The Red Dahlia

'So what operation do you think your daughter could have been referring to?'

'I am nonplussed. I don't know and I really don't quite understand why you are asking me these questions.'

'Your husband was a surgeon?'

'Yes, that is correct.'

'Did he perform the operation? Let me rephrase that: could he have terminated the pregnancy of your daughter without you being privy to it?'

'No: as I said, I have a good relationship with my two girls.'

'What about with your stepson?'

'As I said before, he is a very dear, hard-working boy. I don't have quite as close a relationship with him as my daughters, but then he is my stepson: his mother was my husband's first wife.'

'He also had a drug problem, didn't he?'

'No, he was just a very young and foolish boy at school. He was found smoking a joint and they expelled him, but it was just some grass, he was never addicted to any hard drugs.'

'Unlike his wife: the autopsy found cocaine and…'

'I really cannot tell you anything about my daughter-in-law, it was a very sad thing that happened, and affected us all.'

'Does your husband use drugs?'

She took a deep breath and shook her head. 'Not that I am aware of, but we have been divorced for a number of years, so what he may do now, I am not privy to.'

'Can you tell me about the parties at the Hall?'

She shrugged and then got up and crossed to her desk. She opened a silver cigarette box, and took one out. 'What exactly do you want to know about them?'

'Well, could you describe some of these events?'

She lit the cigarette and then carried a cut-glass ashtray to the table beside her chair. Langton asked if she would mind if he smoked as well and she apologised for not offering him one. This relaxed her; she even offered Langton her lighter. The gold charm bracelet tinkled as she flicked away the ash.

'Charles was always very fond of entertaining and we had a very good chef. We used the converted barn, as it has such a large space for dining and there is also a snooker table.' She inhaled and let the smoke drift from her mouth. 'There is also a swimming pool, a gymnasium with a sauna and whirlpool.' She laughed, tilting her head back slightly. 'Some dinner parties did go on for a long time; in the summer, the south wall would slide back so we could dine al fresco, and in the winter we'd have a massive log fire: all really rather pleasant.'

'Did your husband ship in prostitutes for these dinners?'

'I beg your pardon!' She gave an almost theatrical impression of being shocked.

'Your father-in-law was well known for sending his chauffeur to Soho in London and bringing back numerous girls.'

'I never knew my father-in-law or his chauffeur!'

'I just wondered if his son, your ex-husband, carried on this enjoyable tradition of wining and dining these girls.'

'No, he did not!'

'Could you tell me why you got divorced?'

'I don't think it is any of your business!'

'Yes, it is. You see, Mrs Wickenham, although our witnesses described the man last seen with the victim so clearly that our artist could produce this likeness, that was not the reason we made contact with your ex-husband. We received a phone call naming him as the killer of Louise Pennel.'

She got up and went to get another cigarette, this time lighting it from the butt of her previous one.

'This call could have been from your daughter Emily.'

Anna watched Langton closely as he upped the pressure a notch. She knew as well as he did that Emily Wickenham was not the caller, nor was her sister Justine.

'Why would Emily do such a terrible thing?' She stubbed out her cigarette, leaving the fresh one in her mouth. Anna began to see that although Dominique Wickenham had the appearance of a very obviously wealthy, pampered woman, she lacked class.

'That brings me to the possibility of her own father performing an abortion on her.'

'No! I have already told you that did not happen! I think perhaps you should really speak to me through my solicitor. Your questions are of a very personal nature and I do not feel inclined to answer any more.'

'I do apologise,' Langton said, stubbing out his cigarette, but making no sign of leaving. He leaned back in his chair. 'I am leading an enquiry into a really horrific murder. Louise Pennel, known as the Red Dahlia, was sliced in two. We are certain that the torture and humiliation forced upon her before she died was more than likely committed by a qualified surgeon.'

Dominique wafted her hand and said she was certain that there would be many other ex-surgeons, or even practising ones, that could fall under suspicion. She was adamant that her ex-husband could have had no part in these murders, just as she was certain that he had never made sexual advances to her daughter. She was tight-lipped with anger as she insisted that he would not have performed any kind of illegal operation. She went on to say that, although they were divorced, they still respected each other and maintained a loving friendship which helped both their daughters.

Langton was becoming frustrated. His foot began to shake, a sign of a gathering storm. He leaned forward and clasped his hands.

'Mrs Wickenham, I really am trying to make sense of everything you say. You had an amicable divorce and you have maintained a loving friendship for the benefit of your daughters. Correct?'

'Yes, that is exactly what I have said.'

'So, I am confused as to why you would have two dysfunctional girls: one suffering from bulimia and in therapy, the other openly antagonistic towards her father. In fact, she stated that she hated him! And they neither spoke well of your stepson.'

'I can't speak for them,' she said, looking at her watch.

'Surely you can? You are their mother: they spend most of their free time with you.'

'Yes, yes they do.'

'Does your ex-husband also spend time here with you?'

'No, he does not.'

'But you remain very fond of him?'

'Yes, that is correct.'

'And fond of his son and heir, Edward.'

'Yes. Really, why are you asking me these ridiculous questions? I do not know these poor girls you say were murdered, I cannot help you in any way. You are making me feel very uncomfortable, as if you are trying to make me say slanderous things about my ex-husband that would be completely untrue.'

'I apologise if it seems that way.'

Anna coughed and they both turned towards her as if they had forgotten her existence. 'May I use your bathroom?'

Dominique got up and crossed to the double doors. She opened one and her charm bracelet tinkled as she pointed down the corridor.

'First on your left.'

'Thank you.'

Anna closed the door behind her. She didn't need to use the bathroom, but was hoping to have a private conversation with the maid, Danielle, who she was certain had been listening outside the door. She stood in the expansive hall, trying to work out where the kitchen was, when she heard the clink of dishes from behind a door at the far end of the hallway. She gave a very light tap and opened it. The maid was unloading the dishwasher; she turned, startled.

'I wondered if I could talk to you for a moment?'

Danielle crossed to a cabinet to put away some glasses. She closed the cabinet and returned to the dishwasher.

'Do you speak English?'

Danielle gathered up some dinner plates, stacking them neatly. She wouldn't look at Anna, but continued moving back and forth to the dishwasher. Anna wondered if she was deaf. She asked again if she understood English and, at last, got a response.

'I cannot talk to you, please excuse me. Thank you.'

'It is very important: we need to ask you some questions.'

'No, please.'

'It's about Emily and Justine; they stay here a lot, don't they?'

Danielle nodded and then sat down. 'I love them like my own children. I love them.' She bowed her head as she started to cry, taking a handkerchief from her apron pocket. 'I know why you are here. Is Emily all right?'