Free Murder Adrift by George Bellairs Page B

tell me that Kenneth remained under the same roof as the married couple when they returned to Fordinghurst?’
    â€˜Not at first. Heck and his wife took a flat in the town and lived there for a time. Then the widow Todd took ill and had a very serious operation. She must have effected what, on the surface, was a complete reconciliation between her sons. When she returned home from hospital Heck and his wife took up residence in a flat in the Big House and Heck’s wife, who’d been a nurse, looked after her mother-in-law, who was bedridden for almost a year after the operation. Kenneth never married. He took complete control of the firm. Heck drifted back into his old ways. Before his marriage there was a scandal in the family, which they couldn’t hush up. He got involved with a London actress, there was a divorce case, and Heck had heavy damages to pay. It came at a bad time in the company’s history, too. An epidemic among the foreign wines had caused their sources of supply in the way of wines to dry up, there was a shortage of money in the firm, and Mrs. Todd, senior, had to straighten out Heck’s finances from her private means. I believe she had to sell some of herjewellery. After his marriage he had several affairs, some local, others farther afield. I know because in the course of my rounds of duty I come across in restaurants, hotels and other places I visit all the gossip of the district. . . .’
    â€˜Did his wife know of this?’
    â€˜She knew a lot of it. She refused to divorce him. She had grown very fond of her mother-in-law and then, of course, there were the children, two boys. If Heck hadn’t died he would have found himself in queer street with the family. His mother and brother were heartily sick of his line of conduct, and there was talk of him being dismissed from the firm and made into a sort of remittance-man.’
    Hopkinson felt it time to terminate the interview. The place was thick with smoke and he had drunk quite enough whisky. He wondered what Littlejohn would say when he met him in his present unsteady condition. Dawson, on the other hand, seemed settled for the night.
    â€˜Where do you live, Mr. Dawson?’
    â€˜Between here and Portwich. A little place called Cullin-brook.’
    â€˜Married, sir?’
    â€˜I’m a widower. Wife died five years ago. My youngest daughter looks after me. I’ve two more daughters, both married. One lives in Cheltenham and the other married a soldier and lives in America.’
    Dawson seemed very communicative. The whisky bottle was half empty and it gave Hopkinson a shock when he saw it. He certainly hadn’t drunk so much! And Dawson, who must have been tippling as he went along, was no worse for his share. It had only made him more matey. At this rate they’d be there until morning. Then it suddenly dawned on Hopkinson that as he was a guest at the
Trident
he could drink after hours and entertain his guest as well. Dawsonwas using him to have his little binge within the law!
    â€˜Was there anything else you wanted to know?’
    â€˜I suppose you know all the details about Mr. Hector and his many peccadillos?’
    â€˜What makes you say that?’
    â€˜You and Mr. Lever keep Mr. Kenneth posted with all the gossip and news you hear in your rounds, don’t you?’
    â€˜I thought you said you didn’t know Mr. Kenneth? Who’s been talking to you?’
    â€˜Never mind. It’s true, isn’t it?’
    â€˜I don’t like the hint that I might have been spying on Mr. Heck and telling tales. But somebody had to do it. You never knew what he’d be up to next. After all, I’m almost one of the family after being with them all this time. It’s up to me to protect their interests. . . .’
    Dawson had grown sulky as though Hopkinson had rebuked him and he needed to justify himself.
    â€˜For instance, it was me who overheard in one of the pubs I visit