When Night Closes in by Iris Gower

credit-card receipt for them, and Sally White’s signature was on it. I really would like to know what’s been going on here. Has Jon been conducting orgies in my absence?’
    Lowri took a deep breath. ‘I don’t know anything about that, Mrs Brandon.’
    â€˜Well, I blame you! If you hadn’t been fooling around with my husband none of this would have happened.’
    â€˜Hang on, now,’ Lowri protested but Sarah Brandon waved her hand impatiently.
    â€˜You’ll have to take me back to town, I can’t stay here, not now.’
    â€˜Where’s your own car?’ Lowri demanded, feeling angrier by the minute. Sarah Brandon pointed to a low sports car parked near the cottage.
    â€˜There it is,’ she said. ‘With all its tyres slashed.’
    â€˜I don’t quite see what this has got to do with me,’ Lowri began and then looked up as a shadow fell across her face.
    â€˜You always turn up at the scene of a crime, don’t you, Miss Richards?’ Lainey’s face was expressionless and Lowri had no idea if he was serious or not. She saw the twinkle in his eyes and guessed he was not.
    â€˜I have an alibi this time, Inspector. I was at the office.’
    â€˜Well, you are not a suspect, Miss Richards.’ Lainey spoke soothingly. He moved a little closer and the scent of his aftershave drifted towards her. It was clean and fresh and very attractive.
    â€˜I’m glad to hear it.’ She looked up and saw he was staring down at her with a curious expression on his face.
    â€˜You’re wishing you could read my mind, aren’t you?’ she said quietly. ‘But there’s nothing there to help you with all this . . .’ She waved her hand, encompassing the cottage. ‘I don’t know what the hell is going on, I promise you.’
    He allowed himself a smile. ‘You are half right except that I wasn’t thinking of the case.’
    â€˜Are you going to give me a lift into town or not?’ Sarah Brandon demanded. ‘And tell your boss I will expect adequate compensation for all my worry and stress.’
    â€˜I’d better go.’ Lowri grimaced and caught a half-suppressed smile on Lainey’s face.
    Sarah climbed into the back seat of the car and Lowri was aware of the heaviness of the woman’s perfume.
    â€˜Drive carefully, now, I’m a nervous passenger.’
    Lowri felt like telling her she would drive any way she chose and if Mrs Brandon did not like it she could walk back to town.
    As she negotiated the lanes Lowri felt a sense of pleasant warmth. She was sure Lainey liked her, she could see it in his eyes, hear it in the way he spoke. But then was that his official ‘bedside’ manner, the one he adopted with everyone? Soon, the roads broadened and Lowri heard Sarah Brandon sigh with relief.
    She dropped her at the entrance to a small hotel on the edge of Jersey Marine. Sarah walked into the hotel foyer without so much as a glance at Lowri over her shoulder.
    â€˜Thank you too, Mrs Brandon,’ Lowri sighed, putting the car into gear. She was just about to drive away when she saw a man go in through the double doors of the hotel. Lowri frowned. From the back the man looked exactly like her stepfather. But what would Charles Richards be doing in Jersey Marine? Lowri shook her head; she must be mistaken. When she returned to the office, Sally was holding the telephone to her ear.
    â€˜Excuse me, madam,’ she said quickly, ‘I’m going to have to get back to you on that one.’ She replaced the receiver and looked at Lowri, waiting for an explanation.
    â€˜The place in Plunch Lane has been burgled and Sarah Brandon is bleating about compensation.’
    â€˜Why would anyone want to burgle a holiday home?’ Sally asked.
    â€˜Don’t ask me.’ Lowri sank into her chair, her head resting in her hands. ‘I wish to God I had never got involved with Jon