Manor House 01 - A Bicycle Built for Murder (19 page)

"Do you think that Corporal Barrows killed Beryl Pierce?"

"No, ma'am. I do not. I'd stake my life on it."

The answer was swift and decisive, and after a moment's hesitation, she said quietly, "You have my promise, Major."

"Thank you, Lady Elizabeth. I appreciate that. According to Corporal Barrows, Beryl Pierce approached him with the news that she was pregnant with his child. Barrows swears the baby couldn't be his. His story is that he spent only one night with the girl, after an argument with his girlfriend. He couldn't . . . er . . . perform, because he was drunk. He left the next morning before she woke up."

Feeling every bit as embarrassed as the major looked, Elizabeth fixed her gaze on the chandelier in the middle of the room. "I see. Do you believe him?"

"Yes, ma'am. I do. Barrows told me that he lied the first time we talked. He did see Beryl Pierce again, the day before she died. He met her in town that Saturday afternoon, after she sent him a note saying if he didn't meet her, she was going to cause trouble for him at the base."

"I thought he was confined to the base that entire weekend."

"He was, ma'am. Which is why I believe he's telling the truth now. That little confession is going to cost him. Anyway, Beryl Pierce told Barrows he'd have to marry her, and he told her he couldn't marry anyone. He was already married. When he left her that afternoon, she was alive and well. After questioning a few of the men, I established that he slept in his quarters that night and
didn't leave the base again until long after the body was found."

"And since Beryl was alive on Sunday morning, that would certainly give him an alibi."

"Yes, ma'am. That's how I see it."

She could hear the relief in his voice. She was relieved herself, even though she didn't entirely believe Robbie's story. There was a little matter of a letter he wrote to Beryl, indicating she'd meant a good deal more to him than he was ready to admit. His alibi seemed strong, however, and as much as she despised a man who could cheat on his unsuspecting wife that way, she would have hated to be instrumental in having one of Earl Monroe's men arrested.

"I'm sorry that you haven't found your murderer, Lady Elizabeth, but I have to tell you I'm real happy that it wasn't Corporal Barrows."

"Believe it or not, Major, so am I."

She lowered her gaze and found him watching her. "I believe you," he said quietly. "But I have to ask that you not involve me in any more of your investigation. This whole thing has been . . . tough."

She nodded, feeling dejected again for some reason. "Of course, Major."

"Can I make a suggestion?"

"Please do."

"Let the police handle this. Murder is serious business and no place for a woman like you."

She raised her chin. "I'm very good at taking care of myself, Major Monroe."

"I'm sure you are and I don't mean you're incapable or anything. You are one of the strongest ladies I've ever met, and thatat includes my wife. It's just that when someone isn't qualified to do a dangerous job, that's when he
can run into trouble. And I'd hate to see you get hurt. Ma'am."

Aware that she was staring at him, she quickly lowered her gaze. She hadn't understood anything he'd said past the words
my wife
. He was
married?
Of course he was married. A man who was as charming and good-looking as he was had to be married. She just hadn't thought about it, that was all. Not that it mattered, anyway. She was being ridiculous. Why should it make any difference to her if he had a wife?

"Ma'am?"

She pulled herself together. "I . . . I'm sorry, Major, I was thinking about poor Beryl and how devastating it must have been for her to discover she was pregnant." The lie slipped easily off her tongue, and Earl Monroe actually looked quite relieved.

"Okay. I just didn't want to offend you, that's all."

"Not at all." She stood up, trying to ignore the ache of disappointment that shouldn't be there. "Thank you so much, Major Monroe. I do appreciate you taking the time to talk to your corporal. I can imagine how difficult that must have been for you both."

"You're welcome, ma'am. I'm just glad we got everything cleared up." He moved toward the door, then paused, looking back at her. "I sure hope you'll think about what I said, about letting the police handle this."

She smiled through the shadow that seemed to have been cast over her. "I will. It doesn't seem as if I'm getting anywhere, anyway. Maybe it's time I let the police take over."

He smiled back, momentarily dazzling her. "I think that's a real good decision on your part, ma'am." He turned to go, and she held up her hand.

"By the way, Major, did you by any chance remember
to ask Corporal Barrows the name of his ex-girlfriend?"

The look he gave her was so reproachful she felt guilty. "Yes, ma'am, as a matter of fact I did. The girl is a recruitment officer for the Land Army. Her name is Carol Simmons."

Of course. She should have known. The dance hall in North Horsham. And what was it Carol had said with that caustic note in her voice?
She was throwing herself at everyone who looked at her, if you know what I mean
.

It would appear that Carol knew Beryl Pierce a little better than she'd been willing to admit. In which case, perhaps it would be worth another little visit to North Horsham.

She heard the front door close behind Major Monroe and sighed. All of a sudden, playing detective didn't seem quite so much fun anymore.

CHAPTER
15

Carol Simmons seemed ill at ease when Elizabeth once more entered the cluttered office. She stared at her visitor with a sort of closemouthed defiance that quickly evaporated when Elizabeth explained her position.

"You can either talk to me," she said, sitting herself down on the rickety chair in front of the desk, "or you can talk to the police. I assure you, I'm much more approachable."

"What do you want to know?" Carol began on a note of belligerence. "I've told you everything I know."

"I don't think you have." Elizabeth fastened her gaze on the young woman's face. "For instance, you neglected to tell me that you knew Beryl Pierce quite well. In fact, you lost your boyfriend to her. Corporal Robert Barrows, I believe, stationed at the American air base."

Carol's face went ashen. "Who told you that?"

"I don't think that's important right now." Elizabeth
softened her tone. "Why did you really give Beryl your telephone number? It certainly wasn't because she wanted to join the Land Army, was it."

Two spots of red appeared in Carol's pale cheeks. "I didn't give my number to her," she muttered. "I just told you that before to keep Robbie out of trouble. Beryl must have taken that from out of his jacket."

Elizabeth stared at her for a moment, then settled herself more comfortably on her chair. "I think perhaps it's time you told me the whole story."

Carol stared at the papers in front of her for the longest time, then said with a shrug, "All right. You know most of it, anyway. Beryl and I used to go to school together. She must have seen me at the dance with Robbie and took a fancy to him." A faint smile flicked across her face. "Not that I can blame her. He's really good-looking. Over six feet tall and shoulders like an ox. And the best dancer I've ever danced with. All the girls were watching us out there on the dance floor." She paused, her mind obviously returning to that night.

After a moment Elizabeth prompted, "And Beryl?"

"Beryl came up to our table and sat down, started talking like we were old friends. Robbie and I tried to ignore her. I'd just moved into this office, and they'd given me a new telephone number. I scribbled it down on a blank form I had in my handbag and gave it to Robbie. He put it in his uniform jacket, which was hanging over the back of his chair. Right after that Beryl got up with her drink in her hand and spilled some of it on his jacket."

"On purpose?"

Carol shrugged. "I didn't think so at the time, but she must have done. Robbie threw a fit, and Beryl was going on and on about how sorry she was, and trying to dry it with her handkerchief and everything. Anyway, Robbie
wanted to leave after that, and I was choked because I'd got all dressed up for that dance and we'd only just got there. So we had a big row about it. Robbie got really angry and left, so I stayed at the dance without him."

Elizabeth thought she understood now. "So you think that Beryl took your telephone number out of Robbie's pocket while she was drying it? Why would she want to do that?"

"I suppose she wanted my telephone number so she could call me to tell me she and Robbie had spent the night together. I think she had it all planned right from the moment she sat at that table. When I talked to Robbie about it, he told me he went to the pub after the dance and drank himself silly. He remembers seeing Beryl in the pub but doesn't remember going home with her. He woke up early in the morning, let himself out of the house, and went back to the base. He swore he was too drunk to do anything with her, but I couldn't trust him after that, could I? So I had to break it all off."

Elizabeth filtered the information through her mind. It all made sense and coincided with what Robbie had told Earl Monroe. "When did all this happen?"

"Two weeks ago last Saturday. It seems like months now. I really miss Robbie."

Elizabeth wondered if Carol knew Robbie was married. It wasn't really her place to tell her that, but on the other hand, it might help the poor girl get over him more quickly. Deciding to leave that for the time being, she went back to the story Carol had told her. "You're saying that Beryl followed Robbie to the pub that night, then."

"Yes, I am. I think she got him drunk, then took him home with her, just to break us up."

"And you're convinced that the only time Robbie was with Beryl was that one night?"

Carol nodded vigorously. "Yes, m'm. Of course, when I found out Robbie was married, I realized I couldn't believe everything he'd said. But I really don't think he was that interested in Beryl. He didn't even like her that much. I could tell that at the dance. He only went back with her to the house because he was angry at me."

Elizabeth opened her handbag and took out the letter Robbie had written to Beryl. "I think you should take a look at this. It might change your mind."

Carol read the letter, and when she raised her head again, tears brimmed in her eyes. "Where'd you get this?"

"Beryl's bedroom." Elizabeth felt sorry for disillusioning the girl, but she had to be sure Carol was telling her the whole story.

"This isn't Beryl's letter." Carol folded it up again, but held onto it instead of handing it back to Elizabeth. "This letter was written to me. If Beryl had it, she must have stolen it from Robbie's pocket. It must have been there when she took the form with my telephone number."

"Are you certain about that?"

"I'm positive." Carol opened the letter again. "See this line Robbie wrote about the smell of lavender? That was a joke just between us. He never would have said that to anyone else." Carol suddenly buried her head in her hands. "I can't believe she's dead. She was a bitch, and I hated her for what she did, but I wouldn't want her dead." She lifted her face again. "Robbie didn't kill her, Lady Elizabeth. I'd stake my life on that. He's a bit hotheaded, like most of them Yanks, but he wouldn't kill no one. I'd swear to it."

Elizabeth pursed her lips. The woman certainly seemed genuine enough, but she'd given a very good performance the last time she'd questioned her. She was either
looking at a maligned and very distressed woman, or a clever actress and a possible murderer. Which was it? "Did you, by any chance, run into Beryl after your breakup with Robbie?"

The red dots spread over Carol's cheeks. "You think I killed her?"

"I think you might have had a good reason to want her dead. After all, Beryl had spent the night with a man you were obviously fond of, and had caused your breakup."

"That's silly. I would never kill someone over a boyfriend. You think I'm stupid? No man is worth that."

Elizabeth heartily agreed. "Then perhaps you can tell me how you knew Robbie was married. Did he tell you that? According to his story, Beryl didn't know herself until the day before she was killed."

Carol's eyes widened in shock. "You talked to Robbie?"

"A friend of mine talked to him. He said he told Beryl last Saturday afternoon that he was married."

"She must have rang me right away," Carol murmured. "Miserable cow."

Elizabeth leaned forward. "Beryl rang you last Saturday afternoon?"

"Yes, right before I closed the office. She was crying and said that Robbie told her he was married, and she thought I should know, like she was doing me a favor." Carol shook her head. "I think she was just making sure I didn't go back to him."

"What time was that?"

"Round about six, I think."

"Did she say where she was or where she was going?"

"She didn't get the chance. I hung up on her, didn't I."

Frustrated, Elizabeth relaxed her tense shoulders. She had one more question for Carol Simmons, but she already had an idea of the answer. "Can you tell me where you were last Sunday morning?"

Carol's eyes suddenly blazed fire. "Are you accusing me? I didn't have anything to do with her murder. I swear it. Anyway, if you'll pardon me for saying so, m'm, this really isn't any of your business, is it. Shouldn't the police be asking these questions?"

Elizabeth nodded. "You're quite right. Would you rather talk to the police, then?"

Carol backed down in a hurry. "No, I wouldn't." She drummed her fingers on the desk. "All right. If you must know, I was in bed Sunday morning. Or most of it, anyway. I was dancing until late Saturday night, got home late, and slept late. You can ask me mum. She brought me a cup of tea in bed that morning. I had breakfast after that, then I went out in the fields to help out some of the girls. I was there all afternoon."

There it was. As she'd pretty much expected. It would be simple enough to confirm Carol's story. The end of another promising lead. Elizabeth got up slowly from her chair. "Thank you, Miss Simmons, for being so candid with me. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me."