A Perfect Likeness (8 page)

Trish busied herself looking at the large sales chart pinned to a wall above a non-used fireplace. No wonder Mr O’Neill is suffering, thought Trish, too much red by a mile. A tap on the glass partition made her jump.

‘Hi, I’m Elizabeth Browne, I hope this is important as I’m under a lot of pressure at the moment.’ Her white working coat was spattered with black and blue ink and her top pocket was overfilled with pens and small tools.

‘So I understand, Mr O’Neill did tell me. I’ll try not to keep you too long. Elizabeth, I’m Trish Lister, a private investigator employed by the family of Victoria Campbell.’

Elizabeth gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. ‘Oh, no. Please, I don’t think I’m going to like this.’

‘Elizabeth, there’s nothing to get worried about. I have been asked to look at new information before it’s handed over to the police and I understand you and Victoria often had your lunch breaks together?’

‘That’s right,’ said Elizabeth with tears already forming in the corners of her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, I’m going to cry.’

‘I don’t mean to upset you, but it is important. I take it you and Victoria were close?’

‘Very. After her sister and Michael, I was probably closer than anyone. It was always fun when she was with you. She even introduced Jackie to me as her best friend and we had all been out together three times before I found out they were sisters. Always playing jokes on me. They were so close, Victoria and Jackie.’ Her healthily pink cheeks shone with the wetness of her tears.

Trish opened the outer pocket of her handbag, took out a packet of paper handkerchiefs, and handed it to Elizabeth.

‘I’m sorry, Miss Lister,’ she said dabbing the wetness from her eyes.

‘Please call me Trish.’

‘Thanks. It took me so long to get over Victoria’s death, and now these questions. It’s brought it all back again.’

‘Where did you go for your lunch breaks, Elizabeth?’

‘We would always walk into town. It only takes five minutes from here and we would pop up to the Maxfords cafeteria for a roll and a drink. After that, maybe a quick look around the clothes, or in the summer we would go to the beach and have an ice cream. Nothing exciting,’ she said, now more composed. She took another handkerchief from the packet and handed the rest back to Trish. ‘Thanks, I’m okay now.’

‘Did Victoria ever mention her twin to you, Elizabeth?’

‘Yes, we always used to joke about it. I never saw her. They always made contact on a day when I was not with her. For six months I was on a course learning about some new equipment we were getting and I had to go to London two mornings a week.’

‘Did Victoria ever give you any details about this other lady? What her job was, whether she was married or where she lived? Anything like that.’

‘I’m sorry, she didn’t. Not because she didn’t want to, it was because she didn’t know. The lady was always asking about her and when Victoria did manage to get a question in it was cleverly sidetracked. Not much help am I?’

‘Don’t worry, you’re doing fine. Were there any specific incidents you can recall during the final three months, anything at all, no matter how insignificant you may think it seemed?’

‘Well, there was something, but it is so stupid it can’t be relevant. We let our minds run wild on the two days it happened.’

‘When what happened, Elizabeth?’

‘Well, we were walking into town, arm in arm as usual, and Victoria stopped to look in a boutique shop window. As I turned towards the window with her I noticed the clicking noise, that had been behind us for some time, had stopped as well. It was a peculiar noise. I guessed it might have been a ladies high heeled shoe with damaged heel or the shoe did not fit well. It kind of double clicked as it hit the pavement, they do sometimes. Sorry, I can’t describe it any other way. I glanced in the window and saw the reflection of a lady standing in the middle of the pavement reading a magazine. Only about fifteen feet away from us. I could not see her face because she held the magazine too high. Victoria and I walked on and so did the lady with the noisy shoe. As we got near to Maxfords the noise stopped. I looked back and she had gone, into one of the many smaller shops in the area I suppose. The noise had been with us since we’d left the printers. Victoria had not noticed it at all. I told her about it, but she was not bothered. She just shrugged. We laughed at my being so suspicious, but then we laughed at anything. Another time I really had the feeling we were being followed. I don’t know why, but I was sure it had to be that same lady again. I told Victoria who didn’t believe me. We’d walk fast for a while, then slowed right down and then stop and look in a shop window. We chose an empty shop to look into once, which was a bit stupid. We were laughing all the time, people must have thought us mad. We even walked straight through one shop and out the back entrance to a different road, but the lady was always there, looking in windows every time we turned around so we did not get to see her face. Then she was gone, just like the time before. It was obviously pure coincidence, but didn’t we laugh. Silly isn’t it and I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful?’

‘No, Elizabeth, it’s not silly at all and I believe you may have been very helpful. I know you didn’t see the face, but can you remember anything about this lady, such as height, weight, age or clothing for example?’

‘She seemed to have a good figure and was probably in her thirties, although you can’t always tell, particularly without seeing the face. She was a little taller than me, about the same as Victoria I guess, and I would say her clothing was a bit expensive. It looked good quality.’

‘Excellent. Amazing what you can remember, even after such a long time. Here, take my card and if you think of anything else, no matter how trivial you think it may be, please give me a call. And, Elizabeth, thank you very much.’

‘You’re welcome, but can I ask why all the questions after such a long time? I thought the case was closed.’

‘Some additional information has been brought to the attention of the family and they have asked me to check it out. Look, you’d better get back to work otherwise Mr O’Neill will end up blowing a fuse. He’s not in a very good mood this morning.’

*

‘How on earth did Victoria stand that man?’ said Trish as she got into the car. ‘He is an obnoxious piece of work.’

‘She always used to say he wasn’t the best of bosses. How did you get on then?’

Trish was serious. ‘Jackie, this is all becoming very interesting. From what Elizabeth has just told me I now believe Victoria was being followed, by a woman. Could it have been her twin, I wonder? Could it also have been the twin who was in the lift the night Victoria was murdered and forced Michael to run down the stairs? Do you know most of the people who live in the block?’

‘Yes, more or less. I don’t think there have been any changes of ownership in the last two years. There are four flats on each of the five floors.’

‘Good, we’ll check the top two floors. This is something we can do together, sooner rather than later, after you have shown me the apartment. I think it might help me if I got the feel of it.’

‘Why don’t we go this evening? Around eight would probably be the best time; I should think most people would be home by then,’ said Jackie.

*

‘I’m deflated,’ said Jackie, ‘I really thought we might have got something out of this. All that work for nothing.’

‘Try not to be. We are not going to get results at every corner, but think about it for a moment. Maybe we have got some information. The immediate neighbours, on the same floor as Victoria and Michael all stated that, as far as they could remember, they had no visitors on the night of the murder. I’m happy with that as it still means the occupant of the lift is still a suspect.’

Chapter 5

‘Come on, Trish, we don’t want to be late. You must be ready by now,’ Jackie shouted from the bottom of the stairs. She knew Trish was distressed at the thought of attending the AA meeting, not because she didn’t want to sort her problem out, it was more a case of who she might see there who would recognise her.

‘Be down in a minute. Are you sure it’s tonight?’

‘Yes it is, you watched me put it in your diary. Come on, show a bit of courage and think of the future, your future. What about the last six months or so, did you worry about being seen in a drunken stupor by neighbours or friends?’

‘Okay, okay, you’ve made your point. How do I look?’ she said, quickly changing tack and forcing a smile as she descended the stairs in model posture. ‘Pretty good for a drunk.’

‘Just perfect, Miss Draycliffe-on-Sea. Now let’s dash so we can get the best seats; I know this hall and if you get the wrong position you can miss things.’

‘I’d rather wait at the entrance and go in last. That way I can see if I know anyone.’ Trish was shaking, she had been jumpy all day and now her nerves were being stretched to their limit yet again.

‘Tell you what, when we come out we’ll treat ourselves to one small drink. Your reward for being a good girl. Mind you, after the meeting you may decide you don’t want to touch the stuff again. I’m sure that’s what you should be thinking.’

‘Sounds a good idea to me, the first bit anyway. Not so sure about the rest.’

*

They left the meeting arm in arm, Trish feeling much better now it was over and that she had not bumped into anyone she knew.

‘Let’s go and get to that drink, before I pass out. Look, over
there, seems a decent place. Mind you it’s a bit near the hall.
Wouldn’t it be funny if the speakers walked in for a pint.’ She giggled at the thought.

They took their drinks to a small round table away from the window. Trish sipped and sighed the moment she sat. Jackie watched and felt a deep sadness for Trish, but great relief for herself. It could quite easily have been her seeking help to put her life back together. She related so much to Trish’s problem. Her thoughts shuffled through many of the memories of her ex-partner that she had transferred to the brain’s rubbish bin, but had not been able to erase completely. She wished it were possible to programme the brain to remember only the nice times.

‘Penny for them, Jackie,’ said Trish.

‘Sorry, back with my ex for a moment.’

‘You loved him a lot?’

‘I thought I did and it hurt like hell when he ran off. I was lucky because I still had Victoria and loving parents to help me through the trauma. And Michael was a brick. Trish, listen to me, if you can accept what your husband has done and block him out of your mind, by concentrating on getting your business back together for example, then I’m positive your other problem will be easier to control.’

‘I’m sure you’re right, but I’ll need to work on it pretty hard. I thought the meeting was quite interesting and I guess that if it works for others it could well work for me.’

‘That’s just what I want to hear.’

‘I have to admit to not being sure about going to the first closed meeting so soon though.’

‘And that is
not
what I want to hear.’

‘Sorry, but it’s only the day after tomorrow so there is no time for me to prepare.’

‘And what is there to prepare, Trish? You heard the group leader invite people to just come along and join in. I thought she sounded very nice. I’m sure it must make you feel more comfortable knowing you will have a woman group leader as well. Not only that, you told her you would be attending.’

‘I suppose it will be alright. Fancy some crisps?’ Without waiting for a reply she made a quick dash to the bar and ordered two packets.

‘Trish, I need to remind you that my folks are coming home next week and I will need to spend some time with them. I don’t want them to know anything about what has been happening, not just yet anyway. Maybe, if you get enough information to take to DI Deckman then I’ll tell them, along with Michael’s parents. Then again that might not be a good idea. Oh hell, I don’t know what to do for the best. Hopefully, by the time my folks get here you will have a couple of AA meetings under your belt and will be feeling more confident on your own and then I should be able to focus my mind better.’

‘I know I have to be alone soon,’ said Trish, ‘but I’ve relied on you so much the last few days I’m not sure I will be able to make it by myself.’

‘Yes you can. You have to and I will always be here for you. I have told you that before. We will talk every day, more than once if you like and I expect to see you most days.’

‘Won’t be quite the same.’

‘Of course it won’t, but that means you are on the mend and that is what we are working towards. Right, let’s drink up and get home. Your place tonight, I believe. There’s just one more thing, my manager phoned today and asked me to attend a seminar on the hotel’s new computer system tomorrow morning. I have to go, of course.’

‘Why, I thought you were on holiday?’ Trish cursed herself. ‘I’m sorry, shouldn’t have said that. I’m being selfish again.’

‘Come on, Trish, I’ll only be away from nine to midday. Let’s see how you get on. I will leave my mobile on vibrate just in case you have a problem.’

*

Jackie drove away from the house wishing she had phoned the hotel to say she was too ill to attend. She saw Trish in the rear view mirror, standing at the door, waving and desperate to keep the car in sight for as long as possible. It was going to be a tough morning for both of them and she knew Trish would have begun her fight already. Jackie had asked her to prepare a report on the investigation so far in the hope that it would be enough to keep her mind away from other matters.