‘We need to be careful,’ Babbage said. ‘Discussing on air what happened with Tricia and Angus, given that they are both murder investigations, could leave us open to criticism and prosecution.’
‘We’re aware of that, Bob,’ Jaden said. ‘However, this television station is going broke, and not only don’t we have our new programme or our star host, but we’ve also got to contend with McAlister here, who thinks I’m a fool. As for you, Bob, you’re ready to leave a sinking ship.’
‘I’m still here,’ Babbage said.
‘Let me remind you that if you hand in your resignation, your chance of a performance bonus, stock options and whatever else you squeezed out of me when you signed your employment contract is gone.’
‘Jerome, I’m a lawyer. I know what I signed, not what you want to interpret.’
‘And if I declare bankruptcy?’
‘You won’t.’
‘Wouldn’t I?’
‘Whatever happens, you’ll figure a way out.’
‘You’re right. We’re not finished yet. Ashley, what’s your take on this?’
‘Mine? I’m not sure I have one, other than Otto’s here, and if he was the intended target, we must be able to do something with it.’
‘How do you feel, knowing that you jumped with that cord?’ Karen Majors asked, looking over at McAlister.
‘At the time, I didn’t give it much thought. If it was Mike Hampton who cut the cord, then why try to kill me at the bungee jump?’
‘Tom, that fifteen-minute spot for tomorrow’s sunrise show, the life and times of Simmons and Tricia?’ Jaden asked.
‘We’ll be ready.’
‘Good. Add in that Otto was a probable target and that Tricia’s death was unintentional. Tom will run it past Bob, make sure the wording is crafted. No direct mention of who killed who, only suppositions. Karen, focus the advertising for that time slot.’
‘Tricia had a daughter,’ Alison said.
‘If you can get her to say a few words, tearful would be better.’
Babbage didn’t like it, but Jaden was right. The contract he had signed, eager as he had been at the time for the position, did have loopholes, loopholes that Jaden would use.
‘Even if we can generate more viewers, increase our advertising revenue, where does it leave us?’ Karen Majors asked.
‘Another day’s grace,’ Jaden said.
‘Otto’s money?’ Ashley asked.
‘And your cut?’
‘That’s not what I asked.’
‘If Otto can prove it was Hampton who took the shot, then we’ll come to a deal. In the interim, I’ll pay him for services rendered. If he appears on camera, discusses that day at the bungee jump, says a few words about Tricia, then he’ll be paid for that. As for you, Ashley, I’m not sure that you have much to offer. You’re no longer required.’
‘You can’t do that. I protest.’
‘Protest as much as you like. Where’s the contract?’
‘You paid fifty thousand. That served as a contract.’
‘Then, Miss Otway, you’re not as smart as you believe yourself to be. Alison will show you the way out.’
‘You’ll be hearing from my lawyer,’ Ashley, indignant and angry, said.
‘If you want to waste your time and your money, that’s fine by me. But for now, get out of my office.’
‘Otto?’ Ashley looked over at him.
‘Sorry, Ashley. It was fun while it lasted,’ McAlister’s reply.
‘Miss Otway, if you would be so kind as to follow me,’ Alison said.
***
Apart from a charge of murder, Mike Hampton had the added burden of Deb and Kate in the house. To him, neither woman was welcome.
If Deb was in the kitchen, Kate was upstairs making beds; if one was in the garden, the other was in the house. The conversation between the women was muted, and when they did speak, it was in low voices, the type used in the presence of death, but Hampton knew he wasn’t dead, not yet.
He had been careful to conceal his improving mobility. At times that had been difficult, and if McAlister hadn’t dropped that soup on his lap, the man wouldn’t have seen the pressure he had applied on the floor. Deb had sensed something before, but not Kate, thinking of other places and other men.
‘Your dinner’s ready,’ Deb shouted from the kitchen. ‘In here, or do you prefer it where you are?’
For him, it made no difference. He wasn’t about to move from the chair he was sitting in.
‘I’ll be glad when you two leave me alone,’ he said.
‘No doubt you will, but murder is serious. We’re here for moral support.’
‘In here. That way, I won’t have to listen to you. And besides, what about this man of yours, won’t he be missing you?’
‘Jock? Barely acknowledges me when I’m there.’
‘Do you love him?’
‘In my own way. He’ll never climb a mountain or do anything great, nor will he murder anyone.’
‘Do you believe I did?’
‘What I believe is unimportant.’
‘And if I had, could I rely on you?’
‘You know you can.’
‘What about Kate?’ Hampton asked.
‘She’s a selfish woman,’ Deb said. ‘You can’t rely on her.’
‘Where has she been the last week? Where did you find her?’
‘I left a message on her phone.’
Hampton flexed his leg muscles, a cramp in one leg. He wanted to stretch it out to massage, but not with Deb in the room.
‘Ask Kate to come in here,’ he said.
After two minutes, long enough for her to end her phone call, Kate entered the room.
‘I can’t prove that I didn’t kill that woman,’ Mike Hampton said.
‘But you couldn’t have killed her, not from here.’
‘The police will check my medical condition, conduct tests to check nerve impulses, muscle density. They will know.’
‘Know what? That you can’t walk,’ Kate said.
‘Kate, so blind, too busy enjoying yourself. Who is it now? Not Skinner, or could it be McAlister?’
‘Is this important?’
‘Not really. Some fancy man you met somewhere or other.
