Isaac remembered that there was one other issue to consider – Sally Jenkins. She had been murdered, and on the face of it by someone she knew. Someone who had not sexually violated her. If it was someone she knew, it could only be Richard Williams. If it was female, then Linda Harris.
Isaac could not see Williams as the murdering type, but then he didn’t envisage Linda Harris in that role either. All his years of policing, training, and profiling and still he got it wrong. It concerned him that he still made mistakes. Mistakes that had resulted in deaths in the past. But what of the future? Would Marjorie Frobisher be another one if he acted inappropriately?
Only one man knew the answers. Isaac decided that he needed to see MacTavish, and if his boss was unwilling, he would go on his own.
***
Marjorie Frobisher anxiously paced around the cottage. Farhan kept to one side, letting her rant and rave. The situation was tense. She couldn’t stay in the cottage; she couldn’t leave.
Farhan realised that she was a difficult woman. His wife idolised her, or, at least, the character she portrayed. He wondered how his wife would react if she saw the reality. Would she be able to separate the actor from the person or would she be disillusioned? It was a moot point. He knew that he had to do something to calm their key witness down. If she left, how long would she remain alive? Both he and Isaac were convinced her life was at risk. If she stayed, would she keep hitting the bottle of vodka? Either it’s death by assassin or death by alcoholic poisoning, he thought.
There was nothing in her records that indicated abuse of alcohol, but Farhan thought that it was another fact about the woman that had been carefully concealed.
‘You need to stay. It’s just too dangerous out there,’ Farhan had said.
Sober, she had agreed. Now, he was not so certain. She was not there charged with any crime; she was free to come and go as she pleased.
He contacted Isaac for advice. ‘She’s difficult.’
‘She must stay.’ Isaac said, not entirely focussed on his DI’s concerns. He had made the decision to phone MacTavish direct.
MacTavish’s first action, after agreeing to Isaac’s request, was to phone Richard Goddard. He was in Isaac’s office within five minutes.
‘What right have you to contact MacTavish?’
‘What option did I have?’
‘It was my call.’
‘I agree, but your position is on the line. I’m expendable; you’re not,’ Isaac said.
‘You’re no more expendable than I am, but you don’t know who or what you’re dealing with. ‘MacTavish is the government whip. He’s got the dirt on everyone.’
‘Everyone?’
‘Everyone of importance. He’s known all along.’
‘You’ve known this?’ Isaac asked, surprised at this revelation.
‘I’ve always suspected it. Marjorie Frobisher’s statement confirms it.’
‘So what do we do?’ Isaac asked.
‘We go and see MacTavish.’
‘Someone has to tell us something. Who do you suggest?’
‘MacTavish, if he’ll talk. The woman, if he doesn’t.’
‘I don’t like this. I’m meant to be a policeman. This is out of my league.’
‘And mine.’
‘And what about Marjorie Frobisher?’ Isaac asked.
‘Tell DI Ahmed to restrain her by force if he has to.’
‘She won’t like it.’
‘What do I care. Three people are dead as a direct result of her great secret. What she wants is of little concern. I’ll not have her death on my conscience,’ Detective Superintendent Goddard said.
***
Life out at the production lot had returned to a semblance of normality. The soap opera was to continue, murders or no murders – the ratings and the revenues decreed it.
It had been an awkward phone call. Isaac wasn’t sure how to respond when Jess O’Neill called him. ‘I’m running the show now. I’ve assumed Richard Williams’ position as executive producer,’ she said. Isaac heard no malice in her voice. ‘You have someone charged with Charles Sutherland’s murder. It’s on the internet.’
‘That’s true.’
‘They’re also saying she murdered her father as well.’
‘That’s pure supposition. We’re not pursuing that possibility.’
‘If I didn’t kill Sutherland, am I free now? Are you?’
‘Probably, but I need another few days.’
‘To come up with a suitable excuse as to why you slept with Linda Harris.’
‘No…’ He knew he stuttered the reply.
‘Maybe there was a reason. I’ll forgive you this time, but next…’
Isaac sensed a woman looking for a long-term relationship, a ring on the finger. He shuddered at the thought, smiled at the possibility. He also knew that every time they argued in the future, she would bring up Linda Harris.
‘I need to tie up loose ends. We’re not sure how to proceed.’
‘Marjorie Frobisher?’ she asked.
‘Yes.’
‘You’re hiding her?’
‘Everybody seems to know that.’
‘Is she being difficult?’
‘We’re more difficult.’
‘Best of luck. This weekend, can we meet?’ she asked.
‘It’s a date,’ he said.
‘Not a police interview?’ she joked.
‘No, it’s a date.’
‘At last.’
‘Ian Stanley. How is he? Now that you’re in charge.’
‘Sycophantic.’
‘That bad?’ Isaac replied.
‘That bad!’ she acknowledged.
***
The only friendly face was Mrs Gregory. Angus MacTavish was neither welcoming nor friendly. Isaac thought he was under pressure. His boss thought he was his usual self. The atmosphere in MacTavish’s office matched the weather outside – cold and dark, threatening thunder.
‘Detective Superintendent Goddard, why am I receiving phone calls from your junior? Don’t you have your people under control?’
‘DCI Cook is frustrated with the current situation.’
‘Don’t you have protocols where you are? If he has an issue, he should take it up with you.’
‘He did, but he decided to act against my advice.’
‘That sounds like a disciplinary matter.’
‘It will be addressed at a later time.’
‘DCI Cook, what do you want from me?’
