Her Final Hour

by Rachel Amphlett

  ‘It’ll take as long as it takes, Mr Adams.’ Jan took the chair to which he directed her. ‘Please clarify where you were on Monday night between half past eleven and seven o’clock Tuesday morning.’

  His face flushed. ‘I beg your pardon? Am I a suspect?’

  ‘Answer the question, please.’

  ‘You––’ His jaw worked, and then he shrugged. ‘All right. Have it your way. I was here. In here, to be precise.’

  ‘All night?’

  ‘No – until about midnight. There’s a lot of paperwork to do in a successful business like mine.’

  ‘And from midnight until seven o’clock?’

  ‘Asleep, what do you think? I got up at six and drove up to the gallops to wait for the horses.’

  ‘What sort of car do you drive?’ said Turpin.

  ‘What’s that––’

  ‘Please, answer the question.’

  ‘The silver estate car out the front there. You passed it on the way in.’

  ‘Any others?’

  ‘The four-by-four you saw me using up at the gallops. That’s it.’

  ‘Is the gate between the field and the gallops kept locked at all times?’ said Jan.

  ‘No – never seen any reason to before now.’

  ‘Do any other trainers use the gallops?’

  ‘One of the smaller yards, from time to time.’

  ‘Which one?’

  ‘Millar’s, over at West Barcross.’

  ‘We’ll need contact details.’

  Adams wrenched open the top drawer of his desk, rummaged inside and then tossed a business card across the desk to her.

  ‘How many people work here?’

  ‘Eight stable lads are employed permanently. I’ve got a housekeeper here in the main house, and then there are six part-time temporary staff.’ He winced. ‘Make that five part-time temporary staff.’

  ‘When did Jessica Marley start working for you?’

  ‘About three weeks ago.’

  ‘And yet you failed to mention that to us on Tuesday morning when we spoke at the gallops.’

  ‘I was in shock. I forgot.’

  ‘But you didn’t tell the uniformed officers who took your statement later that day, either. Why not?’

  Adams visibly squirmed. ‘I’m sorry. I forgot. As I said, she’d only been here a little while, unlike my other employees.’

  ‘How did she get the job?’

  ‘She emailed me.’

  ‘Had you ever spoken to her before that?’

  ‘Once or twice, just to say good morning when she dropped by to visit Brennan.’

  ‘Did she give you any indication then that she was interested in working here?’

  ‘No. None at all. But she seemed keen; she was certainly qualified. I could only offer the occasional Saturday, on the basis that if one of the others quit, she could have their shifts.’

  ‘Any problems?’

  ‘Not that I can think of. She’d only done three shifts.’

  ‘Were you aware that Will was planning to propose to Jessica this weekend?’

  ‘What? Was he?’ Adams drummed his fingers on his desk. ‘I had no idea. The press is going to bloody love that, aren’t they?’

  ‘He never mentioned anything to you?’

  ‘No. Nothing. If he had, I would’ve said something.’

  ‘Such as?’

  ‘Well, they’re a bit bloody young to be settling down, don’t you think? He’s got a whole career ahead of him. Before you’d know it, she’d want kids and that’d be the end of it. Not many jockeys can afford to support a family when they’re just starting out, Detective West.’

  ‘Who supervised Jessica while she was here?’

  ‘Nigel White. He’s the head stable lad and manages everything that goes on out there for me.’

  ‘We’re going to need to speak to him and everyone else who works here.’

  Adams sighed. ‘Thought you might. There are only three of the lads here at the moment, though.’

  ‘Where are the rest?’ said Turpin.

  ‘Out on the gallops, training.’

  ‘You’re using the gallops already?’

  ‘Nothing wrong with the turf, detective – your lot have finished with it, haven’t they? Besides, I’ve got horses racing this weekend. They need to be exercised.’

  ‘I’d like a full list of your staff and contact numbers for them,’ said Jan. ‘And obviously, you’ll tell them to make themselves available for interview when our colleagues from uniform get in touch later today.’

  Turpin moved to the bay window that overlooked the yard, and then turned back to Adams.

  ‘Why aren’t those horses in the stable block over there out with the others?’ said Turpin.

  ‘Because those are racing on Saturday, detective. It would do them no good at all to exercise them today. They need to rest so they have a better chance of winning.’

  ‘Is Will around today?’

  ‘Doctor’s appointment in town. Left about half an hour before you got here. He didn’t say what for, and I didn’t ask, although I can guess. I presume he’s dealing with Jessica’s death in his own way.’

  ‘What will happen to him?’ said Jan. ‘

  ‘Hopefully he’ll stay. Between you and me, I couldn’t buy this sort of publicity. And Will? Look at him, would you? I mean he looks like a bloody pop star compared to the other jockeys on the circuit. The media will love him.’ He shook his head. ‘No, believe me – that young man is going to be back on a horse as soon as I can convince him to get over his loss. I need him out there, earning money for me before this whole story goes cold.’

  Adams checked his watch. ‘Speaking of which, I’ve got an interview with the BBC in a little under an hour. Was there anything else you needed from me?’

  ‘Yes. You’ll need to report your travel plans to us in order that we know where you are at all times, Mr Adams. Don’t forget. It could be detrimental for you.’

  His eyes widened. ‘What? That’s preposterous! Am I a suspect now?’

  ‘You always were.’ Jan pushed her chair back. ‘We’ll see ourselves out.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  Mark blew on his hands and flipped up the collar on his coat as he and Jan stood in the middle of the car park of the Farriers Arms.

  A chill breeze snatched a white puff of smoke away from the chimney, leaving a waft of burning wood on the air.

  Three patrol cars lined up against the privet hedge that bordered the property, the occupants conversing at the kerb outside a 1930s terrace of four cottages opposite.

  Mark watched as they split up in different directions – two working their way towards Hazelthorpe, while the other four took a side of the road each and began to knock on doors.

  The owner of the first dwelling in the terrace peered out over a brass chain, her brow furrowed as she listened to the uniformed constable. Apparently satisfied he was a genuine police officer, not impersonating one, she reached up to loosen the chain and then the door opened wider before she leaned against the frame, her arms crossed over her chest as she spoke.

  ‘Calmed down a bit?’ he said to Jan as she joined him. ‘I thought you were going to take MacKenzie Adams’ head off back there.’

  ‘Sorry, Sarge. I tried to be professional, but in the circumstances…’

  ‘Nothing to apologise for. The man’s full of hot air. I enjoyed seeing you take him down a peg or two.’

  She smiled, then inclined her head towards the uniformed officers who progressed slowly from one property to the next. ‘It’s a fine line, isn’t it? I mean, people around here will either take the opportunity to gossip about what’s happened, or genuinely have some information that’ll help us.’

  ‘It’s got to be done.’ He checked his watch. ‘We’ll give them a few minutes then wander up the road to see how they’re getting on. Sound good?’

  ‘No problem. Do you think we’re going to find out anything?’

  He sh
rugged. ‘Hard to say. It’d be nice if someone along here has security cameras outside their house, given that there’s no CCTV.’

  ‘Did Caroline have any idea how long it’d take to get the camera footage from the bus company?’

  ‘She didn’t say anything to me. I’ve had to request it in the past though – it could take anything from two days to a week; it depends who you’re dealing with.’ He peered up at one of the windows on the top floor of the pub as a curtain dropped back into place. ‘Hopefully Noah Collins will keep his ears open for us as well, in case anyone’s tongue gets too loose over a few pints. Let’s take a wander. I’m freezing standing around here.’

  Mark kept his hands in his pockets and fell into step beside Jan as she walked out of the car park and turned left into the lane.

  Tree roots split the narrow pavement in several places, and he kept his eyes to the ground to avoid tripping over them before letting Jan take the lead.

  She removed a folded piece of paper from her handbag and straightened out the creases before passing it back to him. ‘That’s a copy of the map Caroline drew up based on what we know about Jessica’s usual route from the pub. Apart from the terrace across the road, the houses are big along here, with quite a lot of land. There are only twenty properties between here and the Marleys’ home.’

  Mark peered at the map, checked the progress of the two enquiry teams going from door to door, and then handed it back. ‘It won’t take too long to do this, then.’

  ‘Depends who’s home, I suppose.’ She stepped off the last of the pavement and into the gutter of the lane.

  They passed a post box mounted on a wooden stake beside the hedgerow and Mark watched as two of the uniformed constables ducked beneath a weeping willow that hung over a gate, before negotiating their way up a crazy-paving path leading to a whitewashed cottage with a thatched roof.

  ‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Leave them to it. They can catch up with us.’

  He set a brisk pace, his eyes sweeping the lane as they progressed towards the Marleys’ house, and crossed to the other side before walking along the curve that narrowed the lane at its apex.

  ‘I don’t think I’d have been happy about one of my daughters walking along here at night,’ he said. ‘Bloody dangerous this time of year.’

  ‘I suppose she and her parents thought she was safe,’ said Jan. ‘I mean, at night she’d hear any cars approaching and could step up onto the verge in plenty of time. I don’t think it would’ve ever crossed their minds that she’d be attacked. It seems to be a friendly community, so they’d never imagine the worse could happen. It’s naïve, but that’s what people are like until something like this takes place in their neighbourhood––’

  She collided with Mark and stopped in her tracks as he held up his hand.

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘I’m not sure. Stay there.’

  He ignored the frown that flickered across her face and stepped sideways to crane his neck towards the grass verge, then upwards.

  Jan’s eyes were troubled when he looked back at her.

  ‘Don’t come any closer. We’ll need to get this area taped off.’

  ‘What have you found?’ she said, an edge to her voice. ‘Blood?’

  ‘No.’ Mark pointed to a series of pot holes that clogged the gutter. ‘Plastic and glass. There are shards everywhere here.’

  ‘Could be from a car headlight. Do you think the guv was right about a hit-and-run driver? He could’ve collided with Jessica here, and then moved her body.’

  In reply, Mark gestured for her to join him, and she stepped towards the middle of the road, avoiding the area he indicated.

  ‘Look,’ he said.

  Jan followed his hand as he pointed upwards.

  The streetlight had been broken, the plastic lamp cover half missing, with jagged remnants of the filament hanging from the fixture.

  Mark lowered his gaze to the pieces scattered across the road and gutter, his mouth dry. ‘I don’t think she was hit by a car. Whoever killed her could have broken the streetlight and waited here for her. If so, then it wasn’t an accident. Jessica’s death was planned.’

  Chapter Fifteen

  Mark glanced up at the sound of his name to see DI Kennedy hurrying towards him, his mobile phone in his hand.

  The DI paused at the blue and white tape that now separated Mark from the verge and watched as three crime scene investigators made their way meticulously through the undergrowth at the side of the lane.

  Traffic crawled past.

  As soon as Mark had realised the significance of his find, he’d arranged for one of the patrol cars to be parked close to the broken street light. Two constables directed vehicles and an inquisitive dog walker past the CSIs using the far side of the lane, while a white barrier was erected to shield their work from onlookers.

  ‘I’ve spoken with the Traffic division,’ said Kennedy. ‘They’ve got two cars at the end of the lane creating a diversion so you shouldn’t get many more vehicles coming through here.’

  ‘That’s good, thanks, guv.’

  Kennedy ran an appraising eye over the CSIs and then craned his neck to see down the road. ‘What about neighbouring properties? Anything?’

  ‘The couple who live in that cottage on the opposite side reckon this light was working a few days ago.’

  ‘So, there’s a possibility it was damaged on purpose.’

  ‘Yes.’

  Kennedy dropped his phone into his pocket. ‘Anyone along here have security cameras?’

  ‘No, nothing guv. Uniform have finished speaking with residents further up the lane towards the Marleys’ house. The problem is that most of the houses are set back from the road here and at this time of year, once the sun goes down, they’re cocooned behind curtains and sitting in front of the television. No-one saw or heard anything.’

  ‘Shit.’ Kennedy jerked his thumb at the white-suited figures beyond the tape. ‘Have they found anything else?’

  ‘Not yet, guv.’ Mark pointed up the lane. ‘The next light is up there, on the curve. This whole stretch would be dark and give anyone an opportunity to attack Jessica when she walked by. It’s why we taped it off – they’ll work their way up from here to that next light, and back down the lane as well.’

  ‘Bloody lucky find.’

  ‘I thought it was from a car headlight at first.’

  ‘So, we can discount the hit-and-run theory?’

  ‘I think so, yes. Unless they find anything around here to support that. I’m of the belief that this light was destroyed on purpose. A large stone could have been thrown against the bulb up there before Jessica finished her shift.’ He pointed to a stunted tree a few metres away, its thick gnarled truck covered with ivy. ‘Jessica’s killer could’ve waited there for her.’

  ‘He would’ve then had to transport her up to the gallops, though. Why not dump her here?’ Kennedy wrinkled his nose. ‘She might not have been found for a couple of days if no-one walked past. It would’ve been easier to roll her into the verge than get her into a vehicle, wouldn’t it?’

  ‘It would.’ Mark exhaled, his eyes finding Jan who was talking with a uniformed sergeant further down the lane towards the pub. ‘I’m beginning to wonder if Jessica’s body was dumped on the gallops for a reason.’

  ‘Symbolic, you mean?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Kennedy tugged his earlobe. ‘All right. We’ll work through that back at the station. It’s a hell of a risk, though. At that time of night, there might’ve been another car coming this way.’

  ‘According to the residents along here, it’s not that busy after eleven o’clock.’ Mark craned his neck and peered up and down the lane. ‘But there’s nowhere to park a car, either. So maybe Jessica wasn’t killed here. Maybe the killer simply extinguished the light so it was harder for her to see? Disorientate her, and then come to her rescue perhaps?’

  ‘That would make more sense.’ Kennedy shoved his hand in his po
cket as his phone began to trill, and then groaned as he looked at the screen. ‘I’m being summoned. Got to go. Get yourself and Jan back to the station in time for the afternoon briefing, will you? I want to take a closer look at your symbolism theory. Have a think about who it could be aimed at while you’re waiting here, all right?’

  ‘Will do, guv.’

  Mark watched as Kennedy hurried back towards the pub, his car exiting the car park moments later, and then turned his attention to Jan as she approached.

  ‘Okay, that’s the last of the statements taken from the house-to-house enquiries. Nothing to report, unfortunately. It’s what we suspected – by that time of night, everyone around here was either in bed asleep or sitting in front of the TV.’ She peered over the tape. ‘Anything yet?’

  ‘No. The guv wants us back at the station in time for the briefing.’

  ‘Did you tell him about your theory about her body being left up at the gallops on purpose?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘He wants to work through it when we get back.’ Mark turned his back on the CSIs and squinted as a cold breeze pushed up the lane towards them. ‘If Jessica’s killer was trying to make a statement by leaving her there, I’m thinking that there could’ve only been two people whose attention he was seeking.’

  ‘MacKenzie Adams or Will Brennan.’

  ‘Right. So, why?’

  Jan frowned. ‘We’ll need to look into previous boyfriends Jessica’s had in the past. Maybe someone took umbrage at her impending engagement. Perhaps her killer figured if he couldn’t have her, nor should Brennan.’

  ‘According to Brennan, not that many people knew about the engagement. Jessica’s parents certainly didn’t.’

  ‘People gossip all the time, Sarge.’ Jan pulled out her notebook and a pen. ‘Perhaps by killing one of his jockey’s girlfriends and leaving her there, our killer was sending a message to Adams for some reason.’

  ‘Sarge!’

  They turned at a shout from one of the CSIs, who then beckoned them closer to the tape.