Free A Maze of Murders by Roderic Jeffries

grateful if the señora would confirm that she has never met anyone of that name.’
    After a moment, she said, in a low voice: ‘No, I haven’t.’
    â€˜Have you ever met a man called Albert Sheard?’
    â€˜No.’
    It had been a much stronger denial.
    â€˜Who is Sheard?’ Clough asked. ‘Was he also aboard the boat and has disappeared, to be presumed drowned?’
    â€˜Last night he was riding a Vespa when he was knocked down by a car and died from his injuries.’
    â€˜Very soon, you’ll have my wife inconsolable!’
    â€˜It’s all so terrible,’ she said.
    Her words had lacked emotion; it was as if they had been spoken to her husband’s cue. ‘Señor, did you know Albert Sheard?’
    â€˜No. Have you the slightest reason for thinking either of us might have done?’
    â€˜He and Señor Lewis were friends.’
    â€˜Hardly of consequence in the present context.’
    â€˜Señor Sheard’s crash occurred on the road between Port Llueso and Torret.’
    â€˜So?’
    â€˜It is one of the two routes one would take to reach here.’
    â€˜You are trying to say he may have been coming here?’
    â€˜It seems a possibility.’
    â€˜Only by stretching the laws of possibilities to breaking point. Tell me, do you pursue your logic to its logical conclusion? Is every person who was on that road, and on the alternative one, to be considered a potential visitor to Son Preda?’
    â€˜Only if that person had a reason for meeting you.’
    â€˜I am intrigued. What are you now going to suggest was Sheard’s reason for meeting me, a complete stranger?’
    â€˜I’m not certain. But it may have had a connection with the money you withdrew.’
    â€˜Ah, yes! Your concern just before my wife came in.’ Clough turned to Vera. ‘The inspector has been showing considerable interest in our financial affairs, to the extent of persuading the bank to divulge details of our account. It seems my withdrawal of a million pesetas a fortnight ago troubles him. From his inability to judge a wife’s capacity to spend, it’s my guess he’s not married.’ He turned back. ‘Are you, in fact, married?’
    â€˜No, señor.’
    â€˜Your incomprehension becomes comprehensible. I will explain. Some little time ago, we were invited to stay in the near future with friends for whom form is all-important. My wife normally dresses without fuss or frills, but there are occasions when she has to accept the necessity of doing otherwise and this will be one such. So that is why I have had to rediscover the fact that a couple of dresses can cost as much as a man’s entire wardrobe.’
    Alvarez asked her: ‘You have bought some dresses on the island, señora?’
    She looked to her husband.
    He said: ‘Whenever my wife needs something special to wear, she has it made by a dressmaker in England.’
    â€˜Are you saying that the million pesetas was needed to pay this dressmaker?’
    â€˜Indeed.’
    â€˜Even though she works in England and one would expect her to be paid in pounds?’
    â€˜Correct again.’
    â€˜Would you be kind enough to show me her receipt.’ Alvarez did not miss the sudden look of consternation on Vera’s face.
    Clough showed no such concern. ‘Your justification for the request?’
    â€˜The receipt would confirm what you’ve just told me.’
    â€˜You need confirmation?’
    â€˜Regretfully, in my job I have to seek confirmation of everything I am told.’
    â€˜Seek but, presumably, do not always find?’
    â€˜May I see the receipt?’
    â€˜I have to disappoint you.’
    â€˜Why?’
    â€˜Basically, because the dressmaker is a talented woman of much common sense – the two, of course, do not always go together.’
    â€˜I don’t understand.’
    â€˜She is employed by one of