figure dressed in a dated, grey flannel suit, her feet encased in a pair of flat black shoes. ‘I’m Alison Maybrick. I’m told you wish to speak to me,’ she said, pushing her copper-coloured hair back from her pinched face.
‘We do, Ms Maybrick,’ replied Fitzjohn. ‘We’re investigating the death of a man by the name of Preston Alexander. We understand that he had a financial connection with this agency.’
‘Yes, he did.’ Alison hesitated. ‘We’d better speak in my office. Come this way.’
Bemused by the woman’s lordly manner, Fitzjohn glanced at Betts as they both fell into step behind her. His glance at the name plate on the office door as he entered the room did not pass Alison’s notice.
‘This was my step-mother’s office. She passed away earlier in the week.’ Alison picked up a few sheets of paper from the desk and let them float back down. ‘As you can see, her passing has left a lot of work unfinished. That’s why you find me in such disarray. As well as this, I’m also in the midst of finalising her funeral arrangements.’
‘Our condolences,’ said Fitzjohn, taking his seat. ‘We’ll try to be brief. As I said before, we’re investigating Preston Alexander’s death and we understand that he had dealings with your agency.’
‘That’s true, he did. In fact, we probably wouldn’t be here, today, if it wasn’t for Preston’s investment.’
‘Can you tell us about that financial involvement, Ms Maybrick?’ asked Fitzjohn.
Alison shrugged. ‘The little I know wouldn’t be of much help to you, Chief Inspector. My step-mother wasn’t one for sharing confidences about the running of the company. At least not with me. Of course, it makes things rather difficult now that she’s gone.’ Alison looked across the desk and sighed before she returned Fitzjohn gaze. ‘The best person to speak to would have been Max Ziegler because he’s acted as our accountant for some years, but now I’m not sure if that would be appropriate.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘Because he’s been suspended from duties.’ Alison paused. ‘It’s an internal matter.’
‘Even so, as we’re here about Mr Alexander’s financial involvement, we will need to speak to Mr Ziegler and it’ll help if we’re aware of the circumstances surrounding his suspension. I’m sure you can appreciate that.’
‘All right, since you put it that way.’ Alison pushed a wisp of hair back from her face. ‘It all happened last Monday, the day that Beatrice died. For whatever reason, she’d spent the weekend going through the agency’s accounts. I don’t know why. Perhaps she suspected something was wrong. As I said earlier, she didn’t confide in me. Anyway, apparently she found discrepancies and on the Monday morning, she confronted Max. At least that’s what I’m told by the staff. I came in late that morning so I missed the hullabaloo.’
‘Other than Mr Ziegler’s suspension, was there any other action she took?’ asked Fitzjohn.
‘Yes. She asked Giles Enfield to take over the books.’ Alison threw her hands up. ‘I’m sorry, Chief Inspector, that’s all I know.’
‘In that case, it might help if we can speak to Mr Enfield.’
‘That’s not possible, I’m afraid, because he’s not here. He rang in early yesterday morning to say that he was taking a few days leave to spend some time at his cottage in Port Stephens. He said he was feeling low. Delayed shock, he called it, caused by Beatrice’s death.’ Alison caught Fitzjohn’s questioning look. ‘Giles was here working back the night that my step-mother fell down the stairs.’
‘I see. We weren’t aware of the way in which she died, Ms Maybrick. It’s unfortunate that we’ve had to concern you with matters of our investigation at such a time. Under the circumstances, I think we’ll be best placed to speak to Mr Ziegler until Mr Enfield returns. When will that be, by the way?’
‘Monday. He said he’d be back in time for
‘We do, Ms Maybrick,’ replied Fitzjohn. ‘We’re investigating the death of a man by the name of Preston Alexander. We understand that he had a financial connection with this agency.’
‘Yes, he did.’ Alison hesitated. ‘We’d better speak in my office. Come this way.’
Bemused by the woman’s lordly manner, Fitzjohn glanced at Betts as they both fell into step behind her. His glance at the name plate on the office door as he entered the room did not pass Alison’s notice.
‘This was my step-mother’s office. She passed away earlier in the week.’ Alison picked up a few sheets of paper from the desk and let them float back down. ‘As you can see, her passing has left a lot of work unfinished. That’s why you find me in such disarray. As well as this, I’m also in the midst of finalising her funeral arrangements.’
‘Our condolences,’ said Fitzjohn, taking his seat. ‘We’ll try to be brief. As I said before, we’re investigating Preston Alexander’s death and we understand that he had dealings with your agency.’
‘That’s true, he did. In fact, we probably wouldn’t be here, today, if it wasn’t for Preston’s investment.’
‘Can you tell us about that financial involvement, Ms Maybrick?’ asked Fitzjohn.
Alison shrugged. ‘The little I know wouldn’t be of much help to you, Chief Inspector. My step-mother wasn’t one for sharing confidences about the running of the company. At least not with me. Of course, it makes things rather difficult now that she’s gone.’ Alison looked across the desk and sighed before she returned Fitzjohn gaze. ‘The best person to speak to would have been Max Ziegler because he’s acted as our accountant for some years, but now I’m not sure if that would be appropriate.’
‘Why’s that?’
‘Because he’s been suspended from duties.’ Alison paused. ‘It’s an internal matter.’
‘Even so, as we’re here about Mr Alexander’s financial involvement, we will need to speak to Mr Ziegler and it’ll help if we’re aware of the circumstances surrounding his suspension. I’m sure you can appreciate that.’
‘All right, since you put it that way.’ Alison pushed a wisp of hair back from her face. ‘It all happened last Monday, the day that Beatrice died. For whatever reason, she’d spent the weekend going through the agency’s accounts. I don’t know why. Perhaps she suspected something was wrong. As I said earlier, she didn’t confide in me. Anyway, apparently she found discrepancies and on the Monday morning, she confronted Max. At least that’s what I’m told by the staff. I came in late that morning so I missed the hullabaloo.’
‘Other than Mr Ziegler’s suspension, was there any other action she took?’ asked Fitzjohn.
‘Yes. She asked Giles Enfield to take over the books.’ Alison threw her hands up. ‘I’m sorry, Chief Inspector, that’s all I know.’
‘In that case, it might help if we can speak to Mr Enfield.’
‘That’s not possible, I’m afraid, because he’s not here. He rang in early yesterday morning to say that he was taking a few days leave to spend some time at his cottage in Port Stephens. He said he was feeling low. Delayed shock, he called it, caused by Beatrice’s death.’ Alison caught Fitzjohn’s questioning look. ‘Giles was here working back the night that my step-mother fell down the stairs.’
‘I see. We weren’t aware of the way in which she died, Ms Maybrick. It’s unfortunate that we’ve had to concern you with matters of our investigation at such a time. Under the circumstances, I think we’ll be best placed to speak to Mr Ziegler until Mr Enfield returns. When will that be, by the way?’
‘Monday. He said he’d be back in time for
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