by Iris Gower
Lowri shrugged. ‘I hardly think that’s likely, do you, Inspector?’ Her voice was heavy with sarcasm. ‘Jon Brandon was a bastard, a womanizer, perhaps a thief and a liar but I don’t see him as a drug smuggler.’
‘Anything’s possible.’ And yet he was inclined to agree with her. He had never met Brandon but his gut feeling told him that the drug idea was too obvious, too easy. But the man had been into something illegal, that was for sure.
‘Lowri, have you any idea at all why you should be involved in all this? As I said, someone’s paid money into your account. Who would that be?’
‘I just don’t know.’ Lowri looked angry. ‘My mother perhaps? In any case, how dare you search through my private account? Isn’t that illegal?’
Lainey felt a pang of sympathy. ‘Look, I can’t go easy on you. I might have to take you down to the station for questioning at some time and no-one will go easy on you there.’
He rubbed his chin. ‘This is nothing personal, but you must see you are bound to be under suspicion. After all, you were the last one to see Brandon before he vanished, and his wife seems to think you have something of value hidden away. Can’t you help me at all, Lowri?’
She bowed her head and he thought she seemed beaten, but when she looked up at him her face was white with anger.
‘Can’t you see I’m the fall guy in all this? What happens next, Inspector? Do I meet with a fatal accident and then someone collects whatever it is Jon’s hiding? This partner that you mentioned, are you hassling him the way you are me? I doubt it!’
She stormed across the room and stood at the window. He could see her shoulders were shaking. ‘I have done nothing wrong and here you are harassing me with stupid questions about the money. Oh, sod it!’ She burst into tears and, instinctively, Lainey rose and put his hand on her shoulder. She pushed him away.
‘Leave me alone!’ She glared at him. ‘I have no-one I can trust, I suspect everyone, even silly little Sally. I’m going crazy with all this and you lot, our wonderful police force, are no nearer to solving any of it!’
He thrust his hands into his pockets. She was right; in all truth he had not got very far with the investigation and the weeks were slipping by. If a crime was not cleared up in the first few months of discovery there was little chance of this ever happening.
‘Coming back to your bank statements,’ he said, ‘the amounts paid in tally with the withdrawals from Brandon’s account. You must have known about it.’
She looked at him. ‘Perhaps Jon wanted to implicate me in some way but I’ve told you the truth, I don’t know anything.’
‘Are you sure, Lowri?’ His tone was soft.
She shook her head. ‘Want a drink? I need one if you don’t.’
He nodded, wondering if she was giving herself time to think. She went into the kitchen and he heard the chink of glasses. He stared around him. If Lowri was innocent, if she was as she claimed the fall guy in all this, she must be going mad. There certainly were no signs of any money being spent on the house. Was she too clever for that?
She returned from the kitchen and placed the glasses carefully on cork coasters. Small drops of wine spilt onto the shiny surface of the table. Lowri wiped them away with her sleeve. He felt pity tug at him; she had lost weight even in the short time he had known her.
‘Lowri, look at this from my point of view.’ He paused; she seemed intent on her drink. ‘Most people check their statements, why didn’t you?’ He had to ask, though somehow he felt he was betraying her. She drank a little of the wine before answering.
‘I’m usually overdrawn. I don’t earn very much, you know, office-workers don’t usually. So I don’t bother to check, I’m just grateful when I don’t get any irate letters from the bank manager.’ She glanced up. ‘But I will certainly go over them now!’
He sighed. ‘What I need is a crystal ball,’ he said. ‘The more I search and dig, the more problems I come up with.’ He watched her face. ‘What did you think of Jon Brandon’s wife?’
She was thrown by his sudden change of tack and was silent for a moment. ‘I think Sarah is unbalanced,’ she said at last. ‘But then who wouldn’t be unbalanced with a husband like Jon?’ She glanced up at him. ‘She has a very poor opinion of him, she thinks Jon has slept with Sally and anyone else he could get into bed. Oh! I just don’t know what to think any more.’
‘I’d better leave.’ He was getting precisely nowhere – all he was doing was upsetting Lowri. As if reading his mind, she put down her drink and crossed the room towards him. ‘Please, Jim, can’t you help me?’
She seemed near to tears again and, without thinking, he took her in his arms. She leaned against him and briefly, he nestled his chin against her sweet-smelling hair, feeling an ache in his heart.
He moved away from her. He was becoming too involved in all this. Lowri Richards could be having him on a string, how could he tell? He had heard enough lies in his career to know they were most difficult to detect when spoken by a lovely, apparently vulnerable woman.
He patted her shoulder awkwardly. ‘I’ll do my best to sort it out, I promise,’ he said, putting some distance between them.
‘I am innocent of any crime, Jim, I promise you.’
‘I believe you. Look, I’d better get on. Are you sure there is nothing you can tell me? Anything at all, even the smallest detail might lead to some answers.’
She shook her head helplessly and he nodded. ‘OK, I’ll speak to you again, as soon as there’s anything to report, right?’
She followed him to the door and he felt as though he was leaving her in the lurch. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I’m in no hurry to get home, what if I take you out to dinner somewhere?’
She looked up at him, her eyes appearing too large for her face. ‘Thank you but I can’t. Sally and Timmy will be here soon.’ She smiled wanly. ‘We’re going to the pub, they think they’re cheering me up. I should be grateful to them really.’
As he left the house, he saw curtains twitching along the road and resisted the urge to put up two fingers. He climbed into the car and headed back home. Home to a house that was empty and cold and very, very lonely.
‘You see, you’re actually laughing!’ Sally was jubilant. ‘At least you’ve got over the miseries for now.’
Lowri did feel good. Ever since Lainey’s visit her spirits had risen dramatically. In spite of everything, of all the evidence to the contrary, he seemed to believe in her innocence. Somehow, the thought made her feel much better about the whole sorry mess.
‘Some nice talent here tonight,’ Sally said. ‘Look who’s over there.’
Lowri glanced up and saw Sergeant Brown standing near the bar, a pint glass in his hand. There was no sign that Lainey was with him. ‘Excuse me a minute,’ she said and, ignoring Sally’s blank look, crossed the room and tapped the sergeant on the shoulder.
‘Sergeant?’ she said and he turned abruptly.
‘Oh, Miss Richards.’
‘Tell me, Sergeant, why should anyone put money into my bank account? I mean what would they gain by it?’
Sergeant Brown looked embarrassed; he smelled strongly of beer. ‘I’m off duty,’ he said, swaying a little.
‘That’s all right, this is all unofficial. Just talk to me, tell me why the money is suddenly in my account.’
‘Search me.’ He smiled blearily. ‘But if I were you, I’d get the money out and skip the country.’ He swallowed some of his beer.
‘What would happen if I did take the money and run? If you’ve thought of that possibility, don’t you think a man like Jon would have thought of it too?’
‘Perhaps he knew you better than that.’ He turned away slightly. ‘Or perhaps the plan is that when the rumpus dies down the two of you will run off into the sunset? On the other hand, perhaps the money in your account was just part of a bigger scam.’
‘What about his wife? Why not involve her, why not leave her everything?’
‘He didn’t want her, did
he? He’s put you firmly in the driving seat. You have the cash in your bank and shares in this software company he’s recently set up.’
‘What do you know about the software company?’
‘Shit! I shouldn’t have said that. Look, Lainey thinks you’re innocent and that’s good enough for me. He can be a bit of a bastard at times, don’t pull his punches, but he’s a good cop and an honest one. I’d trust him with my life.’
Lowri digested that in silence; she had never thought of Lainey as a bastard. He was thorough, yes, but there was a kindness about him that was endearing. Of course, it could all be an act to get what he wanted.
‘By the way,’ Brown said. ‘Remember Mrs Brandon went missing when the holiday place went up in flames? Well, we’ve found out where she was.’
‘And?’
‘And nothing. It was innocent. She went to stay with relatives over Bristol way. We checked it out just in case she set the fire herself.’ He smiled. ‘Pots of money in that family by the look, she will never be short of a bob or two, so don’t you go worrying about her.’
‘Really?’ Lowri said dryly. ‘And there was I feeling sorry for her.’
‘Well, she has no motive for getting rid of her old man, does she? She didn’t need anything from him, she has enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her days.’
Lowri looked at him steadily. He caught her eye.
‘What?’ he asked innocently.
‘Only a man would come to that conclusion. Some women are greedy and vindictive, especially when the husband plays around. Do you think I had a motive, Sergeant?’
‘We’re talking hypothetical now, aren’t we?’
‘Well, excusing your grammar, yes, I suppose we are,’ Lowri said.
‘In that case, hell yes!’
‘What would I have to gain?’
‘Money, it’s obvious. You are a small-time office-worker and Brandon has acquired, by fair means or foul, pots of dosh. Now he’s vanished and you have the pots of dosh.’
‘And I am the prime suspect,’ Lowri said. ‘That wouldn’t be very clever of either Jon or me, would it?’
‘I suppose no-one has given you credit for being clever. Except perhaps Lainey.’
Lowri sighed. ‘Thank you for your time, Sergeant.’ She left him standing there and crossed the room to where Sally was sitting.
‘I’m going home.’ She rested her hand on Sally’s shoulder. ‘See you tomorrow, thanks for coming out with me.’
‘Wait, we’ll run you,’ Sally said.
‘No need, the exercise will do me good.’ As she walked out into the cool evening air, Lowri felt suddenly sick and afraid. How could Lainey go on believing in her innocence. A case was building up against her: she was being seen as a gold-digger, perhaps worse. She buttoned up her jacket. Well, she could do nothing about it right now, what she needed was a good night’s sleep.
She shivered a little. It was going to be a long walk home and she only had herself and her stupid pride to blame.
10
Lowri could not sleep. It had taken her the best part of an hour to walk home and, as the night closed in, she had become cold and frightened. It had been a relief to let herself into the house and lock the door behind her.
She thumped her pillows and wondered if she should get out of bed and make herself a milky drink but, even as she pushed the duvet away from her, she changed her mind. It was just too much trouble.
She tried to relax, to breathe deeply. She needed to sleep; she was overwrought and angry. She turned onto her stomach and pressed her face into the pillow. Sleep seemed to be closer now and she welcomed it.
Suddenly, Lowri was wide awake. Someone was in her room. She smelt the sweat of a man, felt the weight of him sink into the bed beside her. She tried to sit up but a hand was over her mouth, strong fingers were digging into her cheeks.
‘It’s all right, don’t scream, I’m not going to hurt you.’ The sharp tang of aftershave washed over her, bringing with it a wave of fear. The voice was soft, the words lightly spoken close to her ear. What did he want, was he a rapist? The pressure was removed from her face.
‘What do you want?’ Her voice was tremulous.
‘I just want to talk to you. If I let you go, promise you won’t scream or try to run away or anything.’
She nodded. What choice did she have?
He shifted away from her and as Lowri sat up, she saw him illuminated by a wash of moonlight. His hair was pure white.
‘What do you want?’ she demanded.
‘I need your help. I know you and Jon were close, he trusted you, didn’t he?’ He did not wait for a reply. ‘So where is it?’ He spoke quietly but she sensed that he could be dangerous.
‘I don’t know what you mean.’
‘I don’t want to hurt you but I have to know.’ He sounded breathless, as though he had been running.
‘Tell me what you’re looking for!’ she said desperately. ‘If Jon left something with me, I’ll give it to you, believe me.’
She reached over and clicked the light-switch. He looked more menacing when she could see the hardness of his features, and yet he was dressed in a neat suit and a shirt and tie. She wondered what she had expected, a striped jersey and a bag marked swag?
He looked round the bedroom. ‘Where have you put it?’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Search the place if you like but the police have beaten you to it.’
‘You mean they found it?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t know what “it” is.’
She slid out of bed and pulled her warm dressing-gown around her, tying the belt tightly. ‘It’s cold,’ she said. ‘Let’s go downstairs and I’ll light the fire.’ He nodded.
She felt more secure in the sitting-room. She turned on the gas and a glow appeared. She rubbed her hands together, wondering why she was so calm. Was she getting used to odd things happening to her?
‘Tell me all you know,’ he said, staring down at her as if she was a creature from another planet. ‘I have a right.’
Lowri attempted to sound confident. ‘I don’t know what you expect from me. All I can say is that Jon and I went to the Swan for the weekend and suddenly he disappeared. And would you believe no-one saw him, no-one at all. Perhaps I dreamed the whole damned thing!’ She was growing angry. ‘I wish I’d never met Jon Brandon!’
He listened intently and, all the time, he never took his eyes off her face. It was as though he was trying to see into her skull. His silence was unnerving. She lowered her voice.
‘That’s it. So you see, I know nothing and yet I’m reduced to a nervous wreck, I suspect everyone I meet. And I am the main suspect into the bargain. I imagine the police think I’ve done away with him.’
‘Shit! I believe you. Got anything to drink?’
Lowri thought it best to humour him. She brought a couple of cans from the fridge. ‘Only Sprite, I’m afraid.’ She handed him a can and he held it, staring at it as though suspecting she had poisoned it.
Lowri felt more in control of the situation now. ‘Can’t you tell me what it is you and everyone else are looking for?’ she asked. ‘What the hell was Jon hiding?’
He shook his head. ‘I hoped you might help me out there.’ He stared at her. ‘I’m getting hassle from some nasty people who think I have it, whatever it is, and I want them off my back.’
They sat in silence for a moment and then the man took out a pack of cigarettes and offered one to her.
‘I don’t, thanks.’
He shook out a cigarette for himself and lit it. ‘Anything unusual happen, like stuff being left at your bank for you to pick up?’
‘Nothing like that,’ Lowri said honestly. ‘I can’t understand any of this. Is Jon dead, do you think?’
‘He’s probably very much alive.’ The man spoke evenly. ‘He’s very clever, the greatest escape artist of all time.’ There was an edge of bitterness in his voice that was not lost on Lowri.
‘He’d have to be!’ she said. ‘Anyone who can vanish without trace from an hotel room is a genius in my book.’
‘Or he paid big bucks not to be noticed.’ The man sucked on his cigarette. Lowri sighed, digesting his words in silence. He could well be right. He was certainly much more streetwise than she was.
‘The police trying to pin everything on you, are they?’ he said. ‘That’s typical, that is. Rather than take the trouble to solve anything they nab the most convenient person to carry the can. Look, just forget that I broke in. I don’t mean you any harm, I just want to put an end to the harassment. I’m Snowy by the way.’ He coughed over his cigarette. ‘If you have any sort of theory it might be as well to talk it over with me.’
Lowri stared at him – should she talk to him? But then what did she have to lose? She was getting nowhere alone.
‘What about Sarah Brandon?’ she said. ‘The wronged wife can’t be ruled out of any crooked scheme, and you must admit, she is a little, well, strange. She knows Jon had many women before me and she could be the vengeful sort.’
‘No, it’s nothing to do with Sarah,’ he said, ‘I’ve already established that. So I might as well tell you—’ He stopped speaking abruptly as the front door burst open with a mighty crash. Lainey led police swarming into the house, wearing flak jackets and brandishing guns. The man was pressed flat against the floor, his hands forced behind his back and secured with handcuffs.
‘You all right?’ Lainey’s hair was dishevelled and he appeared flustered. ‘We got a call from a neighbour who saw a man creeping about outside. She said he had a gun.’
‘In that case, you took your time getting here!’ Lowri said. ‘I could have been dead by now if he’d meant me harm. Anyway, he hasn’t got a gun.’
‘We were led to believe you were in danger,’ Lainey said. ‘It takes time to get permission to arm the men, you know.’
‘So I see.’ Lowri watched helplessly as the intruder was dragged towards the door. ‘You were premature, Mr Lainey. He was about to tell me something.’
