THE DEADLY BLACK ROSE 23

Charlie: We can take the station footbridge over the track, then there’s a path that will take us straight to Mama Mex’s. Kalista: That should take us right past the place Emillia’s body was found! Charlie: We were wondering whether there was anything you could tell us about the murdered girls – anything that might have meant they had enemies – or someone with a grudge? Mama Mex: Not really – they were nice girtls, hard working in that hair salon. I never had any trouble with either of them – no undesirable men calling! Kalista: Letittia – the first girl – she worked evenings at the Whitethigh? Mama Mex: I didn’t like that much with the late hours and the reputation the place has but she only worked behind the bar, not out in the saloon, and one of the other girls usually gave her a lift back. Kalista: So nothing that would make a mother anxious, no real cause for suspicions. Mama Mex: Well any mother is anxious about young daughters! But no, they were well behaved girls, not silly teenagers. Charlie: Good of you to talk to us Mama Mex. Don’t know that it takes things forward much but it’s all good background.