by Emily Selby
'That's what I've heard,' Jack said quietly. His hand touched her arm. 'Don't worry Katie. Julian is being cared for. The doctors are giving him the help he’s needed for a long time. And Miriam is happy he's receiving it. And, what’s more, you’re already helping them by trying to figure out who did it. We'll get there, love. We'll discover the truth.'
Katie relaxed her body and let the tears fill her eyes. She was sad for her friends, feeling their pain, but Jack's words and his hand on her arm felt good; safe and warm, and steady.
She sat, absorbing the soothing sensation for a few more seconds.
'Thanks, Jack,' she whispered in a husky voice and caressed his fingers. 'I really appreciate your words.'
Jack's phone rang. Katie flinched.
'Are you still at work?' she asked anxiously.
Jack heaved a sigh. 'I'm on duty. I think it's my dad. It's Mum's birthday. I promised to join them for dinner tonight, but obviously it's too late now. They are probably worrying when I'll be home.'
'You go then,' Katie said hastily and jumped to her feet.
Jack looked up at her, a vertical line appeared on his forehead.
'You won't mind?'
Disappointment filled her chest, but she shook her head.
'Not at all. We'll catch up tomorrow.'
10
Between the worries for her friends, her own doubts and fears and a certain dangerously handsome and even more dangerously caring police inspector, Katie didn't sleep very well that night. She tossed and turned, waking and falling asleep again.
She was relieved when her alarm bleeped. At least, she had some control over her world in her waking life. Katie got up, determined to make use of that control.
Neatly dressed and wearing a subtle touch of makeup that highlighted what she believed to be her best features, her eyes, Katie ferried a surprisingly well-organised Julia to school. Then she headed for the police station.
When she walked into the staffroom, she saw Angie, the waitress from Une Tasse de Bonheur, being led out of the reception area by Jack.
He started work early!
Jack walked into the staffroom wearing a wide grin.
'That was very useful, thank you for talking her in to coming too,' he said. 'I've sent the forensic team to the café, but I'm not too hopeful. It's been two days, and the cleaners have been in twice.'
'And nobody, including the cleaners, found anything suspicious?'
'No. Nothing reported.'
'His phone dropped somewhere behind the curtain, or the missing pills in the ashtray?'
'They don't have ashtrays anymore,' Jack replied through a sigh.
'Have you learned anything more than I told you last night?'
'Just the estimated timings and a slightly better description of the woman who met with Benjamin Fischer. She was a tall, rather slim and had long red hair. If I understood the waitress correctly, it was copper red. Probably dyed rather than natural. She was in her late thirties or early forties. Also, she arrived at the café shortly after Benjamin, so I guess around, 6.16 pm.'
'The wife or the fiancée? What do you think?' Katie asked.
'Good question,' Jack replied shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. He was wearing his favourite, steel-blue suit and a bluish shirt which matched his eyes perfectly.
'I am yet to see either woman. The solicitor got hold of the fiancée’s personal mobile number for me. She's been off work and not answering her work mobile, which is why I had no luck. She's on her way here.'
'That's strange, why are you doing it all through the solicitor?' Katie asked.
'Because we haven't found Benjamin Fischer's mobile phone anywhere. The only contact details we've found in his personal belongings were two business cards. One for his solicitor, Mr Williams, and the other for a miss Chloe MacGregor. Fortunately, the solicitor seems to be well informed, unlike the family. Mr Williams told me Miss MacGregor is, or rather was, Benjamin Fischer's fiancée. Unsurprisingly, considering how distant the relationship was between Benjamin and Julian, the Fischers were unaware of the fiancée’s existence. It turns out Miss MacGregor had plans to join Benjamin Fischer in Sunnyvale this weekend.'
'That's an awful lot of personal detail to tell your solicitor,' Katie observed.
'Indeed,' Jack replied. ' Mr Fischer was a rather unusual person. It seems he shared more with his solicitor than with his family, which is why Mr Williams started leaving his mobile phone at work or turning it off. Anyhow, we've finally got a number for Miss MacGregor and she's coming today.'
'Is she aware he's dead?'
'Yes. The solicitor broke the news to her.'
Katy exhaled loudly. 'What a strange man and a strange situation. We have a family that's not close enough to provide any reliable information, strangers who know more about the victim than the family, and a bucket load of money.
'I wouldn't cross the family off completely,' Jack said glancing at one of the screens feeding from the CCTV placed in the reception area. 'It looks like there's one family member coming in to talk to me right now.'
Katie turned to look at the screen. Miriam Fisher, wrapped in a long black winter coat, had just walked into the station.
'Do you want me to bring her through?' Katie asked, hoping the help would extend in to her staying in the interview room. She had a few questions of her own to ask Miriam, and she was dying to hear the answers.
'That would be very nice, thank you,' Jack replied smiling. 'I think one of your magical cups of tea may be helpful. They seem to loosen tongues,' he added and walked out of the room.
If that wasn't an invitation to join the interview, Katie should give up her licence in the art of How To Read Between the Lines.
She popped her head around the door to the reception area and greeted her friend.
'Hi Katie,' Miriam replied, her voice sounding tired and grim. 'Is the inspector about? I need to get back to the hospital before midday.'
'Yes, he's here and free right now. Would you like some tea?'
'Yes, please. Milk, no sugar.'
'I'll buzz you through.'
Katie pressed the button and watched Miriam walk through the door, and Jack greeted her in the hallway. She rushed into the staffroom and flicked the kettle on and made a brew.
When she walked into the interview room with a steaming mug, Miriam was dabbing her brown eyes with a tissue.
'It's very upsetting, Inspector. Do you realise I'm dealing not only with my brother-in-law's death, but also with my husband's state, and the situation he's got himself into? And you're refusing to give me any updates from your side of things.'
'I'm sorry Mrs Fischer,' Jack said calmly. 'I'm unable to give you any more information about your husband’s status. A great deal depends on the mental health assessment. But I do need to understand your brother-in-law a little better, and what might have led to his death.'
'I've already told you, Julian and Benjamin were not very close as brothers, but the relationship was civil. We hadn't had much contact with Benjamin recently. We were quite surprised when he rang last week telling us that he was coming over.'
'Were you happy about his visit?'
Miriam straightened her back and reached out to take the mug from Katie, while staring at Jack with a steely look in her eyes. Katie wondered if she felt like throwing hot tea over him. Reluctantly, Katie handed her the mug.
'I have already told you, Inspector,' Miriam continued. 'I might not have been happy about that visit. It was badly timed. But I did realise, Benjamin had his reasons for wanting to rush it. I can assure you I did my best to make him feel comfortable and welcomed.'
Jack shifted in his chair. 'I understand someone overheard you and Benjamin arguing?' he said.
'I don't think so.'
'You don't think that you were arguing or that someone might have overheard it?'
Miriam set her jaw. Two deep vertical lines appeared on either side of her mouth. 'I did not argue with my brother-in-law, Ins
pector. My husband might have had a word or two, but it was also civil.'
'Why did you let your husband walk out of the room with a pair of scissors, which is basically a weapon?'
Red blotches appeared on Miriam's face.
Katie hugged herself. Jack's interviewing style was different from what she'd seen before. She was feeling a little uncomfortable.
'I gave him the scissors and something to cut up to keep him busy during the meeting. He must have taken them with him when he walked out of the room. And I let him walk out, because I was busy doing something else, and it was more important than stopping Julian walking out yet again. I can't keep an eye on him all the time, and he doesn't like being watched. So instead, I installed GPS in his shoes to track where he goes.' Miriam shifted her gaze to Katie. 'That was common knowledge, wasn't it?'
Katie's cheeks burnt. 'I didn't know about it, but I was aware of Julian’s wandering.'
Miriam hunched. 'I thought everyone in town knew about it. I've had friends and neighbours look for him on numerous occasions. Julian is losing his memory, Inspector, but he is not a murderer. He and Benjamin might not have been close, but there was no animosity between them, or, for that matter, between Benjamin and me. What else do you want me to say, Inspector?' Miriam lowered her face. Her shoulders shook. Katie stepped forward ready to console her friend, but Miriam just rubbed her cheeks, and a few seconds later, she was glaring at Jack again.
'I need to go soon. There is a family meeting with the doctors and the team at midday. My son will be joining on the phone as he can't come until Friday. I really need to hurry or I’ll be late.'
Jack flinched. 'A few more questions, Mrs Fischer. Do you know your brother-in-law's estranged wife?'
'I've met her a couple of times. We attended their wedding, and they came to our son’s christening, but not more than that. I've had no contact with her for years.'
'What about his new fiancée?'
Blood drained from Miriam's round face. She jerked her head to throw away the strand of hair that hung close to her mouth. 'I wasn't aware they got engaged, Inspector. Benjamin mentioned he wanted us to meet someone this weekend, but wouldn't give any more details. I was too busy to pay attention, and he made the comment in passing.'
'Do you think he might have discussed this matter with your husband?'
Miriam set her jaw again. If her facial expressions were anything to go by, it looked like Katie’s friend didn't feel comfortable during this interview.
'I've already told you, I've no idea what my husband and his brother had been discussing. I believed they needed some time to catch up after all these years. Furthermore, I had some worries related to my business, and the crafts club I'm the president of.'
'I'm aware of your multiple responsibilities, Mrs Fischer. Final question. Are you aware of your brother-in-law's latest will?'
'I am. Why?'
'Because your husband is listed as one of the main beneficiaries, as well as the executor.'
'We won’t be inheriting his personal estate, but the trust. And Julian is not capable of taking on the role of executor. This will be discussed today with the doctor, I hope. Honestly, we're not rich, but we could do without all that money if that is what you're implying.'
'I wasn't implying anything, simply asking,' Jack replied, keeping calm.
Katie admired his ability to stay firm and polite with Miriam, who was not being forthcoming with useful information.
But maybe, she just didn't have it.
'Anything else, Inspector?' Miriam asked, easing to her feet.
'That's all I wanted to ask you at this stage.'
Miriam left the interview room, and Katie backtracked to the staffroom, waiting for Jack.
'What do you think of what she said?' she asked the moment he walked through the door.
'Nothing new. In my opinion, she's lying or not telling us the whole truth. She's probably protecting her husband, but at the moment I can't make her tell me the truth.'
'What about that overheard argument?'
'Do you know of any?' he asked, arching his eyebrows. 'Because I need one badly. I'm sure in a little town like this one someone must have heard something.'
'There was no argument?'
'Not that I'm aware of, unless what your friend told her business partner was a watered-down version and there was an argument.'
'You've stretched what I heard from Sunita a little,' Katie said, letting the reproach she felt seep into her voice.
'Yeah, I realise that. Not the cleanest trick in town. You may say, I've followed a hunch,' he said and grinned. 'Sometimes, when we have a particularly stubborn witness, we are allowed to use some underhanded strategies to encourage them to talk. I don't like these techniques, as I prefer to play by the book, but Miriam Fischer is... fishy...' he said in a way that didn't sound funny at all.
It sounded worrying. Her friend wasn't telling the truth. Katie’s friend might have been trying to pervert the course of justice.
Katie shivered. Did Miriam realise the potential weight of her actions?
'But to ease my conscience, I'll go and talk to Sunita Patel. I need to see if I can find anything interesting in the café. We've taped it off and have been searching it since this morning.'
'Hoping to find what?'
'Anything. Perhaps the revised will. Mr Williams says that, in his opinion, if Mr Fischer indeed changed his will, he would have posted it to him. Unfortunately, he’s received no letter so far.'
'Good point. Maybe that’s where he went after the meeting in Une Tasse...? He wrote the new will and went to post it. Maybe the woman who dropped him off posted it. By the way, any idea who she is?'
'Not really. But just before I talked to Mrs Fischer, I received a call from the fiancée again. She's arrived in town and is coming to see me shortly.'
'That's a step forward. What about the missing wife?'
'Still waiting for the call from Ireland.'
'You've made some progress.'
'And you?'
'Sadly, no. I'm not really sure where to start. With Miriam spending her days in the hospital, with Julian...'
'I've asked the treating team to limit her contact with him.'
'You do suspect Miriam.'
'I suspect everyone, as usual, but I’m also worried about the influence she has over him. I've talked to the forensic psychiatrist who will be preparing the report. We've both agreed that, given that this is a murder investigation, it may be more than advisable to allow Julian some time without his wife by his side. They are a little tired of her being constantly around. Having said that, her presence has a calming effect on him.'
'Tough decision then. Still nothing useful from Julian?'
'No. He's been quite confused and restless.'
'The effect of stress?'
'Or the side effects of the medication they're trying. They say he’s presenting signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s dementia. People with the condition tend to struggle in new environments, which causes more confusion.'
'Poor Julian. In the meantime, are there any other trails to follow?'
Jack shook his head. His shoulders hunched. Katie's heart flipped, she leant closer and touched his arm.
'I'm sure you'll find something soon.'
He looked at her, smiling. A net of tiny wrinkles appeared around his eyes.
'Thank you, Katie,' he said in a deep voice that made her go weak at the knees. He reached for her hand. She closed her eyes and leaned closer.
The shrill sound of his ringtone pierced the silence. Their heads jerked backwards.
Jack plucked the phone from his pocket.
'It's from Ireland,' he said and pressed the green button. 'DI Jack Heaton, Sunnyvale Police.'
11
Katie retreated to her office. Although dying of curiosity, she had work to do. She also had a meeting with Michael Bower at 2 pm.
The last thought reminded her of the piece of information shared by Sunita. She
should ring the hotel and ask about the job.
Katie booted her computer and while waiting for it to start, she rang The Sunny Corner Hotel. The receptionist who answered sounded very happy about Katie's call and gave her some information about the post.
'I'm sorry I can't tell you any more,' the girl said. 'Just come in any day this week and talk to the owner, Mr McBride. He's here every morning from 8.30 until 9 am and then every evening from 6 pm. We have so many conferences booked over the next few weeks we're desperate for help.'
Katie ended the call and dropped the phone on her desk. The working hours weren't bad. 1.30 pm - 5.30 pm. That would be workable, assuming she could return to her old working hours - from 8.30 am until 12.30 pm. Although only for the following three weeks, the pay would not be great, but it would help. Particularly now, when she needed every penny, and her cleaning gigs had dried up.
Yeah, with two of her cleaning clients turning up dead, and Mrs Weatherspoon deciding to spend the winter with her sister, Katie had some extra time on her hands, and a couple of hundred pounds less in her purse each week.
She had to try it. She had to talk to the boss.
Katie sneaked out to see if Inspector Andy Lumley was in his office. Luckily, he was, and luckily, he agreed for her to change her hours back to the old schedule. She just needed to make sure her work was done.
Assuming she got the new job.
Yay!
Katie did a little fist pump on the way back to her office and at the same moment, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a tall, slim, stunningly beautiful woman walking side by side with Jack, who leant towards her looking attentively into her face. Was she crying?
Or more importantly - was his hand on her shoulder?
Katie turned her head away pretending she hadn't noticed them and marched back to her office.
When the door to the interview room closed behind them, Katie released the breath she didn't realise she'd been holding.
Silly Katie!
It was probably a suspect, Benjamin's wife or the fiancée, and Jack was presenting his condolences.
No, scratch that.
