Deadly Secrets (Detective Erika Foster #6)(47)

‘Why didn’t you like her?’

Martin put down the piece of fabric and gave them his full attention.

‘She was devoid of grace, without warmth, with a hideous drive and ambition. She’d tread on anyone to get where she wanted to go.’

‘Where did she want to go?’ asked Erika.

‘God knows, she just wanted to be famous. She wanted to be the next Dita Von Teese. What she didn’t realise is that she also needed to work on her craft. Anyone can go off and be a Kardashian, or at least they can try. We had some American footballer, don’t ask me who, come in last summer. She made no bones about trying to bed him; she even said she would try and make a sex tape with him.’

‘Did she?’ asked Erika.

‘No. He went with one of the blonde girls, Jenna Minx, who has a little more class than Marissa. Although, that’s not saying much.’

‘How long had Marissa performed here?’ asked Erika.

‘Since January.’ He picked up a pair of scissors and started to cut a bright yellow piece of fabric. ‘To be fair to her, despite all her failings, she has real stage presence and she became one of the most popular dancers. Although there have been rumours that she’s done more than dance for some of the punters.’

‘Prostitution?’

He nodded. ‘A few times, rich types have taken her out afterwards, and she’s had no shame about saying what she did and how much she got for it.’

‘She told you?’

‘Yes, me, whoever else was in the room, and the kitchen sink.’

‘Did she ever talk about neighbours, friends, any relationships close to home?’

‘There’s a drippy Polish guy, Ivan, who she’s been bleeding dry for a long time. Poor bugger. Used to come often to see the show. Sat on the front row and kept his anorak on. All goggle-eyed, and crossing his legs over his erection. There was a girl here who had a boyfriend who works in TV, commissioning reality shows. Marissa went after him, but he wasn’t interested. There was a fight between the two girls just moments before curtain up. I was frantically trying to mend their costumes during the show.’

‘Did Marissa go into much detail about her relationship with Ivan?’

‘She used to joke that she kept him in the cupboard… on account of how pale he was. And she’d often ring him up to ask for more money, or a new frock, and she’d put him on speakerphone, for us all to laugh at. Poor bastard.’

‘Did Marissa ever say if he hit her, or if she was scared of him?’ asked Peterson.

‘No. Marissa wore the trousers. She was in control of him and his wallet.’

‘Did Marissa ever talk about her other work?’ asked Erika.

Martin pushed his glasses up his nose and snorted.

‘Yes. She was multi-talented, it seems. She was also a carer. Although, to me that’s a bit like King Herod getting a job in the antenatal unit… She stole from that old woman. Food and toiletries at first. The old woman…’

‘Mrs Fryatt,’ said Erika.

‘Yes, she came here one night to watch Marissa as Honey Diamond. All dressed up like Joan Collins in furs and diamonds. That’s when we realised why Marissa was her carer…’

‘What did you mean, “at first”, when you said Marissa was stealing from Mrs Fryatt?’

‘Marissa stole a pair of diamond earrings from her.’

‘When was this?’ asked Peterson.

Martin put down the piece of material. ‘Must have been a couple of weeks before Christmas. I thought it was bullshit, and that she’d concocted some story to make a pair of costume jewellery earrings into something more than they were – that was a very Marissa thing to do, she liked to lie – but she took one of the girls up to Hatton Garden, and had them valued. They were the real deal, worth ten grand.’

Erika glanced at Peterson. Mrs Fryatt hadn’t said anything about a pair of earrings.

‘Did Marissa mention anything about an attack?’ asked Peterson.

Martin looked surprised. ‘Marissa attacked someone?’

‘No, she was attacked, about a month ago, on her way back from the train station where she lives. A man grabbed her.’

Martin shook his head. ‘Not that I heard. And I used to hear everything about that girl’s life, whether I wanted to or not.’

‘You do understand that this is a murder investigation, and you aren’t speaking about Marissa Lewis in favourable terms?’ said Peterson.

‘Do want me to lie?’

‘No,’ said Erika.

‘I know it’s not right to speak ill of the dead, and no one deserves to be cut down on their own front step. Awful,’ he said, taking off his glasses and crossing himself. He let them hang down over his large belly on a gold chain.

‘Did you know she was planning to move to New York?’

‘Yes. She talked about it.’

‘No specifics?’

‘No, but I did ask her how she would fund herself. It’s not cheap, and there are visa costs and all sorts. She did say something which stuck in my mind. She said the diamond would bring her good fortune and a new start in life.’

‘The diamond on her costume?’

‘No, she was thinking of changing that, and her burlesque name.’