The Deadline Series Boxset

by Wendy Soliman

  ‘Yeah, it does.’ Ty pulled his car into the driveway of Alexi’s cottage. ‘Come on, let’s eat and we can talk about it some more in the warm.’

  Ty opened the bottle of red he’d bought at the restaurant while Alexi busied herself with plates and cutlery. Cosmo wound his way around her legs until she fed him some of his dried food. He didn’t seem impressed but cleared his bowl anyway; then meowed for more. Laughing, Ty produced a small container of cream from the takeaway bags.

  ‘Well, you’re obviously in with Cosmo,’ Alexi said, laughing at the cream on her cat’s whiskers. ‘But it’ll take more than that to…oh God!’ She sighed. ‘Perhaps it won’t.’

  Slices of beef wellington, aromatic gravy, garlic mash and buttery vegetables had Alexi’s taste buds doing a happy dance. She sat at the kitchen table while Ty poured wine for them both. Eyes closed, she savoured the food and expelled another appreciative sigh.

  ‘Okay,’ she conceded. ‘You just scored more brownie points.’

  He smiled. ‘Glad you approve. I like to see you enjoying your food.’

  Her eyes flew open. ‘Are you implying that I eat too much?’

  ‘Women nowadays are obsessed with the number of calories that pass their lips. I’m glad you’re not one of them. You don’t need to be so why deprive yourself one of life’s sensual pleasures?’

  ‘About my only sensual pleasure.’ Damn, she hadn’t meant to say that aloud. ‘I did a feature once about the effectiveness of slimming clubs, or lack thereof. I’ll always remember one lady saying that she’d been going to the club for over ten years but was about to resign. I asked her why and she said that during that time she’d lost over two hundred pounds, and gained them all back again. Her net weight loss after ten years of depriving herself stood at two and a half pounds. She felt guilty whenever she ate the things that gave her pleasure so decided she would eat whatever she liked, in moderation, and learn to love herself the way she was.’

  ‘There you go. Junk food, convenience food, call it what you will, has a lot to answer for. Well, that and the fact that no one walks anywhere anymore.’ He topped up her glass and smiled at her. Cosmo, busy washing his face, watched them closely, presumably hoping for leftovers. ‘Anyway, what was your take on Hammond?’

  Alexi took a moment to consider the question. ‘Everything we’d heard about him rings true. He’s definitely a manipulator and assumes his money will get him anything he wants.’ She paused. ‘But it lost him the woman he loves—’

  ‘Loves? He threw her out and hasn’t had anything to do with her for twenty years.’

  ‘Because he’d convinced himself she cheated on him. I’ll bet you any money you like that she was a susceptible virgin when Hammond met her. If he thought another man had laid a finger on her then she would be damaged goods in his eyes and he wouldn’t want her around. He knew she was vulnerable, even if he didn’t know she was mentally unstable at that point, and used his money and influence to ensure his daughter stayed with him and never saw her mother. At least he could control how she turned out.’

  ‘Or not.’

  ‘Quite.’ Alexi nodded her agreement. ‘But the reason why I say he still loves her is that he hasn’t married again, and has no permanent live-in significant other. And, did you notice that the only photographs in the soulless lounge were of his daughter…and his wife?’

  ‘Yeah, I did, as a matter of fact. But if he still carries a torch for her, why the initial reluctance to accept that Dean’s his son?’

  ‘Because he would have to admit that he’d got it wrong; misjudged her. I don’t think he’s been truly happy since he threw Melody out of his life and to acknowledge it needn’t have been that way is a big ask of a man with his issues.’

  ‘You’re observant, Ms Ellis. Your theory is sound and would also explain why he’s so willing to support his former wife and acknowledge the possibility that Dean might be his son. But, even though he can’t have failed to notice the similarity in their appearances, it’s significant that he’s not prepared to accept the fact until he has scientific proof that Dean actually is his biological son.’ Tyler pushed his empty plate aside and leaned back in his chair. ‘Hammond only deals in certainties.’

  ‘Do you think he’ll try to get Melody to move back in with him?’

  ‘Absolutely. He’ll read up on her condition and know it’s manageable with the right medication. And, of course, managing is what Hammond does best. Remember, Melody held down a job for two years while she was on her meds. Of course whether Dean would go along with them getting back together is another matter. If it made his mother happy and if he was sure she’d get the care she needed, then my guess is that he’d accept it.’

  ‘Oh lordy, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.’ Alexi pushed her plate aside and rubbed her belly. ‘That was delicious.’

  ‘We have dessert to go yet.’

  Alexi blinked. ‘You’re kidding me.’

  ‘Come on, Ellis, don’t wimp out on me now.’ Ty got up, cleared the table and then sliced generous portions of strawberry cheesecake oozing cream onto two plates. He placed one before her and grinned. ‘I defy you to resist.’

  ‘No contest.’ She picked up her fork and took a sinful bite. ‘Some things are easier to resist than others.’

  Ty shot her a look, probably aware that she was referring to him. Hopefully not also aware that she’d choose him over the cheesecake any day, despite her reservations about getting her heart trampled on.

  ‘I won’t be able to move for a week,’ she said, having cleared her plate while Ty was still only halfway through his.

  ‘Stagger into the other room and make sure the fire’s still happy. I’ll clear up here.’

  She did as he suggested and when he joined her with the remainder of their wine she had a blaze dancing up the chimney. He sat on the couch next to her and handed her a refilled glass. She thanked him, shy suddenly, unsure if she was more apprehensive or excited by his close proximity. Telling herself not to behave like a lovesick teenager, she took control of the situation.

  ‘Let’s recap on what we know about the case,’ she said. ‘Seems to me the more corners we turn, the more suspects we fall over and I’m starting to lose track. The entire world and its dog seem to have reasons to want Juliette dead.’

  ‘She wasn’t a nice person.’ Ty’s arm was negligently draped across the back of the couch, his fingers occasionally touching her shoulder. ‘Not entirely her fault. Her father expected perfection but also gave her every material benefit so she had no need to strive for it.’

  ‘Exactly. In my experience those who succeed in any field are the ones who are the hungriest.’

  ‘Which is why so many East Europeans are making it as tennis players.’ Alexi shifted sideways in her seat, dislodging Ty’s fingers from her shoulder. ‘When you have a talent, a means of getting out of poverty or war zones and improving yourself, it gives you an added incentive.’

  ‘Marcel is obviously the police’s number one suspect. He admitted having sex with Juliette and she was killed a short time later right outside his apartment.’

  ‘But why take her back to her room and pose her there? Always assuming he did, he can’t have known the cameras were out, unless he decommissioned them first. And if he risked doing that, who’s to say how quickly someone might have come to fix them?’ Alexi shook her head. ‘You say the posing was symbolic. Well, in my experience, people who want to be symbolic in such a gruesome way are mentally unbalanced, and that sure ain’t Marcel.’

  ‘Nor was it Melody Davis. People suffering with bipolar disorder can be highly manipulative but…well, Hammond was right. She’d never have got into that part of the hotel undetected, or had the strength to carry Juliette. Besides, why would she?’

  ‘I guess that means we’re looking for a man then,’ Alexi said. ‘I’d always assumed that we were, but your mentioning the strength needed to move and then pose her bears that out. Greta looks strong but Juliette would hav
e literally been a dead weight and I don’t think she could have managed it.’

  ‘Two people working together?’

  ‘That’s a stretch.’

  ‘You’re right, it is, but keep it in mind.’ Ty rubbed his stubbled chin. ‘The posing bit has got me stumped. What the hell is it supposed to mean? Anyway, hopefully the police will be as puzzled as we are, which should keep Marcel out of clink.’

  ‘For now.’

  ‘Right. So, to continue with our list of suspects, next we have the three contestants.’

  Alexi flipped through Hammond’s notes on them. ‘John Shelton is a forty-year-old bachelor and Hammond discovered he’s registered with several dating agencies. Obviously he wants to find true love but hasn’t had much luck. Juliette played on that knowledge by…well, playing up to him.’

  ‘She humiliated the poor sod,’ Ty growled.

  ‘But surely that isn’t sufficient motive for murder?’

  ‘His ego took a bashing.’ Ty shrugged. ‘People have killed for less. And you know what they say about still waters.’

  ‘Yes okay, he’s on our list of suspects. That means Greta has to be as well, even though her dispute with Juliette dates back to their school days. She hadn’t expected to see Juliette again and had put it behind her. But when they finished up competing on the show and Juliette stole that show with her feminine antics, it brought it all back again. You referred to still waters. In return I’d refer you to revenge and the best temperature at which to serve it.’

  ‘Right, duly noted. We also have to think about Paul Dakin. I really want it to be him.’

  ‘You and me both,’ Alexi agreed, smiling as she watched Cosmo squirming in front of the fire, all four paws pointing skywards as he allowed the blaze to warm his belly.

  ‘I think Juliette inspired the same sort of possessive desire in him as her mother did in Hammond and he was prepared to risk his career, his marriage, everything, for an hour or two in her company. Imagine how he felt when he arrived and found her sneaking out of Marcel’s apartment.’

  ‘And we know they argued.’

  Ty nodded. ‘He might also be the father of the baby she was carrying, if their affair started during the heats. Dakin was involved in those so they must have met weeks ago and I don’t suppose Juliette would have let the grass grow under her feet when it came to…well, getting an unfair advantage with the movers and shakers.’

  ‘We should certainly add the baby’s father, whoever he is, to the list of suspects. Will they be able to find out?’

  ‘Yeah, they can take a DNA sample from the foetus, will have done already I should think, but if the father isn’t one of our suspects, or not on the DNA register, then obviously we won’t get a match.’

  They both fell momentarily silent. Alexi’s thoughts dwelt upon the poor little baby who hadn’t stood a chance.

  ‘You okay?’ Ty asked, squeezing her hand.

  Alexi sighed. ‘Let’s think about Anton. We need to talk to him tomorrow. Ask him about his debts and if Juliette confronted him? He’ll say no, of course, but we still have to ask. Anyway, your bullshit detector will tell you if he’s lying.’

  Ty grinned. ‘It never fails.’

  ‘Shall we give copies of Hammond’s notes to Vickery?’

  ‘Yes, they are vital to his case. It would be withholding relevant information. We also need to talk to Guy Salter,’ Ty said pensively. ‘Whoever killed her, I don’t think it was spur of the moment.’

  ‘Because of the cameras being out at a time when someone just happened to kill Juliette and then posed her in her room?’

  ‘Right. Anyone could have disabled the cameras but Salter should have noticed.’

  ‘Unless he did it.’

  ‘Good point.’

  ‘So, we have six suspects, five of whom possibly had good reason to want to see her out of the way. Guy Salter is our sixth suspect but we have no idea if Juliette pissed him off sufficiently to make him resort to murder.’

  ‘Marcel looks guiltiest on paper but he doesn’t really have a motive either,’ Ty pointed out.

  ‘Good, because I don’t want it to be him. The hotel would never recover.’

  ‘Don’t you just love detective work?’ Ty sent her a devilish grin. ‘Unfortunately it’s not nearly as glamorous as they make out on the telly. I have yet to confront a suspect with evidence and have them conveniently confess all in front of a room full of people. They still try to lie their way out of it and I doubt if this case will be any different.’

  ‘Then it’s a good job we don’t have to extract a confession. It’s Vickery’s job to make sure he has the evidence to get a conviction.’

  ‘Talking of whom, I need to go and see him in the morning, hand over the papers Hammond gave us and see if there’s anything else he wants to share with us. But first I’ll stop by at Cash Out and let my client know the case has been solved.’

  ‘Make damned sure he doesn’t prosecute Dean,’ Alexi said hotly.

  He took her hand and squeezed it. ‘Don’t worry. If he talks that way, I’ll remind him how bad the publicity could get.’

  ‘And how damaging would that be if the press got wind of it?’ Alexi asked mischievously.

  ‘Behave yourself!’

  ‘Oh, I was.’

  ‘Hmm, anyway, I’m sure he won’t want to prosecute. He hasn’t been keen on making a fuss from the word go, which is why he hasn’t involved the police. Besides, if I tell him Hammond will refund his losses, I’m sure that will be the end of it.’

  ‘Good!’ Alexi stretched her arms above her head and yawned. ‘What will I be doing while you’re in Newbury?’

  ‘See if you can have a quiet word with Guy about the cameras. Find out what he’s told the police and where he was when Juliette died. The usual stuff. We’ll tackle Anton together when I get back. That should be before lunch.’

  Alexi stifled another yawn. ‘Oh lord, all that food and wine has me dead on my feet.’

  ‘Then go to bed. It’s late anyway.’ Ty stood, took her hand and pulled her to her feet. ‘Now go, before I forget that I’m a gentleman.’ He kissed her cheek a little too chastely and was a little too willing to let her go for Alexi’s liking. ‘Sleep well.’

  ‘You too.’ She put the fireguard in place and headed for the stairs. ‘Night,’ she called over her shoulder.

  Chapter Twelve

  The following morning Alexi and Ty left her cottage together and headed for their respective vehicles.

  ‘I’ll see you at Hopgood House in a few hours,’ he said, pecking her on the cheek.

  ‘Yeah, later.’

  She opened her car door so Cosmo could jump in. She and Ty were like an old married couple but without the fringe benefits, she thought as she waited for her car’s heater to defrost the windscreen. They’d breakfasted together but only because Ty got up early enough to make them something, even clearing up after himself. He seemed intent upon proving to her that he really was well and truly housetrained.

  ‘What’s wrong with me, Cosmo?’ She peered through the rapidly widening clear spot on the windscreen, shivering as she waited for the heater to blow out warm air. ‘Why can’t I just go with the flow?’

  She reversed out of her driveway and took the narrow lane, brittle with frost, at a slower pace than Ty had just deemed judicious.

  ‘I mean,’ she added, flexing her gloved hands on the wheel. ‘He’s handsome, sexy, intelligent, makes me laugh and he can cook. All I have to do is give him the green light and it’ll be game on.’ Alexi shook her head. ‘You know, I think there must be something wrong with my wiring, Cosmo. Most women would kill their firstborn to have a shot at Tyler Maddox.’

  She was still conducting a one-sided conversation with Cosmo when she arrived at Hopgood House. There was no longer a police presence and the press contingent had dwindled to a few hardy souls. The majority would most likely take up residence in the bar, Alexi thought with a wry smile, as soon as it opened for the lunchti
me trade. Her old colleagues were nothing if not diligent in pursuit of a story, especially if they could wait it out in warmth and an alcoholic fug.

  ‘Morning,’ Alexi said as she and Cosmo made their way into Cheryl’s kitchen.

  ‘Morning, sweetheart.’ Cheryl was seated at the kitchen table, rocking baby Verity in her arms while Drew watched on with a doting expression. ‘Where’s Ty?’

  Cosmo headed for Toby’s basket, while the little dog all but danced on his hind legs by way of greeting.

  ‘Gone into Newbury.’

  Alexi removed her coat and gloves and then took the baby from Cheryl. She cooed and cuddled the precious little bundle while she updated her friends on their progress, such as it was.

  ‘Poor Melody Davis.’ Cheryl’s eyes glistened. ‘And poor Dean. That’s just so sad. Hammond sounds really horrible. I’m starting to understand why Juliette was the way she turned out to be. With a dictatorial father like him, she didn’t stand a chance.’

  Alexi nodded. ‘No arguments from me on that one.’

  ‘Coffee?’ Drew asked.

  ‘You’re a mind-reader.’

  ‘Well, our news is that the show goes on,’ Cheryl said. ‘The cameras are switched back on and Marcel gets to swagger his stuff in the restaurant’s kitchen with the contestants today.’

  ‘I’m glad, but I don’t suppose his heart will be in it.’

  ‘Hey.’ The door opened and Patrick came in. Cosmo hissed. ‘I thought I heard your voice.’ He leaned over Alexi, who was still cradling the baby, and kissed her forehead. ‘You okay?’

  ‘Apart from the fact that there’s a murderer on the loose, people I care about are under suspicion, and the business I have invested in could well suffer because of it, I’m just fine and dandy, thanks.’