Death of a Hussy by MC Beaton Page B

Alison. ‘How did he know? I mean, how did he know that Maggie had left me her money? And how did Steel Ironside know?’
    ‘Maybe she told them.’
    ‘She simply wrote to them all inviting them,’ said Alison, ‘and then she told them on the first night that whoever married her would get her money and that she had a weak heart.’
    ‘But she didn’t tell them she had left it to you?’
    ‘Not that I know of. She may have said it in her letters. She told me that when she decided on one of them, she would change her will and cut me out. Maybe they overheard that. It’s very easy to hear things in this house. Oh, Hamish, only yesterday she apologized for being so rude to me and she said she wouldn’t cut me out of her will. Everyone will think I did it. But it can’t be murder.’
    ‘Maybe it isn’t. Go on about Mr Witherington.’
    ‘I don’t know any more except that he was one of Maggie’s old flames. She made a profession of it.’
    ‘Getting money from men?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘All right. Now let’s move to James Frame.’
    ‘He runs a gambling club in London. He wanted me to put in a word with Maggie as well. He seems harmless enough. I didn’t have much of a chance to speak to him.’
    ‘And Steel Ironside?’
    ‘He’s a failed pop singer. He told me he needed money to get started again. He seems nice. Oh, Hamish, I’ve just remembered. I asked Maggie why she was sure that one of these four would want to marry her and she said she’d had a private detective to check up on them and they all need money.’
    ‘Good. I’ll have a look through her papers and see if I can find the name of the detective agency. Send in your friend, Peter.’
    Alison was soon replaced by Peter Jenkins. Hamish looked at him curiously. But he seemed just the same as he had done when Hamish had first met him: a pleasant, if weak, man, slightly effeminate. He looked at Hamish with dislike. ‘You’re making a fuss over nothing,’ said Peter, ‘and causing a great deal of unnecessary distress. The sooner someone higher up arrives, the better. It’s a clear case of accident.’
    ‘So you say. Let’s get down to business. Full name …?’
    In his slow drawling voice, Peter outlined the bare facts. He had been in love with Maggie twenty years ago and had only really fallen out of love with her when he arrived and found her changed. She had invited him for two weeks and he had taken leave from his firm. He needed a holiday and so he had decided to stay.
    And all the time he was talking, Hamish was thinking, He’s been carrying the torch for years for a prostitute. He must be awfully immature. I wonder how he manages to run a company.
    ‘How did you manage to set up this company?’ he asked when Peter fell silent.
    ‘I had been working for Sandford and Jones,’ said Peter, naming one of the biggest advertising agencies. ‘I was thirty when a rich uncle died and left me quite a bit so I decided to go into business for myself. My firm is Jenkins Associates.’
    ‘Doing well?’
    ‘Very well. We’ve got the Barker Baby Food account, for example.’
    ‘Barker was bought out by a Japanese company last year. Do they still retain your services?’
    ‘Of course. Didn’t I just say so?’
    Hamish sat back and surveyed Peter in silence.
    Peter stared at him and then suddenly shrugged and said boyishly, ‘I shouldn’t lie. A vice of advertising men. Fact is, I had this friend working with me right from the beginning and he recently quit and took that account with him. I hope the Japanese dump him.’
    ‘And what were you doing last night and this morning?’
    ‘I was asleep the whole time. I heard Alison scream and rushed out.’
    ‘And did you hear any explosion, any loud bang?’
    ‘No, nothing, but there could have been one before Alison woke me with her screams. It was an accident.’
    ‘Very well, Mr Jenkins. That will be all for now. Send in Mr Witherington.’
    Crispin Witherington was very jovial and hearty.