‘You’re the first,’ Samantha said. ‘You may not be the last.’
With the last of her strength, Samantha lifted Liz off the ground and threw her off the cliff to the rocks below.
Chapter 15
Constables Hammond’s and Entwistle’s attempts at surveillance had proved to be a total disaster; they had also failed to identify the man’s car correctly.
It was a soon-to-be irate man who had answered the door of the house in Hampstead, only to be told that his car had been parked in the road at the back of his business partner’s home on the night in question. Not only that, he’d been on a business trip overseas and his wife, who clearly had been cheating on him, had the keys to the car while he’d been away.
Tricia Anders was the femme fatale who had spent the best part of the night in her lover’s bed, only arriving home in time to welcome her husband back after his long trip, no doubt full of platitudes of how she had missed him.
Wendy had to chuckle to herself at the thought of the previous night’s assignation. Tricia Anders was no spring chicken; she was in her sixties, although she looked good for her age. It gave Wendy hope that somewhere there was still someone for her.
‘You’ve got this all wrong,’ Tricia said. Her husband sat on the other side of the room, staring at her. When he had first learnt the truth, he had wanted to grab hold of her, but Larry, freshly groomed after the dressing down by his DCI, had positioned himself between the two.
‘Whatever the reason for you being parked in that road last night is not our concern. What’s important is if you saw anybody else in the street. Do you know the woman in the house to the left of where you were?’ Wendy said.
Tricia Anders replied weakly, ‘No.’
‘The woman’s husband was murdered. His body was discovered recently.’
‘Is this important?’ Harry Anders asked.
‘Mr Anders, you will have to bear with us,’ Wendy said.
Wendy focused on Tricia Anders and went over and sat close to her. ‘You need to think back,’ she said. ‘Was there anything unusual that you can tell us?’
‘Apart from her making a fool of herself,’ her husband said.
‘Mr Anders, we have a murder investigation. If it’s not possible to undertake that in this house, then we will have no option but to reconvene at the police station.’
Harry Anders sat back on his chair. He averted his eyes from his wife and looked down at the floor.
‘After we’ve finished, we’ll talk to Brian Jameson,’ Larry said.
‘He’ll not be able to tell you any more than I can,’ Tricia said.
‘Too busy screwing you,’ Harry barked.
‘I’m afraid we have to focus on our murder enquiry, Mr Anders.’ Wendy said. ‘The situation here is domestic, not criminal. Mrs Anders, coming back to you, what time did you leave Brian Jameson’s house?’
‘Just after two in the morning. Harry was due back in the country at five, and then he’d take a taxi to the house. I thought he would be here just after six in the morning, although his flight was delayed and he came in just after eight.’
‘How often have you been in Brian Jameson’s house at night? How long have you been involved with the man?’
‘I was lonely, and Harry’s overseas a lot.’
‘That wasn’t the question. How long?
‘Five, maybe six months.’
‘Did you always meet at his house?’
‘Not always, but I’ve been there a few times.’
‘Have you at any time seen a man come out of the next house at unusual hours?’
‘I’ve not been looking, and most nights, Brian comes with me to the car to check that I’m fine.’
‘Why?’
‘The guilt, I suppose. I always feel afterwards that I’ve wronged Harry. He’s not done anything, only not been in the house when I’ve needed him.’
***
Brian Jameson did not appreciate the presence of two police officers on his doorstep. However, he opened the door and let them in.
Both Larry and Wendy had shown their warrant cards, although the man knew who they were, why they were there, and their names.
‘You’ve made life difficult for Tricia,’ Jameson said. He was an older man than Harry Anders, balding on top. He also carried more weight than he should, and he did not look healthy, his skin blotched.
‘This is a murder investigation, and you and Mr and Mrs Anders have been caught in the middle of it. How you and they resolve this situation is not our concern. What is important is what you might be able to tell us about the house next door,’ Larry said.
‘I don’t often speak to Samantha, but I do know her. I’ve always found her to be a pleasant woman, and her children have always been polite and courteous.’
‘Are you aware of her history?’
‘If you’re referring to her father, then yes.’
‘Marcus Matthews?’
‘I knew Marcus, and sometimes we had a drink at the pub together. He wasn’t a big drinker, neither am I, but I found his company pleasant.’
‘Did you know that he had a criminal record and that Samantha’s father is regarded by the police as a dangerous man?’
‘I knew the history of both men. Now let’s get to the crux of the matter. What is it you want from me?’
‘How do you know so much about Samantha’s husband and her father?’ Wendy asked.
‘You spoke to Harry; didn’t you ask him what his business was?’
‘Not specifically. We know he’s involved with IT.’
‘We’re involved with data security. Harry gets the business, and I deal with the technical side. I researched Samantha and her family after Marcus gave me some insights.’
