Free The Death Chamber by Sarah Rayne

Clara coped with the removal of Bartlam and Violette Partridge from her world.

 
    CHAPTER SIX

    Georgina had intended to spend all day immersed in Walter’s world, but by midday her head was starting to ache from poring over faded writing and tattered receipts that
were of no interest to even the most avid researcher. She would have an hour’s break – some fresh air and modern-day reality.
    The King’s Head provided exactly the right note of modern reality. It also served very substantial bar lunches; Georgina’s plate came heaped with crisp fresh salad and several thick
slices of home-cured ham. She took it to a table in the little dining alcove, along with a copy of
Talismans of the Mind
, which she had bought on the drive here, and which she was reading
out of curiosity and also out of vague deference to the proximity of C. R. Ingram. She was enjoying the book; she propped it up on her table while she ate because she always felt a bit
self-conscious about being on her own in a pub.
    The tables were fairly close together and the King’s Head was quite crowded. Georgina was not listening to anyone else’s conversation, but it was difficult to avoid hearing the
discussion at an adjoining table, where a girl of around her own age and a young earnest-looking boy with a flop of brown hair and glasses, were eating lasagne.
    ‘If you want to know the truth,’ said the girl, who had long fair hair and a languid voice, ‘I’m actually finding Neville Fremlin deeply interesting – I’ve
turned up a fair bit of stuff about him already. As a matter of fact, I think there’s something very nearly sexy about villainy on that scale.’
    ‘I think you’re winding me up,’ said the boy in an American accent.
    ‘You’re not sure if I am though, are you?’ said the girl. ‘Listen, I know we didn’t set out to focus on Fremlin, but Chad’s getting seriously interested in
him. I bet he’d look at the budget to see if we could do a spin-off. Or extend what we’ve got into a two-parter. I tell you what, let’s rough something out anyway.’
    ‘I admit Fremlin’s turning out to be kind of interesting.’
    ‘He is, isn’t he? He must have had terrific sex appeal to lure those females into his murderous den. But how did he behave in ordinary life? That’s what I find most
interesting. Everyone focuses on the killing parts of murderers’ lives, but what were they like for the rest of the time?’
    The American boy appeared to think for a moment, then said carefully, ‘When the enterprising burglar’s not a-burgling/When the cut-throat isn’t occupied in crime.’
    ‘Oh God, now, you’re quoting something at me.’
    ‘Gilbert and Sullivan.’
    ‘You’re so highbrow, Phin, I don’t know how you can stand yourself.’
    ‘
The Pirates of Penzance
isn’t highbrow—’ said Phin hotly.
    ‘It is to me. But I suppose you just
lerve
English light opera.’
    ‘My father has the complete works of Gilbert and Sullivan and I think they’re just the wittiest . . . Anyhow, you were the one talking about villains not engaged in
villainy.’
    ‘It is an interesting angle though, isn’t it? Was Fremlin the average, run-of-the-mill pharmacist, measuring out pills and potions, and whatnot? “Our newest line in face
creams, moddom, and did you want something for the weekend, sir?” Sorry, Phin, that’s an old English expression, you probably wouldn’t know what I mean – But presumably
Neville Fremlin didn’t spend his entire time murdering gullible females and then burying their naked bodies to avoid getting caught. He’d have a living to make between times,
wouldn’t he?’
    ‘I thought he murdered his victims for their money. Why would he need to work at all?’
    ‘P’raps he just liked killing people. Or maybe they didn’t have as much money as he thought. Or he liked a really glitzy life and used the money up very fast.’
    ‘Or,’ said Phin and Georgina received the impression that he made