The Hanging in the Hotel

Chapter Twenty-Three

After her lavish lunch with Suzy Longthorne, the last thing Jude really felt like was fish pie, but she didn’t want to offend the cook in Carole, so she did her best with her piled plateful. The new bottle of Chardonnay helped maintain the comforting haze which had been engendered by the lunchtime’s Sauvignon Blanc. She was excited too, and although Carole wanted to talk about her meeting with Donald Chew, Jude was full of what she had learned from Suzy.

‘Rick Hendry was actually staying at the hotel that night! Well, not at the hotel – in Suzy’s barn conversion behind the hotel.’

‘Why? Surely they’re not back together again?’

‘No. It was just Rick living up to his image as the meanest man in rock. He’d been in Brighton doing auditions for his Pop Crop show, and he wanted to save on accommodation costs, so a free bed at his ex-wife’s place sounded like a good idea. But at least that explains it, doesn’t it?’

‘Explains what?’ asked Carole a little testily. She was miffed that Jude’s news had taken priority over hers.

‘Explains the way Suzy’s clammed up over what happened. A death in the hotel would be bad enough publicity, but if it got out that Rick Hendry was on the premises at the time, the tabloids’d be all over her. I can see the headlines now – “TV’s Mr Nasty in Death Riddle at Ex-wife’s Hotel.”’

Carole tapped her chin thoughtfully. ‘You said the chef told you he was there?’

‘That’s right. Max.’

‘I wonder who else knew.’

‘What are you thinking?’

‘Just that you said the girl Kerry was terribly keen on the idea of a career as a pop singer – or whatever they call themselves nowadays. And Rick Hendry’s television show is very influential in launching young singers’ careers.’

‘I see. Yes.’ Jude nodded. ‘Bit of a coincidence. If Kerry did know he was there, she wouldn’t have missed the opportunity to introduce herself. She’s not lacking in self-confidence, that kid. And, actually,’ she remembered, ‘Max said something about taking her to an audition in Brighton.’

‘Maybe you should ask her about it.’

‘Don’t worry. I will.’ Jude forked the remainder of her fish pie to the side of her plate. She really had tried, but after that lunch . . . She avoided Carole’s reproachful eye, as she went on, ‘Still, it makes me feel better about Suzy.’

‘What does? I’m sorry. What do you mean?’

‘Well, as you know, she’s one of my oldest friends’ – Carole nodded curt acknowledgment of this fact – ‘and I hated the idea she was lying to me, or holding out on me, so Rick’s presence does at least explain her behaviour.’ The lines around the brown eyes tightened with frustration. ‘But I’ve thought it through from every angle, and I still can’t see how Rick being there can have had any connection to Nigel Ackford’s death.’

‘No, of course it can’t. That’s to do with the Pillars of Sussex. Some internal feud or argument there.’

‘I’m afraid you’re right.’ Jude looked wistful. ‘We’re never going to find a connection between Rick Hendry and those wretched Pillars.’

‘No.’

Jude shook herself out of introspection and looked her friend straight in the eye. ‘So tell me about your meeting with Donald Chew.’

Which Carole did. And Jude heard how the Pillars of Sussex were now even covering up the fact that Nigel had died by suicide. Let alone murder.

‘Well, they can’t keep that up for ever. The adjourned inquest will happen at some point. The press’re going to get hold of the story then.’ The pile of blonded hair shook gloomily. ‘Unless of course the coroner is a Pillar of Sussex, or the local newspaper proprietor is, and he’s given his reporters instructions to stay away.’

‘I don’t think that’d be possible,’ said Carole, with the authority of her Home Office experience.

‘Hm. I like the idea of a conspiracy theory better.’

‘Well, according to Donald Chew, you shouldn’t entertain any such thoughts. He kept insisting that there’s nothing sinister about the Pillars of Sussex. Just a charitable organization with purely philanthropic intentions.’ Carole chuckled at the idea as she said, ‘He was even trying to get me to help his wife with some fund-raiser they’re doing.’

Jude started at her friend. ‘Well?’

‘Well what?’

‘Carole, what are you waiting for?’

Brenda Chew’s voice wasn’t quite the genuine article, but it had been strained through a filter of gentility. ‘Mrs Seddon. Yes, of course. How lovely to hear from you. Donald said you might be in touch.’

Which Carole thought was a little odd. The solicitor’s suggestion had been vague, and she had said nothing about acting on it. An instinct for caution came to her. Did Donald Chew know that her insistence on meeting him meant that she was suspicious about the death at Hopwicke House? Had he anticipated her contacting his wife as a continuation of that investigation?

She didn’t let these thoughts show in her voice, as she went on, ‘He said you might be glad of some help with this auction of promises you’re arranging for the Pillars of Sussex.’

‘Always glad of help,’ Brenda Chew agreed. ‘I’m the last to complain about that kind of thing, but it is remarkable how often I’m the one who ends up making all the arrangements. Lots of people volunteer at the start, but as time goes by, and the real work starts, it’s amazing how many of them find they have other commitments or dates they can’t do or . . . Though, as I say, I’m not complaining. One is just so pleased to be able to do something to help such a good cause.’

‘Yes. Your husband didn’t actually say what the cause was for this particular event.’

‘Didn’t he? Typical Donald. Dear oh dear, the male of the species never have the command of detail that we do, do they? The auction of promises is to help build a cancer patient day centre at Queen Anne’s Hospital.’

‘Oh. Donald did mention you’d raised money for a children’s cancer ward there.’

‘Queen Anne’s is one of the Pillars’ favourite charities,’ said Brenda Chew primly, ‘but it’s by no means the only one we support. There are a lot of institutions across Sussex which have had cause to be grateful to us over the years.’

‘Admirable.’

‘Yes. But we do most of it very quietly. A big presentation like the hundred thousand for the cancer ward will of course get publicity, but a lot of the Pillars’ charity work is –’ she lowered her voice piously ‘– invisible philanthropy. We don’t usually court public recognition.’

‘Oh well, you can rely on my discretion.’

‘That’s very good to hear, Mrs Seddon.’

‘Please call me Carole.’

‘Yes, of course. And call me Brenda. Now, Donald said you aren’t actually the wife of a Pillar, are you?’

‘No.’

‘So are you married, Carole?’

‘Divorced.’

‘Oh.’ It was a long time since Carole had heard so much disapproval of her marital status.

‘And you would have time to help us in our efforts for the auction of promises? I only ask because, as I say, people do have a tendency to drop out after a short while.’

‘Yes, I’ve got plenty of time —’ She stopped herself from saying ‘on my hands’. That somehow sounded pathetic. ‘I’m retired.’

‘Oh, good. Well, if you don’t mind leaping in straight away, my ladies are coming round here for coffee tomorrow morning for a meeting about the auction. Eleven o’clock. Would you be free?’

Carole assured Brenda Chew that she would be, and confirmed she knew the address from the phone book. As she put the phone down, the feeling of caution came back to her. Her entrée to the world of Pillars of Sussex womenfolk had been so smoothly achieved, she wondered whether they were as keen to find out about her as she was about them.