‘I realise that.’
‘What is the truth?’
‘It was a rough patch in our marriage. Garry’s business was not going well, and he was becoming abusive.’
‘How old were you?’
‘I was about twenty-six, Garry was one year older.’
‘And?’
‘We were friendly with Malcolm Grenfell. They had been to the same school, although Malcolm was three years older.’
Wendy braced herself.
‘Kevin was just three, and Garry was sleeping down at his business most nights of the week.’
‘You were separated?’
‘Not totally, but we were not as husband and wife.’
‘Something is coming that is going to shock me, isn’t it?’ Wendy said.
‘Malcolm came over to the house one night. He had a bottle of wine in his hand and two glasses.’
‘And you let him in?’
‘I wanted to say no for Garry and Kevin’s sake, but I was young and lonely.’
‘You slept with him?’
‘The one time.’
‘When he threw you out, was it because he had another woman?’
‘Yes, but he treated Kevin and me well until the money ran out.’
‘Have you slept with Malcolm Grenfell since?’
‘No.’
‘Did Bob Hampshire know?’
‘No.’
‘Garry?’
‘I don’t know. I never mentioned it, but Malcolm…’
‘Indiscreet?’
‘He can be after a few drinks.’
It was evident from Emma Hampshire’s confession that there was another element in the death of Garry Solomon: the possibility of genuine love from Malcolm Grenfell for Emily Solomon, the possibility that Garry Solomon had found out and had been using it to his advantage.
There were still some missing elements, though. The affair between Malcolm Grenfell and Emily Solomon had occurred in or around 1977, although Garry Solomon had been alive for another ten years before his murder.
Emma Hampshire claimed to have not seen him after 1979 when he had been released from his first prison, and then it had only been a fleeting visit for him to see Kevin.
‘So now we have a possible motive for Garry’s death,’ Wendy said. Emma Hampshire appeared to be relaxed in her chair, but Wendy could see her clutching the armrest.
‘I only slept with him the once.’
‘Jealousy is a strong enough reason to kill someone.’
‘What jealousy? Garry was hardly a saint, and I never gave him reason to suspect me. He was a good man, always a little headstrong, given to criticising his family and the Grenfells.’
‘Why the Grenfells?’
‘He must have learnt some of the stories from his mother. How his grandfather was illegitimate, and the Richardsons had always been treated as the leper relations. He would surmise what his life would have been if his grandfather had not been illegitimate. If he had been born on the right side of the bed, as Malcolm.’
‘Did he envy Malcolm?’
‘Only the fact that he was legitimate.’
***
Larry had arrived at the room where Duncan and Rose were working. He brought them both a coffee from the café across the road. Gordon Windsor’s juniors were in a more agreeable mood.
‘Sorry about yesterday,’ Duncan said. ‘I was a bit on edge. It’s a crap job, only fit for juniors.’
‘Breeds character,’ Larry humorously replied.
‘I’ll take your word for it.’
Larry noticed that the majority of the papers were stacked according to year and month. Rose had printed some labels from the printer and had stuck them to the table using tape.
‘1987 is over in the far corner,’ Rose said.
‘You needn’t have sorted the other years,’ Larry said.
‘What if you want another date?’ Duncan said. Larry thought it was a fair comment. They had one date when the grille had been installed, but what about the bars on the inside of the windows in the house, and the person who had placed the order may have requested additional work.
It was clear that the firm back in the 80s had been exceptionally busy. There must have been over four hundred individual items: most were single sheets of paper, the rest were order books or job specifications. Larry regretted his enthusiasm. ‘I’ll leave it to you,’ he said.
‘It’s a junior’s job, is that it?’ Rose said.
‘I suppose so. I was a junior once. I know the pain you are going through. Phone me when you find something.’
‘We’ll send you a scanned copy,’ Duncan said.
***
Isaac had spent the morning in the office dealing with paperwork. Bridget was too busy with Keith Dawson to help him out. Larry, after leaving Rose and Duncan, met Wendy for an early lunch.
‘How are you?’ he asked.
‘That’s all I’ve heard for the last week. Tell me about the case and where we stand,’ Wendy said. She knew how she felt: she felt sad and sorry for her deceased husband. Apart from that, she was fine. Kind words and condolences did not help, solving a murder case did.
Wendy had just come from seeing Emma Hampshire. The woman’s slender figure had caused some reflection on Wendy’s part. She ordered a salad.
Larry, glad to be out of the home and away from the latest diet, fasting for two days a week, ordered steak and chips. He knew he would be in trouble when he got home, but for the moment he would be in heaven.
‘Isaac is worried,’ Larry said.
‘Isaac!’ Wendy exclaimed.
‘Sorry, DCI.’
‘That’s fine. I’ve known him for a long time, but he will still be “sir” to me.’
‘What did Emma Hampshire have to say?’
‘Apart from the fact that she had an affair, or at least a one-night stand, with Malcolm Grenfell when she was married to Garry Solomon, not much.’
‘Have you told DCI Cook yet?’
‘Not yet. How important do you think it is?’ Wendy asked.
‘What do you think? Apparently, Grenfell is keen on her, but she does not reciprocate apart from sleeping with him the one time.’
‘It’s a motive for Garry Solomon’s murder.’
Wendy phoned Isaac, or to
