Murder My Neighbour by Veronica Heley Page A

to do so, didn’t she? He had his own worries, something about a contributor to the magazine? She didn’t want to disturb him.
    The front doorbell rang. Ellie went to look through the peephole in the door and recognized the policeman who was standing outside, fidgeting from one foot to the other. Of course, it would be ‘Ears’.
    Ellie told herself he couldn’t kill her.
    With him was a female detective constable, by the name of Milburn. Ellie recognized her, too. She’d proved quite human in the past.
    Thomas had said he’d stop work to be with her if she really needed him, but he was expecting a difficult visitor that morning, so if she could manage . . . ? Ellie braced herself and opened the door to let the police in.
    Ears looked round about him, much as the Pryce boy – if that was his name – had done the day before. ‘A big place for a woman on her own.’
    â€˜There’s four of us living here at present, five if you count my grandson who often stays overnight.’
    Ellie led the way to the sitting room and offered tea or coffee. Both declined.
    DC Milburn took out her notebook, but Ears strolled about, hands in pockets to emphasize his superior status. ‘So you had a visit from a con artist? Weren’t you aware that they’re on the lookout for elderly women living alone in big houses?’
    Ellie didn’t like being called ‘elderly’ when she was only in her early sixties. ‘I wasn’t alone. Our housekeeper was in as well, but unfortunately she’d had a fall so wasn’t feeling quite the thing.’
    Ears had his usual chip on his shoulder. He probably thought anyone who employed live-in staff was a bloated capitalist and ought to be strung up from the nearest lamp-post. He wouldn’t have believed Ellie if she’d told him Rose had not been asked to take on the job of housekeeper, but had insisted on staying on to do it after Ellie’s ancient aunt had died.
    Ears had a sneer on his face and in his voice. ‘So what was this chap’s spiel, then? He found out the name of some old dear in the neighbourhood and tried to pass himself off as a relative? He asked for money, of course.’
    â€˜Well, yes. But he did seem worried about his great-aunt. He’d called on the retirement home where she was supposed to be living, and they denied all knowledge of her.’
    â€˜Or so he said.’ An unpleasant tone.
    Ears thought she’d been taken in by a sob story, and perhaps she had. Ellie felt her colour rise. ‘So he said. Yes.’
    â€˜Well, it’s clear enough. I doubt if you’ll see your valuables again. Been hocked before nightfall, I expect. To pay for drugs, of course.’
    â€˜I did wonder if he were into drugs. He certainly danced around a lot, but he also smoked. Do drug addicts smoke cigarettes as well as take drugs? I didn’t think they did.’
    â€˜As you say, what do you know about it?’ He really was a rude young man.
    Ellie tried to keep calm. ‘Of course, you know more about it than I do, and it’s true that I wouldn’t really know what a drug addict looks like. I thought at first he was on edge because he was worried about his great-aunt. Then I thought he was in a state because he was desperate for money. I’m pretty sure that’s why he’s after his great-aunt. I mean, she does seem to be missing, but . . . The only thing is, if he is on drugs he can’t be very far gone because he’s taken great care of his appearance.’
    A condescending smile. ‘As you say, you wouldn’t really know what anyone on drugs looked like.’ His mobile phone rang. He whipped it out, listened for a few seconds, and shut it off. ‘Well, duty calls. Something more important, I’m afraid.’ He was Mr Sarcasm himself. ‘I’ll leave DC Milburn here with you to take any details you can recall, and no