Strangled in the Sauna Read online

  'What on earth is that?' Dodie asked, pointing to the label on the last door. 'It sounds vicious!'

  Elena looked puzzled. 'Er – I understand it's something to do with touching to correct imbalances around the head and spine, I think. I'm ashamed to say I didn't sample it. Joan can tell you more.'

  'I don't think I'll bother her. Do I have to join in the ballet?'

  Elena shook her head. 'You don't fancy yourself in a tu-tu? The exercise people do is only permitted with Joan's approval,' she explained. 'She judges our fitness and sets out a personal programme, which classes and machines we can each use, and for how long. She is very strict.'

  Dodie grinned. 'Thank God! I could manage a manicure, I think, and even a gentle massage or facial. And that pool looks enticing. I'll definitely swim.'

  'We're here to work,' Elena reminded her.

  'I know, but I'll have to do some of these treatments if I want to talk to the employees. You can do the ones I can't face, like waxing and body wraps.'

  'You could do a salt scrub. I had one last time I was here, and it's very relaxing. It's to exfoliate the skin. They use sea salt here – '

  'I knew I'd be bathing in the North Sea,' Dodie interrupted.

  Elena laughed. 'It's also used along with oils, probably lemon or lavender, then you can have a shower while you are lying down, if you want, and finish with body lotion.'

  'Mm, perhaps I will try that one after all. Lying down for a shower sounds relaxing enough.'

  'Right. Now we'd better go and have a look at those photos and lists I brought you, and then we are due for coffee with Joan and Sheila.'

  *

  'Did you have time to look at the list?' Sheila asked.

  Dodie took a sip of her coffee. She could get to like it, she thought, in the absence of some decent strong double strength espresso.

  'I had a quick look. These five men. Two were here with their wives. The elderly couple come every year. The young ones were here as a first anniversary present, paid for by his mother, who is herself a regular guest, right?'

  'So you think we can eliminate them?'

  'Yes, surely the one is too old and the other would be too busy with his wife. The musician, who had a breakdown and was sent by his doctor, doesn't seem likely, either. Nor the jockey. Whoever stole the jewels needs to have some contacts in order to dispose of them, and somehow musicians and jockeys, especially sick ones, don't fit.'

  'The jockey was sent by the owner of the racehorse he fell off, and had those dreadful injuries. I think the owner felt guilty. The jockey said he'd insisted the horse ran, though the trainer had told him it wasn't ready. He'd have been OK by then, they said, but he had pneumonia too and needed to build up his strength.'

  'So,' Dodie said, 'that leaves Mr Shefford, the businessman. He is the same age as Lady Carter, and they both live in London, probably mix with the same people. Her husband is a businessman too. I wish that wasn't such a vague term. It doesn't help at all.'

  Sheila as looking thoughtful. 'Didn't he come for a couple of nights before Christmas?' she asked. 'I think he was on business and passing, called in on the off chance we had a vacancy, said he'd heard from his wife how relaxing it was.'

  'Yes, you're right, he did. It was around the middle of December, just before we closed for Christmas. His wife was here in February, just two weeks before he came back. She comes every year around the same time, after Christmas indulgences, she says. And she mentioned he was on some long trip to the far east,' Joan said.

  'I'll fetch the register, there's something I need to check.'

  She came back in couple of minutes. 'I was right. I didn't have any letter booking the first time, as he called on spec. He booked by email this time, and asked me to confirm by email, so he might have been anywhere.'

  'And his wife would not necessarily know, she might have assumed he was still on his travels while he was here,' Joan said. 'But I cannot understand why Lady Carter needed to bring the necklace here with her. You've seen the photo of it?'

  Dodie nodded. 'Garish, like the other two pieces that were stolen. Worth a good deal, though, especially with their historical associations. However, they would all be difficult to dispose of unless to a secret collector.'

  'Even the stones by themselves, taken out of the settings, would be worth a good deal,' Elena said. 'It would be wicked to break them up, but the thief probably doesn't care about that.'

  'Let's forget Lady Carter, apart from one question,' Dodie said. 'Which room did she have, and was his room nearby?'

  'They were both on the top floor, facing the sea.'

  'Connecting rooms?'

  'No, only two of the rooms in that part are connected. And they weren't adjacent. 301 and 303.'

  'And the other victims?'

  'Also on the top floor, but both sides, Tansy had 304, and Phillipa 307. All different rooms.'

  'They needed the master key, or a copy of it,' Joan reminded them.

  'There have been no thefts from rooms on other floors? So one master key may be all they have,' Elena said.

  'They would need the master key for the safes, too,' Sheila said, 'but I cannot think how that could have been copied. It's on my key ring all the time.'

  'We'll come back to that,' Dodie said. 'I've other questions first.'

  Sheila sighed. 'It gets more complicated, and I can't see how we could prove anything unless we find the jewels on the thief.'

  'Or they confess,' Elena said.

  'All the thefts being on that floor might make it easier for the thief to move around without being suspected,' Dodie went on. 'Can the staff get onto each floor from the main house, or do they need to go down and use the lift or the separate stairs?'

  'There are connecting doors from the main house on each floor, to make it easier for the maids. Oh dear, it's impossible.'

  'Not yet,' Dodie said. 'There are so many more questions, and I need to speak to the three of them, ideally face to face, but Tansy is in Hollywood. Would it be possible for me to speak to her this evening by telephone?'

  'Yes, I imagine so. She left a number. She was hoping, I think, we'd find the ring. We could telephone after dinner.'

  'Thanks, Sheila. One more question, and then I thought I'd have a swim. I need to start talking to the staff. At what time of day were these thefts reported to you?'

  Sheila and Joan looked at one another. 'Do you remember, Joan?'

  'Lady Carter discovered the necklace was missing just before dinner, when she was dressing. She came to me at once, said she was sure it had been in the safe the previous night, when she put it away.'

  'Phillipa came to us after breakfast. The poor girl was distraught.'

  'That poor girl had borrowed a valuable brooch without permission.' Dodie's tone was tart.

  Sheila nodded. 'It was very wrong of her. She said she missed it before dinner the previous day, but had been hoping she'd dropped it somewhere. She thought the catch might have been loose, but she didn't seem too sure.'

  'And Tansy came just before lunch,' Joan said. 'She'd been swimming, and it was gone when she went back to her room. She'd only been away for an hour. She was in a dreadful state, and came to the office straight away.'

  'I'm awash with information,' Dodie said. 'I'll think about the safe key while I'm swimming. Relaxing with a swim often helps my brain to work.'

  'Not a great deal of help there,' Elena commented as they went back to their rooms. 'The jewels could have been lifted at almost any time, apart from Tansy's.'

  'Except they were all on the top floor. Remind me to ask if the same maids always do the same rooms. Now, are you swimming with me?'

  *

  Elena had booked the same treatments the victims had taken. First, she went to the craniosacral room to be greeted by a pretty Chinese girl who introduced herself as Linda. Elena lay on the bed, covered with a thin sheet, wondering if any of these treatments would relax her while she was pondering the thefts.

  'That's a lovely
ring, but perhaps you ought to take it off while I'm treating you,' Linda said.

  'Oh, yes, of course,' Elena said and began to tug off the ring. It was a gaudy costume ring Jamie had supplied, suggesting it looked real enough and could be a talking point with the staff.

  'It's rather tight,' she muttered.

  'Here, some oil, that will help.'

  'Thanks.' Elena managed to slide the ring down her finger and Linda carefully placed it on a shelf behind her.

  'It's very unusual. I've never seen one with a row of emeralds on a slant, like this one,' Linda said as she began to lay gentle hands on Elena's head.

  'They're not real,' Elena said quickly. 'They are glass, but the ring's a copy of one Napoleon gave to Josephine.' This was the story they had agreed to tell, though in fact the ring was worth just a few pounds, and had nothing to do with Napoleon.

  'Really? So it's quite old. The original, I mean. We read about him at school, but I wasn't interested in history. What happened to the real one after she died?'

  'It went to his nephew, who became Emperor Napoleon the third. His wife Eugenie had it, I suppose,' Elena said. 'They are both buried here in England.'

  'Why, if he was a French Emperor?'

  'They got kicked out in a revolution. The French always seemed to be having revolutions.'

  Linda giggled. 'Then what happened to it? The real one, I mean.'

  'I don't know. Some private collector bought it, I suppose. But she had this copy made, saying the real one was too valuable to be worn, so it's quite old too.' At least it looked old, Elena thought, after she and Jamie had roughed it up a little.

  'If I had real jewels I'd wear them.'

  'I don't suppose many of the guests bring valuable jewellery here. There's no point, no one to show off to.'

  'Of course, they may bring copies, but some of the guests do have fabulous things. Several weeks ago one of them, she is a film star, was wearing a huge engagement ring, with an enormous diamond, with rubies and sapphires round it. She didn't want to take it off for her treatment, but in the end she did, though she kept her head turned all the time to look at it where I'd put it, on the shelf where I put yours. I don't know what she thought might happen, no one comes in here during a treatment. There, how does that feel?' she asked, her gentle hands moving down Elena's spine.

  *

  'So what did you discover?'

  Elena shrugged. She was in Dodie's room watching her mother blow dry her hair. 'Not a lot. Linda was interested in my ring and the history we'd invented, and had noticed Tansy's. She kept an eye on her ring all the time, Linda said, even though no one else could come into the room, so Tansy probably would be careful and lock it into her safe while she went for a swim. What about you?'

  'The pool manager, Terry, is a slob. The saunas are far from hot, and he delegates all the work to his assistant, a young lad called Darren. I had the impression he took twice as long as he should have done for his breaks, and closed the pool earlier than the time listed. I'll take a look at closing time.'

  'Isn't the pool open all day?'

  'Not while Terry is in charge. I'm surprised Sheila allows it. He organises an eight-hour shift, from ten in the morning to before dinner.'

  'So no one can go for an early morning dip.'

  'When I asked about that charming Terry informed me, with a smirk, that I could use the sea if that was what I wanted. He positively gloated when he said it was always cold, even in high summer. Next time I'll go when Darren is on his own. I might learn more.'

  'What next?'

  'More questions. I'm having a manicure this afternoon, and Sheila suggested tea with them later. What are you booked for?'

  'After my very relaxing craniosacral – you should try it – I'm having a full treatment massage, which I imagine will be lots of pummelling.'

  'All in a good cause, for your Jamie.'

  'I'm wishing he could come and suffer for the sake of detection.'

  'And fall into the hands of these nubile therapists? I suspect Joan chooses them for their looks as well as their skills. Have you seen the manicurist?'

  'Fiona? Not yet, this time. But come on, it's time for lunch.'

  'I'm wondering if one of us should ask for a room on that top floor,' Dodie said as they went to the dining room.

  'Let's see if the same maids do the rooms there all the time.'

  'And after dinner I'll be talking to Tansy, with luck.'

  *

  Dodie was admiring her delicately coloured nails as she went into Sheila's office. A woman she hadn't met before was sitting at the desk, in front of a computer monitor, and frowning.

  'Hello, you must be Felicity. I'm Dodie Fanshaw.'

  Felicity nodded, and smiled.

  'Good to meet you, Mrs Fanshaw. Do you know anything about these monsters?' she asked. 'I can't think what I'm doing wrong, it's something I've done a hundred times before, and suddenly the beast throws up messages I can't even understand, let alone do anything about.'

  'Sorry, they are a complete mystery to me.'

  Felicity sighed. 'Well, if I can't crack it I'll have to ask my husband tonight. He's the computer whizz. He's the ultimate DIY fanatic too, doesn't believe in giving work to anyone else.'

  'You live in the village? How far away is it?'

  'Only a mile, but I live a bit further, out on the Scarborough road.'

  'Have you worked at The Crags for long?'

  'Three years, since my youngest started school. I'm only part time, but when the wretched computers behave getting out of the house saves my sanity.' She laughed. 'But I mustn't gossip, Miss Sheila's expecting you, and your daughter is already there. Do go straight in.'

  Dodie went through into the private sitting room. Diane was there, setting out the tea tray. She looked up and smiled.

  'Thank you, Diane. I'll pour,' Sheila said, and Diane went away.

  'Pretty girl,' Dodie said. 'Are those scones? Aren't they against the rules?'

  'Not for us, or the staff. Do have one, and this is real Cornish cream and jam made in our kitchens with fruit from our gardens. How do you like your tea?'

  Dodie helped herself to a scone and spread on the cream and jam. 'Mm, delicious. Milk, and no sugar, please, Joan.'

  They ate in silence for a while, then Sheila put down her cup. 'Have you any thoughts yet? I know it's only a day, but I'm anxious. If we don't solve this and news gets out it could ruin the business.'

  'It's too soon,' Dodie said. 'But we need to add the waitresses to the people who go to the guest wing. Diane brought my breakfast this morning.'

  'Of course! I was forgetting them.'

  Dodie wiped her fingers, looked regretfully at the remaining scone, and took out her notebook.

  'Do the same maids clean the same rooms all the time?' she asked.

  'Yes, most of the time, but they all do the other floors when those maids have their days off. And we have contract cleaners who come in three times a week to do the public rooms and some of the treatment area, corridors and the pool and gymnasium. They also do the laundry. We prefer not to send it out, so we have laundry and ironing facilities in the kitchen block.'

  'Some of the treatment area? Not all the rooms there?'

  'The therapists do their own rooms, they prefer it because they may have expensive equipment, and oils and so on. Each room is specialist, and they can leave them set out the way they need, to save time setting up. The maids take it in turn to do the staff common room. It's worked well enough up to now.'

  'Getting keys to the rooms would not be a problem, I imagine, but copying the master key for the safes is a different matter. Let's consider that now. I've been trying to work out how it might have been done. We need to narrow the list to people who could do that. May I see it?'

  Sheila went over to a side table and pulled open a small drawer. She handed Dodie a large bunch of keys, all neatly labelled.

  'It's that small brass one. There are so many I don't carry them round with
me, I normally leave them here.'

  Dodie was fingering the brass key. 'I don't know anything about safes, but the ones in the guest rooms are like those we get in hotels, with a keypad the guests can set themselves, and which is reset with every new guest. This key would not be difficult to copy, provided the locksmith making the copy was not too honest.'

  'How do you mean?'

  'I assume this key or the whole bunch can't be taken away for any length of time? How often to you need them?'

  'Every day, normally. So how could it be copied?'

  'Do you read detective stories? I believe the usual method is to press the key into a soft bar of soap. But surely an honest locksmith would query that?'

  'That's the old-fashioned way, Ma,' Elena said. 'I Googled it, and you can copy keys by photographing them, even buy a special machine to make duplicates.'

  'How clever! But I would think the expense of that, buying such a machine, would indicate a large concern,' Dodie said. 'It hardly seems worth it for thefts at one place, with just one key, like here.'

  'One of these jewels would pay for it,' Elena insisted. 'And there are the room master keys to make, too. At least for the top floor.'

  Sheila dropped her head in her hands. 'Then they'd only need a few seconds to take photos of both keys.'

  'Do you ever leave these keys in the office?'

  'I'm afraid so, dropped on the desk. But never for more than a few minutes. Sometimes, if it's a personal call, for example, I answer the phone in here.'

  'So it could be anyone,' Joan said. 'It's impossible.'

  'Could they take a photo when Felicity is here?'

  'Not if she's in the office, but she sometimes needs to take a message, or show someone to a room.'

  'Anyone could take a photo, but they'd have to have some way of making a copy, and then access to the guest rooms. That helps narrow it down.'