Read Online Damned by Logic by Jeffrey Ashford - Free Book Online

entered the room Mrs Greene had indicated. The sitting room was lightly furnished. The two easy chairs were grouped in front of a flat screen television, a bookcase was overfilled with books, the painting on the wall opposite depicted an autumn country scene in which the leaves of trees were beginning to fall.
    A morning paper was on an occasional table. She sat, opened the paper, skimmed through the report of the murder. There was no mention of the victim’s name; Melanie had not been identified until the middle of the morning, hours after that edition of the paper had been printed.
    Mrs Greene entered, stood just inside the doorway. ‘Will you tell me your name again? I fear I have forgotten.’ She spoke in the clipped tones which once were heard much more frequently.
    â€˜Belinda Draper.’
    â€˜Mine is Jane Greene. Everything is ready on a tray on the table in the kitchen. Would you be kind and bring it in here? I’m afraid it would be rather difficult for me.’ She indicated her slinged arm.
    â€˜Of course.’ She went through to the kitchen, picked up the tray, returned to the sitting room and put it down on a glass-topped table. ‘I’ll pour, if you’d like?’
    â€˜You mustn’t wait on me.’
    â€˜The least I can do after all the aggravation you’ve been through.’
    The elderly lady sat, relieved at being able to make use of such helpful company. ‘A little milk please, and no sugar but two saccharin pills. One of the perils of becoming old.’
    â€˜You’ve a long way to go before you can call yourself that.’ Belinda poured out a cup of tea, picked up the plate on which were chocolate digestive biscuits, offered them.
    Jane expressed an interest in Belinda’s job. Did she like it, did she think it was safe for a woman? Belinda’s answers were far sweeter than they would have been had the questions been asked by a man.
    Carefully, she guided the conversation on to the subject of Mrs Greene’s neighbour.
    â€˜I can’t say I knew her at all well even though we quite often met coming in or going out of the building and in the nearby supermarket,’ Jane said. ‘Occasionally she’d ask me into her flat for a drink or I would ask her in for tea.’
    â€˜Was she married?’ Belinda now had her notepad out again ready to write down anything relevant.
    â€˜She never mentioned a husband and did not wear a wedding ring.’
    â€˜Did she have a job?’
    â€˜She had a friend who ran a dress company and helped her, especially when one of the staff was ill or suddenly left, which seemed to happen often even though Melanie said they were well paid.’
    â€˜Then she was quite busy?’
    â€˜Must have been since she often was away. She told me the work was hard, but she didn’t mind that because it enabled her to have nice clothes. She was always beautifully dressed.’
    â€˜Where was the company?’
    â€˜I expect she told me, but I’m afraid I can’t remember.’
    â€˜Did you meet the friend who ran it?’
    â€˜I don’t think so. No, I’m certain I didn’t.’
    â€˜Did Melanie have lots of friends?’
    After a pause, Jane said, ‘It was strange.’
    â€˜What was?’
    â€˜Melanie was attractive and friendly, but I don’t remember ever seeing her with anyone.’
    â€˜One would have expected her to have a number of friends. And perhaps many of them male?’ Belinda again tried to lead the conversation; often personal opinions were just as useful as facts.
    â€˜I know, but I did have the impression ...’
    â€˜That she preferred a quiet life?’
    â€˜I’m probably being rather ridiculous.’
    â€˜Most unlikely. I’m sure you’re a very good judge of people.’
    â€˜Well ... I had the impression that she disliked men, even despised them.’
    â€˜Did you wonder why that could