Gently with the Ladies (Inspector George Gently 13)

friend of mine.’
    Now she came slowly back from the window. She sat down, this time upon the settee, her head and shoulders drooping forward.
    ‘We were both about the same age. I met her at the school of journalism I attended. We both worked for the United Press group and we lived in a houseboat at Cheyne Steps. It was all very gay and very wonderful and we were both going to marry into Debrett.’
    ‘Where is she now?’
    Sarah Johnson shrugged. ‘After the crash she went to New Zealand. There was nothing else for her to do. Clytie Fazakerly saw to that.’
    ‘You’ve heard from her since?’
    ‘A couple of times, but not for several years now. I expect she wanted to forget me, and I can understand that.’
    ‘What exactly happened?’
    ‘She was framed.’
    ‘You mean that Mrs Fazakerly framed her?’
    Sarah Johnson nodded. ‘She planted a necklace on her, then had a C.I.D. man pick her up. There was a prosecution. Beryl got off. But she was finished in the Street. The Fazakerly creature cut a lot of ice there and Beryl lost her job and was blacked.’
    ‘But why would Mrs Fazakerly do a thing like that?’
    ‘Don’t you know?’
    ‘You tell me.’
    ‘I only know what Beryl told me, but she had no reason to lie.’ She hesitated, swinging her hair back. ‘Beryl was an emotional person,’ she said. ‘Perhaps you can read between the lines. I don’t find it easy to talk about this.’
    Gently nodded.
    ‘She met Sybil Bannister. It was at a private show of Louella Modes. She was there reporting with a staff artist, it was in the Blue Room at the Chat Noir. You perhaps don’t know about that sort of thing, but it’s a beastly sort of alcoholic hen-party, and most of them finish up a bit high and there’s some odd behaviour goes on. Well, Sybil Bannister got a crush on Beryl, and Beryl was dozey enough to feel flattered. She let that woman take her home and she didn’t come back to the houseboat. I’m not defending her, don’t think that. She knew very well what she was in for. And she was weak enough to let it continue, I think she was even rather proud. Sybil Bannister is a remarkable woman in some ways and it was a kind of distinction to be her favourite.’
    ‘And that’s what she became?’ Gently asked.
    ‘Oh yes. Sybil Bannister was crazy about her. She bought her jewellery and clothes and took her round the smart places. She suggested Beryl should throw up her job and go and live with her in Paris. She was sweeping Beryl off her feet. I think she’d have done what Sybil Bannister wanted.’
    ‘But then it all blew up in her face.’
    ‘Yes. Exactly like that. Clytie Fazakerly came back from some holiday and the same evening Beryl was fixed.’
    ‘How did she do it?’
    ‘It was quite unsubtle. She gave a little supper in her flat. She was charming as an angel to poor Beryl and cooing and caressing to Sybil Bannister. She showed them some jewellery she’d brought back including a diamond and emerald necklace. When Beryl got back to the houseboat a detective was waiting for her. He found the necklace in her handbag.’
    ‘But didn’t Mrs Bannister stand by her?’
    Sarah Johnson shook her head. ‘Sybil Bannister left town. Beryl never saw her again. The case was thrown out at the Magistrates’ Court because Clytie Fazakerly failed to appear. Perhaps she was afraid of what might have come out. But it was all the same to Beryl.’
    ‘And so, because of this, she decided to emigrate.’
    ‘She was completely bowled over. Clytie Fazakerly destroyed her, just as she was trying to destroy Johnny.’
    ‘Johnny, whom you first met a year ago.’
    Sarah Johnson said meekly: ‘I’m not going to deny it. Yes, I had made enquiries about Johnny, and I knew very well who he was when I rubbed an acquaintance with him.’
     
    She looked around her as though missing something, then sighed and closed her eyes a moment. Gently brought out a packet of cigarettes.
    ‘Here,’ he said. ‘Have one of these.’
    She raised her hand. ‘Please don’t tempt me. I’m trying to give them up. Again. But the habit rears its ugly head whenever I’m under nervous strain.’
    ‘You’ve tried before, then?’
    ‘I’m always trying, and this time I’ve gone nearly a month. But if I’m questioned by many more policemen I shall be back to forty a day.’
    Gently shrugged and put the cigarettes away. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘It’s a policeman’s function.’
    ‘I know. I wasn’t