Chapter 12 - The Council
That afternoon all but one of the Councillors arrived at Southcliff Hall in response to a request from the police via Fiona. They came willingly for the most part, giving their names to the constable on the door and waiting politely in Reception to be called. Only Councillor Clandecy could not be reached. His wife said that he was in London, and 'the police would have to call back tomorrow'.
"Wentley, Alfred. Rivers, Paula. Cooper, Sheila. Denby, Gordon. Massington, Dennis. Pickford, Hugh." Helford read the list, and snorted in annoyance. "Typical, the only one we really want is missing. Right, let's have them, one at a time - ladies first."
Paula Rivers was brought into the room, and sat down gracefully. She answered all Helford's questions calmly, and he was not surprised when he learned that she was a schoolteacher. Nothing of use was gained from the interview, except that she seemed a bit restless when asked about James Goswell. Dean watched while Helford questioned - it was a double act that worked well, as Dean was surprisingly perceptive for a young man.
Mrs Sheila Cooper came in next, and was a revelation to Helford. He had always imagined that Councillors came from the privileged sections of society, but here was a council house tenant, retired from her job as a packer in a local factory. He was fascinated. "What made you become a Councillor?" he asked her. She responded sincerely: "I wanted to help - it takes a lot of organising to keep a place like this tidy and well run, and I had time once I retired. I know what normal people want, what they like, so I reckoned I could put in a word for folks like me. Kind of - well, representing everyday working people."
She had no helpful information either, so Alfred Wentley was brought in. He was clearly not pleased at being summoned, and was as uncooperative as could be. Helford tried many lines of enquiry, but was blocked at every turn. Perhaps the man had nothing to hide, but he was so obstreperous that it made Helford suspicious. 'Bet he's fun in Council meetings,' he thought.
Gordon Denby was a welcome contrast when he came in. He considered each question carefully, then gave as accurate and fair an answer as possible. All the interviewees had been told the identity of the body in the basement, and were asked to flesh out the picture of the dead man for the police.
Denby had been aware of the real reason Gerald Chewter left the Council's employment, but he had no other cause to dislike the man. "On the other hand....." he began, and paused, contemplating the justice of what he was about to say. Helford waited. Finally his patience was rewarded. Denby resumed his comments with: "Chewter was his own worst enemy, I would say. He tried to be on everyone's side, and perhaps because of that, he came across as insincere. No-one can really agree with all views - one can accept, but one must have some private convictions. Chewter wanted to keep a hand in everywhere, pretending to each party that he was their advocate at the Council - but in fact no-one trusted him. We all felt he could be playing us off against one another."
"I cannot guess at his motives, there seemed to be nothing he could gain from his actions. He was paid just the same, whoever was voted to serve as Councillors or whoever won out in disputes."
"Would you say he liked money?" Helford asked, wondering about the sums of cash deposited in recent months.
Denby thought, then responded decidedly: "Yes. He wanted to be up there with the big boys, moving in the same circles as Dennis - Councillor Massington - and Councillor Clandecy. He copied them if he could afford it - I've seen him come to Council meeting dressed in almost identical clothes, right down to the ties - Dennis Massington's, that is. Yes, he liked the things money could bring."
The inspector made notes, and then lifted his head and took a long look at Gordon Denby. He decided that the man before him would be responsible enough to put justice ahead of discretion. "I wonder if I could ask you to help me further, Councillor Denby - I need a man with your experience and perception to give me an insight into the rest of your colleagues. I realise you don't want to be indiscreet, but I only ask that you give me a quick sketch of each one - nothing too personal."
Denby cautiously agreed, and they began with the women. He was enthusiastic about Paula Rivers, describing her as a 'lovely person' and a credit to the teaching profession. Mrs Sheila Cooper had 'a heart of gold - and often serves as the voice of common sense in Council meetings'. He hesitated in telling fashion when asked to describe Alfred Wentley, but gave him a vague commendation: "Al tries to be fair, and sticks to his guns when he believes he has the right view." Helford wrote down 'pig-headed' on his notebook. Dennis Massington fared better, as Denby gave a longer description of him: "He's an energetic worker, always at meetings, and takes a real interest in everything that goes on in Pebbleton. Surprises me sometimes, as he has business interests in the City, but he views this village as his home for the future, and wants to make it as good as it can be." Hugh Pickford was dismissed with the words: "When he's there he does a decent job, but he seems to have too much else going on - always dashing off to one thing or another, you can't rely on him for much. People shouldn't be Councillors if they can't commit a proper amount of time to it."
Helford thanked Gordon Denby and asked if he could call on him in future for more help. Councillor Denby said he'd be happy to oblige. After he left Helford asked Dean to collect some coffee on the return trip, and asked his impressions so far. Dean consulted his notebook. "I liked Ms Rivers, she seemed sensible, but I definitely saw her body language change when you asked her about James Goswell. Mrs Cooper - a real sweetie - I liked her determination."
"Mr Wentley - I'd like to think he's our murderer, but he's almost too irritable. If he was guilty I'd expect him to be charming, to cover up. Mr Denby - well, I'm not surprised you asked him to describe the others - he seemed the most co-operative and experienced. He said he was a retired teacher, didn't he? I guess he knows people. Interesting description of Chewter, copying the style of another man. I'm looking forward to seeing this Councillor Massington."
"OK, we'll have him next. But check if there's any messages while you're collecting him, please."
Dean returned with Dennis Massington, who was carrying a tray of coffee. Dean had a handful of messages for his boss. The Councillor set the tray down, and explained with a gracious smile: "I took the liberty of including myself in the coffee order, I hope you don't mind. Thought if I played waiter I'd get away with it!"
The inspector nodded and smiled back. Massington served the coffee while Helford read the messages, and made a couple of notes. There was a polite silence until the senior officer laid down his pen and took a sip of coffee. He began the interview by thanking the Councillor for taking the time out a busy schedule to help the investigation.
"Not at all - it's a terrible thing to have happened, and we all want to do everything we can."
"Can you tell me your own viewpoint of Mr Chewter?"
"Hmmm, well, one doesn't want to speak ill of the dead, but....he wasn't a popular man. Not good at making friends, sadly. I didn't have a lot to do with him beyond the Council work, so I may not be the best person to ask."
"Who would be the best, do you think?"
"Ah, now you have me there - as I said, I had no dealings with him outside these walls. He must have had some relatives, surely?"
"That's what we will be finding out, of course. Could you give me your view of the new Clerk, Mr Goswell?"
"Oh yes, nice man - reasonable, quite good at keeping order in meetings without being offensive. We've been fortunate to get him."
The questions went on in the same pattern as Helford had used on most of the other Councillors. Dennis Massington leaned back in his chair, relaxed and elegant. He asked some questions of his own, which Helford deflected. He was too experienced an officer to give away information to anyone, no matter how innocent they appeared to be.
Finally Hugh Pickford was brought in. He was a lively man, a bundle of energy. It became clear that he was anxious to get awa
y to a client, a large company in Frayminster. He was a computer expert, and often missed Council meetings because a job overran. He knew less than the other Councillors about everything, it seemed. However, when Helford asked about Chewter's popularity, he grimaced. "We were the only ones who ever invited him anywhere," he replied.
"You invited him? Socially?"
"Didn't have much choice - we're the only relatives he's got - he had, I mean. My wife is his second cousin. I suppose that means we'll have to arrange the funeral."
"Did he come to you often?"
"I'm ashamed to say we only really invited him to Christmas dinner or some other things where we could have quite a few other people at the same time. He came to my wedding and behaved horribly to my sister - she was a bridesmaid, and he tried....well, you know."
"Your wife is his second cousin, you say. Any other relatives you know of?"
"Just my wife's mother. She was the first cousin of Gerry's mother. They were Monkfords, and the last of the family name. I mean, once those two girls married and lost the name, that was it. Gerry used to go on about it, he was really into the family history. We couldn't be bothered, what's the point? It's all gone now."
"What's all gone?" Helford asked, leaning forward. He had the feeling that the answer would remind him of what he had forgotten the previous evening.
"The land the family had. They owned a huge farm once, over on The Edge. But it got sold off, bit by bit. The last of it was sold to the Clandecy family in the 'forties. My wife's family had a bit of money, but it was nothing compared to the way things were before the First World War. Gerry was always going on about the glory days of the Monkfords."
The Inspector sighed, and leaned back. He had it now. On his notebook he wrote 'Land on the Edge - families. Clandecy, Monkford, and .....? Ask shopkeeper.'
He took a long look at the energetic man in front of him. Did he realise that he had a clear motive to do away with Chewter? Aloud he asked: "Your wife's mother - she would be the nearest relative to Gerald Chewter. Presumably she would inherit his house." He watched the reaction.
Pickford's eyes slowly widened. "Wow!" he breathed. "You're right! She'll be tickled pink. We've been wondering how to get her a place near us, and this will be the answer! She lives in Croydon, you see, and she's not coping with the noise and rush. It's getting quite dangerous there, you know."
Helford nodded. He knew the problems his colleagues were facing in the outer London areas. He felt that Pickford was telling the truth, and was glad that at least some good would come of the demise of Gerald Chewter. He let Pickford go, but at the last minute he stopped him with the words: "Just one other thing....."
Dean hid a smile. It was a private joke between them that this classic Colombo strategy should only be used on one suspect per investigation.
"None of your fellow Councillors have mentioned that you are related to Mr Chewter. Why do you suppose that is?"
Pickford grinned. "I don't suppose they know. Gerry was ashamed that his relative married a boy from a comprehensive school, and I certainly wasn't about to admit that I was related to him!"
The two officers compared notes after the door closed behind Hugh Pickford. They agreed that he seemed innocent, and Helford asked Dean what he thought after meeting Dennis Massington.
"Big city type - quite impressive, I was wondering who was interviewing who at one point!"
"Yes, he's probably hired and fired a few people in his time. Did you like him?"
"Like him? I guess so. I suppose he's a favourite with the ladies, what my mum calls a 'silver fox'. It was kind of him to bring the coffee tray for us."
"Yes. Impeccable manners, Dean. You could learn a lot," Helford teased. "Right, I suppose you want to know what was in the messages?"
Dean nodded. His boss handed him the sheaf of papers and sat back with his eyes closed while Dean read. The first was a report on the initial findings from behind the breeze-block wall. The two dead man were around thirty to forty years of age, and wore inexpensive clothes. One had a distinctive dolphin tattoo on his arm. The other had a gold filling, and his toenails were manicured. There were a few other details, but nothing to make an identification. Both had been shot, in a similar way to Chewter, although from the front.
The next note was from the officer leading the search at Chewter's house. A computer had been found, and two memory sticks. A few keys had turned up in the house, but nothing that fitted the front door. The paper shop man had said nothing new or useful. The barmaid at the Gull Inn was 'pretty certain' that Chewter had been in the pub until nearly closing time two evenings ago.
The final note was from Beavon, the capable desk officer who had been left with a lengthy 'to do' list that morning. He had got a phone list from the telephone company, and was checking the last calls made and received by the dead man. He had linked up two calls made to local residents. The numbers called were registered to the names Wentley and Massington.
"That's interesting - why would Chewter ring Wentley and Massington? I thought there was no contact outside the Council?"
Helford opened his eyes. "Precisely. Wentley wasn't going to help us out anyway, but I was hoping Massington would divulge the reason for that call."
"Why didn't you ask him?"
"Ah, that would have been alerting him to what we know. I wanted to see if he would mention it himself."
"It might have been something innocent - like asking for a phone number of a friend, or getting a recommendation for a plumber!"
"True. We'll leave it for now, but it's worth asking soon if neither of them come forward. Now, I'd better get myself to the Tourist office, otherwise my kids will miss out on this Sports thing." He heaved himself up wearily, and set off. "Oh, nearly forgot - can you make sure the area around the back entrance is thoroughly searched - I mean really searched, fine toothcomb job, OK? You take the lead, and I'll come by after I've dealt with this."