‘What did you think?’ Mallory demanded.

Miller shrugged. ‘It’s hard to say. He’s not the sort you meet every day of the week. Did you buy his story about taking the girl back to the studio to pose for him?’

‘It’s crazy enough to be true, we just can’t tell at this stage. He’s certainly right about one thing – the girl’s boyfriend wants checking out.’ He turned to Brady. ‘You can handle that one. The fiancé’s name is Harold, that’s all we know. The girl’s father should be able to give you the rest. When you get the address, go straight round and bring him down to Central for questioning.’

‘What about me, sir?’ Miller asked.

‘You can go back to that damned party. See Joanna Hartmann and check Faulkner’s story. I still don’t understand why he left so early. I’ll see you at Central as well when you’ve finished. Get cracking then – I’ll drop Brady off.’

His car moved away into the rain. Miller watched it go and sighed heavily as he got into the Mini-Cooper. His second visit to Joanna Hartmann’s that night was something he didn’t fancy one little bit.

8

The party had just about folded and the guests had departed except for Jack Morgan and Frank Marlowe who sat at the bar with Joanna and her aunt, having a final drink before leaving.

The door bell chimed and Joanna looked up in surprise. ‘Now, who on earth can that be?’

‘Probably Bruno,’ her aunt remarked acidly. ‘Returning to tell you that all is forgiven.

‘Well, it won’t work – not this time.’ Joanna was annoyed. ‘He can stew for a while.’

There was another ring and Frank Marlowe started to rise. ‘I’d better go …’

‘No I’ll handle it. I’ll see him myself.’

She opened the door, braced for her encounter and found Nick Miller standing there. ‘Why, Nick,’ she said in bewilderment.

‘Could I come in for a moment?’

‘Certainly.’ She hesitated. ‘I’m afraid nearly everyone’s gone home. We’re just having a final drink. Why don’t you join us?’

‘I’d better not,’ he said. ‘To tell you the truth, I’m here on business.’

As she closed the door, she stiffened then turned very slowly. ‘Bruno? Something has happened to Bruno?’

Miller shook his head quickly. ‘He’s perfectly all right – I’ve just been speaking to him. There was a girl here earlier – a girl called Grace Packard. He brought her with him, didn’t he?’

Jack Morgan got up from his stool and came forward. ‘That’s right, but she left some time ago. Look here, Miller, what is this?’

‘As I said, I’ve already spoken to Faulkner. She went back to his studio with him and left at approximately ten-thirty. She was found by a police officer less than fifteen minutes later in an alley a couple of streets away.’

There was a shocked gasp from Mary Beresford and Marlowe said in a whisper, ‘You mean she’s dead?’