‘It was immaculate. They paid in full, and also presented me with a case of red wine as a thank you for my being understanding about the curtailed lease. These things happen and one has to be generous. Besides, I liked them as people and as a couple. And on a mercenary level you hope that if they are treated fairly the word spreads.’
‘Neither wanted to stay as a single occupant?’
‘I don’t think they could afford it. Carla did ask but as I say, it’s not cheap.’
Lucy turned to leave. ‘Thank you, you’ve been most helpful.’
‘Saying that the apartment was too expensive for single occupancy or so we thought, someone took a short-term lease of four months immediately after they left. Knew about the flat, having attended a party there apparently.’
‘Do you have a name and forwarding address?’
‘I think so. Moved into a beautiful apartment in Liverpool. Art dealer. Shall I send it on or are you willing to wait? It could take a while.’
‘As soon as, Mr Gaskell, thanks. I’ve an errand to run so I’ll pop back in thirty minutes if you think that’s adequate time to locate it?’
Gaskell smiled and escorted her to the door.
‘Just one more thing. Are you married, Mr Gaskell?’
‘I really don’t think that has anything to do with the police or your enquiries. However, the answer is no if it puts your mind at rest.’
As Lucy stepped out onto Lord Street again, the gull’s screams drew her attention. She checked the time and decided to call April with her findings. Considering the meticulous order of Gaskell’s apartment, she did not believe he would be so disorganised as to not have that information immediately to hand. She suspected there was a reason for not divulging or retrieving it immediately.
‘Thanks, Lucy, I think your suspicion is justified from what you say. Make sure you come away with it.’
Chapter 8
April took the call as she was preparing for the interview with Smith. Skeeter had been taking notes as the phone was on speaker.
‘Thanks, Lucy.’
‘Another box ticked, and regarding the apartment, we can confirm this with him. Let’s not mention our going to Gaskell’s apartment. He might tell us but he might be unaware. We’ll keep it as an ace card.’
Her phone rang again. ‘Decent.’ She listened, her eyes staring straight towards Skeeter as she jotted a note and pushed it to her: A BODY FOUND! She added further details.
‘Close it down. I’m on my way.’
‘Christ! Carla?’ Skeeter prematurely pronounced as she jumped to her feet. ‘You were right!’
April was already clearing her things into the top drawer. ‘Rearrange the interview with Smith and meet me downstairs. Not Carla but Cameron Jennings.’ She paused allowing her colleague to wrestle with the information. ‘One of Carla’s listed friends.’
‘Bloody hell! Will do. Downstairs.’
There was no need for the siren. The concealed blue strobes of the plain car were enough to allow them to move with greater urgency through the light traffic. Skeeter drove whilst April communicated with Control.
‘Jennings’s car has been found well away from the body. It’s positioned in a lay-by at the end of Banks Road and Ralph’s Wife’s Lane. According to residents it’s been there since early this morning.’
Skeeter glanced sideways momentarily, a look of confusion on her face. ‘We’re not going there? The body’s located where exactly?’
‘The end of Marshside Road and Marine Drive. Fortunately, the road has no development only a carpark and rough ground where the body was located. Someone flying a drone discovered it. He’d been flying some distance away from the carpark. On reviewing the images he’d taken it showed two people moving onto the waste ground behind the gate and crossing to a banked area. His drone was then flown out and away from the scene. In his statement he hadn’t seen them whilst he was flying, something to do with the light on screen. He only noticed when he stopped to change the battery. His curiosity was spiked, he said, as he’d seen no one other than the occasional passing car. Fortunately for us, before he packed away he flew it over that area. Curiosity. It was then he saw the figure curled on the mound. He lowered the drone and realised what he’d found. It’s here.’ April held up her phone. She glanced at the still image.
‘What’s the clarity like on the videos?’ Skeeter turned onto Marshside Road and could see the police car parked across and blocking the road. She slowed.
‘It’s with the tech people who are trying to enhance it. Unfortunately, the drone was at about 200 feet and nearly a quarter of a mile away. It was returning when it captured the video of the two people. It was only a brief sighting too. According to his statement he was turning the machine towards his position so they were only caught for seconds. The battery had been very low and he had needed to get it back. However, the second flight shows the dead man clearly. We’ll see that for ourselves shortly.’
‘If you heard any noise when you thought you were in an isolated spot and about to kill someone would you not think twice?’ Skeeter asked as she listened. There was a strange silence only broken by an occasional bird’s call.
‘The drone probably couldn’t be heard either for wind, bird noise or its distance. They’re not, I’m told, as noisy as you might think.’
They were directed to drive a further one hundred yards towards the junction of Marshside and Marine Drive. A number of vehicles parked along the road told the story. The carpark had been left locked as it was only due to open at 8.30am. They stood waiting to be escorted to the crime scene manager. The light breeze crept across the large expanse of land bringing with it the smell of brine.
‘You can smell the sea, I used to think it was ozone,’
