Unnatural Wastage by Betty Rowlands

shops.’
    â€˜Do you own one?’
    â€˜Do I look like someone who brings back kitsch from oriental bazaars?’
    â€˜When I was in your flat yesterday I happened to notice two cushions on which elephants were embroidered with silver threads. They looked to me as if they might come from India.’
    â€˜Oh, those.’ Ellerman appeared for the moment nonplussed, but quickly recovered. ‘Frankly I think they’re hideous but my wife – my late wife, that is – persuaded me to buy them. I keep meaning to throw them out, but somehow I’ve hung on to them for sentimental reasons.’
    â€˜That’s understandable, sir. Now, with regard to the knife, do you happen to know anyone who owns one of a similar design to this?’
    Ellerman hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking his head and saying a firm, ‘No. Next question?’
    â€˜All right.’ Rathbone put the photograph away. ‘Now, Doctor Ellerman, you have already admitted that you and Fenella Tremaine had your differences. Were they confined to your business relationship?’
    Ellerman sat up straight and gripped the arms of his chair. ‘What are you suggesting?’ he demanded.
    â€˜I’m not suggesting anything, sir. I’m merely asking a simple question. Let me put it another way. Apart from your professional disagreements, what was your personal relationship with Ms Tremaine?’
    â€˜There was nothing whatsoever about our relationship that you could describe as personal, except that I didn’t like her.’
    â€˜She appears to have been a very attractive woman and I’ve noticed you have, shall we say, an eye for the ladies.’
    Ellerman gave a dismissive snort. ‘I can still admire a pretty woman, Sergeant, but Fenella Tremaine was definitely not my type. For one thing, she had a very aggressive manner that made me – and quite a few other people – want to disagree with her even when she was in the right.’
    â€˜For example?’
    â€˜There was a bit of a problem recently with people lighting a barbecue on their balcony. It happens now and again and it isn’t usually a problem, but on this occasion they were having a bit of trouble which meant there was rather a lot of smoke and some people couldn’t sit on their balconies. Fenella went storming round and told them they were causing a nuisance and threatened to report them to the management. They’re a very nice young couple who’ve only been here a short time and they were really upset and embarrassed, especially as she was delivering this tirade in front of their guests.’
    â€˜Not exactly the most tactful way of dealing with the situation,’ commented Rathbone.
    â€˜Tact wasn’t her strong point, Sergeant.’
    â€˜What would you say were her good points?’
    â€˜Well . . .’ Ellerman frowned and thought for a moment. ‘I’m sure she had very high principles and she took pride in her surroundings and often made sensible suggestions for the way the estate is run, but –’ he spread his hands in what seemed to Penny an uncharacteristically helpless gesture – ‘I suppose the kindest thing I can personally say about her is that on the whole she meant well.’
    â€˜Thank you for your frankness, sir,’ said Rathbone. ‘Now, I understand you have a residents’ association here – was she on the committee or did she have any official standing?’
    â€˜She used to be on the committee; she got someone to nominate her as treasurer a year or two ago but she didn’t get enough support so she resigned in a huff.’
    â€˜So who is treasurer?’
    â€˜I am.’
    â€˜I understand that at a recent meeting of the residents’ association you had a disagreement with her that more than one witness described as “rather heated”.’
    â€˜Oh, you heard about that did you?’ said