The area had been rural before the war, but houses were now being built close to the factory. Augusta guessed the surrounding green fields would be gone before long.

  She felt spots of rain on her face as she walked with Detective Sergeant Joyce along the tree-lined road leading to the factory.

  ‘It’s some operation they’ve got here, isn’t it?’ he said. ‘I read about this place in the newspaper. They bring the coffee and tea along the canal from London’s docks each day. Then they process and package it all here and send it back out again by rail.’ He pointed to where a train stood in a siding at the factory’s railway depot.

  An aroma of coffee hung in the air and Augusta was impressed by how much cleaner the factory was than the smoky, dirty industry in the centre of London.

  At the main office, Detective Sergeant Joyce showed his warrant card to a smart young woman behind a desk and asked if he could speak with Eddie Miller. She said she would see what she could do and dashed off, eager to help.

  A few minutes later, a middle-aged stocky man arrived at the office with a lanky young man wearing a cap and overalls. Augusta recalled Sylvia Harper’s description of Eddie and how she hadn’t liked his expression. Augusta realised what she had meant now. His eyes were pale and hooded, and there was a trace of a sneer on his lips.

  His stocky companion introduced himself as Mr Henderson. ‘May I ask what you want with this young man, Detective?’ he asked.

  ‘I have a few questions for him regarding Miss Parker.’

  ‘And who’s she?’

  ‘She’s the young woman who was murdered at the Kingsley fashion show a few days ago.’

  The man’s face paled. Then he turned to Eddie and looked him up and down. ‘Good grief, young man. Did you do it?’

  ‘Please allow me to ask him the questions, Mr Henderson,’ said Detective Sergeant Joyce. ‘Mr Miller’s not a suspect at the present time. We just need him to help us.’

  ‘I see.’ Mr Henderson seemed relieved by this news. ‘Very well. Take all the time you need, Detective.’ He turned to the young woman who had now reappeared behind the desk. ‘Show them to the meeting room please, Miss Watkins.’

  The carpeted meeting room had a shiny table with a dozen chairs. Framed advertisements for Lyons and photographs of their corner house establishments hung on the wall.

  Eddie Miller sat facing Augusta and Detective Sergeant Joyce. His arms were folded and his expression was defiant.

  ‘How long did you know Lola?’ asked the detective.

  Eddie shrugged. ‘About a year.’

  ‘And did you know her well?’

  ‘Very well. We courted for a while. But then she moved on.’

  ‘Moved on to where?’

  ‘Don’t know. She wanted nothing to do with me anymore.’

  ‘Did you have a disagreement?’

  ‘Not really. I think she just got bored with me and found someone else.’

  ‘So she went off with someone else?’ asked Detective Sergeant Joyce.

  ‘I don’t know. I asked her for an explanation, but she wouldn’t give me one.’

  ‘So she told you she wanted to end the relationship but didn’t give you a reason?’

  ‘Yes. She said it was over and she didn’t want to talk about it any more than that.’

  ‘How did you feel about that?’

  ‘It wasn’t what I wanted to hear.’

  ‘Did you try to change her mind?’

  ‘A few times. But it didn’t work.’

  ‘You think she met someone else?’

  ‘I think so.’ He rubbed at his face. ‘I asked her and she denied it. But she was probably lying.’

  ‘No one has mentioned she had a boyfriend,’ said Detective Sergeant Joyce. ‘Have you any idea who the other person was?’

  ‘No. But it must have been someone in her new world.’

  ‘New world,’ repeated Augusta. ‘Why do you describe it as that?’

  ‘Because everything changed when she started working in that new job.’

  ‘You knew her when she was working at Goldings?’

  ‘Yeah, that’s where I first met her.’

  ‘And she changed when she began working as a model?’

  ‘Yeah. And she had men looking at her. I didn’t like that.’

  Augusta suspected he was jealous.

  ‘Did you see Lola again after she ended your relationship?’ asked Detective Sergeant Joyce.

  Eddie nodded. ‘A few times.’

  ‘You arranged to meet each other?’

  ‘No, we didn’t arrange nothing. I just called on her when I was passing by and said hello and asked her how she was doing. That sort of thing.’

  ‘And did she mind that?’

  ‘I don’t think she minded. And anyway, I was only being friendly. I don’t like falling out with people. I like to stay friendly with everyone.’

  ‘Did she tell you to stay away from her?’ asked Augusta.

  ‘No. Why would she do that?’

  ‘When did you last see her?’

  ‘A few weeks ago. Near her flat.’

  ‘Did you deliberately go there?’ asked Detective Sergeant Joyce.

  ‘I was walking nearby and then I noticed I was near her flat, so I walked past the building and I happened to see her coming out.’ Augusta suspected he had been waiting for her there, just as he had been waiting for her outside Holland Park Rink. ‘Did you speak to her?’ she asked.

  He nodded. ‘Asked how she was and what she was up to. That sort of thing.’

  ‘Was she happy to see you?’

  ‘Difficult to tell.’

  ‘Did she smile at you? Ask you any questions about yourself?’

  ‘She told me she was busy and had to get on.’

  Augusta suspected Lola hadn’t been pleased to see him and that he had been making a nuisance of himself.

  ‘And that was definitely the last time you saw Lola?’ asked Detective Sergeant Joyce.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘A colleague of Lola’s said she saw you outside Holland Park Rink on the day of her death.’

  Eddie said nothing, then rubbed his face.

  ‘Thinking about it… I was there then. I’d forgotten about that.’

  ‘Did you see her that day?’

  ‘Yeah, I saw her going into the show.’

  ‘How did you know she would be there?’

  ‘I saw the advert for the show and I guessed Lola would be part of it. I couldn’t afford a ticket, but I thought I’d wait outside and wish her luck as she went in.’

  ‘And did you speak to her?’ Augusta asked, knowing the answer.

  ‘Yeah, but she was in a hurry. She said hello, and that was it.’

  ‘Her colleague seems to think she deliberately ignored you.’

  Eddie scowled. ‘Who said that?’

  ‘One of the girls she worked with.’

  ‘Then you can tell her that’s wrong! Lola said hello to me!’

  ‘Did you go into the show?’ asked the detective.

  ‘No. I didn’t have a ticket.’

  ‘Did you find a way in without a ticket?’

  ‘No! I didn’t go in!’

  Chapter 27

  ‘I’m afraid Sparky has been misbehaving,’ said Philip when Augusta returned to the shop. He stood by the counter with Fred. ‘He’s been singing so loudly that he disturbed my work.’

  Augusta smiled. ‘Don’t tell Lady Hereford, she’ll be cross with him.’

  ‘I won’t tell her this time. But I’ve warned him if he sings that loudly again, then I’ll have to report him.’

  ‘I hope he heeds the warning,’ added Fred.

  ‘How was your excursion with Joyce?’ Philip asked Augusta.

  ‘It was quite interesting. We spoke to a man called Eddie Miller, a former boyfriend of Lola’s.’

  ‘And what’s he like?’

  ‘Odd.’ She told him about the conversation. ‘I don’t think he was telling me the complete truth,’ she added. ‘And I suspect he was more upset about the breakup of his relationship with Lola than he wished to admit. It explains why he kept trying to see her.’

  ‘It’s not uncommon,’ said Philip. ‘Some people struggle to accept the end of a relationship and Mr Miller sounds like one of them.’

  ‘I’d like to visit Holland Park Rink again and work out if Eddie Miller could have got in there without being seen.’

  ‘Sounds like a good idea. I’d like to come with you and have a look at the place myself,’ said Philip. ‘I’ll telephone the place and see if there’s someone there who can let us in.’

  That afternoon, Augusta and Philip headed for the British Museum tube station from where they could travel by the Central London tube line to Holland Park. A light drizzle fell as they walked through Bloomsbury Square.

  ‘Eddie Miller thinks Lola Parker would have met someone else,’ said Augusta. ‘And that’s why she ended their relationship.’

  ‘But he doesn’t know who the person is?’

  ‘No. And Joyce said no one else has mentioned she had a boyfriend. Lola’s flatmate, Mabel, told me she suspected Lola was meeting someone else, but she never confirmed it.’

  ‘So it sounds like there could have been a secret relationship which few people knew anything about. Have you any idea why Lola was so secretive about it?’

  ‘Apparently, she told Mabel that if she had another relationship, she didn’t want Eddie to find out. She told Mabel he would be furious about it. Mabel said Lola didn’t want any trouble from him.’

  Philip shook his head. ‘The behaviour of this Eddie chap is concerning. He may be little more than a nuisance, but men who behave like that sometimes have sinister intentions. One can’t underestimate the effect rejection can have on some people. They can struggle to accept it and may even seek revenge.’

  At Holland Park Rink, a man in overalls unlocked the door for them.

  ‘You said you’d be here at three,’ he said.

  ‘Yes.’ Philip checked his watch. ‘And it’s only five minutes past.’

  ‘You need to be quick. The ladies’ roller-skating club will be here at half past.’

  ‘Very well.’ They stepped into the dingy interior. ‘Please can you put some lights on for us?’

  The man grunted and disappeared from view. A moment later, the lighting flickered on, illuminating the shiny wood floor and empty galleried seating. A curious odour lingered in the air, a combination of polish, old newspapers, and stale sweat.

  Augusta gave a shiver. ‘There’s something spooky about large, empty buildings.’

  ‘Yes, I know what you mean,’ said Philip.

  ‘It looks very different now. It’s hard to imagine the fashion show was held here.’

  ‘Let’s find the changing rooms.’

  They followed a corridor which ran behind the lower tier of seats. Eventually they reached a blue door with a sign declaring it was the ladies’ changing rooms.

  Augusta felt a prickle on the back of her neck. This was the place where Lola Parker had lost her life. She didn’t like the thought of going into the room.

  ‘You’ll need to check there’s no one in there before I go in,’ said Philip.

  ‘Of course there’ll be no one in there.’

  ‘I’d like you to check first.’

  ‘Alright.’ Augusta pushed open the door and stepped inside. The electric lighting was weak. The floor was tiled, and low wooden benches ran along the pale-yellow walls. Daylight filtered through the opaque glass of small rectangular windows high in the walls. Above the benches were rows of hooks. A pair of shabby plimsolls hung from one of them.

  A yellow door at the end of the room stood ajar, from beyond it a steady drip of water echoed. Augusta made her way to the door and peered through it to see two empty lavatory cubicles, a little window and two basins. She wrinkled her nose at the sour smell and went back to Philip to tell him it was alright to enter.

  He was even less impressed with the room than she was.

  ‘It’s got an odd feeling about it, hasn’t it?’ he said.

  ‘Probably because we know what happened here.’

  ‘Yes. But the fact this was used for a fashion show… it seems so at odds with Miss Kingsley’s luxurious clothing.’

  ‘I agree. I’m trying to picture how busy it must have been at the time of the show,’ said Augusta. ‘Apparently racks of clothing had been wheeled in here, and they had set up some makeshift dressing tables and mirrors. It must have been quite cluttered and fairly easy for someone to hide.’

  ‘So let’s imagine Eddie Miller got in here,’ said Philip. ‘He couldn’t have climbed in through the windows, they’re too small. He had to have got in through the door. The changing rooms are easily accessible from the seating area, but I don’t see how a man could have walked in here without being challenged. I’m assuming there are lavatories beyond that door at the far end.’

  ‘Yes. And there’s only a little window in there too.’

  ‘Mysterious,’ said Philip. ‘Let’s continue looking around.’

  They left the changing rooms and continued along the corridor until they reached the gentlemen’s changing rooms.

  ‘These ones weren’t used for the show, were they, Augusta?’

  ‘No, only the ladies’ changing rooms.’

  ‘I’ll have a quick look inside anyway, but I’m not expecting to find anything useful.’

  Augusta waited until Philip reappeared.

  ‘Just as I thought,’ he said. ‘Nothing.’

  They continued on to where the corridor ended and there was access to the rink side seating and the rink via a little gate.

  Philip stopped and leaned on his walking stick as he turned to look at the route they had just taken. ‘So the models came out of the changing room and walked along this corridor before going through the gate and onto the stage?’

  ‘Yes, that’s the quickest route. And I recall there being some steps just beyond the gate so they could climb up onto the stage.’

  ‘So let’s imagine they’re all out on the stage for the final part of the show. If Eddie had got into the building, then he could have taken that opportunity to go into the changing rooms and attack Lola Parker.’

  ‘But how would he have known she was in there?’

  ‘Because she wasn’t on the stage.’

  Augusta nodded. ‘But he would’ve had to have got out of the changing rooms without being seen too.’

  ‘Perhaps he did. Perhaps he was exceptionally lucky to not be seen both times.’

  Chapter 28

  Augusta and Philip walked up to the little gate. Augusta lifted the latch on the gate and swung it open. They stepped out onto the shiny rink floor.

  ‘If I had been a model here that afternoon,’ said Philip, ‘then I would be walking onto the stage now.’

  Augusta smiled. ‘Yes. And you’d have made a very good model.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  They stood at the top of the rink where the stage had been.

  ‘There was a walkway leading out from the stage into the middle of the rink,’ said Augusta. ‘There were chairs set around it and they were all full. The rink side seats were all full too, as was the upper gallery.’

  ‘And where were you and Lady Hereford sitting?’

  ‘About there.’ Augusta pointed to a spot slightly ahead and to her left.

  ‘So you weren’t in a position to see what was happening near the changing rooms,’ said Philip.

  ‘No, we were nowhere near them.’

  ‘It’s possible Eddie Miller got into the building and went into the changing rooms during the final part of the show,’ said Philip. ‘Let’s think about the other suspects though. What about Miss Kingsley?’

  ‘She could have been angry with Lola for refusing to go onto the stage,’ said Augusta. ‘We know Lola was sulking because she didn’t like the outfit she was wearing. Miss Kingsley could have ordered her to go onto the stage, and she could have refused. We know Miss Kingsley can lose her temper because Sylvia Harper told me that. Miss Kingsley may have lost her temper with Lola that afternoon and tugged her scarf tight. She may not have intended to kill her or even hurt her. But it’s possible she got carried away.’

  ‘Miss Kingsley claims she didn’t see Lola in the changing rooms, didn’t she?’

  ‘Yes. And having seen the changing rooms now, I don’t believe her. Even though it was cluttered in there, I can’t see how she would have missed Lola.’

  ‘So it’s rather convenient for Miss Kingsley to claim she didn’t see Lola. If she admits to it, then we’ll assume she was angry with her and lost her temper. What did Miss Kingsley do when she joined the models on the stage?’

  ‘She bowed and thanked the audience for their applause.’

  ‘And how did she look?’

  ‘Rather happy to be the centre of attention. She certainly didn’t look like a person who had just strangled someone.’

  ‘It would be quite an accomplishment to appear on stage like that after having just committed a murder. It’s not impossible, though. Miss Kingsley is a strong suspect. And her claim that she didn’t see Lola in the changing rooms is baffling. I suspect it’s a lie. But there may be another reason she’s lying about it. What about Sylvia Harper? She fell out with Lola Parker, didn’t she?’

  ‘Yes, they had a disagreement after Miss Kingsley made them swap outfits. Lola asked Sylvia to swap back again, but she refused.’

  ‘So Sylvia could also have murdered Lola out of anger,’ said Philip. ‘But to do that, she would have had to remain in the changing rooms with Lola or leave the stage early as Miss Chatsworth did.’

  ‘We have no evidence she did either.’

  ‘It’s a shame Cedric Langley the photographer didn’t get any photographs of the final part of the show,’ said Augusta.

  ‘Yes, it’s a shame and also rather suspicious,’ said Philip. ‘Did his camera actually break? Or does he have no photographs of that part of the show for another reason?’

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17