Death of a Gentle Lady

when he was on a business flight to the States.’
    ‘Think carefully, Kylie. Was there anything at the family reunion to upset Mrs Gentle?’
    ‘Get one thing straight. My mother-in-law specialized in upsetting people, not the other way round.’
    ‘Did she upset anyone?’
    ‘All of us. Let me see, her beloved Andrew was the only one who escaped. She constantly referred to me as the stick insect, she sneered at Sarah because Sarah hadn’t yet found a job and was desperate for money, she called my daughter, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Tart, she called my son a poofter, and she told Mark it was no use him hanging around, he wasn’t getting any money.’
    ‘What about the girl, Irena?’
    ‘Treated her like a slave. I don’t know why she put up with it. Quite a beauty. I think she was jealous of the girl. Margaret always was a jealous bitch. I hated her, but I didn’t murder her.’
    ‘With all these insults flying around, surely someone threatened Mrs Gentle.’
    ‘Nobody dared. She didn’t tell us the terms of the will until we were all ready to go. Everyone was frightened of not getting a penny.’
    ‘Why should the nephew, Mark Gentle, expect anything?’
    ‘He’s Andrew’s brother’s boy. Couldn’t make him out. You’d better ask him.’
    Hamish spoke up from his corner. ‘Who was Mrs Gentle married to?’
    ‘A financier, Byron Gentle.’
    ‘When did he die?’
    ‘Just after Sarah was born.’
    Jimmy glared at Hamish but Hamish ignored him.
    ‘What did he die of?’
    ‘A heart attack. That’s where Ma Gentle got all her money from.’
    Jimmy interrupted. ‘Where were you during the past few days?’
    ‘I was in London with my husband. We’ve got a live-in maid. You can ask her.’
    ‘Thank you. Please send in Mark.’
    When Kylie had left, Jimmy rounded on Hamish. ‘What was the point of your questions?’
    ‘I just wondered if there was something in the family’s past that Irena had overheard, something that she thought she could blackmail someone with.’
    Mark Gentle strolled in. He seemed very much at his ease.
    ‘Were you invited to the family reunion?’ asked Jimmy.
    ‘Yes, I wouldn’t have come otherwise. Aunt Margaret always had a soft spot for me.’
    ‘And yet she left you nothing in her will.’
    ‘As a matter of fact, she did.’
    ‘But we understand that she was leaving her money equally divided between her son and daughter.’
    Mark gave a lazy smile. ‘That was her intention. But the old will still stands, and in it I get a whack of money.’
    ‘Do the rest of the family know this?’
    ‘I shouldn’t think so. Aunt Margaret confided in me a lot.’
    ‘We’ll check with her lawyer,’ said Jimmy. His foxy blue eyes narrowed. ‘You must have been right put out when you learned you were going to be cut out.’
    He shrugged. ‘Didn’t bother me. I’ve always worked for my living.’
    ‘As what?’
    ‘Motor mechanic.’
    ‘I gather that your late uncle, Byron Gentle, was extremely wealthy. Is your family wealthy also?’
    ‘Dad’s dead. He ran a corner shop. When Byron died, he left everything to Aunt Margaret.’
    ‘That must have caused a lot of bitterness.’
    Again that shrug. ‘Mum was dead. Dad didn’t live long enough to get bitter. He got cancer shortly after Byron died. I sold the shop and set up my own garage doing car repairs.’
    ‘Why do you think Mrs Gentle changed her mind about leaving you any money?’
    ‘Blessed if I know.’
    ‘Were you fond of your aunt?’
    ‘I admired her. She was very cunning. Do you know, she was a cloakroom girl in a London nightclub when Byron fell for her? She didn’t always have that lady-of-the-manor act.’
    Jimmy looked down at his notes. Mark was forty-eight years old. He looked much younger.
    ‘You look good for your age,’ said Jimmy.
    Mark smiled. ‘Clean living and early nights.’
    ‘Where were you during the past five days?’
    ‘At my work. I employ two men who can vouch for me, not to mention my customers.’
    ‘And after work?’
    ‘I was with my girlfriend, Sharon Bentley. You can check with her.’
    Jimmy pushed forward a sheet of paper. ‘Write down her name and address.’
    When Mark had jotted it down, Jimmy continued to question him, feeling all the time that he was being stonewalled. At last he told the man not to leave the country and dismissed him.
    When the door had closed behind Mark, Jimmy said, ‘Now, that one really had a motive. He bumps the old girl off and Irena