Murder My Neighbour by Veronica Heley Page B

doubt we’ll be in touch when we’ve caught the man.’
    He didn’t really think they were going to catch him, that much was clear. As he would say, ‘Another con job. End of.’
    Ellie showed Ears out and returned to DC Milburn, who smiled at her in a completely normal, woman to woman, way. Ellie smiled back. ‘Tea or coffee? And would you mind if I just popped in on Rose, who’s not feeling too good today? Falling off a ladder at her age . . .’
    â€˜Climbing a ladder at any age,’ said the DC. ‘I get vertigo.’
    Ellie smiled. ‘I’m all right on ladders up to the fourth rung, then I cling on tight, close my eyes even tighter, and inch my way back down again.’
    Rose had got herself dressed and moved as far as ‘her’ armchair in the kitchen; or rather, Mia had helped get her there. Now they were sitting together happily going over some old recipe books, planning future meals and making a shopping list.
    Ellie would have suggested she and the DC might sit outside, but the gardener was mowing the lawn so they returned to the sitting room, which was cool enough that early in the day.
    â€˜This is a lovely room.’ The policewoman looked around her, relaxing.
    â€˜I am fortunate. But not lucky, yesterday. I know your superior officer has made up his mind that my caller was a con man. May I tell you exactly what happened and what makes me think he wasn’t just that?’
    DC Milburn eyed Ellie over the rim of her mug of coffee. ‘Our chief super says you’ve a feeling for villainy. Of course, she doesn’t like it when you report some ghastliness or other, but she has to admit you’ve a nose for crime.’
    Ellie blushed. ‘Why, thank you. I know I haven’t got a trained mind or anything, and probably don’t spot all sorts of things that professionals would, but I do notice this and that, and I made some notes you might like to see.’
    She went through the notes she’d made the night before, concluding: ‘The thing is, would your usual con man have such an outlandish appearance? Wouldn’t he want to be unmemorable? I mean, this young man had brutally short hair but it had been cut by a good barber, it wasn’t a home-made job. Also, he had rings in his ears, his eyebrow and his lip.’
    â€˜I must admit, I can’t recall a con man looking like that. But an opportunist thief . . .’ The DC shrugged.
    â€˜Well, what about his car? It was bright yellow. Not a lemon yellow, but a deep egg-yolk colour like custard powder.’
    â€˜You didn’t get the licence number?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜What make was it?’
    Ellie shook her head.
    â€˜You didn’t notice.’
    â€˜I hardly know one make from another. When Thomas says, “Look at that Merc!” I don’t know which car he means.’
    â€˜Well, was it a small car?’
    â€˜Not like a Mini, but yes; smallish. I only caught a glimpse as I closed the door, remember.’
    â€˜Was it built like a beetle?’
    â€˜Now I do know a Volkswagen when I see one. No, it wasn’t. It had the normal up and down silhouette. Not an estate car. No sticky-out back.’
    â€˜Two door or four?’
    Ellie concentrated. ‘Four, I think; but I wouldn’t like to swear to it. It had been recently cleaned, no dirt splashes. There was something hanging from the mirror at the front? I might be wrong about that.’
    â€˜You’re doing well. Any stickers on the windows, or at the back?’
    â€˜You mean notices like Baby on Board, or those screens they put on windows to shield children from the sun? No, I don’t think so. I’m a poor witness, I’m afraid.’
    â€˜If I got some pictures of different makes of car, would you look to see if you could identify this one?’
    â€˜I could try.’ Both of them knew there was little likelihood of her