‘And the housewife, Trish Osborne. .’
‘Madame Nipple,’ murmured Quentin.
Charles ignored this. ‘Where did they go to, Chita?’
‘Well, they
‘But we’ve talked to Rose on the Grill Counter,’ Sydnee picked up the story, ‘who’s got about the beadiest eyes in the business, and she’s certain they didn’t go in there.’
‘Ah. Well, there’s two who might be worth investigating. But you’re sure the others stayed put?’
‘I was with them all the time,’ Chita confirmed.
‘Right,’ said Charles. ‘On to the celebrities.’
Quentin let out a languorous sigh. ‘Well, now, what can I tell you? We too were all cosy in our little Conference Room with lavish supplies of W.E.T. booze and W.E.T. sandwiches. There was a bit of toing and froing to dressing rooms. .’
‘Can you be more specific about this toing and froing?’
‘Well. . Fiona Wakeford “toed” into her dressing room at about six-fifteen, and Nick Jeffries “toed” into it at about six-sixteen. And she “froed” him out at about six-seventeen.’ Quentin giggled at his little joke. ‘Then she stayed in her dressing room until seven putting her hair in the Carmen rollers.’
‘Are you sure about that?’
‘Pozz. One of my friends is a dresser, and she called him in to help her just after Nick left. For protection, too, I think.’
‘Nick?’
Quentin nodded. ‘He’d been chatting her up quite shamelessly all afternoon. I think when he went into her dressing room and actually put his hand on something, even dear Fiona realised he was after a bit. So she. . “froed” him out.’ He repeated the joke, maybe hoping for more reaction the second time. He didn’t get it.
‘So, although Fiona’s out of the running, Nick was on the loose from six-twenty-two until. . when?’
‘Only about six-thirty, I’m afraid. He was back up in the Conference Room by then, downing a large Scotch to soothe his wounded ego. He certainly wasn’t in the studio area for the vital twenty minutes.’
‘Sure?’
‘Pozz.’
‘What about the other two panellists?’
‘Well now. .’ Another dramatic sigh was emitted. ‘Joanie went down to Make-up at about ten-past six.’
‘With her husband?’
‘Oh yes, the faithful Roger was in tow.’
‘Did he go into Make-up with her?’
‘Apparently not. Perhaps even he thought that would have been taking devotion too far.’
‘So he was on the loose down near the studios. Perhaps he should go on the list. .’
‘Uh-uh.’ Quentin shook his head. ‘Sorry, like Nick, they were back up in the Conference Room by half- past.’
‘Ah. So that rules both out.’
‘’Fraid so. I had my beady little eyes on the pair of them for every second of the vital twenty minutes. Not a sight I relished, I must confess,’ Quentin admitted with slight petulance. ‘I can only take so much connubial bliss, you know.’
‘What about Bob Garston?’
‘Now he is much more interesting. Or, at least, his movements are much less well-documented. He was out of the Conference Room from about five-past six until twenty to seven. And no sightings, I’m afraid. Except that he was seen going down in the lift towards the basement, where the studios are. So he should certainly go on your little list.’
‘Right. Three names, then. Three who had the opportunity.’ Charles mused. ‘Of course, we’ve limited it enormously. We’ve only dealt with the ones directly concerned with the show. I mean, there are so many people around a television studio. It could have been any of them. Even someone working on a different programme. .’
‘Like Chippy was. .’ said Chita.
But Sydnee wasn’t going to let them get depressed by logistics. ‘We’ve got to start somewhere,’ she pronounced. ‘Now, next thing we ought to think about motives.’
‘I’ll tell you who had the biggest motive,’ said Quentin. ‘Those two Americans. You know, the one who kept talking about “making a pot” and his tall, quiet friend. They were convinced that Barrett was ruining their precious show.’
‘Did they have the opportunity?’
Quentin shook his head wistfully. ‘Sorry, Charles. They spent the whole of the meal-break bending John Mantle’s ear in the bar. Lots of witnesses for that.’
‘What about the other three then, the ones on the list? How’re we doing for motive there?’
Sydnee took over. ‘Well, no one liked Barrett much. We know that. But who disliked him enough to murder him?. . that’s a different question. What does drive someone to murder? Presumably it varies from person to person. I mean, Barrett really humiliated Trish.’
‘You mean that business about her. . her blouse?’
‘Yes. He reduced her to tears in front of everyone. And she didn’t seem to me to be the sort who cries easily.’
‘A lot of women would take that pretty hard. Whether hard enough to commit murder. . I don’t know.’
‘Won’t dismiss it out of hand. What about the other contestant?’
‘Tim Dyer’s different. He was just totally obsessed by winning. And I mean
‘About what?’
‘About the car. What he describes as
‘I’m not surprised. But do you reckon he had any motive against Barrett?’
‘He was certainly extremely angry when Barrett paired him with Fiona Wakeford for Round One. He didn’t reckon she would be much help to him.’
‘One can see his point,’ Quentin murmured.
‘But whether you’d murder someone for that. .’
Charles shrugged. ‘As you say, he was obsessed. Depends on the depth of his obsession, I suppose. What about Bob Garston?’
‘I don’t think he
‘Oh?’
‘Bob was considered for the job.’
‘Hosting the show?’
‘Yes.’
‘And he knew that?’
‘’Fraid so. He shouldn’t have done, but he did. Casting Director was a little indiscreet with his agent when checking availability.’
‘And would he have wanted it?’
‘I think so.’
‘Course he would, Sydnee,’ said Quentin. ‘Just the sort of break he needs. Lose the “reporter” tag. Become a “personality”. A future of infinite chat-shows. He’d love it.’
‘And, of course, he may yet get it,’ said Chita.
‘How do you mean?’
‘There’s a reasonable chance he’ll be booked as host on the second pilot.’
‘Is there going to be a second pilot?’
