The Scent of Death--A Sukey Reyholds British police procedural (33 page)

‘You're saying he wore those gloves to do his stint serving at table and when he finished he put them in his pocket and forgot to send them back?'

‘He might have done, but after he heard the telephone call he remembered he still had them and put them on to strangle Law.'

‘It sounds reasonable,' said Vicky. ‘But what about Rainbird's death? If Chapman was lying, and Law witnessed that attack, surely he'd have reported it to us right away. It's hardly the sort of thing he'd describe to Harry as a “tasty titbit”.'

‘That's true,' Sukey agreed. ‘Perhaps he'd noticed what Chapman described as the chemistry between Rainbird and Lily, and that was what he was referring to when he called Harry. Maybe, as we thought might have happened, Rainbird was so dazed after his fall that he fell into the water after Chapman left him.'

‘And no doubt a brief would think of that possibility too.' Vicky finished her sandwich and stood up. ‘I'm going to get a coffee – shall I get one for you?'

‘Thanks.'

When the team reassembled in DCI Leach's office after lunch he opened by saying, ‘DI Rathbone and I have been discussing how best to present our case to the CPS, after consideration of possible counter-claims Chapman's brief might put to the court. Before we reveal our thoughts we'd like to hear yours. You first, Vicky.'

Vicky consulted her notes and repeated the points she and Sukey had agreed on. Leach nodded and said, ‘That's a good start. You next, Mike.'

‘Tim, Penny and I have been thinking on similar lines, sir. Then we remembered that Chapman insisted that Rainbird was alive and well when he left him, and that someone else must have come along and finished the job. That sounds feasible, so we tried to figure out how he could account for the fact that only his DNA was found in the gloves used to kill Law?'

‘And have you come up with a solution?'

‘It's a bit far-fetched, sir, but supposing the real killer was already wearing gloves thin enough for the waiter's gloves to put over them? Rubber or latex gloves for example?'

‘You're thinking of someone like a cleaner, a member of the kitchen staff, or one of the chambermaids, for example?'

‘Yes, sir.'

‘I have my doubts about that, but I'm not going to dismiss it out of hand,' said Leach. ‘We'd have to figure out a way he found the gloves, of course. What do you think, Greg?'

‘It's certainly feasible, sir,' said Rathbone. ‘That would mean that there's no connection between Law's murder and Rainbird's death. I admit that possibility had crossed my mind.'

‘You're suggesting Rainbird's been shagging one of the staff when he already has the boss's wife on the go?'

‘He can hardly have it off with Lily on her home territory. Maybe he needs it more often than he can have it with her.'

‘That could mean that the woman concerned was either married or in some way involved with another man, who found out and killed Law out of jealousy,' said Leach thoughtfully. ‘In which case, one would expect her to show signs of distress at Law's death. I'll leave you to look into that, Greg.'

‘Right, sir.'

None of the members of the team, who had between them interviewed everyone who was present on the night of Rainbird's murder, could recall noticing any of the women appearing unduly distressed by his death. Further enquiries among those who were not on the premises at the time were equally fruitless. Eventually, after consultation with Superintendent Bradley, Leach informed the team that a case would be prepared for submission to the Crown Prosecution Service. Meanwhile, they would return to their normal duties.

The case was heard at Bristol Crown Court. As the team had anticipated, Chapman's counsel employed all the arguments they had considered, ending with an impassioned plea to the jury for Not Guilty verdicts on all charges. It took several nail-biting days before the foreman of the jury announced that on the first charge against Chapman, that of assaulting Laurence Rainbird causing actual bodily harm, the unanimous verdict was ‘Guilty'. On the second charge of manslaughter, they found him ‘Not Guilty'. It seemed that they accepted Counsel's argument that Rainbird, being unsteady on his feet after hitting his head on a heavy piece of timber, must have fallen into the lake by accident and drowned, as was shown by the post-mortem examination.

On the charge of murder of Reginald Law, the jury found him guilty by a majority of ten to one, and Chapman was remanded to await sentence.

‘S
o, three years for punching Rainbird in the guts and twelve for the murder of Reg Law,' said Harry as he and Sukey sat down with Major Matthews and Lady Freddie to a sumptuous meal in the dining room in The Stables. ‘That makes a round total of fifteen years. It seemed the only verdict in Rainbird's case as it was obvious the jury accepted his story. Anyway,' he raised his glass at Sukey, ‘our top Detective Constable had already figured out what must have happened so really they had to come to that conclusion. By the way, you said something about applying for promotion to Detective Sergeant. Is that serious?'

‘It was DI Rathbone who suggested it,' she said. ‘I told him I'd think about it.'

‘What about the poor man who died in that awful road accident?' said Lady Freddie. ‘It doesn't seem as if anyone's going to be charged with causing that.'

‘All the evidence points to the pipe coming adrift as a result of poor maintenance,' said Sukey.

‘So the case is closed?'

‘Not quite.
Chapman's counsel is seeking leave to appeal, but we think it's unlikely it will be granted.'

‘What do you suppose will happen at Dallington Manor?' said Major Matthews. ‘Surely that poor woman can't carry on the business on her own?'

‘Actually, there's some very promising news there,' said Sukey. ‘Lily and the remaining staff, who have been incredibly loyal and supportive, are keeping the place ticking over until all the present guests have left – there's only a handful still there anyway. There'll be an announcement shortly that it's closing down for refurbishment. It's hoped the place will reopen in time for Christmas under new management.'

‘Do you know who's taking it over?' asked Harry.

‘Yes, and it's a really heart-warming story. Lily's brother-in-law, Pansy's husband, is filthy rich and he's planning to do a substantial makeover before the reopening.'

‘That's great news,' said Harry. ‘I suppose Pansy is the sister Lily used as an alibi so she could sneak up to Richmond and spend time with Rainbird?'

‘That's the one.'

‘Well, all I can say is I wish them the very best of luck,' said Lady Freddie and they all raised their glasses in agreement.

One evening a week later, Harry called Sukey and said, ‘I've got some good news and some other news. Can I come round and share it with you?'

‘I've been wondering why I haven't heard from you,' she said. ‘Yes of course, come now.'

When he arrived he opened a bottle of wine, poured two glasses and led her into the sitting room. ‘This should really be champagne,' he said, ‘but there wasn't time to chill it and I couldn't wait to give you the good news. My editor nominated me a few weeks ago for regional crime reporter of the year, and he's just told me I've got it.'

‘Harry! That's wonderful – I'm so proud of you.'

They raised their glasses and drank the toast. Then he put his glass down, took hers from her, put his arms round her and held her close. After some moments he said, ‘Would you like to hear the other news now?'

‘Other news – oh yes, of course – I'd almost forgotten. What is it?'

‘It's Dad and Freddie. They're getting married at Christmas.'

‘How lovely!' said Sukey. ‘I'm so happy for them. Will she move in with your Dad?'

‘No, they're going to move into her place; it's bigger and quite a bit more luxurious.'

‘You're going to miss him,' she said thoughtfully.

‘That rather depends on you.'

Sukey eyed him warily. ‘Go on.'

‘Well, Dad's flat is a bit bigger and more convenient than yours … and remembering what we agreed when we spent that weekend at Greenings, I thought I'd mention that Dad never got rid of the double bed he shared with Mum for so many years.'

Sukey's head was telling her to play it cool; she knew it was a losing battle but she tried to hold out a little longer. ‘I have a feeling,' she said, ‘that you're asking me to move in with you.'

‘Got it in one,' he said. ‘I love you so much, Sukey,' he said gently. ‘We make a great team, don't we?' He kissed her again, even more insistently than before. ‘Well? What about it?'

Her head gave up the struggle. She drew a deep breath and whispered, ‘The offer of a double bed is just too good to refuse.'