‘Oh, good afternoon,’ said the clipped military tones.
‘It was good to see you this morning.’
‘Likewise.’
‘Any change with Roddy?’
‘I’m afraid not. I’ve a horrible feeling he’s going to be like this for ever. Like a vegetable – or “traumatized” is probably the word you’d use. He’s a real mess. And how he’ll manage when I pop my clogs, I daren’t begin to imagine. Stuck in some dreadful care home, it doesn’t bear thinking of.’
‘You mustn’t think like that.’
‘Damned hard not to, with my son just sitting there like a vegetable.’
‘Listen, Brian, I’ve talked to Alice.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘She’s in a terrible state too.’
‘Well, that doesn’t help, does it? Thank God it looks unlikely they’ll have children. Any those two produced would be barking, wouldn’t they?’
Jude ignored this, and pressed on. ‘Alice says that, every time she’s rung your house, you’ve told her Roddy doesn’t want to speak to her.’
‘Yes.’
‘Is that true?’
‘Yes, every time she’s rung that’s what I told her.’
‘That wasn’t what I meant, Brian. As you know full well. I meant: has he really said that, or have you been trying to protect him?’
There was a silence from the other end of the line. Then he said, ‘All right. Roddy hasn’t actually said that. I haven’t wanted to worry him with Alice’s messages. Quite honestly, I think she’s the cause of all his troubles. Getting mixed up with a neurotic little madam like that … well, if people start having mental problems … “he that toucheth pitch shall be defiled.” You know what I mean?’
‘Yes. I don’t agree with you, but I know what you mean. Anyway, what I’m asking is that next time Alice rings, let her speak to Roddy.’
‘I can’t do that. He’s already in a bad enough state. Talking to her might just push him over the edge.’
‘It might also help pull him back from the edge. Please,’ said Jude. ‘Please let him talk to her.’
TWENTY-THREE
It was the following morning when Jude had a call from Alice Mallett. From the first words, she knew that the girl had been totally transformed.
‘I spoke to Roddy,’ she said.
‘Good. I knew it would help.’
‘Oh God, you’ve no idea just how much it helps! I know there are still huge problems ahead of us, but I think we do have a future.’
‘I’m sure you do.’
There was a manic note in the girl’s voice as she went on, ‘So I’ve picked myself up and I’m really going to embrace that future. I looked at myself in the mirror after I’d come off the phone from Roddy, and I couldn’t believe the state I was in. I’ve showered and changed and put on some make-up, and I look like a human being again. And the house – I couldn’t believe the mess there either. I’ve cleaned it all over, and opened the windows to let some fresh air in. I’m starting a new life, Jude, as of today. I’ve even organized a singing lesson for myself, here at the house. He’s coming at three this afternoon.’
‘Singing lessons? Just like your stepmother.’
‘Yes. Just like Mum.’
‘That sounds really good,’ said Jude, unaware of the renewed suspicion that Bet Harrison had ignited about the activities of KK Rosser.
‘Hello, is that Blake Woodruff?’
‘Who is this speaking?’
‘My name is Jude. You don’t know me, but—’
‘If I don’t know you, get off the line! I don’t know how you got this number, but—’
‘I’m a friend of Heather Mallett,’ said Jude quickly, before he could slam the phone down. ‘And of her stepdaughter Alice.’
‘Oh. Oh.’ The internationally famous tenor took a moment to adjust his tone from anger to sympathy. ‘I was desperately sorry to hear about … what happened.’
‘Yes. You haven’t heard from Alice, have you?’ Jude was wondering whether the girl’s transformed mood might have encouraged her to catch up on such calls.
‘No. No, I left a message at the house. I’d just come back from a tour in Australia.’
‘The reason I’m calling you is that Alice is in rather a state.’
‘I’m not surprised. I’m still pretty shaken up by the news. And to hear that Heather was murdered … Well, you just don’t expect that kind of thing to happen to people who, you know, people you’ve been close to.’
‘You met at university, I gather?’
‘Right, Manchester. Mutual interest in music brought us together. Sang together in university choirs. We did have a bit of a thing in our last year. I don’t know whether it would have gone the distance, but … it was very pleasant while it lasted. And then, after we graduated, we went our separate ways. I got increasingly caught up in my career as a professional singer, and Heather … We kept in touch, letters, the occasional phone call, email and Facebook weren’t around back then. I’d bring her up to date on my latest disastrous romance, and she … well, she always was quite reserved, and she seemed to become more, sort of, turned in on herself. Then, after she got married … I wasn’t, by the way, invited to the ceremony … Anyway, all communication from her ceased. I guess she wanted to make a completely fresh start …’
He sounded a bit wistful about the breaking-off of contact. Jude knew it wasn’t the moment to say that its cause was probably not Heather’s decision, but that of her controlling husband.
‘Incidentally …’ he said, ‘… sorry, what was your name?’
‘Jude.’
‘Jude, right.’ There was a new note of caution in his voice. ‘I don’t want any of this to get out to the press. They hound me all the bloody time, and if they got hold of the news that I’d once had an affair with a woman who’s been murdered …’
‘I can assure you I have nothing to do with the press. I’m only phoning you on behalf of Alice Mallett. I’m sure she will give you a call herself when she’s in a better state.’
‘Yes. Yes, fine. Sorry to have sounded so suspicious, but someone in my position has to be bloody careful.’
‘I’m sure you do. I fully understand.’
‘Good. Yes. You haven’t heard about the funeral details yet, have you? If the press can be kept at bay, I’d like to put in an appearance then.’
‘There’s no news about that yet. I think in the case of a murder, it takes a while for the police to release the body.’ Jude didn’t know that for sure, but she thought she was probably right.
‘Yes, of course. Well, when you do hear something …’
‘Either Alice or I will let you know.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Incidentally, Blake, did you hear that Heather’s husband had died?’
‘I heard that, yes. From Heather. She got back in touch with me. She didn’t talk much about it, but I got the impression that it may not have been a marriage made in heaven.’ Something of an understatement, thought Jude. ‘But she suggested meeting up, for old times’ sake. Which I would have been happy to do, but my bloody schedule, what with concerts here, and the occasional opera and foreign tours … I get booked more than a year ahead, would you believe, so making social arrangements can be a nightmare.’ He didn’t speak in a boastful way, he was just describing one of the hazards of his profession.
‘And now,’ he concluded sadly, ‘that “old times’ sake” meeting with Heather will never happen.’
‘No.’ There was a moment of reflective silence, before Jude asked, ‘Was there anything else Heather talked to you about, you know, in the past few months, after her husband’s death …?’
Carole had by now got the bit between her teeth and was determined to increase her contribution to the investigation – or, ideally, to solve the murder on her own. Her direct approach to Elizabeth Browning had not been an unqualified success, but the direct approach to Bet Harrison had proved more fruitful. At least it showed her the direction in which her next enquiries should go.