‘What about the mansion in Atherton Street?’ Caroline asked.
‘It will become part of the Lawrence property portfolio. What is inside belongs to you.’
‘The cars?’
‘They are yours,’ Leonard Dundas said.
Chapter 7
Ralph Lawrence slouched in a chair at Challis Street Police Station.
The information received from Spain had shown that with an excellent website and his charm Ralph Lawrence had managed to induce British holidaymakers enamoured of the sun and the local culture to place down payments on a speculative property development venture. It was a scam. The Spanish knew it, as did Homicide at Challis Street, but that was a technicality in as much that he had not broken any laws in England.
Isaac looked at the man, well aware that he had been dealt a body blow at the reading of the will. Leonard Dundas had updated the DCI about the contents of the will, and the reactions of the people present. He explained that even in death, Gilbert Lawrence had no intention to give his fortune to non-deserving causes. And according to the father, the son was not deserving.
‘Mr Lawrence,’ Isaac said. ‘We’re investigating the death of your father, Gilbert Lawrence.’ Wendy Gladstone sat next to Isaac. Ralph Lawrence sat on the other side of the table. He did not have legal representation.
‘That bastard screwed me.’
‘I have been updated by Leonard Dundas,’ Isaac said. ‘The conditions placed on you are harsh. It is understandable that you are angry, although it does not obviate the fact that the man was murdered. That is what concerns us, not your enmity towards him.’
‘I didn’t dislike the man, only the way he lived, even when we were young.’
‘According to your sister, he fulfilled his responsibilities, and neither of you suffered.’
‘She’s right, but she was always the favourite. He would confide in her, even ask her advice sometimes.’
‘Did he take it?’
‘Who knows? Probably not. With me, nothing.’
‘Your childhood, unsatisfactory as it may have been to you, does not have any bearing on the death of your father, or does it?’
‘What does that mean? I was in Spain, you know that, so do the Spanish police.’
‘Along with some unfortunate tourists who put down payments on property they’ll never own. How much did you make there?’
‘We broke no laws. And besides, what do people go on holiday for if it’s not to waste money?’
‘Mr Lawrence, your reputation precedes you. Whether you conned them does not affect our enquiry. Your father was murdered, and we need to find who was responsible.’
‘Why am I here? It can’t be me, and I hadn’t seen the man for decades.’
‘But you know people who are capable of murder. Did you expect to receive half of your father’s property portfolio?’
‘I did.’
‘Had that been promised to you? Had you seen a will to that effect?’
‘No, but what else was he going to do with all his money? He couldn’t take it with him, although he would have if it were possible.’
‘You’ve been told what was in the will. Your father has placed his trust in Leonard Dundas.’
‘My father trusted no one. If Dundas has the assets, he’s there now figuring out how to realise on them. I know what the promise of easy money does to people. The holidaymakers in Spain, believing that they are getting a special deal from another Brit. Do you think they considered the poor soul who was losing money? Do you think they worried if someone else and their family were to be reduced to begging on the street?’
‘I doubt if they did,’ Isaac said.
‘That’s what makes it so easy. Greed, the most powerful human emotion, and my father has given Leonard Dundas the keys to the vault. That man and his daughter will cream the money, not that anyone will ever know.’
‘Smart?’
‘Smarter than me. They’ll never be caught.’
‘According to Mr Dundas, your father was of sound mind, and had been checked each year for his mental stability,’ Wendy said.
‘How? You tell me. My father never left the house, apart from once a week to walk down to the off-licence. He has our mother upstairs, a skeleton, and everyone says he’s sane and the great financial mind.’
‘Are you suggesting we check on his mental condition?’
‘It’s highly suspicious to me. Okay, in that room at Dundas’s, I blew it, but I’m right, and everyone knows it, even my sister.’
‘She’s happy with your father’s bequest,’ Isaac said.
‘And why not? She’s got voting rights, and no doubt access to any decisions that Dundas and his daughter make. With all that property, maybe it doesn’t need to be sold. I’ve been cheated by others who want the fortune for themselves. Believe me, there’s skulduggery involved, and Leonard Dundas is a large part of it. Caroline maybe, although I wouldn’t trust that husband of hers.’
‘Desmond Dickson. You have your suspicions?’
‘Not as such, but the man knows the value of money. He’ll make sure he and Caroline have plenty.’
‘Molly Dempster?’
‘Let her have what my father bequeathed her. She deserves it.’
‘We have difficulty believing that she did not know what was going on in the house,’ Isaac said.
‘When I was younger, I used to suspect her and my father.’
‘An affair?’
‘We used to see more of Molly than our mother sometimes. It was just a childish fantasy, that’s all.’
‘Your father and Molly were friendly?’
‘Forget I said it. To me, Molly is the one good person. I’ll not hear a word against her.’
‘In the meeting at Dundas’s, you stood up and stated that people have demands on you. What did that mean?’
Wendy noticed Ralph Lawrence shift uncomfortably in his seat.
‘I needed the money, that’s all.’
‘What will you do now?’
