Pop Goes the Weasel - страница 15

The man crept up the stairs, careful to avoid the creaky board on the fifth step.

Crossing the landing, he avoided Sally’s room and headed straight to his wife’s bedroom. Strange how he always thought of it as her room. A moment’s hesitation, then he placed his fingers on the wooden door and pushed it open. It protested loudly, the hinges groaning as the door swung round.

The man held his breath.

But there was no sound, no sense that he’d disturbed her. So quietly he stepped inside.

She was fast asleep. For a moment a pulse of love shot through him, swiftly followed by a spasm of shame. She looked so innocent and peaceful lying there. So happy. How had it come to this?

He walked out quickly, heading for the stairs. Dwelling on it would only weaken his resolve. Now was the time, so there was no point hesitating. Opening the front door soundlessly, he shot one more cautious glance upstairs, then slipped out into the night.

The sign was discreet – if you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it.

Brookmire Health and Wellbeing. Strange that a commercial enterprise should be so bashful about announcing its presence. Charlie pressed the buzzer – it was swiftly answered.

‘Police,’ Charlie shouted, struggling to be heard above the traffic. There was a pause, longer perhaps than was necessary, then she was buzzed in. Already Charlie had the feeling she wasn’t welcome.

Charlie climbed the stairs to the top floor. The smile that greeted her was wide, but fake. A neat, attractive young woman in a crisp white uniform, hair tied neatly back in a ponytail, asked how she could be of assistance – clearly intending to be no help at all. Charlie said nothing, casing the place – it looked like an upmarket Champneys and had that perfumed smell that all spas have. Eventually Charlie’s eyes returned to the receptionist, whose name badge revealed she was called Edina. Her accent was Polish.

‘I’d like to speak to the manager,’ Charlie said, presenting her warrant card to underline her request.

‘He’s not here. May I be of assistance?’

Still the same forced smile. Irritated, Charlie walked round the desk and down the corridor that led to more rooms at the back.

‘You can’t go down there -’

But Charlie carried on. It was pleasant enough – a series of treatment rooms and off them a communal kitchen. A young mixed-race boy was sitting at the table playing with a train. He looked up, saw Charlie and grinned a huge grin. Charlie couldn’t help smiling back.

‘The manager will be back tomorrow. Perhaps you can come back then?’ Edina had caught up with Charlie.

‘Maybe. In the meantime, I’d like to ask you some questions about an employee. A woman by the name of Agneska Suriav.’

Edina looked blank, so Charlie handed her a photocopy of Agneska’s payslip.

‘Yes, yes. Agneska is one of our therapists. She is on holiday at the moment.’

‘Actually she’s dead. She was murdered two days ago.’

For the first time, Charlie saw a genuine reaction – shock. There was a long pause as Edina processed this, then she muttered:

‘How did she die?’

‘She was strangled, then mutilated.’

Charlie waited for that to land, before continuing:

‘When did you last see her?’

‘Three or four days ago.’

‘Friend of yours?’

Edina shrugged, clearly not wanting to commit either way.

‘What did she do here?’

‘She was a dietitian.’

‘Popular?’

‘Yes,’ Edina replied, though she looked bemused by the question.

‘How much did she charge?’

‘We have a price list here. I can show -’

‘Did she give the full service or did she specialize in certain areas?’

‘I don’t understand what you mean.’

‘I’ve checked out Agneska and I don’t see too many diplomas in dietary science. Her real name was Alexia Louszko and she was a prostitute – a good one by all accounts. She was also Polish. Like you.’

Edina said nothing, clearly not liking where this was going.

‘Let’s start again, shall we?’ Charlie resumed. ‘Why don’t you tell me what Alexia did here?’

There was a long, long silence. Then finally Edina said:

‘Like I said, the manager will be back tomorrow.’

Charlie laughed.