That’s when the penny dropped.
After the play had finished, I told Jack and Kathy that they should go home without me.
“Why?” Kathy said. “What are you going to do?”
“There’s something I need to do here.”
“Like what?”
“It has to do with work. I can’t explain now. Jack, I’ll see you later.”
Before they could ask any more awkward questions, I hurried around the back of the building to the stage door. I didn’t have long to wait before the leading man appeared, now minus his false beard and moustache. Moments later, just as I’d expected, the leading lady came out of the door and walked in the same direction. I followed her at a discreet distance until a few minutes later, she climbed into the passenger seat of a red Volvo. The driver, the leading man, leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips.
“Good evening, Mr Smart.” I knocked on the driver’s side window.
Clearly shocked, he lowered the window. “Who are you? What do you want?”
“Don’t you remember me?”
He studied my face for a moment, and then I saw the recognition dawn in his eyes. “You’re that fire prevention woman, aren’t you?”
“That’s me, but I don’t work for the fire service. I’m actually a private investigator.”
“Did my wife hire you to follow me?”
“Luckily for you, no. I was hired by a gentleman who lives on the other side of the park from you.”
“Why? What does he want from me? And why did you come to my house?”
“My client was looking through his binoculars recently when he saw someone being shot in the master bedroom of your house. If you recall, the police came to ask you about it, and you told them you didn’t know anything about it. But that’s not true, is it?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“It’s time to drop the pretence. The woman he saw in your bedroom was the lady by your side now. Your leading lady.”
“Alright, I admit it, but we were just practising our parts. No one was hurt.”
“That’s as maybe, but I’d bet my last penny that Mrs Smart doesn’t know about it.”
“Are you going to tell her?”
“That all depends.”
“On what?”
“My client has been made to feel very stupid. The police dismissed his claims as the rantings of a senile old man. So, here’s the deal. If you don’t want me to tell your wife about your lady friend, I’ll need both of you to pay a visit to my client. You’re going to tell him that he wasn’t mistaken in what he thought he saw. You can explain that you were rehearsing for the play.”
“What if he tells my wife?”
“He won’t. Provided you’re totally honest with him, you have nothing to fear. But rest assured, I’ll be checking in with him, and if you haven’t told him the truth within the next twenty-four hours, I definitely will go to your wife.”
I didn’t wait for their response, but I was confident that they’d do as I’d asked.
Chapter 21
The next morning, the three of us were at the breakfast table. Buddy, meanwhile, was in the corner of the room, sitting next to his empty bowl, looking daggers at me.
“Mummy.” Florence had milk dripping from the corner of her mouth.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“But you and Daddy do it.”
“Your daddy might, but I’m sure I don’t.”
“Yes, you do, Mummy. When you were talking to me yesterday, I could see the spaghetti you were eating.”
“Yes, well, anyway, what were you going to say?”
“Could I have a bead kit like Wendy’s? Then I’ll be able to make bracelets for me and my friends.”
“If you’re a good girl, we’ll see.”
“I’m a good girl now.”
“I know you are, but you have to be a good girl all the time.”
“I am a good girl all the time.”
“I know.”
“So, when can I have a bead kit?”
“We’ll have a look for one in town the next time we’re there.”
“When are we going to town again?”
I turned to Jack. “Feel free to help me out here.”
“Nah, you’re doing just fine.” He grinned.
“When, Mummy?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, yay! Is it alright if I go out and play with Buddy now?”
“Yes, but I’d better give him some food first or I don’t think he’ll be very eager to run after the ball.”
I glanced over at the dog who mouthed, “You’ve got that right.”
For a little one, that dog could certainly put away his grub. Within just a couple of minutes, the bowl had been licked clean.
“Come on, Buddy,” Florence shouted to him.
“Yes. Go on, Buddy.” I nudged him gently with my foot.
“I bet you’re glad you went to see that play now, aren’t you?” Jack said.
“It was truly awful, but yes because otherwise poor old Rusty would never have learned the truth.”
“Do you think they’ll go over to his house and admit to him that he did in fact see what he thought he had?”
“I’m absolutely sure they will. It’s a choice between that or having his wife find out about his affair. I’m confident Mr Smart would rather face Rusty.”
By the time I’d finished my cornflakes, Jack was still only halfway through his bowl of muesli.
“Why do you force yourself to eat that stuff every morning?” I said. “You clearly don’t enjoy it.”
“Rubbish. I love it.” He put a huge spoonful of the mush in his mouth, just to prove his point.
“I’d better be going. I promised Elizabeth Judge that I’d call in at Tweaking Manor to check on her sister.”
