‘They called you a spy,’ Stephanie reminded Thea, who seemed to be going back on earlier remarks.
‘Yes, I know. They were upset, quite understandably.’ She spoke to Jessica, ‘Young Mr Graham passed everything I said directly to Gladwin, needless to say.’
‘Of course he did. That’s his job. And don’t pretend you didn’t know he would, all along.’
‘It didn’t occur to me that her husband and son would find out, though.’
‘Oh well, that’s a minor detail. From the little I’ve managed to glean about the whole set-up, it looks pretty likely to have been the wife anyway – whatever you might think. Or possibly one of the exotic Russian daughters. They might even have dreamt it up as a way of disposing of the Frowses, once and for all. If it’s a frame-up it could still work out as they want it to. Who says the widow’s going to sell up, anyway? Why would she?’
‘As a way of disposing of the Frowses?’ Thea echoed, on a rising note of incredulity. ‘Kill her own husband and frame Digby and Ant for it? That’s ludicrous.’
‘I don’t think it is,’ Jessica shrugged. ‘You say the man was in pyjamas. Doesn’t that suggest something domestic? Going out like that, with her going along as well – some sort of argument. Then forgetting about the fence, or switching it to high power or something. She might have pushed him into it, or made him hold something lethal, by mistake. Then she panicked and left him there dead.’
Stephanie and Thea both stared at her. ‘Are you sure you want to join the CID?’ Thea asked. ‘Because I have to say I’m not at all convinced that you’re quite right for it. Can you honestly imagine anything like that happening?’
‘Why not? What’s wrong with it?’
‘It just doesn’t ring true. These people are multi-millionaires. They’ve got staff. They don’t conduct their marital fights in public. And nobody dies from being pushed against an electric fence. It would have to be planned down to the last detail – which we have to assume it was, because Gladwin doesn’t appear to have found any glaring evidence.’
‘She might have done. We really don’t have much idea about that.’
Both women went quiet, the mystery too much for them. Stephanie was sitting very still on the sofa, with Timmy on the floor beside her. He had stopped listening to the conversation some time ago. Drew was in the kitchen for some reason. The spaniel was on Stephanie’s lap, gently licking her front feet.
‘What did you say was for supper?’ Timmy asked idly. ‘I’m hungry.’
‘Leftovers,’ Thea told him briefly. ‘I’ll start making something in a minute.’
But then her phone warbled and she was yet again distracted. It was Ant, to nobody’s great surprise. ‘I know this is an awful cheek, especially after what Dad said to you, but do you think you could come and fetch Percy and hang onto him until all this business is over?’
‘Why? Where are you going to be?’
‘That’s just it. We have no idea. It seems more than likely we’ll have to go in for questioning sooner or later. Dad thinks they’re quite capable of turning up at 5 a.m. and carting us off. And then there’s Carla and the others. She was in such a crazy state today, we’re actually a bit scared as to what she might do. Annika’s as bad. Worse, even. We just thought it would be less of a worry if we knew he was being looked after.’
‘Well …’ Thea tried to catch Drew’s eye, and assess his likely reaction. ‘I’ve got my brother coming tomorrow, with a small child. Percy’s awfully big.’
Only then did it become clear to Stephanie and Timmy what was being asked. ‘Yes!’ shouted Timmy. ‘Whatever it is, the answer is yes.’
‘I heard that,’ laughed Ant. ‘Seems I’ve got at least one supporter.’
By a rapid connection, Stephanie recalled the probability that her new-found grandmother was threatening to turn up with a dog far larger than Percy, sometime soon. This would be good practice. She nodded wildly at Thea.
‘Drew?’ Thea asked.
‘I appear to be outnumbered,’ he said. ‘I just hope you haven’t agreed to adopt a grizzly bear.’
‘It looks as if we’ll cope somehow,’ she told Ant. ‘Did you say I had to come and collect him?’
‘If that’s not too much to ask. If you get him settled with his dinner and bed and everything, he’s more likely to be acclimatised by bedtime. Though I can’t promise what he’ll do in the night. He’s never been away from here at night before.’
‘I’ll come right away, then. Timmy can come with me.’
She had ended the call before Drew could say, ‘No, I don’t think so.’
‘You don’t think what?’ she frowned at him. ‘I’ve said we’ll do it now.’
‘Not that – whatever it is exactly. I’d rather you didn’t take Timmy over there, that’s all.’
‘We’re only looking after their dog for a day or two. I need someone to hold him while I’m driving. I don’t know what he’s like in a car. He might think I’m abducting him.’
‘Take Jessica, then.’
‘Oh, no – he’ll get mud and hair all over me. I only brought one jumper.’
‘Can I go, Dad?’ Stephanie asked, in a tone she reserved for him alone. ‘I’m fairly muddy already and Percy likes me.’
‘He likes me as well,’ muttered Timmy mutinously.
‘Just providing you don’t let Thea get embroiled in any more murder stuff. Straight there, collect the dog and straight back, right? I’ll give you twenty-five minutes. And that’s generous.’
‘Don’t you love it when he’s masterful!’ giggled Jessica.
It felt very weird to be back at Crossfield again, this time in a car, with darkness falling. ‘How many times is this, in the past week?’ wondered Thea. ‘I’ve lost count.’
‘Do you think Finch will tell Mrs Gladwin about my ideas?’ Stephanie asked wistfully. ‘Or does he just think I’m a silly little child?’
‘I think he’s bound to tell someone, but it might not
