by D. S. Butler
I swallowed and felt slightly queasy. It was horrible to think that while we were all sitting around in that house yesterday, the murder weapon was close by.
“Wouldn’t it be a very obvious mistake to use his own gun?” I asked.
“Maybe he acted on the spur of the moment?” Janet suggested, pulling her cigarettes from her cardigan pocket.
“Oh, please don’t smoke now, dear,” Marilyn said, dabbing her eyes with an embroidered handkerchief.
“Sorry,” Janet muttered, stuffing the packet back in her pocket. “It’s a habit. I wasn’t thinking.”
When Sienna emerged from the shower room, she was wearing Janet’s clothes, which hung loosely on her frame. The T-shirt was oversized, and the leggings looked more like narrow trousers covering her thin legs. She’d wrapped her long hair in a towel.
“Feeling better, darling?” her grandmother asked and patted the seat beside her on the sofa.
Sienna sat down beside her grandmother. She looked so fragile and vulnerable. I wanted to hug her and tell her everything was going to be all right.
I was glad it was only the family liaison officer coming to Janet’s flat. Lizzie was relatively young, and I thought Sienna might be able to relate to her. Talking to one female officer would be less threatening than talking to older male detectives. A one-on-one situation would make it easier for Sienna to relax.
The intercom made a sharp buzzing sound, and Janet asked me to answer it.
I pressed the button on the small, cream-coloured intercom in the hallway and saw Lizzie’s face on the screen. “Come on up,” I said and pressed the door release button.
“It’s Lizzie,” I called to the others and then walked to the front door and waited for her to climb the stairs.
I opened the door, and to my surprise, I noticed it wasn’t just Lizzie walking up the stairs. She was followed by two other people. A tall, thin man and a plump, short woman. I wondered if they were visiting another flat and then remembered that Janet’s was the only flat above the bookshop.
A sinking feeling settled in my gut. They were all here for Sienna.
As Lizzie reached the final steps, she said, “Abbie, I’d like you to meet Detective Inspector Tom Green and Detective Sergeant Carly Dawson.”
They gathered in the stairwell and held out their hands. I shook them in turn and then led them inside.
So much for Sienna only having to deal with Lizzie.
Everyone looked shocked when I led the detectives into the living area. Sienna most of all. She appeared terrified and sunk down into the sofa cushions.
The detectives tried to be friendly, but it was no good, Sienna was so scared she could only provide monosyllabic answers.
Janet asked the detectives if they’d like some tea as they settled down to start the questioning. DI Green sat on the last remaining armchair. DS Dawson stood beside him, and Janet wheeled in a computer chair she had taken out of one of the bedrooms for Lizzie.
“Would you be willing to come to the station, Sienna?” DS Carly Dawson asked.
Sienna looked aghast. She opened her mouth but shut it abruptly without uttering a sound.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, at all,” Janet said. “I think Sienna needs to be somewhere she feels safe. She’s incredibly fragile at the moment.”
Janet’s voice had an underlying steely quality, and despite our differences, I mentally cheered for her. The family obviously wanted to help the police as much as they could to find out who was behind Nicole’s death, but not at the expense of Sienna’s mental health.
I helped Janet finish the tea and then brought the cups over to the coffee table.
Lizzie began to talk about Steve’s questioning, and Marilyn used exaggerated facial expressions to try and convey that Sienna didn’t yet know her stepfather had been questioned over her mother’s murder.
But either Lizzie missed the frantic looks Marilyn was sending her way or the police had decided they didn’t think it was a good idea to keep Sienna in the dark because she didn’t let the matter drop.
DI Tom Green leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and looking directly at Sienna. “Your father was questioned this afternoon.”
“Her stepfather,” Janet put in.
DI Tom Green made a nod of acknowledgement. “Yes, I have to stress that he was helping us with our enquiries, nothing more.”
What on earth did that mean? Did the police have any reason to suspect he was involved in Nicole’s death? How could they leave us hanging like this? How were we supposed to act towards Steve now? Was he a suspect or merely providing background information for their investigation?
“But do you think he did it?” Janet asked, pushing a cup of tea towards the detective inspector. “We can hardly let Sienna go home if you think Steve was responsible, can we?”
Marilyn was beside herself, and I think if she could have put her hands over Sienna’s ears to block out this conversation, she would have.
Sienna was getting quieter and quieter and was no longer making eye contact. She was turning in on herself and blanking everyone else out.
But despite Janet’s direct question, the detectives wouldn’t be drawn on whether or not they believed Steve was responsible for Nicole’s death. All they would say was that he wasn’t being charged with any crime.
“He will be back home later today,” Lizzie said.
“But is he dangerous?” Marilyn asked, looking horrified. “I really think if you have any reason to suspect Steve, you should share it with us now.”
“Like we said, Steve has been helping us with our enquiries.”
“But do you have any evidence against him?” Marilyn asked. “At least you could tell us that.”
DI Green shook his head. “I’m afraid there are certain aspects of the case we can’t discuss.”
Marilyn was outraged and gave the detectives a piece of her mind. I could understand where she was coming from, but I could also see the police’s point of view. They couldn’t release all the information they had in case it compromised their case. But Marilyn’s priority was Sienna’s safety, and there was no way she wanted Steve anywhere near her granddaughter if the police had evidence he was involved in Nicole’s murder.
The police continued to insist that Steve was only helping them with their enquiries. “We felt it was better to question him at the station, and he agreed.”
“So you’re not charging him for anything, and he’ll be back home at some point today?” Marilyn’s face was creased with frustration.
“That’s right.”
That still wasn’t good enough for Marilyn, and I expected the conversation to run and run. I could see now why the police were keen to question Sienna at the station. That way she would still have a responsible adult or guardian with her, but it would be the police asking the questions.
Janet’s small flat was getting overcrowded with the police officers as well as Janet, Marilyn and Sienna in the small living area. I was in the way.
I said my goodbyes and promised Sienna I would call her later. Her gaze flickered up to me briefly, but she didn’t smile or respond in any way.
After Janet reluctantly agreed to call me later and tell me how things went, I left them to it.
Chapter Eighteen
I drove back to the hotel, looking forward to a nice shower and finally stripping off my wet clothes. My T-shirt was now dry in patches, but my jeans were still cold and damp.
I strode through the lobby in a world of my own, wondering how Sienna was getting along with the police. Would she be able to tell them anything useful? I hoped she was bearing up okay.
I was lost in my thoughts and didn’t notice that Steve was sitting in the lobby until I was almost on top of him.
He’d been sitting on one of the long, grey sofas and stood up when I approached.
I’d been rummaging around in my handbag, looking for my hotel key card. When I saw him, I stopped dead.
He walked t
owards me looking like an ordinary businessman who wasn’t quite comfortable in his casual clothes. He wore a white shirt and dark jeans. He looked tired, and there were shadows under his eyes.
Could this man have gunned down my friend in cold blood?
He cleared his throat. “Abbie…” He hesitated, no doubt unsure how I would react to him.
I slowly took my hand out of my bag and readjusted the straps on my shoulder. “Steve.”
“I heard you found Sienna.” He gave me a half smile that looked sincere. “It’s such a relief.”
I said nothing. I wasn’t sure how much I wanted this man to know about Sienna’s whereabouts. The last time I’d spoken to him, he’d seemed unable to deal with Sienna’s disappearance on top of his wife’s death. I’d found his behaviour odd, and just because he was here looking relieved and thankful, it didn’t mean I could trust him.
“I was wondering if you had time for a chat?” Steve asked.
I considered his request. We were in a public hotel. There was minimal risk so I agreed. What could go wrong?
The hotel had a small room off the bar that was open during the day and served afternoon tea. I suggested we talk in there.
We sat at a small table, looking awkwardly at each other. I didn’t know where to start. When the waitress arrived to take our order, I studied his face. Was this the face of a killer?
I requested Earl Grey tea, and he asked for a pot of English Breakfast. The young waitress left us and then there was nothing to stop us talking.
But I still didn’t know where to begin.
Steve ran a hand through his hair. He looked thoroughly worn out. He hadn’t asked me where Sienna had been hiding, so I presumed he’d heard everything from the police.
“What happened Steve?”
That was a big question, encompassing a lot of smaller questions. I could have been asking any number of things. What happened today with the police? What happened on the day Nicole died? And what had happened to make Sienna afraid to come home to her stepfather?
He sighed heavily. “Do you suppose they serve real drinks here during the day?”
He didn’t wait for me to answer and beckoned the waitress over again. His voice sounded gravelly as he ordered a whiskey on the rocks.
When the waitress left us again, Steve took a deep breath and then looked me steadily in the eye. “Someone told the police I had a shotgun at home, and they said they’d seen me on New Mill Lane the day Nicole died.”
I held my breath as panic fluttered in my chest.
Steve went on, “It wasn’t true, of course. It didn’t take the police long to realise their anonymous tipster was lying.”
“So you weren’t near New Mill Lane the day Nicole died?”
Steve shook his head. “No, I was working in London. I’d already told the police that. They checked and found plenty of CCTV footage to prove it. Luckily for me, we live in a Big Brother world.”
“Then who would say such a thing?”
Steve shook his head. “They wouldn’t tell me. Said it was an anonymous caller. Somebody clearly has an axe to grind.”
The waitress arrived, carrying two teas and a small crystal tumbler containing Steve’s whiskey on a tray. Crumbly, shortbread rounds were balanced on the side of the saucers.
The waitress put the items on the table carefully. “Will that be all?”
“Yes, thank you,” I said.
Steve waited until the waitress was out of earshot and then said, “Look, I’m sorry I wasn’t particularly pleasant to you when you arrived. I was feeling overwhelmed. There were so many people in the house. I just wanted to be alone.”
I nodded slowly. That was understandable, but what I didn’t understand was why Sienna hadn’t been at the top of his priorities.
I figured as he was being honest with me, I may as well come straight out and ask him about his relationship with Sienna. “Is there a problem between you and Sienna?”
Steve looked surprised. “Not really. The teenage years have been a bit difficult, I suppose. There have been lots of arguments. And on occasion she caused disagreements between me and Nicole. I did resent her a bit for that.” He looked at me sheepishly. “I know it’s pathetic. She’s only a kid. I just thought Nicole should be a bit tougher on her sometimes.”
I wondered what would happen now. Would he want Sienna to come back and live with him, or would she be better off living with Janet or her grandmother?
As her godmother, I wanted to do everything in my power to make sure she was safe and happy.
“Have the police cleared you completely now?” I asked as I poured the tea.
“Well, I doubt they’ll ever say that, but I don’t see how they could possibly still think I’m involved. They are running forensic tests on my shotgun, but when the tests come back negative, hopefully they’ll start to look for the real killer.”
“I didn’t know you owned a gun.”
He shrugged. “Hardly ever used it. Bought it when I was taking some clients on a shooting trip with Toby. It was his idea. A silly whim. We only went shooting once.”
“What will you do now?”
Steve took a deep breath and exhaled. “I don’t know. Take one day at a time, I suppose. I still have a funeral to organise, and I hope Sienna will want to come home eventually.”
We talked for a little while longer, and I tried to get a better sense of the man. Despite the years he’d been married to Nicole, I really didn’t know much about him. It was hard to think of Steve as a killer, though. He looked so ordinary, and as he said, his alibi had been checked out by the police. But then again, a wealthy man like Steve wouldn’t necessarily do the deed himself. And if he didn’t kill Nicole, then who did?
I promised to keep in touch with Steve and gave him my number in case he needed to contact me in the future. I watched him leave the tearoom. His shoulders were slumped, and he looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I glanced at my watch. Sienna’s interview with the detectives would end soon, and Janet would call me. I was desperate to find out if Sienna knew anything that could unravel this mystery.
Chapter Nineteen
I went up to my hotel room and stripped off my damp clothes. I felt like I was getting a chill. My cheeks looked flushed, but I couldn’t stop shivering.
I took a shower with the bathroom door open, not wanting to miss a call from Janet. After wrapping myself in a towel, I checked my mobile to make sure I hadn’t accidentally put it on silent. I hadn’t.
I didn’t understand why it was taking her so long to call me. Or Sienna was still talking to the detectives?
I took my time getting dressed, blow-dried my hair, put on some make-up, and waited for her call.
I felt like I was in limbo. What should I do now?
I pulled a chair over to the window and sat down, looking out at the hotel grounds. There was no sign of the deer today.
I sat there for ages, just staring at the tree branches swaying gently in the breeze and the pink-streaked sky, thinking about Nicole and what she would want me to do.
It was at least an hour later when Janet finally called. I fought against the urge to moan and ask why she had taken so long.
Instead, I said, “Thanks for calling. I really appreciate it.”
“Well, I said I would. Look, do you want to come to Wokingham and maybe get something to eat? Sienna has gone home with Mum for the night. She seems settled, but I’m starving.”
“Sure, I haven’t eaten yet,” I said.
I wanted to demand answers over the phone but knew irritating Janet wasn’t the best idea.
We arranged to meet at Côte Brasserie at Janet’s suggestion. I had to Google it as I didn’t recognise the name of the restaurant. The drive seemed to take ages, not because there was much traffic on the road, but because I was impatient to hear what Janet had to say.
I finally arrived in the town centre and again parked in the small car park off Rose Stree
t. I made my way to the Côte Brasserie, checking my phone to make sure I was heading in the right direction. When I arrived, I was surprised to see they’d converted the old Lloyds bank building into the restaurant.
It was a nice evening now that the thunderstorm had cleared the air. The slight pinkish tinge on the wispy clouds made me wonder if we’d have better weather tomorrow. “Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight.”
On the other side of the road was another restaurant, which had tables and chairs crowded with people drinking wine, laughing and chatting outside.
I headed inside where the air was warm and smelled distinctly of garlic and red wine. I gave Janet’s name to the chap at the door as she had made the booking, and he led me to a table. After ordering a bottle of still mineral water, I lingered over the single page menu and waited for Janet to arrive.
I didn’t have to wait long.
As she sat down, I was engulfed by her Chanel No.5 perfume and the faint smell of cigarette smoke.
She’d put on fresh lipstick but hadn’t bothered to retouch the rest of her make-up. Her skin looked red and shiny, and she appeared tired and stressed, which was hardly surprising.
“So, what happened?” I asked as she looped the strap of her handbag over the back of the chair.
She sat down. “At least give me the chance to order a drink first!”
She waved at a waiter, who took her order for a glass of red wine. I shook my head at the offer of another drink. I needed to keep a clear head and was determined to stick to water tonight, plus I had to drive back to the hotel.
“It didn’t go particularly well,” Janet said after the waiter had left us.
“What do you mean?” I pictured Sienna having a breakdown and running off somewhere.
“I think it was just a bit overwhelming for Sienna. She didn’t really tell the police anything.”
“So, she doesn’t know anything?”
“I didn’t say that,” Janet said as the waiter smoothly positioned a glass of red wine on the table.
“Are you ladies ready to order?” he enquired in a heavy accent.