Model Murder Read Online Free Page B

demanded.
    “If you’re referring to Mr. Labrosse, he’s in his office.” She addressed Kate. “Who shall I say wants him?”
    “Please inform Mr. Labrosse that Detective Chief Inspector Maddox of the South Midlands Police would like a word.” She turned to the man dismissively. “Thank you, Mr. Larkin. That will be all for now.”
    He scowled before departing, though whether at her or at the secretary was uncertain. With her hand on the phone, the secretary asked, “What shall I tell Mr. Labrosse it’s about?”
    “Just say that I want to see him.”
    Ten seconds later Kate was ushered into the inner room. It was spacious, tastefully furnished in tones of green and beige and brown. There were two desks, both of them large and opulent, but one was larger than the other. The man who rose to greet her had been seated at the slightly smaller desk. She had seen him before at the launch party, but they’d not spoken.
    “Chief Inspector Maddox. In what way can I assist you?” He spoke in a rich firm voice that carried only a trace of a continental accent. Smiling with professional charm, he gestured her into a comfortable chair placed a little to one side. “It is not a serious matter, I trust? Is one of the staff in some kind of trouble?”
    He was, above all, suave. Around forty—tall and dark and very nearly handsome. His subdued grey worsted suit, if bought off the peg, had come off a very expensive peg. A slightly anachronistic touch was the corner of a whiter-than-white handkerchief showing at his breast pocket.
    “I’m afraid it’s a very serious matter, Mr. Labrosse. Earlier this afternoon Miss Corinne Saxon’s body was discovered in the woods at East Dean.”
    He jerked to attentiveness. “Her body? You mean that Corinne is dead?”
    Kate watched him, noting a complexity of emotions flickering behind the carefully controlled features. “I’m afraid I do. She had been strangled.”
    “Mon dieu! How is this possible? When was she killed? Who could have done it? Strangled, you say. How shocking! How brutal!”
    “Perhaps you can help me towards finding an answer to those questions, Mr. Labrosse.”
    “That is my wish, of course, in whatever way I can. But I don’t see what you want of me. Corinne set off from here on Wednesday for a brief holiday, but if she was found in East Dean woods she didn’t get far. Who could have waylaid her? For what motive? Was it theft, for cash or whatever else she had on her?”
    While talking, his glance had strayed a couple of times in the direction of the other desk. Corinne’s desk, presumably. Was he telling himself that, incredibly, she would never again be sitting there? Or might he be mentally sizing it up for his own occupation?
    As with the admiral, Kate did not choose to enlighten Labrosse regarding the motive. “Do you happen to know where Miss Saxon was going? And with whom?”
    “But she departed alone, Chief Inspector.”
    “That doesn’t mean she wasn’t planning to join up with someone. You haven’t answered the first part of my question, Mr. Labrosse, about where she was going.”
    He gestured his two hands apart in apology. “I have no idea where she was going. None at all.”
    “Isn’t it surprising that Miss Saxon didn’t say?”
    He raised his eyebrows, shrugged his elegantly suited shoulders. “It was her own concern, n’est-ce pas?”
    “According to Admiral Fortescue, she didn’t tell him, either.”
    His glance sharpened. “How did the admiral take this terrible news?”
    “It was a great shock to him, of course. As I imagine it must be for you.”
    “Ah, yes. Indeed, yes. A great shock.” Labrosse had another stab at getting some answers from her. “Have you any theory yet as to who could have done this dreadful thing? And why?”
    “The murder investigation has barely begun,” Kate pointed out. “And that leads me to another point. I shall need to set up temporary headquarters. Somewhere as near as possible to the East