‘Nothing.’
‘What did his father say to him?’
‘Nothing. Garry’s reaction was understandable. Michael and Gertrude took him to the Caribbean for a couple of weeks, acted the loving parents for once.’
‘Did you see him again?’
‘Never. Whenever he was there, I made sure to be somewhere else. That night was the last time that I saw him.’
‘You never forgave him for what he did to you?’
‘I’ve explained this before. It was his returning to school, and bragging to his friends about what he did to me that I could never forgive. As far as he was concerned, his father was welcome to screw whoever he wanted.’
‘And his mother?’
‘Typical male chauvinist attitude. Very prevalent in the sixties. It’s alright for the man to screw around, but not the woman.’
‘What did he say at school?’
‘He told everyone, even the sons of friends of ours, that I was a slut. I could never forgive him for that. A sign of bad blood, Michael’s blood. That’s what happens when you breed outside of your class.’
‘When did he finally leave home?’
‘He was nineteen, hormones raging. He comes home with a female in tow and says he is off to India. He makes sure to score some money out of his parents and a bank transfer from Montague.’
‘Your money?’
‘Both Gertrude’s and mine, although she did not know that it was.’
‘Why did you agree?’
‘He was still Gertrude’s son.’
‘And the female?’
‘Supposedly he married her in India.’
‘Where is she now?’
‘I’ve no idea. Montague may know.’
Mavis Richardson excused herself and left the room for a couple of minutes. Larry took the opportunity to update Isaac regarding Garry Solomon’s wife. If anyone knew what had happened in India and on their return, it would be her.
Isaac could see that information was still being withheld. It was almost as if the Richardson family and Montague Grenfell were intentionally obstructing them.
Larry continued at Mavis Richardson’s house on instructions from Isaac. ‘Keep probing,’ Isaac said. ‘What else are they withholding?’
Mavis Richardson returned with a fresh pot of tea. ‘Who were you talking to?’ she asked.
‘My boss, DCI Cook.’
‘What did he have to say?’
‘He was curious as to what else we don’t know.’
‘I’ve told you everything that I know.’
‘That may be, but until we started probing, we did not know that your sister had been married, or that her son had returned to England.’
‘We are a private family. We don’t air our dirty linen in public.’
‘But this is a murder investigation into the death of your nephew.’
‘That may be. My family, as with Montague’s, goes back hundreds of years. There are a lot of secrets during that time, secrets best kept hidden.’
Chapter 11
‘Bridget, what’s your situation?’ Isaac asked at the regular end of day meeting.
‘Apart from collating all sundry information, I’ve had a cursory look at the documents the Richardson sisters’ lawyer supplied,’ Bridget said.
‘What do you reckon?’
‘I’m not an expert, but they appear to be in order.’
‘Any transfer of money to Garry Solomon during the period mentioned by Mavis Richardson?’
‘There were some transfers to him.’
‘Can you check for a marriage certificate for Garry Solomon?’ Larry asked.
‘In India?’ Bridget queried.
‘I suppose so.’
‘Almost impossible to find unless they legalised it in England. In India, it could have just been a Buddhist ceremony on a mountain top. It would not stand up in an English court of law.’
‘Look anyway,’ Larry said.
‘What are your thoughts?’ Isaac asked.
‘If Garry Solomon had a child, legitimate or otherwise, then that child is due to inherit a substantial amount of money.’
‘It is substantial if the records are correct,’ Bridget said.
‘How substantial?’ Isaac asked.
‘Gertrude Richardson may have regarded herself as a pauper, supported by a sister she abhorred.’
‘She didn’t even acknowledge that she had a sister,’ Wendy said.
‘According to the records, she still had a half-share in the mansion and five million pounds,’ Bridget said.
‘Substantial, as you say,’ Isaac said.
‘And it belongs to the widow is no longer alive. We need the will of Gertrude Richardson,’ Larry said.
‘Bridget, another job for you,’ Isaac said. ‘Check with the National Will Register. Otherwise, Montague Grenfell will have a copy.’
‘Do you trust him, sir?’ Wendy asked.
‘Not particularly, that’s why I’d prefer Bridget to see if she can find the will without letting him know.’
‘I could do with some help. I am not an accountant. It needs a skilled person to check the documentation from Grenfell,’ Bridget said.
‘Wendy, your update,’ Isaac said, momentarily ignoring Bridget’s comment.
‘Mary Solomon, the second wife of Michael Solomon, remembers meeting a Solly Michaels. She was not aware of his significance.’
‘How old would he have been?’ Larry asked.
‘The woman can be a little vague. She has led a tough life, but from memory, she remembers him as being about the same age as she was. She thought he was in his early thirties.’
‘A few years before he was murdered,’ Isaac said.
‘I will spend more time with her. Maybe she will be able to pinpoint the date more accurately.’
‘You suspect his father?’ Bridget asked.
‘We’re not forming an opinion on flimsy assumptions, not just yet,’ Isaac said. ‘We have proven that Garry Solomon was in London and that he had been in contact with his father, but not his mother.’
‘She acted as though she had not seen him since he left when he was nineteen,’ Wendy said.
‘You were there when she formally identified the body?’ Larry asked.
‘She was convinced it was him, but visual identification was not possible. The body was far too decayed. It was purely DNA and dental records that proved who it was. The shock of seeing him killed
