen Jess for a while. Their last meeting had left both of them more than a little upset.
‘Sally Jenkins was murdered for a reason,’ Isaac said.
‘Are you concerned that I may be targeted as well?’ She seemed unconcerned.
‘If, as we believe, she died for something she knew or overheard, then the situation remains that you may know or have heard something.’
‘I’m not sure what. You believe that Richard may know something?’
‘It seems a logical conclusion. We are assuming Charles Sutherland died because he was going to talk to the magazine about what he knew.’
‘And you believe Sally Jenkins knew as well.’
‘It’s possible.’
‘Either she was involved with Sutherland or she heard something. Is that what you are saying?’
‘We’ve discounted any involvement with Sutherland. The only information she could have would have come from Richard Williams. There seems to be no other explanation.’
‘I certainly haven’t heard anything in the office, although I’m not an eavesdropper. Apparently, she was.’
‘If you haven’t heard anything at work, maybe you have elsewhere.’
‘How?’
‘Does he talk in his sleep?’
‘He doesn’t sleep much.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘Not because of me. It’s the man’s metabolism. He sleeps for three or four hours, and then he’s prowling about, making a cup of tea, snacking from the fridge, writing emails. Mildly annoying. I need eight hours at least, or I’m cranky the next day.’
‘In his limited sleep time, does he talk?’ Isaac returned to the original question.
‘Sometimes, but I take little notice. I’m a heavy sleeper, take a sleeping pill occasionally. Do you think Sally heard something?’
‘It’s a possibility.’
‘If someone thinks I heard something as well?’
‘You need to take care, maybe distance yourself a little from him.’
‘That’s not an issue. I’m not sleeping with Richard anymore. It was only a short-term fling for both of us. He likes his women a little more common than me, and I do not need a man attempting to prove his virility. I’ve more pride than that.’
‘You’ll continue to work with him?’
‘I said I would until I’ve fixed up the administration, or until he finds a Sally Jenkins replacement.’
Isaac felt satisfied with her responses, not certain about her safety, but there was an unknown assailant, and the police could not protect everyone in potential danger. And if the murders were professional, would the police even be capable of waylaying a determined assassin?
Chapter 26
Wendy, frustrated with the slow progress on checking the security videos at Paddington Station, decided to leave early and return the next day, but not before calling in at Challis Street. She needed to check if there had been any success at finding the missing woman from the video she had obtained in Worcester.
Bridget Halloran greeted Wendy as she entered the office on the lower floor of the building. She was a good-looking woman, with a strong Irish accent. She and Wendy had hit it off when Bridget first arrived in the building a few years earlier. Both had a story to tell and an easy-going sense of humour. Wendy enjoyed being out in the field, Bridget preferred the office, even the reports that needed preparing. She had helped Wendy a few times with her spelling, which was atrocious. It can be rectified, Bridget had assured her, but Wendy never took her advice, and as long as Bridget remained in the building, she never would.
Wendy was almost fifteen
