The Clifftop Murders (Dorset Crime Book 2)

by Rachel McLean

  “What’s wrong with the place, Elsa?”

  “It’s not the firm.”

  “What, then?”

  “It’s a client,” Elsa said. “They’re not the kind of people you walk away from.”

  “Which client?”

  Lesley looked around, checking the car park. Two uniformed constables were walking towards a squad car. She shrunk in further behind the wall.

  “Which client, Elsa?”

  “Not on the phone.”

  Lesley sighed. “Are you talking about Arthur Kelvin?”

  Silence.

  “Elsa?”

  “Like I say, not on the phone.”

  “So what the hell does leaking to the local news have to do with it? How does that get you out of the firm?”

  Another silence.

  “Think, Lesley,” Elsa said eventually, “You’re the detective, work it out.”

  Lesley circled on the spot, her muscles tense.

  “I get it,” she said. “You want the firm to go tits-up so you can’t stay.”

  “I’m not answering that,” Elsa replied. “But…”

  “You’ve really ballsed up my investigation. We didn’t even tell Mrs Nevin we suspected her husband. Hell, we didn’t even tell him.”

  “I know,” Elsa replied.

  “How d’you know?”

  “He and I were partners, Lesley. We talked to each other. He knew you were after him.”

  Lesley narrowed her eyes. They’d gone looking for Harry Nevin as soon as they had enough evidence to seriously suspect him of murdering Ameena Khan. But he hadn’t been anywhere they’d expected. Not at the firm, not at his house, not at his mistress’s.

  “So what happened to him?” she asked. “Was he at your flat?”

  “No,” Elsa replied. “He wasn’t. I promise you.”

  “So what happened to him? Where was he?”

  “His wife called me. I put two and two together. But I don’t know where he went, who killed him. I can hazard a guess though.”

  “You think it was Kelvin.” Lesley thought of the CCTV pictures they’d watched, the two men and the woman dragging Harry Nevin’s body out of the van.

  “I’m not saying anything,” Elsa said.

  Lesley felt her stomach clench.

  “Elsa.” Her voice was quiet. “I’ve got one question for you.”

  “What question is that?” Elsa’s voice too was low.

  “Did you have anything to do with Harry Nevin’s death?”

  Silence.

  “Elsa. I know you’re there.”

  “You know I didn’t.”

  “I know you weren’t there. At least I’m pretty sure you weren’t—”

  “Lesley. Don’t.”

  “But Elsa. Did you want him dead?”

  “I can’t believe you’d think that of me.”

  The line went dead.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Tina peered over the top of her computer, watching Johnny muttering with the sarge.

  She hated the way they did this. She knew Johnny and the sarge went back years – the way they talked, she imagined they’d known each other since Johnny was a kid. But even so… When Mike was around they’d include him. Her, never.

  She needed air.

  She stood up and shook herself out. “Just going to the loo.”

  Johnny grunted.

  Tina straightened the sleeves of her shirt and walked towards the door. As she reached it, she stopped. Through the glazed panel, she could see the DCI standing in the corridor. She was on her phone, facing away from Tina.

  Tina stood, her hand on the door, watching the boss. After a few moments, the DCI started walking towards the stairway. She was in a hurry. She almost ran down the stairs, then disappeared from view.

  Tina pushed the door open just a crack.

  Was there a problem? Could she help, or should she leave well alone?

  But she didn’t want the boss to know she’d been watching her.

  She let the door close again. She’d wait to go to the loo, to get that breath of air. She didn’t want to stumble into the boss.

  She returned to her desk. Johnny raised an eyebrow: that was quick. Tina ignored him and flicked on her computer.

  What had she been doing? Looking into cases, that was it. The ones associated with Kelvin and his firm, the ones Elsa Short had worked on. Tina was convinced they needed to be looking at Elsa. If she wasn’t responsible for killing Nevin or Ameena, then she might know who was. Arthur Kelvin was bad news, his connection to this case made Tina uneasy.

  She flicked through the notes she’d made about Elsa. The lawyer had a brother, Tom. He was landlord at the Duke of Wellington pub in Wareham. Should she call him?

  He might have background information.

  This was the kind of thing she should discuss with the boss, or the sarge. But the DCI had said she liked it when Tina showed initiative. She didn’t want the men thinking she couldn’t do this.

  She dialled the number on the file, her heart in her mouth.

  “Duke of Wellington, can I help you?”

  “Hello.” Tina turned away from her desk so Johnny and the sarge wouldn’t hear her. “My name’s PC Abbott. I’m calling from Dorset Police. Can I speak to Tom Short?”

  “Speaking,” replied the man. “Is this about that licensing problem I was dealing with last month?”

  “No. It’s something else.”

  “Go on then.” He sounded worried.

  “Are you the brother of Elsa Short, a partner at Nevin, Cross and Short?”

  “Yes.” He sounded puzzled.

  “Good,” she said. “Ms Short is a witness in an investigation we’re running. I just wanted to find out some background about her. How long has she worked at Nevin, Cross and Short?”

  “Why don’t you ask her that?” the man replied.

  “Please, Sir. It’s a simple question.”

  She was making a mess of this. Maybe she should talk to Mike. He’d know how to do this. He’d know if she should be doing this.

  “Hang on a minute,” the man said. “Are you working on the Harry Nevin murder?”

  “Yes.” Tina tensed. “I am.”

  “Well, in that case you probably work for DCI Clarke, don’t you? Lesley Clarke.”

  Tina frowned. “Er, yes, I do. She’s the senior investigating officer.”

  “You work for Lesley?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing calling me?”

  “I’m sorry, Sir. I’m not sure what you mean.”

  Tina was wishing she’d never made this call.

  “Lesley Clarke is Elsa’s girlfriend,” he said. “If you want to find out how long Elsa’s been working for Nevin, Cross and Short, I suggest you ask her.”

  Chapter Sixty

  Lesley hurried back up the stairs and into the office, her heart pumping hard. She’d dealt with that badly.

  Of course Elsa hadn’t killed Harry Nevin. Lesley’s instincts were better than that. She wouldn’t have got close to the woman if she was a killer.

  She flicked her gaze around the office to see Tina staring at her. Tina’s gaze shot back to her computer screen.

  Lesley frowned.

  Dennis and Johnny were huddled between their desks, conferring on something. Lesley would speak to them shortly, find out what progress they were making. But first she needed time alone.

  She walked through to her office and closed the door. She sat down at her desk, resisting the urge to put her head in her hands. They could see her through the glass surrounding the office.

  She turned towards the window, her eyes unfocused. She was disturbed by a knock on the door. She turned, to see Tina hovering outside. Lesley beckoned her in.

  Tina shuffled inside and closed the door. Her face was red.

  “What is it, PC Abbott?” Lesley snapped.

  Tina’s blush deepened. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have…”

 
; “What is it?”

  Tina’s eyes widened.

  Lesley sank into her chair. “Sorry, Tina. I’m frustrated. We’re not making the progress we should be and I shouldn’t take it out on you. Hang on.”

  She opened the top drawer of her desk and grabbed a bag of crisps. She pulled it open and went to take one out. Before she did so, she remembered her manners and held the packet out. “D’you want one?”

  Tina shook her head. “No thanks.”

  Lesley shrugged. “You’re missing out. Keeps me going, junk food.” She grabbed a handful of crisps and shoved them into her mouth.

  There was another knock: Dennis. Lesley rolled her eyes and beckoned him in, too.

  He closed the door just as she was stuffing the second handful of crisps into her mouth.

  “Is PC Abbott bothering you, boss?” he asked.

  Lesley looked from him to Tina. “I don’t know, she hasn’t said what she’s here for yet.”

  Tina’s face deepened another shade.

  “Whatever it is, though,” Lesley said, wiping crisp crumbs off her skirt, “it’s clearly very embarrassing.”

  Dennis turned to Tina. “I’m your DS, Constable. You don’t come knocking on the DCI’s door without speaking to me.”

  Lesley put up a hand to stop him. “Hang on a minute, Dennis. Tina, is this something delicate? You came in here to talk to me because I’m another woman?”

  Tina frowned. “No, boss.”

  Lesley raised an eyebrow.

  Tina shuffled towards Lesley’s desk. She stood behind one of the chairs. “Well, yes, boss. Sort of.” She glanced at Dennis.

  Dennis shook his head. “Is it about the case, Tina?”

  “Yes, Sarge.”

  “Right then,” he replied. “Tell us what it is. You’ve already wasted five minutes of the DCI’s time.”

  Tina looked at Lesley. “I just spoke to Tom Short.”

  Lesley stared back at her. “Tom Short?”

  A nod. “Elsa Short’s brother.”

  “I know who Tom Short is. What the… what the blazes were you doing calling him?”

  Tina put her hand on the back of the chair.

  “Oh, for God’s sake,” said Lesley. “Sit down, Tina. You look like you’re going to pass out.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Come on, Tina,” Dennis said. “Let’s get out of here. Sorry she’s bothering you, boss.”

  But Lesley knew what this would be about.

  “No, Dennis,” she said. “Tina, just tell us. It’s OK. You don’t have to be embarrassed.”

  “Why would she be embarrassed?” Dennis asked. “Have you overstepped the mark, Constable?”

  Tina looked at him. She swallowed. “Tom Short told me that Elsa has a girlfriend.”

  Lesley leaned her head back, looking up at the ceiling. She’d known this would come out eventually, but had hoped it would be once the case was over.

  “Go on,” she said.

  Tina turned from Dennis to her. “You’re sure?”

  “Just tell him.”

  Tina looked at Dennis. “Elsa Short’s girlfriend is the DCI.”

  Dennis spluttered. “Don’t be ridiculous, Tina. Lesley is a married… You are a married woman, aren’t you, boss?”

  Lesley took a breath. Officially, she was still married, but that wouldn’t last long.

  “She’s right, Dennis,” she said. “Elsa Short is my girlfriend, she has been for a month.”

  Tina smiled. “That’s nice for you, boss.” She blushed again. “Sorry.”

  “It is, Tina,” Lesley said. “It’s very nice, but I can see how it would concern you.”

  Dennis took a step towards the desk. “Wait a minute. Elsa Short is a potential suspect. With her working for Arthur Kelvin and her relationship with Harry Nevin…”

  “What relationship with Harry Nevin?” Lesley said.

  “Professional relationship.”

  Lesley shrugged. “That’s all there is to it. And besides, she isn’t a suspect.”

  Tina cleared her throat. “Er, I found some information about her. She’s Kelvin’s lawyer.”

  Lesley shook her head. “It doesn’t matter,” she said. “She’s got an alibi for Harry Nevin’s death.”

  “What alibi?” Dennis asked. “Nobody told us about this.”

  Lesley fixed her gaze on him. “No,” she told him. “That’s because she was with me.”

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Elsa was pissed off. She was irritated with Lesley for asking her that question. She was annoyed with Harry Nevin for getting himself killed. And she was furious with herself for letting it get to her.

  She was the last one in the office, Aurelia Cross having left half an hour ago. She huddled over her desk, hoping to lose herself in her work. Sometimes it was effective, helping her mind to go elsewhere and focus on the minutiae of the day-to-day. But tonight, work and personal life were too closely intertwined.

  Her computer pinged and she looked up. She had an email from an address she didn’t know, admin@aacar-repairs.com.

  She clicked it open. AA Car Repairs was one of Arthur Kelvin’s businesses. One of many. Elsa struggled to keep track of them.

  The email was short. I need to meet you ASAP. You know what it’s about. There was no signature, no sign off.

  Elsa rubbed her eyes. Ameena’s death and now Harry’s had got to her. Her colleagues had coped with Ameena dying. Ameena had kept to herself, only made a few friends, not left much of an impression on the firm. But Harry… Harry was the founding partner. Without him, nobody here knew what would happen next. They were all muddling along, pretending there was a plan. There was no plan.

  Elsa hoped the firm would disintegrate, and she would be released. But meanwhile, she had this email to deal with.

  She typed out a response. Where?

  A reply came back, with an address in Sandbanks. Elsa frowned. It wasn’t like Kelvin to use his home address.

  Give me ten minutes.

  She stood up and took her jacket off the back of her chair. Her computer pinged again.

  Don’t tell your colleagues, especially not Aurelia Cross.

  Elsa tightened her jacket. Of course she wouldn’t tell her colleagues. They knew she was working for him. Harry had given her that role when she’d joined the firm, it was the reason she’d made named partner.

  If she’d known, she might never have taken the job.

  But despite them all knowing who she represented, she also knew she was expected not to talk about their biggest client, to act like he didn’t exist. Despite the amount of money he brought in for the firm.

  She turned her computer off and made for the door. She wanted to go home and have a long hot bath. But Elsa knew that when Arthur Kelvin said jump, the correct answer, if you knew what was good for you, was how high?

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  Lesley sat at her desk, poring over paperwork. The team had spent the rest of the afternoon working through everything they had on Harry Nevin. Lesley had checked with Gail, but there were no more forensics yet. They were still trying to identify the weapon from Nevin’s wounds.

  Dennis and Johnny had gone just before six, the two of them leaving together. Lesley suspected they were going to the pub, to gossip about her.

  Let them, she thought.

  Tina had left swiftly afterwards, casting an uneasy glance in Lesley’s direction. Lesley had given her a wave which Tina hadn’t returned.

  Mike, by contrast, was still here.

  Lesley looked up to see him approach her door. He knocked and she beckoned him in with a nod of her head.

  He cleared his throat, his hand on the doorknob. “I’m off now. See you in the morning.”

  She looked at her watch: seven o’clock. “You got nowhere better to be, Mike? No overtime in CID.”

  “I’d rather be here than in my stuffy studio flat.”

  She leaned back in her chair and gave him a knowing look. “I know that feeling.
Microwave dinner for one, evening in front of the telly.”

  He shrugged. “My place is smaller than your office. It’s only got a single high window. It gets hot in the summer and cold in the winter.”

  “But you’re on a constable’s salary,” she said. “You can afford better than that.”

  “Not around here,” he replied. “The grockles push the prices up.”

  “Grockles,” she repeated. The local word for holidaymakers. She was beginning to understand why the locals resented them so much.

  “So there’s no girlfriend in the picture?” she asked him. “No family?”

  He shook his head. “Just me, boss. I had a cat until a couple of years ago, but…” His voice trailed off.

  “Sorry to hear that,” she said. “See you in the morning.”

  “Yes, boss.” He pulled the door to leave, and then stopped. “I just wanted to say…”

  She raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

  “I just wanted to say, good for you,” he said.

  “Sorry?” she replied.

  “I mean…” He looked down at his feet. “Being gay and all.”

  She laughed. “I’m not sure I’d label myself as gay, Mike. I’m still married to a bloke called Terry.”

  He laughed nervously.

  “It’s OK,” she said, trying to feel more comfortable than he clearly did. “I appreciate the sentiment. Not sure about Dennis, though.”

  Mike looked at her. “He’ll come round. The sarge isn’t the dinosaur you think he is.”

  “I’m dating a person of interest in a murder case,” she reminded him. “That’s a lot to come round to.”

  “But she’s got an alibi.”

  “An alibi provided by me.”

  She’d told them that she’d been with Elsa the night before Harry Nevin had died. After they’d left Nevin’s girlfriend’s house, she’d gone to Elsa’s flat in Bournemouth and spent the night there. She’d come straight to the office in the morning and Elsa had gone to her own office.

  Based on the time stamp on the CCTV, Elsa couldn’t be the killer. That woman on the clifftop wasn’t her.