‘Oh, I like to study history, so when we moved out this way, I made a point of finding out about the stately homes around here and the land they’re on. Lots of Roman and Norman history in Kent, of course. Diane’s house has been passed through the generations since the mid-1700s – did you know?’
‘No. How did the engagement between Josh and Sophie come about?’
Blake smiled. ‘Like a dream,’ he said. ‘Those two – well, let’s just say fate shone upon them. A rich American heir to a business empire and a titled lady’s daughter?’ He lowered his gaze before pinching the bridge of his nose. ‘Sorry. I still can’t believe she’s gone.’
‘Take your time, Mr Hamilton. It’s okay.’
He nodded, his eyes closed, and then took a deep breath before speaking once more.
‘They were perfect for each other,’ he said. ‘You should’ve seen them. Last night. Before—’ He gulped. ‘Sorry. They were such a beautiful couple.’
Kay waited for him to compose himself, then nodded at Carys and rose from her seat.
‘Thank you for your time today, Mr Hamilton. We’ll be in touch about speaking to Josh again. We’ll see ourselves out.’
Kay overtook a slow-moving moped and aimed the car for the lane that led back to police station.
At the last minute, she indicated and swerved into a side street that widened before depositing them in the town centre.
‘Coffee?’
‘Yeah. I could do with something stronger after that conversation, but coffee’ll have to do.’
Kay reversed the vehicle into a parking space, then climbed out and led the way across the street and up a flight of concrete stairs to the shopping precinct, before turning right and following the paved pedestrian area until a favourite café of theirs came into sight.
‘Grab a table. You want something to eat?’
‘That’d be great, thanks. Bacon butty, please?’
‘Coming right up.’
Kay left Carys at a table bathed in sunlight outside the window of the café and pushed the door open, the bitter tang of freshly ground coffee filling her senses as she approached the counter and placed their order.
The owner handed her a table number on a metal stalk along with her change, and she hurried back to the table, her stomach rumbling.
‘Did you forget to eat this morning?’ Carys grinned.
‘I don’t really do breakfast. I will at weekends if we’re both home, but that usually ends up being brunch or something.’
‘God, I couldn’t manage to get out the door without my bowl of porridge first thing.’
Kay eyed the other woman’s figure. ‘I honestly have no idea where you put it.’
Carys laughed. ‘I run. That helps.’
They looked up as the door to the café swung outwards and a waitress appeared bearing a tray with their drinks and food.
‘Thanks.’ Kay poured milk from a small jug and pushed the jug towards Carys before picking up her spoon and stirring her coffee.
Carys stirred a sugar sachet into her coffee cup and frowned. ‘I wonder how desperate Blake Hamilton was to get Josh married into the English aristocracy?’
Kay leaned back on the bench, squinting in the bright sunshine. ‘But why kill Sophie? That’d defeat the object of his plans, right?’
The younger detective shrugged. ‘I don’t know, but this whole thing seems to be related to an elitist church group, of which he’s a founding member, a business of his that’s doing great in the city, and the fact he wanted to get his son married into the English aristocracy.’
‘You think he’d do anything for a whiff of a title?’
‘Maybe he found out something about Sophie he didn’t like, and decided he didn’t want his son involved with her.’ Carys bit into her bacon butty, a glob of ketchup splashing over her fingers. ‘The only time he’s mentioned Sophie he’s sounded like she was some sort of prized brood mare, anyway.’
Kay placed her coffee cup on the table between them and ripped off the side of her croissant before stuffing it in her mouth. She swallowed, her hand hovering over the pastry. ‘It does seem extreme, but then these things sometimes are, aren’t they?’ She shrugged. ‘I suppose we shouldn’t rule it out.’
‘Whatever. He’s still a creep.’
Kay grinned, and put another piece of croissant in her mouth. ‘You got that right.’
Fifteen
Kay dumped her notes on her desk and swivelled her chair round as Sharp entered the room to lead the afternoon debrief.
He frowned as he passed her. ‘Where’s Barnes and Piper?’
‘They’re not back yet from interviewing Eva Shepparton,’ said Debbie. ‘Should be back soon.’
Sharp checked his watch. ‘All right, well let’s make a start and they can catch up when they get here.’ He wandered over to the whiteboard and called over his shoulder. ‘West – you first. What have we got so far about the companies run by Blake Hamilton and Matthew Whittaker?’
‘A tale of two contrasts,’ said Debbie. ‘On one hand, you’ve got Blake Hamilton running a very successful business, with his financial statements showing a year-on-year profit well into seven figures. On the other, Matthew Whitaker’s business is failing, to be honest. I’m surprised he hasn’t given up.’
‘Does Matthew Whitaker owe a lot of money?’
‘Yes, and it looks like those debts will be called in within the next few weeks. I don’t think he’s going to have any other option than to declare himself bankrupt.’
‘Keep an eye on them.’
‘Will do, guv.’
‘Kay? What did the pastor have to say for himself?’
‘He confirmed that the Hamiltons and the Whittakers are part of an exclusive group of worshippers out of his congregation,’ she said. ‘There are six other couples, all of whom were present at the ceremony and the party afterwards, so after this I’ll catch up with Gavin regarding the statements that uniform took down. I’ll get Carys and Gavin to re-interview those over the next day or so.’ She sighed. ‘It appears that the group saw themselves as being elite from the rest of the churchgoers, and Duncan Saddleworth was happy to oblige them. He admitted he told Sophie Whittaker about the purity pledge ceremony after
