‘What do you mean? That’s a horrible thing to say.’ He pleaded with his solicitor, ‘Is she allowed to say that? Isn’t it slander?’
Aston might be full of bullshit, but he wasn’t too bright. The solicitor must guess what was coming, unless she was as dim as her client. Siv said coldly, ‘Mr Aston, if you’d told the police in 2013 what you’ve now stated, they’d have searched Steiner’s and they’d have found Lyn’s body. Her family would have been spared a lot of pain. All your actions here have been selfish, so don’t try to tell me that you were lying for Lily’s sake.’
‘It never occurred to me that Lyn might be at Steiner’s. Why would she be there after we’d called things off? I told you, I was only trying—’
‘Oh, do cut the crap. If Lily had found this out before your wedding, she’d probably have refused to marry you.’
‘No, that’s not right. Lily’s devoted to me. We’d go through fire for each other.’
‘Come on! You’d been having sex with her mother on the floor of a derelict building! Hardly what the bride wants to hear before she heads to the altar to marry the man of her dreams! Seems to me you’d have turned from her dream man into her nightmare. Maybe you will now, when this comes out.’
He tugged at the front of his hair. ‘Lily won’t find out, will she? What’s the point of dragging up something that’s in the past?’
‘Her mum’s murder must feel very present for her.’
Aston bent his head and muttered to himself. Siv sat back and Ali took over. He launched in conversationally. ‘So tell me, Mr Aston, when you and Lyn Dimas were snuggling up at Steiner’s, did you have wee picnics and such?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, it wasn’t the most upmarket venue for a tryst. Maybe a wee drink helped the mood along, made things a bit cosier.’
‘You don’t have to add to your statement,’ his solicitor advised.
Aston touched the paper, as if the statement was a lucky charm. ‘We drank wine sometimes, yes.’
‘Nice. Did you bring it along? White, red, rosé? Plonk or something classier?’
‘We both liked red. I bought a bottle once or twice, I can’t remember exactly. Lyn brought a bottle from home once, expensive stuff.’
‘How many times did you have sex at Steiner’s?’
‘Half a dozen, maybe more. I can’t remember exactly. Then, as I said, Lyn started wanting to meet more often and I got cold feet. Are you getting off on this or something? I’ve made a statement. You’ve got the information.’
‘And that covers it? A woman was murdered in a place where you used to meet her. A couple of paragraphs doesn’t cut it.’
The solicitor pointed to the statement. ‘Mr Aston has told you what he can.’
Siv picked up the paper. ‘I wonder if this is just another load of lies. What’s the truth here, Mr Aston? You concealed crucial information in a serious investigation, which resulted in a body remaining undiscovered. I’ll have to consider charging you with perverting the course of justice. That could mean a prison sentence.’
‘Hang on!’ He grabbed his cap and screwed it up between his fingers. ‘I’ve made an honest statement — I’ve tried to help you here.’
‘That’s true, Inspector. Mr Aston has cleared a path for you.’
‘Hardly. We’re done here for now. You can wait while we consider charges.’
Aston shifted as if he was going to throw himself into the solicitor’s arms and weep. Cornlow pulled her chair further away from him.
Siv and Ali headed upstairs and sat in her office, going over what they had.
‘Did he really reckon that his crappy little statement was going to make us go away?’ Ali asked.
‘He’s not the brightest and I’m not sure his solicitor is either. The statement rings true to me, and the forensics support it. He has an alibi for the night Lyn disappeared.’
‘Aye. But he had a motive for killing her, given her opposition to him and Lily. Maybe she’d threatened to tell Lily if he didn’t clear off the scene.’
‘Would she have told Lily? I’m not so sure. She was desperate for Lily’s approval, and if she’d revealed what she’d been up to with Aston, she’d have dobbed herself in and lost the moral high ground she was holding about Theo leaving.’
Ali said, ‘Fair point, but she wasn’t necessarily clear-headed, was she? Anger with Aston might have overwhelmed her. After all, he’d dumped her and then moved on to her daughter. She was already worried about her age and being unattractive. She might have given him an ultimatum.’
‘All of that is true, but once again, he has an alibi.’
They both sat mulling this over.
Siv said, ‘Aston’s story about the wine supports what Dimas told us. We can put him on the back burner for now. We’ll charge Aston with perverting the course of justice, and give him bail. That’ll flatten the peak in his cap.’
Ali rubbed his hands together. ‘That’s class. I’m a happy man.’
Her phone rang. ‘Guv, it’s reception. We’ve got a Lily Aston here, shouting the odds about her husband. She’s demanding to speak to you.’
‘Okay. She’ll have to wait a bit. I’ll try not to be too long. Stick her in an interview room and offer her a hot drink.’ She rang off. ‘Lily’s going to need something stronger than tea or coffee. I’ll have to tell her about her mum and her husband. That’s something to relish.’
‘Want me with you?’
‘No, you get on with processing Aston. Mind you, in my opinion, I doubt that he’ll have a home to go to once we release him.’
* * *
Theo Dimas had just got through the front door, his head reeling, when his phone rang. He was astonished to see that the caller was Lily and he almost didn’t answer. He didn’t need any more grief right now. But she might be in trouble or needing to talk about Lyn. When he picked up, she launched straight in without any greeting.
‘Why have the police arrested Pearce? What have you been saying to them?’
‘I wasn’t aware that they had arrested him. They’ve been questioning me today.’
‘He rang and said they’d arrested him at work and they were taking him to the station. I’m going there now. I suppose you’ve been slagging him off, telling lies about him.’
‘Of course I haven’t. Why would I do that?’
‘Because you hate him, just like Mum did.’
‘I don’t hate Pearce. The police did mention his name when they were asking me about Steiner’s, but I’ve no idea why.’
‘According to you. You’re not exactly famous for your honesty, are you? You’re a cheat and a liar. I don’t believe a word you say.’
It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her what the police had said about Lyn and what they’d found at Steiner’s, but he bit back his anger. Now wasn’t the time and place. ‘What I’ve told you is the truth.’
‘Yeah, well, I’ll find out what’s going on when I get to the police station.’
‘Do you want me to come with you?’
She snorted. ‘Not likely! You’d just make things worse. While I’m on the phone, I’m warning you that I don’t want to see that awful man at my mum’s funeral.’
‘What man?’
‘Monty. He caused misery for Mum. I don’t want him turning up, pretending to be sympathetic. As if he gives a toss.’
He was so weary. ‘Let’s not do this now, Lily. We’re all raw. You’re grieving for Mum but . . .’
‘Yeah, I am. Unlike you and that shit Monty. If he dares to turn up at the funeral, I’ll spit in his face and throw him out. You won’t want that.’
There was no point in arguing with her. ‘I’m truly sorry about your mum, Lily. Rowing with each other isn’t going to help.’
‘You’ve been told. I’ve got every right to say I don’t want him there. Papu and Pearce agree with me. He’s the last person Mum would’ve wanted at her funeral, so he can piss off.’
Having thrown in her final, undeniable w
inning card, she rang off. Theo glanced at the clock. Adam would be home in the next hour. Shaken by the conversation, he made himself a strong black coffee laced with brandy and sat in the kitchen. His phone pinged with an email and he wondered if it was going to be Lily again, berating him, but he saw that it was from Scott Darnley. Theo wasn’t that familiar with the man, but he didn’t like what he’d seen of him. Scott had come round a couple of times with Justin and he’d been spiteful about a lot of the people he worked with, criticising their mannerisms, habits and relationships. Theo wondered what Scott said about them as soon as he was out the door. He read the email.
Hi, Theo, I was very sorry to hear about Lyn and I wanted to offer my condolences. This must be a difficult time for you. I really don’t want to add to your burdens, but I needed to get in touch. I hope that you and Monty are well and happy, but I have my doubts. Are you always sure of where he is and who he’s seeing? I don’t want to worry you or name names, but I’ve seen him hanging about with someone. Just wanted to give you a heads up. The last thing you need at the moment is to be let down by your partner.
Theo put his phone down and stared into space. He hadn’t wanted to disturb Monty at work, so he was unaware of the day’s events yet. Sometimes he sensed Monty’s dissatisfaction, but he didn’t want to believe that his partner was being unfaithful. After a glorious, passionate start, their relationship had been bombarded by persistent and harrowing difficulties. Monty found Adam hard work. The two had never bonded as he’d hoped they might, and the atmosphere in the house was often awkward. There were times when he was exhausted at being the fulcrum of the seesaw, trying to maintain balance. Monty had had to ride a lot of resentment and insults from the Dimas family, and perhaps in the end it had proved too much.
He reached for his phone and read the email again. It was vague and typical of Scott’s vindictive style. He hadn’t sensed that Monty’s attention had strayed elsewhere but then again, he hadn’t suspected that Lyn had been having an affair. Had he or Monty annoyed Scott Darnley in any way? He couldn’t understand why else Scott would have sent such a message, unless he’d really seen Monty acting suspiciously.
He made himself another strong coffee and waited for Adam to get in from school. His heart was thudding.
Chapter 16
Lily’s fists were in tight balls, her eyes flashing. Fury blazed off her in waves. She had a friend with her — a Damsel, presumably, a pale, willowy woman called Tasha. Siv took them into an interview room. Tasha wiped her chair seat with a tissue before sitting. Siv didn’t blame her.
‘I want to see my Pearce,’ Lily insisted. Her loose hair was flicking furiously.
‘In a while. He’s been arrested and we’ve interviewed him.’
‘He’d better have had a solicitor!’
‘He did.’ Not that it did him much good.
‘What’s he been arrested for?’
‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but it’s in connection with your mother’s murder and perverting the course of justice.’
‘What? Don’t be stupid! Pearce didn’t have anything to do with that!’
‘That’s what he claims, but he has been lying to the police. He’s made a statement that proves he’s lied.’
Lily tensed. ‘What the fuck are you talking about? This is driving me mental!’
Tasha put a hand on Lily’s arm. ‘Try to stay calm, Lily. Maybe the inspector can explain.’
Lily shrugged her off angrily and shot her a death stare. ‘Calm! My husband’s banged up in a cell! He must be terrified!’
Siv intervened. Lily was about to lose face, big time, and although she was a pouty madam, she was, in her own limited way, grieving for her mother. ‘I’m going to give you some information now, Lily. It won’t be easy for you. You might want to hear it alone.’
‘No, I want Tash here as a witness in case you try to twist things.’
Tasha nodded solemnly. They were alike, slim and with short puffa jackets over ripped jeans. Maybe the Damsels had a dress code. Both wore smoky eyeshadow and pale lipstick.
‘Have it your way.’ Siv gave a brief summary of Pearce’s statement, leaving out details such as the mattress and the wine. ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Lily.’
Tasha gasped, her hands flying to her face. Lily froze in her seat. ‘It’s not true,’ she managed to whisper.
‘I’m afraid it is. We have it in writing and Pearce volunteered the information. It explains why your mum was so against your relationship with him. If it’s any comfort to you, he claims that he didn’t realise when he first met you that you were Lyn’s daughter, and then he protected you from finding out about his affair with your mum.’
‘He’s put it in writing?’
‘Yes, with his solicitor. It was his choice.’
‘He can’t have . . .’
Siv heard the doubt in her voice and saw her eyes change from hot anger to cold. ‘I wouldn’t tell you this if it wasn’t what Pearce has stated.’
‘Him and my mum. They were doing it for months in that stinking place?’
‘Yes, that was one of the places they met.’
‘Pearce . . . and Mum . . . But she was so old! How could he do that?’
Siv was bemused at her take on it. ‘Well . . . it happens.’
‘OMG, Lily,’ Tasha breathed. She was hugging the arms of her jacket. ‘You poor thing!’
Tasha was gaping at Lily with suppressed excitement laced with a hefty hint of enjoyment. It was all very well being a tragic figure for your friends, but not when it turned into schadenfreude. The Damsels would be busy on social media later.
Lily rocked in her chair and bashed the table with her hands. Then she started screaming. ‘I don’t . . . I can’t . . . No, he can’t . . .’
Tasha tried to put an arm around her shoulders, but Lily smacked her hard in the face with the back of a hand before continuing to scream. Tasha started crying loudly and holding her scarlet cheek. The racket was terrible. Siv pressed the call button and asked a startled male constable to fetch a female colleague. Then she spoke quietly to Lily, asking her to calm down and insisting that she take a drink of water.
‘For God’s sake, do be quiet,’ she said to Tasha. ‘It was a smack. There’s no blood. We’ll get you checked over.’
When things had calmed and Tasha was holding ice to her cheek with Lily snuffling quietly, Siv told the female constable to contact Joe Dimas and tell him his granddaughter needed his help. She checked the time. It was after 7 p.m. and she was hungry. She was about to pop to Gusto for a sandwich when Ali appeared in the corridor.
‘Guv, were you trying to get hold of a Scott Darnley?’
‘Yes. He’s an anaesthetist at Berminster General. He’d left a message saying he had info about Lyn.’
‘Well, he’s in the hospital now, but as a patient. He was beaten up this afternoon and he wants to talk to you.’
‘I’d better get over there. Have you sorted Aston?’
‘Yes, charged and released on bail. I told him his wife was here but he didn’t hang around. How did it go with her?’
‘Major drama. The Aston homestead won’t be a happy one tonight.’
* * *
Theo’s head was aching and muddled when Adam came in. All that caffeine wasn’t good for his blood pressure. He made his son a hot chocolate and they sat at the kitchen table. He was still trying to get his head around the interview with the police and recall it moment by moment. It was difficult, because shock seemed to have paralysed his memory. Inspector Drummond had said something about a mattress, but he wasn’t sure what now. Why had they talked about Pearce Aston? He was confused and worried. Lyn must have taken that wine to Steiner’s, but what on earth had made her go there? The questions piled up in his mind. None of this made sense.
He longed for Monty to arrive so that he could share the tension, but he was also rattled by the email from Scott and unsure whether to mention all these details to him.
&n
bsp; He told Adam about the police interview. It hurt his heart to do it, but there was no point in concealing things. Except the one thing he had to keep hiding. He had his fingers crossed on that.
Adam sipped the hot chocolate that he’d topped with pieces of white meringue. They were like snowy mountain peaks streaked with mud. ‘The police are saying Mum was . . . was seeing someone at Steiner’s?’
‘That’s what they said, that she might have been. I’m sorry.’
‘What, she left me alone that night because she was meeting someone?’
‘It’s not clear. Not necessarily.’
‘I don’t believe it. Mum wouldn’t do that.’
‘Maybe the police have got it wrong.’
Adam frowned. ‘But why did they arrest you?’
‘Because my fingerprints were on a wine bottle they found there, the kind of wine I buy by the case. I was never at Steiner’s, Adam, and I made that clear to them.’
Adam gazed into his drink. ‘Why did they mention Pearce?’
‘I’ve no idea. They’ve got forensics, but they didn’t give details.’
‘Just about the wine bottle.’
‘That’s right. Your mum must have taken it there. That’s the only explanation.’
‘So . . . so does that mean Mum knew the person who killed her?’
‘I suppose that’s possible.’ The smell of the milky chocolate was turning his stomach. He put a hand on his son’s. ‘We’ve just got to get through this, Adam. It’s going to be a tough time ahead so we have to help each other out.’
Adam withdrew into himself. He fell silent and spooned the soggy meringue from his mug. Then he got up and headed to his room. The door slammed. Theo took his mug and washed it out. His guilt about Adam was limitless. Before he’d left the family, Adam had been an outgoing, mischievous boy, always on the go and full of curiosity. Now Theo was terrified that his son was going to relapse into the depression and isolation that had overwhelmed him after Lyn had vanished. He’d hardly spoken for a couple of years, apart from repeating that irritating phrase of his: ‘Catchungcatchungcatchung.’ Neither a therapist nor the educational psychologist had made any difference. In the end, they’d suggested it was best to let Adam take his time, and he had. He’d lost friendships and he struggled with schoolwork. ‘Inertia’ was the word that summed him up. Adam couldn’t take any more shocks, which was why it was important to keep the lid on the Justin situation.
NEVER CAME HOME an addictive crime thriller with a twist you won't see coming (Detective Inspector Siv Drummond Book 2) Page 20
