Urge to Kill (1) (24 page)

It was lucky that the guests took their pre-ordered breakfasts in their rooms and the first classes or treatments did not start until nine-thirty. Matt calculated that gave them at least three hours head start. There was no way that the news could be kept from the guests, but if the spa could run as normal, it would keep them busy at least until the team had a chance to question them. Day guests would be turned away at the end of the driveway and advised to ring before returning.

Matt had just stopped to take a bite of the bacon sandwich that the excellent Mrs Trowbridge, still in her dressing gown, had rustled up for the team. The team had come in straight from their beds at the call so were very grateful. Not that Matt could taste a thing except the extremely drinkable coffee that was on offer. It was now eight-thirty, the guests would be awake, and the team was gearing up to question all of them. Fluff came up to him with a clipboard.

‘Guv?’ She sounded hesitant.

Matt smiled inwardly at her use of the phrase most beloved of cop shows but one she insisted on using if the lower ranks were around, even though he had asked her not to.

‘Yes?’ he mumbled through the bacon sandwich.

‘Do you want to interview the receptionist who was on duty with Miss Tomlinson yesterday afternoon?’

For a moment, Matt couldn’t understand why she was bothering him with such a question, until it struck him that Eppie had been on duty yesterday, Eppie, who was already thinking of Sandi as a friend. Eppie, who could have come face to face with her killer.

Matt put down the half-finished bacon sandwich and wiped his mouth with the paper napkin, to give him time to think. He had to be the one to tell his wife that the girl she worked with yesterday had been brutally murdered; there was no way he could get out of that. Common sense then took over, and he knew it would be best if he left the formal interview to Fluff and Sam.

‘I’ll see her first, tell her about Sandi. Then it would be best if you and Sam took over.’

Fluff nodded, pleased with his decision.

‘Let me know when she arrives.’

‘Will do.’

As Fluff left, Matt put aside his half-finished sandwich and returned to the immediate problems.

CHAPTER 34

C
live made sure he was up early. This was easy considering that he was bursting with excitement following his success of the night before and the thought of Ben coming to lunch.

Torn between needing Mother to be ready for Margaret at eleven and seeing what publicity his latest effort was bringing in, Clive decided to get Mother up and moving first.

He thought again about how much easier it would be if she didn’t live with him. True, Clive enjoyed his power over her, although it didn’t begin to make up for her dismissal of him as an infant, but now it would be good if she would just die and be out of his way. He wondered briefly about helping the process along, but decided that it would draw attention to himself, and it would be best to leave it, for the moment.

Taking up her breakfast tray, he was dismayed to find that she wasn’t even stirring. Putting on a cheerful air, he pulled back the curtains and let the autumn sunlight flood into the room. Mother grunted and turned away. Clive stood looking at her hunched shoulder, fighting the desire to stride to the bed and pull her physically from it.

‘Good morning, Mother. It is going to be a lovely day for taking little Emily to feed the ducks.’ He watched as she emerged from the covers.

‘I’m tired,’ she grumbled sitting up. ‘I would never have gone out last night if I had known how late we would be.’

Given she was home and in bed by ten-thirty, he didn’t feel the complaint was justified, but decided it was best not to argue with her. ‘It was later than I’d planned. Sorry about that, Mother.’

She nodded and gave a grunt of agreement as he helped her ease out of the bed and carefully into the bedside chair. As soon as she had started on her breakfast, he made his way back to the kitchen, and too excited to pour himself another coffee, turned on the television.

Clive was disappointed to find that
BBC News
was in the middle of highlighting all the upcoming sports fixtures. His fingers trembled as he flipped to
Sky News
. They too were in the middle of their sports section, although what sports had to do with a news programme he could never understand. Realising he would have to wait until the news headlines on the hour, he poured himself a bowl of muesli.

Of course, it could be that his message hadn’t been discovered yet or that the news hounds hadn’t got wind of the event. He thought this was unlikely as he had placed her close to the smoker’s tent, and they were bound to be up early and heading straight out for the first puff.

Then there it was, featured on the main news. The grave police superintendent stating that a young woman had been found murdered this morning. It was too early to say whether this murder was connected to one a few days ago, he continued. The flashbulbs highlighted his strong features as he turned, ignoring the barrage of questions about serial killers and police incompetence to move back into the safety of the station.

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

S
andi 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.’