Imperfection (DI Gardener 2)

“He sort of retired. We had enough money for him not to work again.”

“But he did work again, correct?”

“Oh, aye. He couldn’t help himself. He formed part of a local watch committee here in Leeds.”

“My father was on the same watch committee.”

“Really? What’s his name?”

“Malcolm Gardener.”

“My God! Are you Stewart? You always were a good looker.”

Gardener blushed, but the name drop apparently proved effective. Maybe now she was going to open up, say what was really on her mind.

“What a small world. Well, I’m pleased to see you’ve made something of yourself.”

Eager to continue, Gardener repeated his point. “The watch committee, what can you tell me about it?”

“Not a lot.” Her attitude had softened. “I was never that involved.”

“Did you meet the other members?”

“I did. There was your dad, and a bloke called Fletcher. I think he was a writer. No idea where he is now. And then there were Jack Harper; don’t know what he did. A historian, something like that. I don’t know where Fletcher is, but Jack Harper was killed in a car crash a few years back.”

“Yes, my dad mentioned that, he just couldn’t remember their names.”

“Oh well, there you are, then. Something’s come out of this morning.”

“There was nothing involving the other members of the committee that may have caused ill feelings towards your husband? No scandals? No major disagreements?”

“None I can think of, but I’m sure if there were, your dad would remember.”

/> Gardener was beginning to feel frustrated. Despite the fact that Val White hadn’t liked her husband, she had still not provided any real evidence, or a reason to kill him. “What about the years after the watch committee?”

“We sold the house in about 1979 and moved to the Lake District, where I live now. Leonard continued working in theatre until he officially retired.”

“Who did you sell the house to? Can you remember?”

“I certainly can. It was one of his friends in the film business. A director. Corndell, his name was.”

“Do you know if he still lives there?”

“No, he doesn’t. We had a letter from his wife, apparently he died four months after buying the house.”

“So she might still live there?”

“It’s possible, she’d be getting on a bit now, though.”

Gardener glanced at Reilly. “It’s worth a visit.” Then to Val he said, “I take it then that your husband came out of retirement again.”

“A couple of years back, playing small parts in small theatres. Earlier this year he was persuaded to go on a national tour to talk about his life in films.”

“Who persuaded him?”

“His agents, a company in Manchester called PMA.”

“How did he feel about that?” asked Gardener.