‘And also there was your chess set,’ Teri reminded him.
‘Oh, yes.’ For a moment, Strauss lost his cheerful composure. ‘That was extremely annoying.’
‘What happened exactly?’ Hawthorne asked.
Strauss put his cup down. ‘I was in town, having lunch with a journalist friend of mine. This was the week before my accident. Teri was also out. When I got back, I noticed that one of the windows had been broken, and my first thought was that we had been burgled. In fact, it was simpler than that. The two Kenworthy boys – Hugo and Tristram – had taken to playing cricket in the courtyard, even though there’s supposed to be a rule about no ball games. There had been quite a few complaints about it. I remember that the Beresfords were particularly worried – but then they’ve got small children.’
‘They said it was dangerous,’ Teri agreed.
‘Well, I could see at once what had happened. They had hit their ball through my window. I found it on the floor. That would have been bad enough, but it had also smashed one of my most treasured chess sets, a gift from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai.’
‘Did you complain to the parents?’ Dudley asked.
‘Of course I did. I telephoned Giles Kenworthy and spoke to him at length.’ He sighed. ‘He refused to accept responsibility. He said that he talked to the boys and they had denied it and suggested that it might have been one of their friends. He promised he would look into it, but I have a feeling he couldn’t really have cared less.’
‘Do you still have the chess set?’ Dudley asked. ‘There’s a model-maker I know. Brilliant at putting stuff together.’
‘I’m not sure it’s possible,’ Adam said.
‘I wouldn’t say that,’ Hawthorne cut in. ‘A tube of Revell Contacta Professional and a handful of fast clamps . . .’
Teri had already got to her feet. ‘It’s here!’ she said. She went to a low cupboard, reached inside and took out a chessboard, holding it carefully so that the pieces wouldn’t fall off. She brought it over for Hawthorne to examine. It was a set modelled on The Lord of the Rings, but the white king and queen and bishops were badly smashed. Several of the pawns were broken.
‘It looks a bit hopeless,’ Hawthorne admitted. ‘You wouldn’t have thought that a cricket ball could do so much damage.’
‘Well, the pieces were extremely fragile,’ Adam muttered tetchily. ‘There were only six sets ever made,’ he went on. ‘Put it away, dear. I can’t bear looking at it.’
Teri returned it to the cupboard.
‘So Kenworthy refused to accept responsibility,’ Dudley said. ‘He lied to you. And a few days later, he was dead . . .’ He sounded surprised by the force of his own logic. ‘Where were you on Monday night?’ he asked.
‘I was playing chess until well after midnight. Then I went to bed. And before you ask, my opponent was in Warsaw. We were playing online. His name is Grzegorz Gajewski and, like me, he’s a grandmaster.’ Strauss waited until Teri had sat down again. ‘I hope you’re not suggesting that I killed Giles Kenworthy out of revenge,’ he went on. ‘If every parent was responsible for their children’s misdemeanours, the entire country would be strewn with corpses! Anyway, I’ve already told you. Everyone in the close had a reason to dislike the Kenworthys. A man died because of them! Tom Beresford’s patient. That’s rather more important than a smashed chess set.’
‘Even a very valuable one.’
‘Yes.’
There was a brief silence.
‘It seems to me you’re in pole position, Mr Strauss,’ Hawthorne observed. ‘You used to live in the big house. Now you’re right beside the entrance. This meeting you had, when the Kenworthys were no-shows, that was your idea?’
‘Actually, I think it was Andrew Pennington who suggested it. He’s on his own now. His wife died of cancer a few years ago and he’s become something of a counsellor to all of us. He thought an informal drinks do might help. Teri and I were happy to host it.’
‘So tell me – if Giles Kenworthy was killed by someone in Riverview Close, who do you think it was most likely to be?’
Adam Strauss leaned forward, his palms touching and his fingers resting just beneath his chin, as if he was contemplating a move in an invisible chess game. ‘I’m not sure I accept your premise that the killer was one of us, Mr Hawthorne. Giles Kenworthy was a wealthy man, a hedge fund manager. I’d have said you should be looking for someone who lost money. An unhappy client. That makes much more sense to me.’
‘But how many of his clients would have been able to get through the gate or would have known that Roderick Browne kept a crossbow inside his locked garage?’ Hawthorne countered.
‘That’s a fair point – although the garage was frequently left open. Sarah, our gardener, was in and out all the time.’
‘Are you pointing the finger at her?’
‘I’m not pointing the finger at anyone. That’s exactly the point I’m trying to make. You’re asking me to turn against people whom I have always considered to be my friends. I’m not prepared to do that.’
‘How about Roderick Browne himself?’
Strauss let out a sniff of exasperation. ‘I’m probably closer to Roderick than to anyone else. For a start, he’s my dentist.’
‘He didn’t mention that.’
‘I’m glad to hear it. Frankly, it’s none of your business. But since you ask, I was going to his clinic before he even moved into Riverview Close. He was recommended to me because he has quite a few celebrity clients. I actually met Ewan McGregor in his waiting room. A very charming man. Roderick has had the most appalling difficulties, what with Felicity’s illness and everything, and Teri and I have both been trying to offer him our support.’
‘He was upset about the swimming pool.’
‘And the Jacuzzi! I can understand that. They’re going to be right underneath Felicity’s window and there’s no doubt that they will make a huge impact on her life. I’m astonished Kenworthy even got planning permission.’ Strauss smiled a little mournfully. ‘With Kenworthy dead, the rest of the family may move,’ he said, as if the idea had only just occurred to him. ‘I suppose it’s quite possible there won’t be a Jacuzzi, a swimming pool or anything.’
‘Perhaps that’s exactly what he wanted.’
‘And that’s a motive for murder, I agree. But take it from me. Roderick couldn’t hurt a fly.’
‘Flies don’t have teeth,’ Dudley pointed out.
‘I can tell you this.’ Strauss ignored Dudley’s remark. ‘Roderick is more upset than anyone about what’s happened. I spoke to him yesterday after Detective Superintendent Khan interviewed him and he was in considerable distress. I know him very well and I would urge you to leave him alone.’ Strauss drew himself to his feet. ‘And now, if you gentlemen have no other questions, I really don’t think there’s anything more to say.’
Strauss had clearly forgotten Hawthorne’s chess-loving son. The attack on Roderick Browne had been one step too far and the two investigators found themselves being shown rapidly out of the door.
‘That went well!’ Dudley said.
‘It’s interesting.’ Hawthorne didn’t seem at all put out. ‘Two random attacks in a matter of days.’
Dudley nodded. ‘I noticed that. An old lady being looked after by the Beresfords’ nanny is hit with a baton in Hampton Wick . . .’
‘And Adam Strauss is pushed down the stairs.’
‘Seems a bit random. I can’t see a connection.’