[Wexford 01] From Doon & Death by Ruth Rendell Read Free Book Online Page A

delphiniums and change the covers accordingly.
    'No shortage of lolly ’ Wexford said laconically when the girl had gone. This is the sort of set-up I had in mind when I said she might buy Arctic Sable for a gimmick.'
    'Cigarette, sir?'
    'Have you gone raving mad. Burden? Maybe you'd like to take your tie off. This is Sussex, not Mexico.'
    Burden restored the packet and they sat in silence for ten minutes. Then he said, ‘I bet she's got that lipstick in her handbag.'
    'Look, Mike, four were sold, all marked in violet ink. Right? Miss Clements has two, Mrs Darrell has one. I have the fourth.'
    There could be a chemist in Stowerton or Pomfret or Sewingbury marking lipsticks in violet ink'
    That's right, Mike. And if Mrs Missal can show me hers you're going straight over to Stowerton first thing in the morning and start on the shops over there.'
    But Burden wasn't listening. His chair was facing the window and he craned his neck.
    'Car's coming in now ’ he said. 'Olive-green Mercedes, nineteen-sixty-two. Registration XPQ189Q.'
    'All right, Mike, I don't want to buy it.'
    As the wheels crunched on the drive and someone opened one of the nearside doors. Burden ducked his head.
    'Blimey ’ he said. 'She is something of a dish.'
    A woman in white slacks stepped out of the car and strolled to the foot of the steps. The kingfisher-blue and darker-blue patterned silk scarf that held back her red hair matched her shirt Burden thought she was beautiful, although her face was hard, as if the tanned skin was stretched on a steel frame. He was paid not to admire but to observe. For him the most significant thing about her was that her mouth was painted not brownish pink but a clear golden-red. He turned away from the window and heard her say loudly:
    'I am sick to my stomach of bleeding kids! I bet you anything you like, Pete, that lousy little Inge isn't back yet.'
    A key was turned in the front-door lock and Burden heard Inge Wolff running along the hall to meet her employers. One of the children was crying.
    ‘P olicemen? How many policemen? Oh, I don't believe it, Inge. Where's their car?'
    ‘I suppose they want me, Helen. You know I'm always leaving the Merc outside without lights.'
    In the drawing-room Wexford grinned.
    The door opened suddenly, bouncing back from one of the flower-vases as if it had been kicked by a petulant foot. the red-haired woman came in first She was wearing sun-glasses with rhinestone frames, and although the sun had gone and the room was dim, she didn't bother to take them off. Her husband was tall and big, his face bloated and already marked with purple veins. His long shirt-tails hung over his belly like a gross maternity smock. Burden winced at its design of bottles and glasses and plates on a scarlet and white checkerboard.
    He and Wexford got up.
    ‘M rs Missal?'
    'Yes, I'm Helen Missal. What the hell do you want?'
    'We're police officers, Mrs Missal, making enquiries in connection with the disappearance of Mrs Margaret Parsons ’
    Missal stared. His fat lips were already wet, but still he licked them.
    'Won't you sit down,' he said. ‘I can't imagine why you want to talk to my wife ’
    'Neither can! ’ Helen Missal said. 'What is this, a police state?'
    ‘I hope not, Mrs Missal. I believe you bought a new lipstick on Tuesday morning?'
    'So what? Is it a crime?'
    If you could just show me that lipstick, madam, I shall be quite satisfied and we won't take up any more of your time. I'm sure you must be tired after a day at the seaside ’
    'You can say that again.' She smiled. Burden thought she suddenly seemed at the same time more wary and more friendly. Have you ever sat on a spearmint ice lolly?' She giggled and pointed to a very faint bluish-green stain on the seat of her trousers. Thank God for Inge! I don't want to see those little bastards again tonight'
    'Helen!' Missal said.
    The lipstick, Mrs Missal.'
    'Oh, yes, the lipstick. Actually I did buy one, a filthy colour called Arctic