by Peter Boon
She took a little longer this time, flinching at the mention of his name. ‘I suppose it could be, but I doubt it. I just keep thinking, what if someone wanted him dead and used this to get their chance?’
‘When everyone will think it’s because of him coming out!’ Noah said in excitement. ‘This is a classic murder mystery twist.’
She looked puzzled, but continued anyway. ‘As captain, Kieron had quite a lot of players come to him for help and advice, so he would know a lot about his teammates that others didn’t. Danny’s mental health troubles, for example: him and Chloe have told you about it, I’m sure.’
They hadn’t, but it made sense. Living a life in the spotlight was a tremendous pressure on anyone, and it seemed like they were constantly in it. Not to mention the rumours Fiona mentioned about the state of their relationship.
I thought about how he acted on the beach. I’d taken it as grief, as guilt, but looking back I could see how this could be a man struggling with depression.
Ellie had more revelations, though. ‘But it wasn’t just Danny. Kieron had been trying to help Ricky Roberts with his gambling problems.’
This was news indeed. ‘Hang on, he doesn’t even like Kieron?’
She nodded. ‘Exactly, he doesn’t now. Note I said, trying to help. Roberts doesn’t exactly want it. But Kieron could see it spiralling out of control and was trying to get him to seek support for it. He even involved Jackie Luton, as they both have her for an agent, but she just brushed it under the carpet. Was more worried about the story getting out.’
‘So you think Roberts used the chance to get Kieron out of the way?’
She had a determination in her voice when she spoke. ‘Yes. Apparently he threatened Kieron after training yesterday, too. Yes, I think Ricky Roberts killed my fiancé.’
28
‘You two took your time, we’re five minutes late. Jackie Luton hates people being late.’
We’d finished up with Ellie, and Patrick drove us back past Chalk Gap and dropped us off at Beachy Head stadium, where Fiona was not quite patiently waiting for us in the car park, in a purple ensemble vintage outfit. I thought it may have still been closed off as a crime scene, but it seemed to be open again.
‘I can’t believe you went to see Ellie without me,’ she complained as we walked. ‘We’re working together, Noah. Am I going to have to put tracking on your phone?’
‘Sorry, we found out some interesting twists, though!’ Noah replied, while I hoped she was joking about the tracker, as it wasn’t a very honest journalistic technique.
‘Yeah, Edward texted me about the Ricky Roberts gambling thing. But now there’s the Troy revelation going public too,’ she said with a hint of bitterness to her tone. ‘Yet another world exclusive I’ve missed out on. The South Downs Star has got every single breaking story first. How are they doing it?’
‘Yes, you said Jackie Luton won’t allow anyone to speak to the press,’ Noah chipped in, clearly loving his role in journalism.
‘Troy Nicholson isn’t represented by her and has no affiliation with the club, and he wasn’t disclosing anything that happened at the stadium,’ I pointed out. ‘She wouldn’t have been able to stop him speaking to whoever he wanted.’
‘She’d have expected Chloe or Danny to, though. Heads will roll for this.’ I hoped Fiona was still speaking metaphorically. How far would Jackie go to keep her players’ secrets quiet?
A few minutes later, I got a better impression by meeting the woman herself. Her office showed no sign of a partner or family, no photos, no trinkets, and every sign of a lonely, overworked singleton: several stained coffee cups and an overflowing bin with empty soft drink cans and takeaway wrappers.
‘What can I do for you, Fiona?’ Jackie snapped from behind her desk after Fiona had introduced me and Noah. ‘Or more, what do you think you can do for me?’
‘I know you’re having a lot of the trouble with the press,’ Fiona replied, sweetly and politely.
‘And you think I’m going to make that even worse by talking to you? You must be joking.’
‘Why did you agree to see me then?’ Fiona asked in reply.
Jackie opened a can of Diet Coke within reach of her. ‘I was intrigued.’
‘You should be,’ Fiona batted back. ‘The last thing you need is hassle from the police too.’
‘I’ll give you that one,’ Jackie said as she took a swig of her soft drink. ‘They’ve been sniffing around for two days now, with their crime scenes and witness statements and court orders. I don’t know what they think they’re going to find.’
A man had died, and the obstructiveness of this woman considering this was too frustrating to stop me from speaking. ‘Kieron’s killer, of course.’
She moved her full attention to me. ‘Well, well, well, it speaks.’
‘I speak too!’ Noah said, half waving his hand, completely missing her sarcasm.
She ignored him and carried on. ‘Alright Fiona, what’s going on? Why have you got the Rain Men with you?’
‘You might know Edward as the guy who’s helped the police in some murder cases in Chalk Gap,’ Fiona said, gesturing to me.
‘Ah yes, the inbred village you live in.’ I did not like this woman.
‘Quite rude, but anyway. Edward’s become quite the expert in these matters and he’s been conducting his own investigation independent of the police.’ A bit of a trumped-up version of the truth, I thought. ‘He might help you avoid having the police hang around much longer if you tell him what you know.’
She sat back in her swivel chair and spun the chair slightly from side to side as she thought about what Fiona said. ‘I know him, actually. Edward Crisp. Anyone who keeps their eye on what’s what needs to know who’s in the local press. He’s been quite the marvel.’
‘Thank you,’ I said, keen for her to address me directly rather than as if I wasn’t there.
‘I actually thought of offering to represent you if you got much more known. There are plenty of ways to make money from your Sherlock Holmes routine.’
I wasn’t surprised to hear the ‘money’ word; I imagined that was her main motivation. ‘No, thank you, Jackie.’
‘I didn’t say I was offering, just that I’d thought of offering,’ she clarified abruptly.
‘Do you mind if I ask something?’ Noah said out of nowhere.
She looked dubiously at him and reluctantly nodded for him to speak. Usually I’d be afraid of what he might say, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for him to offend this dreadful woman.
‘I was just wondering, what your exact job is? You seem to be an agent for most of the club’s players and many of their wives and girlfriends, which would surely be in the form of independent contracts between you and them. But you also seem to represent the club’s interests too. For example, you have your own office here, which we’re sitting in right now.’
She laughed out loud, before addressing Fiona, not Noah. ‘This guy’s a treat. I love him. He’d be great sitting in on some of my contract negotiations.’
Noah, as usual, missed the sarcasm. ‘I’d love to, but I’m not an expert in contract law. I’m halfway through my A Level in Law though, I can check if it’s coming up on the syllabus.’
She laughed again but replied to Noah directly this time. ‘I was only joking, darling. But I think you’ve got a cracking career ahead of you, whatever you do.’
I was pleased to see her appeasing him, though this was probably only because she found him so amusing. ‘To answer your excellent question, my main role is as an agent, but I also work for the club part-time as their PR Adviser.’
‘Isn’t that a conflict of interests?’ Noah asked.
She scoffed. ‘I don’t care about things like that, sweetheart. Besides, I’m not there doing the donkey work, writing press releases and sending tweets. I’m there in a consultancy capacity. And getting paid handsomely for it too.’
I saw Fiona pull a face. The amount of
money this woman likely made was probably obscene.
Finally, Jackie turned back to me. ‘Go on how can we help each other?’
I took a breath. ‘Talk me through the night as you know it.’
She did. Her version offered nothing different from everyone else’s version, but I wasn’t expecting it to. It seemed like everyone linked to the club had the same story. That wasn’t what interested me, though. I knew she’d give me an official, pre-agreed account. I was more keen to see what she was like, and what I could learn from what she wasn’t saying.
‘Who do you think killed Kieron, then?’ I asked. ‘It had to be someone there that night.’
‘You were all there,’ she said, raising her eyebrows. ‘But from the likely suspects, my money’s on Troy Nicholson. Spurned lover is a classic motive.’
‘Oh yes, definitely!’ Noah said, in delighted agreement.
I felt more cynical; I knew this would be her answer. Troy’s story, for whatever reason he’d revealed it, made him the obvious scapegoat who wasn’t directly contracted to either the club or Jackie herself.
‘What about the club officials there that night?’ Noah asked. ‘Do you think any of them could have done it?’
‘This guy is gold, he really is. I want to give him a job as my assistant, so he’s around all the time,’ she said through more laughter. She soon moved on quickly, before he could accept the joke offer. ‘You realise that even if I thought that, I would never incriminate the club’s officials, seeing as I work here. But, seeing as you ask so nicely, I’ll let you into a secret.’
I noticed Fiona sit up with interest as Jackie leaned forward in a conspiratorial way. ‘Those lot couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery, let alone a murder. They’re figureheads. They’re there to worry about the football, I’m there to worry about anything else. Why do you think the club hires me?’
This felt like the most truthful thing she’d said in the whole meeting; I wondered if she meant she would actually carry out a murder if she needed to.
‘Do you think it was true about Kieron?’ I asked.
She didn’t even blink. ‘Of course it’s true, his lover just came forward in the press, not to mention the coming out statement knocking about.’
‘I’ll rephrase then,’ I said. ‘Were you surprised by it?’
She smirked. ‘You mean, did I know already? Let’s just say I protect all my clients’ interests and not much goes on without me knowing it.’
It was Noah who would step up to rattle her cage again. ‘What if one client’s interest conflicted with another?’
‘Then I would act in the best interests of the club.’ And your own bank balance, I thought to myself.
Fiona, who had said nothing for a while, spoke next. ‘And what about some of the other things we’re hearing? They could be possible motives. Like Danny Higgins and Ricky Roberts both having instances of homophobia. Or Ricky Roberts having a serious gambling issue, which Kieron tried to help him with and you allegedly stopped him.’
Jackie stood up and leaned forward, resting her hands on her desk. ‘We’re done here.’
But Fiona apparently wasn’t. ‘You’re not going to answer me then?’
Jackie held her own. ‘No, I’m not. It’s a shame, because I didn’t mind chatting with Edward and Noah. Once again, you manage to mess up, Miss Turtle. No wonder you’re still stuck on the village rag.’
Fiona looked away, defeated. Jackie turned her attention back to me and Noah. ‘My apologies, gentlemen, I do actually have a player coming in to see me, so I need to wrap things up, anyway.’
She took something from her desk and passed it to Noah. ‘Here’s my card. Call me in a year or so, when you finish college and let’s have a chat.’
This move was probably to get one over on Fiona, seeing as Noah was currently working with her. But either way I hoped this wouldn’t be a career option he’d pursue.
I had one more thing to ask her, but it wasn’t to do with the murder. ‘This is a bit of a personal one, but I wanted to ask you something. Beaumont Albright.’
Jackie narrowed her eyes. ‘Ah yes, his auntie is the Head Teacher from your school. The one Roberts was making all the embarrassing comments about. She’s your friend I guess?’
‘Yes. And she’s worried about Beaumont. Even before this, it was a lot for an eighteen-year-old. But, now…’ I left the sentence hanging as I tried to work out how to word it.
‘Yes, of course,’ she said, not waiting any longer. ‘His big night was overshadowed. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty more opportunities for him in the spotlight. He’s going to be a star for this club.’
‘You’re really something else, Jackie,’ Fiona snapped.
‘What I actually meant was, it’s the spotlight we’re worried about. All your players and their issues they have, they all seem so unhappy.’
‘Or they end up dead,’ Noah added.
‘Yes, I understand. Don’t worry, we’ll look after him.’ But she sounded far less interested now. We said our goodbyes and left.
‘I can’t believe that woman,’ Fiona fumed as we walked back across the car park.
‘I thought she was quite nice,’ Noah said obliviously.
‘She’s really not. It wouldn’t surprise me if she cut those brakes herself. I don’t know why you’re not suspecting her more, Edward.’
‘I never said I wasn’t.’ It was my first time speaking to Jackie Luton, and I needed time to digest our meeting with her, as well as our conversations with Chloe, Ellie, and Mr and Mrs Juniper. I was sure there were several clues in what we’d heard today, that the answer was in there somewhere.
‘Look who’s there,’ Noah said, breaking my chain of thought. Walking towards us was none other than Ricky Roberts.
‘Hello, here’s the misfits!’ he quipped as he reached us. He was wearing a fitted T-shirt and shorts (both designer brands but I couldn’t tell you which) and a pair of sunglasses perched on top of his freshly cut hair. It looked like he didn’t have a care in the world. ‘Cracked the case yet?’
Fiona was in no mood for him. ‘For heaven’s sake, your teammate has died. Are any of you taking it seriously?’
He snapped back at her immediately. ‘Of course I am. Look, I’m sick of everyone casting me as the bad guy in this. Yeah, I made a comment I’m not proud of. And I’ll publicly apologise for that. No doubt Jackie’s gonna tell me to do that anyway in a minute. But I’m aware a guy has died and I feel crap about it.’
‘Is that because he was helping you with your gambling problems?’ Fiona said.
Roberts looked like he was about to react in anger, but he never got to as we heard a screech of brakes. We looked over to see a police car pull up, along with another car behind it, which DI Appleby got out of. Two uniformed officers got out of the first car and ran over to us, grabbing Roberts.
‘Ricky Roberts, you are under arrest on suspicion of the murder of Kieron Juniper. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’
‘Maybe he’ll take it seriously now,’ Noah said, as they put Roberts into the car.
29
‘I told you good old-fashioned evidence would crack this case.’
‘So that’s why you arrested him. What did you find?’
The police car had taken Roberts away, but Appleby had stayed behind to have a word with me.
He looked conflicted about what to tell me, especially with Noah and Fiona next to me. ‘I can’t go into too much detail, but let’s just say those wire cutters are going to be pretty damning evidence against him.’
‘How did you know it was him, though? Have you taken full DNA samples of the entire team? Because that’s really efficient police work if you have,’ Noah said.
Appleby looked a little red-faced. Of course he hadn’t. ‘We started with finger printing actually, but we found a match, anyway.
’
‘Roberts had a driving offence when he was first signed with the club, years ago. You must have his full samples in your database from that.’ Fiona really knew her history of this team.
Appleby looked impressed with her knowledge of the police. ‘Fiona, isn’t it? Maybe when I’ve finished with this case, me and you could go for a drink.’
‘Oh no, that can’t happen,’ Noah said. ‘Fiona and Edward clearly like each other. If she’s going for a drink with anyone, it will be him.’
It took everything I had not to run away with embarrassment in that car park. I just tried to concentrate on Roberts’ arrest.
‘I see,’ Appleby said with a grin as he went back to the car. ‘I better go, I have a suspect to interview.’
‘Will you let me know of any updates?’ I asked.
‘Maybe I will. But maybe you’ll be too busy elsewhere.’
He drove away, leaving the three of us stood in the car park. I was glad that Fiona moved the topic straight back on to the arrest.
‘There we have it, then. It was Ricky Roberts.’
‘You really think it was?’ Noah asked. I’d expected him to be ecstatic at the arrest drama, but he didn’t. He looked a little deflated. It was likely because we hadn’t got to solve this one. I felt the same.
‘You can’t argue with DNA on the murder weapon,’ Fiona said. ‘I just can’t believe it’s one of the other players. This might sink the club.’
‘Of course you can,’ Noah said. ‘People handle murder weapons for innocent reasons all the time in murder mysteries.’
‘Yes, but not a pair of wire cutters stolen from the club’s store cupboard,’ she argued. ‘What innocent reason could he have for handling them? And this business about his gambling issues and Kieron wanting to help. If Kieron was threatening to expose him, that’s quite a powerful motive.’
I thought about this. ‘Yes, Noah, you were the one who said the real motive might be nothing to do with Kieron coming out, and the killer just seized the right time. Maybe Roberts did.’
‘Hmm, maybe,’ he said. But he seemed distracted.