Damned by Logic by Jeffrey Ashford Page B

there?’
    â€˜I didn’t like to rush things, sir. Shall I have a word with her now?’
    â€˜Find Draper and tell her to go along.’
    â€˜As I’ve already talked to her, wouldn’t it be better if I went?’ DC Trent said, an annoyed expression on his face.
    â€˜She’ll probably bounce less when talking to another woman.’
    â€˜Do you know where Draper is?’
    â€˜You failed to hear me detail her to question the inhabitants of the other houses along Bracken Lane?’
    â€˜I meant, where precisely is she now?’
    â€˜Unable to foresee the unforeseeable, I can’t answer. Perhaps you might think it reasonable to question the occupants of houses in the road.’
    He left number thirty-four and walked to the end of the road, turned into the house on his right-hand side.
    An elderly man opened the door. ‘Yes?’
    Trent introduced himself. ‘Hello, sir. I’m afraid I have some bad news. Unfortunately—’
    He was interrupted. ‘There’s a police car at number thirty-four.’
    â€˜Just what I was about to explain to you, sir. Sadly, Mrs Ansell has died from—’
    â€˜Not even half my age!’
    â€˜Has Constable Draper already spoken to you?’
    â€˜Len was here earlier and told me about the police car. But he didn’t know what they was doing. I said, something’s happened, mark my words. Likely some young hooligan broke in. Happens all the time and you blokes don’t seem to bother ...’
    Trent moved along one house further down the street. The woman who answered his question said a policewoman – not that she looked like one – had talked to her not long ago. As he entered the front garden of the next house – one of the few not turned into a parking space – Belinda came out through the front doorway.
    â€˜Thank God I’ve finally caught up with you,’ he said, trying not to show his irritation.
    â€˜Content yourself with coincidence, not divine intervention,’ Draper replied with a smile.
    Trent had projected a relationship with her soon after she joined the CID, even while he had wondered why he was contemplating it. She was reasonably attractive, but no more, and had a sharpish character, that he found made him feel uncomfortable some of the time. He had been surprised when she had quelled his interest and, being unused to failure, had considered the possibility that she was a lesbian. Only gradually, after his rejection, had he understood why he’d been attracted to her in the first place. She enjoyed life as it was presented, not as she would wish it to be. On top of that, she had a quick sense of humour, honoured loyalty, possessed the mettle to accept without rancour or resentment the snide comments from colleagues and return them with interest, and she would condemn or console where another might lack the wish or the mental force to do so.
    He brought his thoughts back to the present. ‘The guv’nor said to find you. I’ve been trying to discover where you’d got to.’
    â€˜What’s the panic?’
    â€˜Barbara Morley rang number thirty-four. Thought I was Mrs Ansell’s hobby, said she’d been trying to get through on the phone and was I enjoying the same fun and games as her husband had been. The guv’nor wants you to chat to her and find out what’s the story. He seems to think you’ll likely learn more than I would.’
    â€˜Knows you’d have trouble keeping your mind on line,’ she said with a knowing smile.
    â€˜Some women are complimented by admiration,’ Trent replied, trying to sound suitably nonchalant.
    â€˜If they can distinguish that from expectation. Where does she live?’
    â€˜Number ten, Elmers Road. That’s the next one along.’ He pointed in the direction of the street.
    They parted. Belinda ignored her car and walked up to the T-junction, turned into Elmers Road.