by Franklin, JJ
The police were baffled, that was easy to see, and Clive was the only one who knew exactly what had happened. He had them running in circles, was way ahead of them, and while they were sorting out what happened to Sandi, he already had chosen another girl to repeat the process. He didn’t intend to give them time to catch up but would hit them again, when and where they least expected it.
He wished he could see DI Turrell’s face this morning. Young Sandi had been working with his wife, and he would realise that Clive was moving closer and closer to her. The Inspector was powerless to stop him.
The press, true to form, were already making suggestions of failure and once one started baying, the rest would follow. He wondered again if the DI had opened the package yet. Maybe he would drive by the Turrell’s flat later this afternoon, on the way back from picking up Mother’s tablets. Just to see if there was any sign of life.
Until then, he wanted to concentrate on preparing a simple lunch for Ben, although he sincerely hoped there would be something completely different on the menu.
It took him a long time to get Mother up and dressed, and then he began to get anxious, as Margaret was late. Mother noticed his anxiety.
‘For goodness sake, Clive, stop going back and forth to the window. Anyone would think you can’t wait to be rid of me.’
‘Don’t be silly, Mother, I wouldn’t like you to miss seeing little Emily. I know how important she is to you.’
‘You don’t want me here when your colleague arrives more like. You still haven’t told me who it is.’
‘No one you would know, Mother.’
‘Have you made it up with young Anne?’
‘I haven’t heard from her.’
‘Well, you could do worse, and it is about time you had a woman to keep you in order, Clive.’
He couldn’t resist replying. ‘I thought I had you to do that, Mother.’
‘Well, I won’t be here forever, will I?’
Clive wanted to say, ‘No you won’t, and if I have anything to do with it your demise, it will be sooner rather than later,’ but instead he forced himself to sit down, pick up the Sunday paper, and appear to relax while fuming inside. He spent the time making plans for his third outing and almost forgot about the clock, until Margaret arrived fifteen minutes late with the lame excuse of Emily teething.
As soon as Mother was out of the house, Clive set about preparing a simple pasta for lunch. He was still not sure that Ben’s feelings matched his own and didn’t want any embarrassment, should he believe only lunch was on offer. He tossed a green salad with balsamic vinegar and oil dressing and went to set the dining room table, carefully choosing the spring green napkins and adding a small vase of burnt orange chrysanthemums to complement the china.
Standing back, he was pleased at his efforts. He had invited no one to the house since Mother had arrived. By now, Mother and Margaret would be busy planning his wedding, and he smiled as he thought of what they would say if they knew the truth.
CHAPTER 35
Sandi had been on the late evening shift, which started at one p.m. This shift was fairly quiet after about eight when most of the day visitors had gone.
During the evening, the in-house guests were usually dining, relaxing in their rooms, or in the hydro centre that stayed open until seven in the evening. Also, some therapists continued to provide treatments until nine. Occasionally, the spa would put on a talk or a film, but these usually finished around eight-thirty.
Harry was sitting, looking old and weary, the military bearing and sense of purpose gone as the news of Sandi’s murder had sunk in. He looked up as Matt entered. His eyes looked watery. Matt sat down beside him.
‘She never goes off without asking me. I should have checked. I should have checked.’ Harry shook his head in despair.
‘It was already too late. There was nothing you could do.’
‘She shouldn’t have been out there on her own all night. I could have done that much for her.’
Matt needed to get Harry out of his orgy of self-pity if he was going to be of any help. Knowing Harry’s army background, Matt tried for command, rather than letting him go any further into his self-blaming. ‘The only thing you can do for her now is to help me find out who did this. I need you to take me through everything, very carefully, from the moment you arrived at work last night.’ Matt watched as Harry straightened in his seat.
‘Well, I got here at twenty-one-thirty hours, as usual. If it’s Sandi, then we have a chat, see how the wedding plans are going on…Oh dear, oh dear.’
Matt brought him back. ‘Then?’
‘I, err, I go round and make sure all the doors are locked.’
‘How long does that take?’
‘Eight minutes.’ Harry thought for a moment then added, ‘Unless Poll, the cat, has sneaked in. She’s not allowed in at night you see and some nights she leads me a right merry dance, trying to hide away in some nice warm spot.’
‘And last night?’
‘No sign of her.’
‘So by twenty-one-thirty-eight you were back at the front desk?’
‘Yes. No, wait a minute; I helped a lady with her wheelchair.’
‘So it was later?’
‘It only took me a minute or two, Sir. Her son had gone to get the car.’
Matt felt Harry might have been about to add a salute. ‘What happens then?’
‘I check the phones have all been switched through and move my chair, so I can see the front door.’
‘Is that when the receptionist usually leaves?’
‘Well, I usually tell ‘em to hop off. Most of them anyway. Some just want to take advantage and would be through them doors as soon as they see your shadow without even a by your leave. Can’t even get myself organised. I don’t like that. But Sandi always asked, never took it as a right. I should have known something was wrong. I should have known.’
Before Matt could continue, there was a knock on the door and Fluff came in.
‘Sorry, Guv, but thought you might like to see this.’
She handed Matt a list of people who had eaten in the dining room last night. Highlighted half way down the list was Clive Draper and guest. Matt looked up at Fluff for explanation.
‘Day guest from Wednesday. We interviewed him twice.’
Matt nodded his understanding. Fluff left and he turned to Harry.
‘Harry, is the dining room still open when you arrive?’
‘Sometimes. If his nibs, St James, can’t get rid of the stragglers. But they have their ways. I’ve watched ‘em at it.’
‘And last night?’
‘Closed. I could see them setting up the tables for lunchtime.’
‘Did you see a man called Clive Draper? I think he is a day member here.’
‘Yes. That was her, his mother. In the wheelchair.’
‘Oh. I see.’ Matt was disappointed. It hardly seemed likely that the killer would saddle himself with his mother on a killing spree.
‘And you were with this lady for how long.’
‘No longer than a minute or two. I pushed her to the car, and her son was very grateful.’
‘Thank you, Harry. You have been a great help.’
Matt ended the interview and gave Harry his card. The old man left looking defeated, and Matt felt for him.
Once Harry had left, Matt knew he would soon have to face Eppie and tell her that Sandi had been murdered. He had all the training and knew how to give someone bad news, but this was his wife. More than ever he wanted her out of here, wanted her safe. The murder of Sandi had proved his point. Eppie could be in danger. But he didn’t want to cause another row between them. He had never thought marriage would be this hard, and he wondered how he could support her through this and remain professional.
He turned as the door opened to see Eppie’s bewildered face as Fluff ushered her into the room. She came towards him, and he enfolded her in his arms. Eppie pulled back first to look up at him with a question on her
face. Matt led her to a chair and sat beside her still holding her hand.
‘Eppie, there has been another murder.’ He waited for a moment for her to digest this before continuing. ‘It was someone you knew.’ Mat could see her frantically searching the list of family and friends in her head, wondering who it could be, so he carried on quickly. ‘I’m sorry, but it was Sandi.’
She looked at him in amazement for a moment before replying. ‘But, but I was with her yesterday. She is getting married. I…I…she helped me. I…’ she stuttered to a stop in shock. Matt knew he couldn’t tell Eppie any of the details of Sandi’s death, so he moved quickly back into the usual pattern when talking to a witness.
‘Since you were with her yesterday afternoon, we have to interview you officially.’ He waited and watched her fight to stop the decline into tears before adding. ‘It could help us catch whoever did this. Anything you remember, no matter how small, may give us a lead.’
Eppie nodded, and Matt stood up ready to hand her over to Sam and Fluff. Eppie seemed surprised that he was leaving, so he stopped at the door to explain. ‘It wouldn’t be right for me to do this, so Sergeant Withers will be with you shortly.’
From the stricken look on her face, Matt felt like he was abandoning her to a firing squad, so he tried to lighten the mood with humour as he opened the door. ‘Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite.’ As soon as he had said it he knew it was wrong. This wasn’t a colleague he could joke with, but a member of the public who had just been told of a death. To try to make up for it, he gave a big ‘I’m sorry’ grimace and closed the door behind him.
CHAPTER 36
Eppie watched the door shut behind Matt, feeling lost and trapped. It was illogical, she knew, as she wasn’t in a police station and could probably leave at any time. Her mind turned back to who would want to murder Sandi? Then memories of her kindness yesterday came flooding back, and Eppie couldn’t stop the tears.
It was only when a fair-haired woman handed her a tissue that Eppie realised that anyone had come into the room. The man with her announced that he was Detective Sergeant Withers and indicated the woman as Detective Constable Meadows. He paused and waited for her to blow her nose and wipe at her eyes.
‘Sorry. I hadn’t known her long but she was such a lovely person. Getting married soon…’
‘Mrs Turrell, since you worked with Miss Tomlinson during the afternoon, you could have specific information that could help us catch this killer.’
Eppie liked the young man with his earnest face. The woman had remained silent, but Eppie was certain she was the one Matt referred to as Fluff, the one who had rung her the other night. ‘I’ll give you all the help I can.’
‘We’d like you to think about yesterday afternoon. Did Sandi react to anyone who came to the desk? Was there anyone she seemed to have a relationship with, both good and bad?’
‘No.’
‘Or was there anyone who Sandi seemed unhappy or afraid to see?’
‘No. But Sandi wouldn’t let it show. She would smile and be kind to everyone.’
‘And nothing else happened during the afternoon that caused you concern, that seemed out of place in any way?’
Eppie thought. They had been busy, yes, but it had been fun, and they had laughed together so much. Now someone had brutally killed Sandi. It didn’t make sense. ‘No we got on well, had a laugh. Will you catch who did this?’
‘We are doing everything we can. But we need the help of people like you who may have seen the killer.’
‘I’ll do anything.’
Finally, Fluff spoke, her voice confirming that she was the person who rang Thursday evening. The night that Matt hadn’t come home.
‘Think really hard, and if there is the slightest thing, please give us a call. It may not seem much to you, but it could just be the one piece of information that completes the jigsaw and helps us put this murderer where he belongs.’
She sounded quite passionate about catching Sandi’s murderer, and Eppie warmed to her. Eppie felt that she wasn’t much help at all and apologised. The Sergeant, Sam, reassured her and gave her a card to call him if she remembered anything. Eppie wanted to say she could just tell Matt, but it didn’t seem right somehow.
Afterwards, Eppie was glad that the interview had been conducted in a formal way. Her mind was racing, trying hard to remember, so by the time she was let out of the room, she felt weak and sick.
Matt was talking to a bald-headed gentleman in Reception. He put his arm out to stop the man in full flow and came towards her. ‘Eppie. I’m so sorry. Are you alright?’
Matt touched her arm, and it was almost a stroke. Eppie wanted more than anything to feel safe in his strong arms, but she wouldn’t do that to him, not here where he was the one in charge of trying to find out who killed Sandi. Eppie thought suddenly of Tom, Sandi’s fiancé.
‘I’m fine. What about Tom? Have you told him yet?’
‘That comes next.’
Eppie could tell from his face that he wasn’t looking forward to being the one to tell Tom that he wouldn’t be getting married, and he would never see Sandi alive again. She wanted to hug him, to let him know she understood. Instead, she said lamely, ‘Poor Tom. Poor you.’
Then Mrs Trowbridge bustled up and led her away to have a restoring cup of tea. Eppie always thought tea was overrated but guessed the very act of preparing and drinking it gave one something to do in times of emergency. She guessed that Mrs Trowbridge needed the anchor more than she. Although the girls talked about how strict she was, they also acknowledged that she was like a surrogate mother with genuine concern for each of them. The death of Sandi must have really upset her.
Eppie was sure anyone who had known Sandi would find it hard to think of her life being taken in such a callous way. She couldn’t bear to think of how Tom would feel. Eppie hoped she hadn’t suffered or been too afraid in those last few minutes, and she shivered at the thought.
If Sandi and Tom’s last words towards each other had been angry ones, it would make it so much harder to bear. She resolved to try harder not to row with Matt. He was under great pressure right now.
Mrs Trowbridge insisted on sending Eppie home, although she would have much preferred to stay and work. That way, at least she could feel she was doing something and could be near Matt for a little longer. Also, being behind the desk might help her to recall something. Instead, she would go over each minute of the time she had spent with Sandi yesterday.
CHAPTER 37
Since Fluff had elected to take on the task of informing Sandi’s parents of their loss, Matt took Sam with him to interview Tom Graham.
According to Wendy, Tom was a fireman currently working a shift at Leamington fire station. This meant that he would be surrounded by a tight circle of friends used to helping each other through any situation. They would be there to pick up the pieces if Tom broke down.
Ordinarily, Tom would be top of the suspect list, but in this case, unless of course Tom was playing a very clever game, Matt was pretty sure he wouldn’t be the man they were looking for.
The fire station was a fairly modern brick building with the familiar glass folding doors behind which stood two gleaming fire engines. Matt felt a surge of excitement as he looked at the red giants. They brought back memories of clambering aboard one as an eight-year-old, and the thrill had never quite left him.
As they went through the small side door, Matt was surprised in what he had perceived to be a masculine reserve, to be met by a stern looking young woman in uniform who demanded to know their business. Matt left Sam to give their details and identity and simply held up his warrant card at the required moment. It wasn’t long before the young woman led them upstairs to the common room where several men had just finished a meal. Two were clearing the table while others lounged in front of the television.
‘Big fellow—going bald, although I didn’t say that, mind.’ The woman indicated the two men playing pool at the far end of the room.
‘What’s he done this time, then, run off with the Mayor’s wife or dented the boss’s car again?’ he joked.
It was obvious that the whole room was aware that they were the police and although everyone appeared relaxed, an air of wary anticipation hovered like a cloud among them. Sam gave the spiel and Matt felt the cloud thicken, as one or two of the men stood ready to protect their own. This was good, since Tom Graham was going to need all the support he could get when they had done their job and devastated his world with their vile news.
Matt stepped forward. ‘Could we have a word in private, please, Mr. Graham? It concerns Miss Tomlinson.’ Whatever Tom was expecting it certainly wasn’t this. Matt watched the big man look from him to Sam searching for some evidence that this wasn’t as serious as Matt’s voice suggested and mentally crossed him off the suspect list. Fear replaced the hope in Tom as he nodded, holding onto the pool table for support, his strong, tall body seemingly withered into itself in the dread of what was to come.
The smaller man was the first to react, as he placed a hand firmly on Tom’s shoulder before moving to herd the other men from the room. Matt and Sam moved around the pool table and indicated some chairs nearby.
Tom allowed them to lead him. ‘What has happened? Has there been an accident?’ he blurted out unable to wait any longer.
Sam looked at Matt almost willing him to be the one to break the bad news.
‘I’m very sorry to say that Miss Tomlinson has died, Mr Graham.’ Matt always found it best to give out bad news in stages.
Tom was looking at them incredulously. ‘But we had lunch together, just yesterday. And she called me from work,’ he said, as if Matt must be wrong.
Matt found this a common reaction as the person tried to cling onto the vivid memories of their loved one alive and well with no hint or reason for them to be now beyond their touch and protection.
