Model Murder Read Online Free Page A

any of them.”
    “They’re unlikely to be able to tell you any more than I can, Chief Inspector.” There was a touch of asperity in his tone.
    “We’ll see. How about Miss Saxon’s next of kin? Whoever it is must be informed of what has happened. Can you tell me who that would be?”
    The admiral stared at her, as if he’d been put on the spot by her question. “I ... I don’t think she had any relatives ... not to my knowledge.”
    “I’m sure there must be someone she regarded as her next of kin. Let’s hope there’ll be an address book in her room.”
    “Oh, I suppose that is possible.” He paused, then added, “Wasn’t there anything of the sort in her handbag?”
    “Her handbag is missing, sir. We found no trace of it at the scene.”
    He looked surprised, and ... what? Relieved?
    “Where was Miss Saxon’s private accommodation?” Kate asked him. “I’d like to take a quick look around while I’m here.”
    “Er ... Corinne had some rooms on the top floor converted into a self-contained apartment.”
    “That will be locked, I presume? Will there be a spare key?”
    “I imagine there must be. In the hotel office, I expect.”
    “When I was here on the launch day, I remember having Miss Saxon’s deputy pointed out to me, though I didn’t actually meet him. He’ll be in charge of the hotel now, I imagine?”
    “I suppose he will be. Yves will have to be informed about Corinne.” He sighed jerkily, and blinked his eyes several times. “This is very distressing. It’s difficult to assemble one’s thoughts. Labrosse, the name is—Yves Labrosse. He is Swiss.”
    “Perhaps your steward could take me to see Mr. Labrosse, sir. I’d better have a word with him myself.”
    “Oh, well, if you think it’s necessary.” The admiral tinkled a silver bell on the table beside him. The steward entered at once, as if he’d been standing just the other side of the door, listening.
    “Ah ... Larkin. Chief Inspector Maddox has brought tragic news. Miss Saxon is dead ... murdered. She was strangled, apparently. It is scarcely believable.”
    The man’s reaction was contrived, theatrical. He recoiled half a step, his eyes widening in horror. Was he just covering the fact that he’d had his ear to the door? Or was his prior knowledge more sinister?
    Kate cut short his expressions of dismay by saying briskly, “I’d like you to take me to Mr. Labrosse, please.”
    The man glanced at the admiral for permission.
    “Yes, yes, Larkin. Do as the chief inspector says.”
    “I’ll come back and see you later on, Admiral,” said Kate. “We shall need to talk again.”
    Outside, walking along the corridor, she asked Larkin, “When was the last time you saw Miss Saxon?”
    That halted him in his tracks. “Hey! What’re you getting at?”
    “Just answer the question, please.”
    “You going to be in charge of this case, then?” he asked, showing as much contempt as he dared.
    “I shall be heading the investigation, yes. Well?”
    He ruminated, sullenly taking his time. Finally, he said, “About half-twelve on Wednesday. She came along to see if the admiral was ready for his lunch.”
    “And you didn’t see her again after that?”
    “No, I didn’t.”
    “Very well,” Kate said, moving on.
    The man was uneasy, and she let him sweat. Later, he’d be questioned at length by one of the as-yet-unassembled murder squad. And possibly again by her, if his answers were unsatisfactory.
    Beside the reception desk, a door led into an office. Larkin threw it open without first knocking, and a woman working at a word-processor looked up sharply in annoyance. She had a long, rather plain, somewhat horsey face. Large spectacles with downward-sloped lenses, intended to add style, gave her an unfortunately dolorous appearance.
    “Look here, Larkin, you can’t just come barging in like this.” She spotted Kate behind him, and modified her resentment. “Oh, what is it?”
    “Where is he?” Larkin