Norman explained how he had gone to the flower shop and then seen his partner kissing a young man and later discovered the booking at the hotel. He explained how he had decided to stay at the hotel using the name of his cousin so he could be there without his partner finding out and see if he really was cheating with someone else.
"So I booked into the hotel and caught the train after I closed the London gallery. I arrived at eight on Wednesday night."
“So what happened yesterday, Norman? Talk me through the details.”
“I know Peter, and he’s not an early riser so I went down to breakfast at eight and then back to my room. I had originally decided to wait until the evening to confront him but after breakfast I heard them in the hallway talking and laughing as they came past my room at around ten o’clock I opened my door a little and saw which room they went into. I waited a few minutes but things were just boiling up inside me so I went and knocked at the door and Peter answered. I burst in and saw the young man with his shirt off. I knew they were up to no good. He didn’t seem to know anything about me. He asked who I was. I told him Peter and I had lived together for six years and he seemed genuinely shocked. I told Peter he was a complete bastard and then I stormed out. I was so upset I went to the nearest pub and had several drinks. Then I walked around for some time. I didn’t know what to do. In the end I went back to the hotel. That must have been around six.
“I was going to leave this morning. I have an understanding auntie who I’m close to who lives in St Albans. I phoned her and explained what had happened and she said I could stay there for as long as I want.”
“I didn’t kill him. I couldn’t kill him or anyone else. It’s not in my nature. Even after all he’s done. I didn’t want to get involved. The whole episode was so hurtful. I just wanted to get to my auntie’s and have some time to think things over.” What Peter did tore me apart. And then to hear he had been murdered. I just wasn’t thinking straight. I wanted to get away as fast as possible and clear my head. That’s why I lied.”
Tears started to roll down Norman’s face and he sobbed loudly. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand until Eden passed him a tissue.
The DI waited until Norman regained his composure. "Okay, Norman. I understand this is hard for you but I need you to concentrate. When you went into Peter’s room, did you see an easel with a painting on it?”
“Eh, yes I think so. It was in the corner of the room. I was only there for a few minutes and didn’t take much notice. I was so angry, you see.”
“One last question for now, Norman. You say you went back to the hotel around 6 pm. Can you tell me everything you did between then and when you came down to the restaurant this morning?”
“I had a meal brought up to my room at around eight and then I just sat and watched TV. I don’t recall which programmes apart from the news at ten. Oh, and I phoned my auntie. That must have been around nine. I went to bed just after eleven, and slept through until the knock on the door this morning. Then I overheard someone saying there had been a murder and they said Peter’s name.”
Eden looked up from the notes he had been making.
“Okay, Norman. Thank you for explaining the events to me. I hope you’ll understand we have to check out the details you have given us. I will need your aunt’s name, address and phone number. I will also need details of which pub you went to. In the meantime you’ll be kept in custody. I’ll make sure you get a drink and some food. We will try to get everything checked as quickly as possible. Obviously we all want to find whoever is responsible for this. Is there anything else you would like to tell me or do you have any information that will help us with our enquiries? Can you think of anyone who would have a motive for killing Peter?”
“No. No. I promise I’ve told you everything I can. I can’t think of anything else. I don’t know who would want to harm him.”
“One last thing, do you know the name of the boy you claim was in Peter’s room or can you give me any details about him?”
"No. The only time I had seen him before was in London, like I told you. I don't know his name or anything about him. He was around twenty-five. That's all I know."
“Okay. I’m terminating this interview.”
The recording machine was turned off.
The DI walked back to the incident room and spoke to his DCI who had been listening in.
"Well done, Eden. That was a good interview. I think we have a strong motive and the fact the victim appears to have let the murderer into his room and turned his back. You don’t normally do that with a stranger. I think we have our man. Now we just need to prove it. We'll see what the forensics team come up with but I think we can build a solid case the CPS will be happy with.”
Eden cut in. “Sorry, boss, I'm just thinking of another possibility here. If what Norman said is true, there's a chance this young lad could be in danger. He may have had a lover who was jealous and followed them
