Amanda Cadabra and The Hidden Depths by Holly Bell (good book recommendations TXT) 📗

was no longer a matter of justice being done for justice’s sake. Samantha Gibbs had deserved better.

Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs did not offer to shake hands but greeted him formally. With the air one holding court, she gestured for him to be seated on the opposite horn of the croissant shaped Armour blue sofa.

Trelawney observed that she was carefully made up. Blusherlessness emphasised her pallor. He waited for her to arrange herself, placing one flawlessly French-manicured hand over the other. She sighed, then looked at him earnestly.

‘Inspector. I came as soon as I could. Literally, flung myself on the plane. I must look a total wreck.’

Clearly, admiration was expected. Trelawney sidestepped neatly:

‘Thank you for seeing me, Mrs Gibbs. I am glad you were able to get a flight.’

‘I would have come sooner, you understand.’ Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs was clearly anxious to avoid the appearance of an uncaring parent. ‘But at KOMA I always avoid all outside contact. I am there incognito, as it were. For a complete rest. You know the retreat, of course.’

So, the game had begun. She did not expect a mere policeman to be au fait with, arguably, the most luxurious, not to say, expensive spa destination on the planet. And he would have been in ignorance, had it not been for his source par excellence for all things current in the world of the élite. His mother, Penelope, as a gallery owner catering for tastes at the upper end of the market, by casual references kept her son informed.

‘Indeed. Thailand’s finest, by all accounts,’ Trelawney answered smoothly. Round one to the inspector. ‘Mrs Gibbs —’

‘Loftleigh. Loftleigh-Gibbs. I kept the addition after my divorce for the sake of my daughter.’ The merest soupçon of the martyred mother had entered her voice.

‘Thank you for explaining that.’

She leaned forward, palms up. ‘How can I help, Inspector? Oh, how remiss of me. Did my PA offer you refreshments?’

‘Thank you, Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs, he did. May I ask, when did you last see your daughter?’

‘Only a few weeks ago. She was at college, you see, and went straight from there to stay with friends.’

‘Did you know where she was staying?’

‘Near her father’s clinic. At The Range, I think Samantha said, with a fellow college student’s family. Her father knew the exact address, I’m sure.’ Again, anxious to appear the concerned mother, thought Trelawney

‘And when did you arrive at KOMA?’ he asked.

‘Two weeks ago. I’d booked in just for the month.’ The month. This was designed to let him know the extent of her disposable income. But no … Trelawney’s intuition was telling him that there was more … She’d been sizing him up since the moment he walked onto her exotic hardwood reception room floor. Having taken in his height, physique, the quality of his light grey suit, tie, shoes, pleasing features, and well-spoken voice and manner, she wanted … yes … she wanted to impress him.

This was a reaction not unknown to the inspector who was always careful not to respond in kind, but to encourage any eagerness to co-operate.

‘Were you acquainted with any of Miss Gibbs’s college friends?’

‘No. Samantha was a very private person. She preferred to keep her college life separate from her home life.’

‘Had you met any of the staff at her college?’

‘Actually, her father took care of that. I’m sure he would be more than happy to help.’

That well was manifestly dry. Trelawney tried another.

‘Had you ever visited the Asthma Clinic?’

‘That was my husband’s baby, Inspector. Conceived long after we divorced,’ Veronica said lightly, with raised shoulders and the hint of a helpless smile.

‘How about the village of Sunken Madley?’

‘Good gracious, what a name!’ she exclaimed with amusement.

‘What do you know of it?’

‘Is that where Samantha was staying?’ hazarded Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs.

‘Yes.’

‘I see.’ She leaned back and shook her head. ‘Well, no, Inspector, I’ve never been there.’

‘Does the name Little Madley, mean anything to you.’

The light of recognition lit the flat brown of her eyes. ‘Ah yes, where the clinic is built. Yes, of course. So you see, I knew her father was nearby. According to my daughter, he is often there. She was not without parental supervision.’

Hmm, thought Trelawney, she’s trying to shift blame of some sort onto her ex-husband. A sure sign that she feels responsible in some way. To be incommunicado in a luxury resort while her only child was being done away with could hardly redound to her credit.

And now the rising guilt was beginning to disintegrate Veronica Loftleigh-Gibbs’s velvet glove. She leaned forward.

‘My daughter deserves justice, Inspector.’

‘She does indeed.’

‘So how far have you got?’ asked the woman, with the air of expecting a confidence from a close friend.

‘We are in the initial stages of the investigation,’ Trelawney replied noncommittally.

She took this as a rebuff. ‘Well, what do you know so far?’ The voice was hardening.

‘We are pursuing various avenues, Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs.’

‘That’s not what I asked.’

‘It is all that I can tell you at this stage.’

‘Can or will?’

Trelawney deftly dodged the bullet. ‘Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs, are you aware of anyone at all who could have intended your daughter harm?’

‘Absolutely no-one at all. But someone clearly did, and I expect the police to find that someone and to do so without delay. Furthermore, as her mother, I expect to be kept informed.’

‘You certainly shall be, within the bounds of what can be revealed in the course of an on-going investigation.’

‘Don’t prevaricate, Inspector. I expect results and information.’

‘I assure you that we seek both.’

She took an audible in-breath, pursed her lips and looked at him with glittering eyes.

Here it comes, thought Trelawney.

‘You do know that my father is a personal friend of Chief Inspector Francis Maxwell.’

‘Thank you for informing me.’

‘Your boss will be hearing from my father. Perhaps, thereafter, you’ll be a little more ready to share.’

There was no more to be had here. Trelawney rose, took out a card, and handed it to the lady.

‘Thank you for your time, Mrs Loftleigh-Gibbs. If you think of anything that could be relevant, please call me.’

She did not reply. The PA appeared