Money, Mishaps and Murder

by David Beard

  ‘You didn’t mention Crossworth in your call.’

  ‘I just wanted you to know of Heather and I wasn’t sure where Crossworth’s body was anyway.’

  ‘Thank you, Hastings you have been extremely helpful, which I am sure will reflect on you in the outcome of this business but I do have to charge you for interfering with a major crime scene. We will not oppose an application for bail. I do agree that you were in an impossible position.’

  *

  On Monday morning both detectives were called to Sheila Milner’s office in order to tie up the loose ends.

  ‘Well done, the both of you,’ Milner opened the conversation. ‘So what else do you conclude from all of this?’

  ‘What is clear is that Herbert Battle shot Crossworth but we don’t think it was murder,’ Smalacombe began and Milner looked quizzical. ‘He was in a horrendous situation because Crossworth clearly had to kill him as well. In such an isolated place, how could Battle hold Crossworth at bay, even if he had the gun? How could he guarantee to get him back to civilisation without mishaps and before dark? And, if he didn’t manage it then he would be dead himself.’

  ‘It was also very hairy in the heat of the moment and with a sense of self preservation, I don’t think he had any option. I don’t think a murder charge would get through the courts. I think we charge him with manslaughter. Indeed, he may even get off that one.’

  ‘What happened with the gun?’

  ‘Herbie took it back to its place at Rosten House. For many years he had been a gun club member with Crossworth and he had been to Rosten House and he knew where the gun was kept. May I say, if he had planned to kill Crossworth, he would have brought his own gun.’

  ‘We have the keys to Heather’s car, mam,’ Emily advised. ‘They were in Battle’s possession. We have also found the rag from Crossworth’s shirt; it was thrown into a wild shrubbery at Rosten House. There will be DNA traces on it, which will supply more info I am sure.’

  ‘There is one other thing, mam.’ Smalacombe advised.

  ‘There is always one other thing with you lot.’

  ‘But this is sitting centrally. A tenant set fire to his flat which meant Battle, who was the landlord, had to cancel his weekend with Lynley. We have done the checks and found that the tenant is a nephew of Crossworth. Phone records show he was in contact with his uncle during the week leading up to the murders. Crossworth knew of Battle and Lynley’s arrangements and I am pretty sure this was a set up to ensure that Lynley was on her own.’

  ‘Money changed hands?’

  ‘Well no, because Crossworth would have wanted the deed done before he paid up and he isn’t around to do it. This was something else that didn’t quite work. Tiverton is dealing with it and I have asked them to have another look because they dismissed a case of arson. I’m sure they were wrong. As I have told my sergeant, every case has a cock-up and this is one more mess of many.’

  ‘Thank you both. Well done.’

  As the pair entered Smalacombe’s office he said, ‘Well, that’s all wrapped up.’

  ‘I’m not sure, Dexter. I have had thoughts about the daughter,’ Emily returned to another topic. ‘Where did Elfie come from? Crossworth introduced her to Geraldine and she has no idea how he knew her.’

  ‘Oh come on, I really hope you are wrong on that one. Are you saying…? Incest is pretty unpleasant.’

  ‘There is no blood relationship between them.’

  ‘If your assumption is right, then Geraldine is her bloody stepmother,’ Smalacombe raised his voice, ‘I have never dealt with an incest case, so I am not sure of all the technicalities.’

  ‘But, neither of them knew, Dexter.’

  ‘Why did they not know? That’s stupid. Why would Crossworth want it to be kept a secret?’

  ‘There is a simple answer. Elfie is thirty three and Crossworth was killed on his thirty fifth wedding anniversary. Think about it!’

  ‘Well, there is some consistency in all of this then!’

  ‘That is also why she wasn’t mentioned by name in his will. He didn’t want Geraldine to know until after his death.’

  ‘But, back to your other point, ignorance is not a viable defence.’

  ‘If she did know, she certainly would not have given me that personal info would she? No one knows of their relationship and we would have never found out without her volunteering it. If she knew, then why didn’t she clear up the will business? I really don’t like this,’ Emily moaned.

  ‘Well, you started it.’

  ‘Look, we have never been told of Elfie’s connection with him. I know that she is remunerated extremely generously and free board of course. There are also the perks – where did her car come from and it is not an old banger?’

  ‘I am not keen to look into this but as usual you have made a valid case. Can we talk of something else?’ Smalacombe suggested.

  ‘Did you watch the telly last evening?’

  Smalacombe laughed.

  ‘No go?’ she asked.

  ‘I think we have done a brilliant job this afternoon. With all the talk of semen and such like there has not been one innuendo. That’s a first!’ Smalacombe said with irony.

  ‘You didn’t come to a conclusion then,’ she cheekily retorted.

  ‘You’ve spoilt it! I might complain to the super.’

  They both laughed and sat down. Barry Sheldon came to the door.

  ‘I think he has just received something,’ Emily had a premonition. ‘Elfie did agree to a DNA test. I forgot to tell you.’

  Sheldon overheard her last comment, ‘She did,’ he confirmed, ‘and she is Crossworth’s daughter. She didn’t know it, but Crossworth did, as we have spoken to her mother who had no idea that Elfie was left anything in the will, by the way. It didn’t get to the French press, that’s why she has made no contacts.’

  ‘Oh for fuck’s sake. I’m not dealing with this.’

  ‘And neither am I. Well, do I have your support on that?’ Emily asked.

  ‘I’ll do my best.’

  ‘There is one other thing, sir.’

  ‘You haven’t lost your sense of timing, have you? More on Elfie?’

  ‘It’s much worse than that.’

  ‘That’s not possible.’

  ‘We have used our initiative these last weeks as we knew you were both inundated with work. As you know, we organised a press campaign to see if we could find Crossworth’s daughter; that is before we dealt with Elfie.’

  ‘And we had dozens of phony phone messages,’ Smalacombe moaned.

  ‘I like that,’ Emily commented.

  ‘We had a call from the solicitors dealing with Crossworth’s will. They had a call they took seriously and informed us. They were contacted by a Mrs Bigberry.’

  ‘Who the hell is she?’

  ‘She used to live around here.’

  ‘So?’

  ‘Wait, I know,’ Emily interrupted with surprise. ‘When we did the searches on Sable I checked out his wife, as best as I could. Her maiden name was Jane Bigberry.’

  ‘That’s right, Sergeant and her mother rang the solicitor to tell him that Jane is Crossworth’s daughter. We contacted the mother who told us where Jane was and we have done the DNA checks,’ the usual theatrical pause took place and Smalacombe sighed, ‘…and yes, she’s right. She is Crossworth’s daughter.’

  ‘Oh, that has fucked everything up. Thank goodness I don’t deal with civil courts.’

  ‘Crossworth was on the girl’s side when the marriage broke up because of his past with her mother, but he didn’t know she was his daughter. Mrs Bigbury assured us that she had always kept it a secret for the sake of her marriage.’

  ‘She will have to change her plans now there is money around.’

  ‘She’s recently been divorced, which is convenient.’

  ‘Two daughters? There won’t be any money. Lawyers will take the lot. I doubt there will be anything left for Mrs Bigberry’s daughter.’

  ‘Thi
s is yet another cock-up,’ Emily observed.

  ‘I’m glad you mentioned that, Sergeant,’ was Smalacombe’s wry reply.

  Sheldon didn’t know whether to laugh or pretend he hadn’t understood the inference.

  Sheldon left and Smalacombe felt it necessary to ask Emily to summarise her experience with this case. ‘Have you learnt anything from this?’

  ‘Where do I start, Dexter?’

  ‘At the beginning I would suggest. What is the most important lesson you’ve learnt?’

  ‘Money, mishaps and murder are a toxic mix.’

  ‘Don’t you mean, cash, cock-ups and carnage?’

  Back to the country boy again, she thought. ‘I think my wording would look better in our report.’