Read Online Killings on Jubilee Terrace by Robert Barnard - Free Book Online Page B

Charlie, going over. He flipped out his ID and held it in front of Jim’s face. Jim looked extremely disconcerted.
    ‘But I say. Police. I mean, what—? Am I allowed to ask what it is you’re here on?’
    ‘Certainly you’re allowed to ask, and in this case I’ll tell you. I’m here to investigate a matter which has arisen as a consequence of an anonymous letter to the police. I’m talking to Mr Friedman and Mr Settle after their script conference. Now, if you don’t mind—’
    And he continued on his way. He was conscious of many eyes following him – not just Jim Carrington’s, but Hamish’s, Stephen Barrymore’s, the cameramen’s, and most intently of all James’s and Susan’s from the far wall of the studios.
    ‘What did you show Jim?’ demanded Susan when he reached them.
    ‘Show him?’
    ‘Flash at him,’ said James. ‘Like an identity card.’
    ‘It was an identity card,’ said Charlie, showing it to the pair of them. ‘Satisfied?’
    ‘Well, well,’ said James, stirring it as was his wont. ‘A black policeman. Wonders will never cease. What are you: a traitor or a stooge?’
    ‘Well, well, a black actor in a soap. I’ll hold back on the supplementary questions.’
    ‘If you’re a policeman you must be investigating something,’ said Susan.
    ‘If you only knew how much time I spend not doing that… But today’s not one of those times. Let me jump ahead and say it’s an investigation prompted by an anonymous letter we received at police headquarters. It made allegations that we thought needed looking into.’
    ‘What sort of allegations?’ demanded James.
    ‘Shall I ask the questions? How long have you been working on Jubilee Terrace , sir?’
    ‘Eighteen months, or a bit over.’
    ‘And you, madam?’
    Charlie gave their honorary titles a gently ironic tinge.
    ‘Nearly four years. I’ve been given bigger and better things to do since I finished at drama school.’
    ‘Who would you say has been most helpful to you since you started?’
    The pair thought.
    ‘Melvin is very good,’ said Susan. ‘If I have trouble with a line, maybe think that a teenager wouldn’t say it, Melvin is—’
    ‘Yes, I’ve met Melvin Settle,’ said Charlie. ‘And you, sir?’
    James shrugged.
    ‘I’ve just got on with the job. It’s not—’
    ‘Rocket science. Yes, I get the point. What about the people who’ve been less helpful? The ones you wouldn’t think of going to if you had a problem. The ones that are a problem?’
    ‘Well,’ said Susan, ‘you’ve just seen Hamish, and what he can do to a newcomer. Crude, nasty, but depressing all the same, and confidence-robbing. Vernon Watts was the elderly groper in the cast. I gave him his marching orders on my first day. I had a sort of chaperone then, but she was surplus to requirements. I can take care of myself.’
    Charlie turned to James and waited.
    ‘Oh, I was approached by Vernon too. Could have guessed he was into Variety. I told him I wasn’t into being fucked by wrinklies. Hamish has tried a few sneers in the Vernon Watts mode. It’s all water off a duck’s back. I know where I’m going. Vernon must have known where he was going too, and now he’s gone.’
    ‘Don’t take any notice of him.’
    Charlie swivelled round and noticed a little band of actors and studio-hands gazing at them. The actors included Marjorie, the young curate, and a fresh-faced woman of an age somewhere between youth and middle-age.
    ‘You are?’
    ‘I’m Liza Croome. I play Sally Worseley in the Terrace . Wife of the landlord of the Duke of York’s.’
    ‘And you don’t like the way James is talking about Vernon Watts and Hamish Whatever?’
    ‘Fawley. I just think he’s giving a wrong impression. James is…still quite new here. On the whole this is a wonderful team. We all – nearly all – pull together extremely well. We’re actors, bumped-up extras, comedians, whatever. And we do play together, hide one another’s weaknesses,