do mean every option, including this one.”
Caroline opened the envelope and slid several glossy photographs of Lara towards the inspector who looked at each one in turn.
“What a waste,” commented Massey, admiring the naked beauty of the female form in seductive poses, as opposed to the lifeless corpse which he had examined during John Nuttall's post mortem.
“The address of the studio is stamped on the back of each photo,” said Caroline. “They are proof of the lengths to which Lara was prepared to go in her quest for recognition. It is an aspect of her life that you may not have uncovered. I think it's important that you should be aware of my niece's complex character. Even I, as a liberal minded person, consider these pics to reflect the more disreputable aspects of modelling. Hopefully, it may open up other avenues of your investigation.”
“I take it that your sister is unaware of the photos.”
“As I said, Lara was closer to me and confided details of her life which would have created even deeper resentment from her mother.” Caroline returned the photographs to the envelope. “Do you want to take them with you?”
Massey shook his head. “No, you keep hold of them. I would be wary of having them in my safekeeping. One whiff of the contents and they would be touted around headquarters and I'm sure that the media would not be far behind, creating an uncontrollable feeding frenzy.”
The inspector was aware that he would find it difficult to conceal their existence. “Let's keep this information solely between us for the time being. I'll pay a visit to the studio that produced them. If anything transpires from that line of enquiry and they become requisite to the investigation, I'll be in touch.”
“You're welcome any time, Inspector.” Caroline smiled, warming to Massey's sensitivity. “Another beer?”
“Thank you, but I need to move on. I'm grateful for your candid remarks about Lara and your sister. You've helped me considerably to understand aspects of your niece's life which may never have been accessed.”
“Oh, there was one other thing that Lara said to me which may be of interest to you.”
Massey stopped short of the doorway. “And…?”
“She told me that she would be seeing someone over the Easter period, whilst her mum was here and Andy was in Spain. Just now, during our conversation at the bar, I thought that maybe she was referring to the clinic and her abortion, but now I'm not so sure.”
“Why not?”
“She said that she would have some exciting news for me after the holidays. I felt that she was really looking forward to some life-changing event. An abortion doesn't really strike me as the sort of circumstance that would stimulate my niece to that extent. Maybe she had met someone else, after all.”
“She was certainly an intriguing young lady,” said the inspector. He shook Caroline's hand and bade her farewell.
Minutes later, Massey sat in his car outside the Beacon looking down at the slip of paper on which he had written the details of the studio used by Lara. However, in addition to Caroline's parting comments, something was bothering him. What else had he noticed? He was unable to pinpoint it and dismissed it from his mind…for the moment. He glanced at his watch and decided to return to the heart of Cheshire via Stockport Road where he could call in at Kam-AO Film and Photographic Studios at Sharston House.
Why would she choose that particular studio, so far from her hometown? Why would she pose naked when, according to her aunt, her modelling portfolio was superb? The photos were professionally produced, a service which must have cost a considerable amount of money. How did Lara fund the sessions? These and other questions were in his mind as he headed towards the motorway. Maybe someone at the studio had the answers.
*****
Charles Howard's housekeeper answered the door to find Turner accompanied by Roker standing before her.
“Oh, it's you
Caroline opened the envelope and slid several glossy photographs of Lara towards the inspector who looked at each one in turn.
“What a waste,” commented Massey, admiring the naked beauty of the female form in seductive poses, as opposed to the lifeless corpse which he had examined during John Nuttall's post mortem.
“The address of the studio is stamped on the back of each photo,” said Caroline. “They are proof of the lengths to which Lara was prepared to go in her quest for recognition. It is an aspect of her life that you may not have uncovered. I think it's important that you should be aware of my niece's complex character. Even I, as a liberal minded person, consider these pics to reflect the more disreputable aspects of modelling. Hopefully, it may open up other avenues of your investigation.”
“I take it that your sister is unaware of the photos.”
“As I said, Lara was closer to me and confided details of her life which would have created even deeper resentment from her mother.” Caroline returned the photographs to the envelope. “Do you want to take them with you?”
Massey shook his head. “No, you keep hold of them. I would be wary of having them in my safekeeping. One whiff of the contents and they would be touted around headquarters and I'm sure that the media would not be far behind, creating an uncontrollable feeding frenzy.”
The inspector was aware that he would find it difficult to conceal their existence. “Let's keep this information solely between us for the time being. I'll pay a visit to the studio that produced them. If anything transpires from that line of enquiry and they become requisite to the investigation, I'll be in touch.”
“You're welcome any time, Inspector.” Caroline smiled, warming to Massey's sensitivity. “Another beer?”
“Thank you, but I need to move on. I'm grateful for your candid remarks about Lara and your sister. You've helped me considerably to understand aspects of your niece's life which may never have been accessed.”
“Oh, there was one other thing that Lara said to me which may be of interest to you.”
Massey stopped short of the doorway. “And…?”
“She told me that she would be seeing someone over the Easter period, whilst her mum was here and Andy was in Spain. Just now, during our conversation at the bar, I thought that maybe she was referring to the clinic and her abortion, but now I'm not so sure.”
“Why not?”
“She said that she would have some exciting news for me after the holidays. I felt that she was really looking forward to some life-changing event. An abortion doesn't really strike me as the sort of circumstance that would stimulate my niece to that extent. Maybe she had met someone else, after all.”
“She was certainly an intriguing young lady,” said the inspector. He shook Caroline's hand and bade her farewell.
Minutes later, Massey sat in his car outside the Beacon looking down at the slip of paper on which he had written the details of the studio used by Lara. However, in addition to Caroline's parting comments, something was bothering him. What else had he noticed? He was unable to pinpoint it and dismissed it from his mind…for the moment. He glanced at his watch and decided to return to the heart of Cheshire via Stockport Road where he could call in at Kam-AO Film and Photographic Studios at Sharston House.
Why would she choose that particular studio, so far from her hometown? Why would she pose naked when, according to her aunt, her modelling portfolio was superb? The photos were professionally produced, a service which must have cost a considerable amount of money. How did Lara fund the sessions? These and other questions were in his mind as he headed towards the motorway. Maybe someone at the studio had the answers.
*****
Charles Howard's housekeeper answered the door to find Turner accompanied by Roker standing before her.
“Oh, it's you
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