Free Deadly Stuff by Joyce Cato Page B

footsteps. I noticed nothing in particular when I was in there.’
    She paused and waited.
    Trevor Golder stared at her hard for a few seconds, and then nodded slowly. ‘OK. That was a very concise and pertinent statement. Thank you. You said you didn’t really know Mr Raines? Had you in fact met him or talked to him?’
    ‘Briefly. I checked up on them after dinner last night, just to get some feedback on their enjoyment of their first meal in college. I spoke to Mr Raines briefly, along with Vicki Voight, who’s the society’s treasurer and one or two other members. A Mr Ian Glendower, and his girlfriend, Pippa Foxton. I should tell you that I was also present in hall this morning when Mr Raines gave his opening address, and later spoke to the journalist whom the conference hired to cover their event, a Mr Charles Foster. Also, at breakfast, I spoke to one of the older members, I think his name was Robert Llewellyn. Oh, and a newer member of the society called Mr James Raye.’
    Peter Trent listed the names with silent admiration. If only all witnesses could be this clear-thinking and methodical, his life would be a lot easier.
    Trevor’s eyes narrowed as the college cook continued speaking. He could see that she was pale, and her hands were clasped still and tight in her lap, both signs of shock, he was sure. Yet she was keeping a remarkably clear head. It was almost as if she’d done all this before. The moment he got back to the station, he’d be sure to have a computer search made on Miss Jennifer Starling as a matter of priority. Not that he thought her a serious contender. Whoever had killed Mr Maurice Raines must have bloodstains on their clothes and probably hands as well.
    Of course, the college cook could have killed him, gone back to her room, washed and changed and then called it in. Being the first person to find the body always kept anyone at the top of the suspect list, in Trevor’s opinion.
    ‘Do you know of any reason why anyone would want to kill Mr Raines?’ He asked the stock question without any real hope of anything useful coming of it. So, when the witness was curiously silent, he found his interest peaking.
    Jenny hesitated uneasily. ‘Not of my own knowledge,’ she said eventually.
    Trevor glanced at Trent, who raised one white eyebrow. ‘That’s a rather carefully worded statement, Miss Starling,’ Trevor said at last. ‘Do you think you could be a bit more forthcoming?’
    ‘Like I said, Inspector, I mingled a little with these people. Like people anywhere, they’re fascinated with and by themselves, and they… gossip.’
    ‘Nothing wrong with gossip, not in my line of work, anyway,’ Trevor said cheerfully. ‘Please feel free to pass it on,’ he encouraged.
    Jenny sighed, not for one minute fooled by his hearty and friendly demeanour. Still, he was being canny, and that was a good thing. All in all, she rather liked her policemen to be wily. It made her feel safer.
    ‘I had the impression from several people, that Mr Raines was a bit of a ladies man,’ she said carefully. ‘I also sensed that things were a little… cool, perhaps, between Mr Raines and the treasurer, Mrs Voight. And I think Mr Glendower might not have appreciated the attention Mr Raines had been paying to his girlfriend.’
    And as if mentioning her name had somehow summoned her up, Pippa Foxton’s attractive form suddenly appeared at the far end of the hallway and began to walk towards them. She slowed as she took in the uniform of the younger policeconstable, and her pretty face sharpened with curiosity. ‘Hello? Something wrong?’ she asked uncertainly. ‘Don’t say we’ve had a robbery! Oh good grief, don’t tell me someone has made off with Emily’s damned hedgehogs! We’ll never hear the end of it.’
    She laughed uncertainly, and glanced from Trevor to Peter. She was wearing very tight-fitting jeans and a white silk top that clung to every curve she had. Both Jenny and Pippa noticed both