She’d need to think of an alternative means to get access to Mercedes man.
Chapter 29
Kelly knocked on the door of the loft penthouse suite.
Her witnesses were leaving Heron Hall for good. This was her last opportunity to nail a few details that perturbed her. It was also an opportunity to catch Tilda Dent unprepared and ask her how long she intended to stay at Dow Bank House.
Tilda wasn’t pleased to see her and Kelly could see she’d come at a bad time.
‘Can I help you?’
‘Yes. Can I come in?’ Kelly asked. ‘I’ll be quick.’
Kelly had come across people like Tilda before. They thought they owned the place. They believed that their superior wealth gave them more moral fibre and thus more entitlement to the air in the room. But she also appreciated it was a byproduct of privilege and not necessarily personal.
Tilda opened the door and Kelly went inside following the jangle of Tilda’s jewellery. The room was untidy. Expensive handbags and clothes littered the sofas. Kelly looked around for scarves similar to the purple one taken into evidence, but couldn’t see any or stolen CAT boots either. It was a suite overlooking the lake, but the curtains were drawn. People who discarded beauty just because they could afford it were people Kelly didn’t generally care for. Tilda went to the wall and flicked a button, opening the heavy drapes. Kelly noticed a pair of lacy pants on the floor before Tilda could pick them up and stuff them into a suitcase, and she tried to push the thought of Paul Burlington pulling them off out of her mind. They made an odd couple.
Tilda was wispy, stylish and an heiress; and Paul was a working-class English boy. Her Mellors perhaps. She couldn’thelp wondering if they’d enjoyed a quickie after Jamie died too and the thought shocked her. It was an unsavoury and disturbing image, and she didn’t know why it had popped uninvited into her head.
‘I want to pass on the constabulary’s appreciation that your guests have been so willing to give us statements. It’ll help get to the bottom of what happened here.’
Tilda laughed.
‘What’s funny?’
‘Oh, these Southern boys from Texas, they’re very religious, you know, they take their morals very seriously. It was Hank who insisted we all stay. He’s very noble.’
‘And I take it Hank is now at Dow Bank House?’
‘He is. He adores it there, so tiny and cute.’
Tilda smiled wolfishly and Kelly thought the severe and edgy tough act slightly overdone and ridiculous. They weren’t in a boardroom and Kelly wasn’t her gofer. It was also mildly depressing that a woman of Tilda’s status demeaned herself to a caricature. Kelly would like to get to know the true person behind the bullshit but she doubted she ever would. Body armour was an important part of the corporate illusion.
‘Do you think Jamie was an addict? Paul doesn’t.’ She got down to business. The question caught Tilda off guard.
‘I was merely pointing out that Jamie wasn’t pure as the driven snow.’
‘Hank was quite adamant you called Jamie an addict. Paul is convinced he wasn’t. There’s inconsistency there.’
‘Well, it depends how you define an addict doesn’t it? He drank too much and enjoyed recreational drugs. Are you going to arrest him posthumously?’
‘That’s a tasteless joke,’ Kelly said.
The two women stared at each other.
‘You like power, don’t you?’ Kelly said. She didn’t expect an answer. Tilda’s face was a picture of indignation and intrigue. The woman was touchy. ‘You’re rich, beautiful, clever – I assume – and powerful. I know you’re sleeping with Paul Burlington.’ Kelly held up her hands. ‘I know, it’s none of my business, but it certainly smacks of favouritism between two partners. Did it affect business?’
Tilda folded her arms. ‘Last time I checked, it wasn’t a crime. Are you from the 1970s or something?’
‘It’s not about that. Help me understand why you’re sharing your bed with business partners. They were childhood pals. Is that part of your plan? To pit them against each other? Is it about control?’
‘It’s none of your fucking business.’
‘I know. Just woman to woman, you’re worth more than that.’ Kelly walked to the door.
‘Is my sex life on trial or have you got a fucking job to do?’ Tilda shouted. She was rattled and Kelly wasn’t bothered.
Kelly smiled and reached for the handle. Tilda lit a cigarette. Kelly stared at it.
