‘Warwick? Tonight was the first time I’ve met him. I’ve heard of him, but never actually crossed his path.’
‘You’re a regular at his club, he said.’
Seb chuckled. ‘I wouldn’t say it’s a home away from home, but if you want a quiet place for a few drinks late at night away from prying eyes, it’s hard to beat. There’s a VIP lift that goes straight from the car park to the club so there are no paps around. And the VIP section really is VIP so no one gets in your face.’
‘Was it Warwick who invited you?’
Seb shook his head. ‘One of his people. Guy called Mick. Mick Halpin. Mick I see quite often. He schmooses the big spenders and is in charge of security. Big guy, you wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley.’ He grinned. ‘Though having said that…’
‘You’re incorrigible,’ said Carolyn.
‘Well I have to confess to enjoying a bit of rough every now and again,’ said Seb.
‘And did Mick specifically ask you to invite me?’
Seb’s eyes narrowed. ‘I can hear the wheels turning,’ he said. ‘What’s wrong?’
Carolyn laughed. ‘Nothing’s wrong. I just wondered if it was a coincidence, you know, my being invited and then Warwick bidding so much for the lunch.’
‘You think he’s a fan?’
‘Something like that,’ said Carolyn.
‘Seems a bit complicated,’ said Seb. ‘If he’d wanted to get to meet you I’m sure Mick could have mentioned it to me. I mean, Warwick’s a good looking guy, Carolyn. I’d have linked you up.’
‘Pimped me out, you mean,’ she laughed. She was making light of it but behind her laugh her mind was still in a whirl. Was Warwick Richards the man she’d seen in the house or not? The man in the house wielding the crystal dolphin had been tall, dark and good-looking and Warwick Richards fitted that bill. But it had been at night and there had been reflections on the window and she had been drinking and, hand on heart, she wasn’t sure.
‘Do you know much about him?’
‘Just what I’ve heard, that he’s the owner and has an eye for the ladies.’
‘He’s not a gangster, is he?’
Seb laughed. ‘A what?’
‘You know what I mean, Seb. There are some very edgy people in the nightclub business.’
‘In the Sixties maybe, but these days?’ He shook his head. ‘They don’t let gangsters run nightclubs. The council pulls their licences at the first hint of anything like that.’ He grinned. ‘Having said that, I’ve definitely seen some very iffy people spending money in there. Sharp suits and broken noses and tarts with their tits out, but everyone’s as good as gold.’
‘He is good looking, isn’t he?’
‘Darling, I’ll swop yours for mine any day of the week. I think that woman who paid for me is expecting a nooner for her money.’
“I trust you’ll let her down gently,’ she said,
Seb’s car stayed outside her house until she let herself in, then his driver beeped the horn and drove off. She keyed in the burglar alarm code, kicked off her high heels and poured herself a glass of red wine before phoning Terry. ‘What are you doing?’ she asked him.
‘Drinking wine and watching America’s Next Top Model,’ he said. ‘You?’
‘Just back from a charity do with Seb.’
‘Good that you want to put something back, darling.’
‘I think I met the guy from the house,’ said Carolyn.
‘Stay right where you are,’ said Terry. ‘I’m coming round.’
CHAPTER 35
‘You are shitting me,’ said Terry. ‘You’re pulling my chain, right?’ He was sprawled on one of Carolyn’s sofas holding an oversized glass of red wine.
‘I’m saying it might be him. I’m not a hundred percent sure.’
‘And you’re seeing him for lunch on Friday?’
‘I said I’d give him a tour of the studio. That way I can run him by you, see what you think.’
‘Darling, you’re the one who saw him bashing Cohen’s brains in. What do expect me to do?’
‘I just wanted you to meet him,’ said Carolyn. ‘He’s charming. And very good looking.’
‘But is he the man you saw in the house? That’s the only thing that matters.’
Carolyn sipped her wine thoughtfully. ‘I think so,’ she said. ‘When I saw him walking across the room towards my table, I was certain. But the closer he got, the less certain I was. Then, when he started talking to me,..’ She shrugged.
‘He’s charming so he can’t be a killer? Is that it?’
‘He just seemed so nice. And what are the odds that the man I saw committing a murder would be at a charity dinner and would pay to have lunch with me?’
‘Anything’s possible, darling. Look at Elton John’s hair.’
Carolyn laughed. ‘If it was him, why would he want to have lunch with me.’
‘Is there any way he could have seen you at the house?’
‘I don’t think so. As soon as the lights went on I was running for the gate. I’m sure they couldn’t have seen my face.’
‘You left your shoes behind.’
‘Bog standard Prada,’ said Carolyn. ‘It’s not as if I dropped my wallet. There’s no way he could have identified me from the shoes.’ She frowned. ‘What do you think? You think he knows I was there?’
‘If he didn’t see you, then obviously not. In which case it’s a coincidence. Assuming it is him you saw at the house.’
‘Oh, and he drives a Porsche Cayenne, not a Bentley.’
‘How do you know that?’
