Frozen Grave

Chapter 45

‘Megan Penarth?’

‘Yes, come in.’

Tucker could feel himself being looked over as he walked past her.

She closed the door behind him.

‘Sorry to disturb you,’ he said, wiping his feet thoroughly on the doormat.

‘That’s okay. I like being disturbed. Otherwise my day is only punctuated by the postman coming and the rising and setting of the sun, the noise when the wind changes direction.’

He looked at her with slight wonderment. Her looks were distinctive. Now as she reached her mid-fifties her hair was streaked with a seam of silver in a black mane. He wasn’t sure whether he found her beautiful or strange.

‘You can tell you’re a landscape artist. This is a great place to hide away.’

‘Yes, it is. Come in, I’ve just made some coffee.’ She indicated that he should sit at the kitchen table and brought over a cafetière.

‘How can I help you? Our phone conversation seemed a little odd.’ She poured him a coffee and pushed the sugar and cream towards him.

‘Thanks very much. Yes, sorry I was a bit brief. I didn’t want to talk about things over the phone. I need to talk to you about a personal matter. Do you know a man named JJ Ellerman?’

She nodded. ‘Is he okay?’

Tucker answered with a nod and took out the copy of Harding’s letter that Willis had emailed him.

‘Have you seen this letter before?’ he asked, handing Megan the three sheets.

She glanced at it and nodded. ‘Yes, I got one in the post.’

Tucker looked at her and had the feeling he was part of a stage play. Enter stage left, assume look of surprise. She knew what he had come about.

‘You were expecting me?’

‘I was expecting one of these women on this list but I presume you’re not in drag?’

He smiled and shook his head. ‘Not a drag day for me. So you have had contact with the other women on this list?’

‘No, not yet, but I intend to start phoning, once I hear what you have to say.’

He took out his notebook. ‘Can I ask you a few questions about your relationship with Ellerman?’

‘Of course.’

‘How do you know him?’

‘I met him on a dating site for wine lovers. We got on. He was working all over the country and I like to get out of here when I can, so we arranged to meet at venues around the country. Once in Harrogate, another time in London, then in Bristol. We had met three times before he came here.’

‘How long have you known him altogether?’

‘From the first time we talked on the phone? It’s got to be nine months.’

‘It must have been quite a shock to get the letter?’

‘It was a disappointment.’

‘Did you have any idea he was seeing other women?’

‘I had made it quite clear to him that I wouldn’t accept that. I suppose I thought that maybe he was too good to be true.’

‘What kind of person is he? He seems to be very attractive to the opposite sex?’

‘Yes. I suppose it’s a sad fact that he made it his job to be attractive to us. What’s the old saying: if it seems too good – it probably is?’

Tucker smiled. He was staring at her again. She could feel his scrutiny. She realized how bizarre it must seem to anyone from the outside.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘It’s a pity that that’s so true.’

‘But, luckily, I hadn’t yet invested much of my time in the relationship. It suited me while it lasted.’

‘You talk about investing – did you invest any money in his company, Hacienda Renovations?’

‘No.’

‘Did he try and sell you anything?’

‘No, not yet. He showed me photos of properties, some finished, an old farmhouse he was working on. He said the other projects were all going towards funding this one farmhouse that he intended to keep for himself – and me of course. Ha… it would have been a bit crowded in there with all these other women.’

‘Yes…’ Tucker grinned. ‘He might have had a hard job introducing everyone. So, when you looked at this list of women, did you recognize anyone you knew?’

‘No. Why? Should I?’

‘No, I was thinking along the lines of whether he’d ever mentioned any of these names.’

She looked at the letter again and ran her eyes down the list.

‘No. What’s the problem?’

‘We’re investigating some issues around this list. Some issues concerning two of the women. I can’t say any more than that. What do you intend to do about Ellerman now? Has he been in touch in the last week?’

She shook her head. ‘I guess he’s lying low.’

But what will you do?’

‘Ummm…` I haven’t decided. Is this a criminal matter? Can you get him for being a multiple philanderer, for breaking hearts, lying?’ She smiled but he could see how sad she was. There was also more than a hint of anger in her eyes.

‘I can tell you that he in under investigation, but only in a broad sense of the word.’ Tucker shook his head apologetically. ‘I’m sorry, all I can suggest to you is that you don’t allow him to come and visit you at the moment, until we clear these matters up.’

‘What are you saying? Is he dangerous?’

He held her gaze. ‘I’d just feel happier if you do what I recommend.’