by M A Comley
Sally sat upright. “Well, don’t stop there, Mr. Hew. You’ve got my full attention.”
He leaned forward. “It’s hard for me to tell you this. Okay, I’m just going to let it out, but you have to promise me this won’t go any further,” he whispered.
“That’s just it—I can promise no such thing without hearing the facts. You’re going to have to trust me.”
His eyes fluttered shut, and his jaw moved from side to side as he contemplated his dilemma. “I spent the night with a local dignitary’s wife.”
“Are you kidding me? Who? I need to corroborate your story with the lady herself before I let you off the hook. Name?”
“Jesus!” He scratched his head. “Clarissa Morgan.”
Sally’s eyebrows knitted together. “You mean, the local MP Patrick Morgan’s wife?”
“Yes. Now can you understand my wanting—no, needing—to keep this quiet? He’s out of town all week. She’s going to bloody murder me if you wind up on her doorstep about this.”
“We’ll need to check your alibi all the same. I’m sorry if the shit is going to hit for you and Mrs. Morgan, but it’s a necessity.”
“Why? You have to tell me what this is all about, Inspector.”
“For a start, a young lady is seriously ill in hospital after being attacked last night.”
He gasped. “I would never harm a woman. What’s that famous saying? Oh yes, ‘I’m a lover, not a fighter’.”
“And I have to tell you from the conversation we’ve had today, I’m inclined to believe you.”
“Thank you. What about the other case? You mentioned there were two of them.”
“Unfortunately, I have to inform you that the young lady you had a conversation with the night before last, was found murdered.”
“What?” He sat forward in his chair, his eyes almost dropping onto the table in front of him. “My God. I don’t believe it. How? Wait a minute, you suspected me of carrying out such a heinous crime?”
“At first, yes. However, now I’m willing to believe you had nothing to do with it. I’ll need to verify your alibi with Mrs. Morgan, of course, but I can’t see you divulging such a sensitive fact if you were guilty of these crimes. I will need to ask you to give me a DNA sample, if you don’t mind? Just to omit you from our enquiries. Will you do that?”
“Of course. Holy crap. That poor woman, women. What a terrible situation. How could anyone take someone out like that?”
“Indeed, Mr. Hew. And you know what? Crimes like this are getting more and more prevalent by the day. Can you drop by the station later on today to give us that sample?”
“Around sixish. Will that do?”
“Perfect.”
CHAPTER NINE
Sally watched the clock on the wall of the incident room tick its way around to four o’clock. At two minutes past four, she took the small file she had created on the suspect and walked down the stairs to the reception area. Peeping through the glass panel in the door, she saw Colin Whiting sitting nervously, awaiting her arrival. Her delay was intentional—she was eager to observe his reaction while he waited.
Sally entered the room and extended her hand for him to shake. He looked at it as though it were a cobra in disguise, ready to strike. “Mr. Whiting, sorry I’m late.”
He stood up and shook her hand. “That’s okay. Can we get this over with?”
“Of course.” Sally turned to the desk sergeant and asked, “Got a spare constable who can sit in with us, Sergeant?”
“Will contact one now, ma’am.”
“Send them through. We’ll get settled.” She led the way, and Whiting followed her up the hallway and into Interview Room One. “I’ll be taping the conversation.”
“Why? Am I under arrest?”
“No, it’s a formality. I’ll just set the machine up. Take a seat.”
He pulled the chair out from the table and sat down heavily. He folded his arms and stared as she inserted the tape and waited for the PC to join them before she announced who was present in the room during the interview. “While we wait, I’d like to take a buccal swab for DNA purposes. Any objection?” Sally opened an envelope lying on the desk and removed a plastic tube.
Whiting fidgeted in his seat and glared at her. “Why do you need DNA?”
“It’s normal. Nothing to be alarmed about. It’s more for discounting someone from our enquiries. Is there a problem?”
His eyes latched on to hers, challenging her. “Nope, not at all.”
As Sally inserted the large cotton bud into Whiting’s mouth, the door opened, and a male PC walked into the room. Sally nodded and motioned for the constable to stand behind the suspect, against the wall of the ten-foot-square room. Then she concluded taking the sample and popped the evidence into the tube, sealed the envelope, and placed a sticker over the opening, on which she signed her name. “Thank you.”
Sally said the obligatory words to begin the interview for the purpose of the tape and opened her file. “All right if I call you Colin?”
Whiting hitched up one of his shoulders. “Why not? It’s my name.”
“Good. Now, Colin, first of all, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for coming in this afternoon. I felt things were a little awkward when we spoke at your house yesterday. Can you explain why that was?”
“You’d just told me that my sister-in-law had died. How did you expect me to react, Inspector?”
“Fair point. So, can you tell me the reason you volunteered to come in today rather than discuss things in front of your wife?”
“Because I don’t like talking about Gemma in front of Leona. They didn’t really get on.”
“That’s strange. That isn’t the impression I got from chatting to your wife. Care to tell me why they didn’t get along?”
His eyes narrowed. Sally smiled, trying to fend off the glare coming at her in pulsating surges.
“You’ll have to ask my wife that. Who knows what goes on in a woman’s mind? I’m told it’s a very complex muscle.”
“I believe you’re right about that, Colin. Okay, can you tell me what sort of relationship you had with Gemma?”
“Like any other brother and sister-in-law relationship, I suppose. There really wasn’t anything special to it. I’ll miss her; that’s all I can tell you really. She was a superb mother to my niece, Samantha, and I’m sure my brother and his daughter will be lost without her.”
“That’s a great speech. You’ll forgive me if I think you’re just saying what you believe I want to hear, won’t you?” Her smile never wavered.
“It happens to be the truth. I’m not sure I like your tone, Inspector. It’s as if you’re treating me as a suspect. May I remind you that I have come here today willingly?”
“Which I appreciate, Colin. The thing is, my team and I have been doing a little background check on all of the people concerned in this case, and something surprising turned up relating to an incident that occurred at a previous job you held.”
“It was only a matter of time before that incident resurfaced and the finger started to get pointed in my direction. Maybe I should have been up-front from the word go about my conviction. It would have saved you a lot of time delving through my murky past, eh?”
“Maybe it would have made a difference. I’ve been told by a member of Gemma’s family that they walked in on some kind of conflict going on between you and the deceased. Would you care to explain what that was about?” Sally intentionally used the word deceased, hoping to provoke further reaction from Whiting.
“And I can tell you exactly who placed those seeds of doubt in your head—Gemma’s mum. Am I correct?”
“You might be. Care to enlighten me as to what the contretemps was about? Just so it’s nice and clear in this complex mind of mine.”
His gaze dropped to the table. His clutched his hands and began twisting as he contemplated what to say next. “Several things really.”
“I’m listening,” she prompte
d when he paused.
“Gemma and I used to be close, very close, in fact.”
“As in you two had an affair?”
“Yes. But it didn’t last.”
“Why? What went wrong?” Sally asked, beginning to look at Colin in a different light. He seemed to be finally showing some true emotion about Gemma’s death, as if it had just struck him. “Can I get you a glass of water?”
“No. I’m fine.” He sniffed then let out a large sigh. “I loved her. But it wasn’t reciprocated.”
Whoa! Well, I hadn’t expected that bolt of lightning. “Did anybody else know about your affair? Like her husband or your wife? Did either of them find out about it, Colin?”
“No. Gemma and I never told either of our spouses. It would have ripped the family apart.”
“It’s a pity you didn’t think along those lines before you began the affair in the first place. Sorry, ignore me. Go on. Things must have been pretty strained between you in that case? Being in the same room as each other in front of the rest of the family, am I right?”
“Yes, but we coped. If you think I could kill Gemma, Inspector, you couldn’t be further from the truth. I loved her, and I will continue to love her until I take my final breath in this world. She lit up a room when she entered it. There aren’t many people in this life who that kind of statement can be attributed to, as I’m sure you’ll agree.”
“I agree. If that’s the case, something has been puzzling me since our meeting at your house yesterday.”
His gaze met hers again, and a furrowed brow signified his confusion. “What’s that?”
“You never once asked how Gemma was killed. Why is that?”
He shook his head and expelled a huff. “I was devastated. Does the mind always function properly in such instances, Inspector? I’m sorry I didn’t conform to how other family members took the news of Gemma’s death. Like I say, I loved her.”
“I can understand your feelings in that case. Can I ask who ended the affair?”
“She did.”
“What were her reasons for that? Because she didn’t love you in return?”
“Partially. She said that living with the guilt no longer sat well with her. I have to tell you that Mark and Gemma’s marriage wasn’t the rosiest around. Did you know that?”
“I’m getting the impression that there were problems within the marriage, yes. I have to tackle the case sensitively regarding Mark, as I’m sure you can appreciate. I will need to bring him in for questioning once things have settled down and he’s had a chance to grieve the loss of his wife.”
“I’m aware of that. I just wanted to be sure that you understood their marriage was rife with problems.”
“Rife with problems? That bad? Or is that you having sour grapes?”
“Not at all. Mum has been intervening in their relationship for the last few months. She’s threatened to bash their heads together on more than one occasion, at least once publicly, as far as I can remember.”
“Then I better interview your mother to see if she can tell me what was at the root of their problems.”
“You do that. Maybe that will finally get the heat off me. I swear, I had nothing to do with Gemma’s death.”
“Well, I’m sorry, but I had to bring you in for questioning. I hope you understand. To be fair, we’re dealing with another similar incident in which the victim has survived.”
“Really? Why didn’t you tell me about this sooner? You’ve led me to believe that I’m your main suspect. All I’m guilty of is loving Gemma. Did this victim give you any details about the person who attacked them?”
“No, not yet. She was badly hurt and is unconscious.”
“But she’s alive, unlike Gemma. Why hasn’t there been some kind of warning issued about the attacks through the media? Surely it would be better to warn the women of Norfolk to be cautious.”
“That’s been taken care of this morning, Colin. There will be warnings going out over the next few days. It’s another reason for me to take your DNA today so that you can be excluded from the second case.”
“I understand. Do you need anything else from me?”
“Not at this time, Colin. All I ask is that you remain cooperative with us. It makes our life simpler if there is less testosterone flying around when we’re investigating a case.”
“Fair enough. Can I go now?”
Sally ended the interview and accompanied Colin back out into the car park. “My advice would be to lay low for a few days where your family is concerned. Mark will be hurting over the death of his wife, and if he hears any hint of what’s gone on between you and Gemma, I dread to think how he’ll react to the news.”
“I’ll keep my head down as advised. Any idea when Gemma’s body will be released so that we can bury her?”
“I’ll check that out for you over the next day or so. I need to drop your DNA off to the pathologist anyway. I might do that on my way home, actually. The last I heard, the funeral home had been in touch about collecting her body. I’ll get back to you with a definitive answer tomorrow. How’s that?”
“Thank you. I think the sooner we deal with Gemma’s funeral, the better, for all our sakes.”
He walked away, leaving Sally wondering what he’d meant by his last statement. Maybe she had been wrong to exclude him as a suspect so quickly after all. She nipped back to the interview room and picked up Colin’s file and the DNA sample.
Sally intended to make two stops on her way home that evening: one to Clarissa Morgan’s home and the other to the pathology department. After dispatching her team for the evening, she set off on her quest. As she approached her car, someone called out her name. She twisted to see who was addressing her.
“Ah, Mr. Hew. Right on time, I see.”
“As requested, Inspector.”
“Okay, I’ll deal with your DNA sample before I head home for the evening.” She walked back into the station alongside him and asked the desk sergeant for another DNA kit. He dipped under the counter and produced an envelope. “Can you ask another PC to join me in an interview room for five minutes, Sergeant?”
“I’ll organise that immediately, ma’am.”
“Walk this way, Mr. Hew.”
Sally waited for the PC to join them then went through the same procedure she’d gone through with Colin Whiting to obtain the sample from Taylor Hew. After completing that undertaking, she left the building again and thanked Mr. Hew for turning up on time. Then she placed both DNA samples on her passenger seat and drove to the pathology department.
Simon was emerging from his theatre, still in his uniform, when she walked up the hallway towards his office.
“Just the man I want to see.”
“Give me five minutes to get some decent clothes on first, Sally.”
She nodded.
“You can wait in my office, no problem.”
Sally sighed heavily as she sat in the spare chair. It had been a long day already, and she still had another stop to make before going home. Withdrawing her mobile from her jacket pocket, she dialled her parents’ home. “Hi, Mum. I should be home by about seven.”
“Okay, dear. See you later.”
Puzzled, Sally was still looking down at her phone when Simon walked into the office, dressed in civvies.
“What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t got a clue. Just rang Mum to let her know what time I’ll be home this evening and received a response that I wasn’t really expecting, as if she was distant about something. Oh, well, I’m sure I’ll find out soon enough.”
Simon sniggered. “Don’t tell me you’re still living at home?”
“Out of necessity—both my parents’ and my own. Don’t ask. It suits all concerned.” Sally nodded at the two sample envelopes she’d placed on his desk. “I’ve got two samples for you. One is from Colin Whiting. I’ve just pulled him in for questioning and discovered that he had an affair with Gemma behind his brother’s back.”
“Nice
family. Could he be the father of her child? Is that what you’re thinking?”
Sally chewed her lip. “I hope not, for all their sakes. I don’t think they’re the most loving of families. That sort of news could do irreparable damage, even if the mother and child are no longer with us.”
“And who does the other sample belong to?”
“The man, a stranger, who spoke to Gemma. He’s one of the last people to see her alive on the evening of her death.”
“I see. So you’re looking at trying to match his DNA to anything found at the murder scene in that case, as opposed to the child’s DNA?”
“That’s right. I think he’s innocent, but you know as well as I do, there’s just no telling today. Criminals are getting craftier by the day. I’m going to shoot off now. Can I have the DNA match to the baby’s ASAP?”
“I’ll order the lab to treat it as a priority. I’ll try and get an answer for you in the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. How’s that?”
“You’re a star. Thanks, Simon.” Sally stood and walked towards the door. “Have a good evening.”
“You, too. I hope all is well when you get home with your mother.”
“Me, too.”
Sally left the pathology department and drove to Clarissa Morgan’s address. At first, the woman objected profusely to Sally showing up at her home, but with her husband’s arrival imminent, she told Sally what she wanted to know about the illicit night she’d spent with Taylor Hew. The meeting took all of ten minutes once the woman succumbed and revealed the truth.
When Sally arrived at her parents’ home, Dex greeted her in his usual enthusiastic way of going around and around in circles, before finally collapsing on the floor for a tummy rub. “Hello, treasure. I’m glad to see you, too.” She kissed the top of his head, and he let out a groan of pleasure. “Maybe we’ll have time to squeeze in a run down by the river later, eh?”
“That’ll be nice, love. Hard day, I take it?” Her father’s voice startled her.
Sally patted Dex’s tummy then kissed her father on the cheek and gave him a weary smile. “You could say that, Dad. I’ve been racing the length and breadth of the county today. What about you? Any news on that contract you quoted on?”