After the briefing had concluded, Caroline headed straight for the coffee machine in the kitchenette. A moment or two later, Sara joined her.
‘All okay?’ Sara asked. ‘You look a bit flustered.’
Caroline laughed. ‘I think I look like I’ve been marched round Barnsdale Gardens on a freezing cold morning after spending the last couple of months in bed.’
Sara smiled. ‘Actually, I was hoping I might be able to confide in you.’
‘Go on.’
‘It’s about Aidan. He’s been down recently. You’ve probably noticed. I’d be willing to put money on it being a relationship breakup. There’s all the classic signs — looking annoyed after reading a text message, being a bit absent, clearly in a world of his own. He’s definitely been dumped by a woman. I’ve got a bit of an instinct for things like this.’
Caroline raised her eyebrows and murmured an awkward agreement. She didn’t have the heart to tell Sara how wrong her instincts were.
‘But I was thinking,’ Sara continued, ‘about possibly asking him out. I know it sounds ridiculous so soon after his relationship has broken up, but maybe it’s what he needs. In any case, I don’t really want to risk him finding someone else or getting back with his ex-girlfriend. Carpe diem, they say, don’t they? What do you think?’
Caroline shuffled awkwardly. ‘Uh. Well, I don’t know. I mean, it is very soon. And of course you don’t know if he’d be interested.’
‘No, but I won’t know for sure until I ask, will I? And I think I’ve noticed a few signs that he is.’
I don’t think you have, Caroline wanted to say. ‘How about... How about I have a word with him? Not directly, but on the quiet. Put out a few feelers. That way you’ll know if it’s worth pursuing.’
‘Would you? Oh, that’d be amazing. Thank you.’
Caroline forced a smile. ‘Don’t mention it. But Sara? Just... Just wait until then, okay? I don’t want you to get your hopes up. Just in case.’
‘Just in case,’ Sara said, winking. ‘Mum’s the word.’
32
It took Caroline the best part of half an hour to drive to King’s Cliffe, a small village just over the border in Northamptonshire. She’d heard of it, but had never visited before. It seemed pleasant enough — a mixture of old and new buildings, most built in the local sandstone that made so much of the local area feel like home. It was a fairly compact village, but with lots of tight, winding roads which left Caroline feeling glad she had a sat-nav. She could have easily got lost amongst the narrow side-roads otherwise.
Eventually, she arrived at the home of former DCI Bob Barrington, the officer who’d been in charge of the brief investigation into Russell Speakman’s death. The truth was that any sudden or unexpected deaths outside of a hospital required police intervention of some sort, even if only to quickly determine all was fine and things could be handed over to the undertakers. In some cases, that involvement lasted a little longer.
Once pleasantries had been exchanged and coffee had been poured, they sat down in Barrington’s living room and Caroline explained the reason for her visit.
‘We’re investigating a case which we believe might have links to a job you worked on fifteen years ago,’ she said. ‘I think it’s one of those where there’s not enough to go on in either case, but put the two together…’
‘I see where you are,’ Barrington replied. ‘So how can I help?’
‘Do you remember investigating the death of a Russell Speakman in Oakham?’
A flicker of recognition crossed Barrington’s face. ‘Speakman. Yes, fell down the stairs, didn’t he? I remember it well. Something not right about that. You’re onto something. What’s the current case?’
‘A murder.’
‘Not that one over at the viaduct?’ Barrington asked, his head cocked.
‘That’s the one.’
Barrington nodded. ‘I see. Got herself a new chap, did she?’
‘Who?’ Caroline asked, trying to sound as clueless and innocent as possible.
‘Christ, I can’t remember her name. Murray, was it?’
‘Amie Murray?’
‘That’s the one. Speakman’s girlfriend. One of, anyway.’
‘Yes. She’s married now.’
‘To your new stiff, I presume?’
‘No. No, that’s the thing. There’s some suggestion that the victim was interested in her, but she claims it wasn’t reciprocated. By all accounts, she wasn’t particularly keen on him.’
Barrington raised an eyebrow. ‘I see. Well I probably shouldn’t be asking you the questions. Old habits, and all that. It’s probably best I tell you what I recall, and you can see what’s of interest.’
‘Okay.’
Barrington shuffled in his chair, as if it would help bring memories to the forefront. ‘So, call comes in. There’s a body. Likely accidental, but assistance required. If I remember rightly it was called in by Speakman’s mum. Uniform attend, and one of them gets the sense something isn’t right. This is a young man, sober, who’s somehow fallen backwards down the stairs and died. Extremely uncommon, to say the least. So I get the call. And I’ve got to say, I’m in agreement. It seems odd. We ask around, pull a few strings and find out more about Speakman. He’s a bit of a dosser, bit of a lad, but never been in any trouble. Closest he gets is shagging about a bit, but that’s hardly uncommon. But the girlfriend’s name comes up. Murray.’
‘Amie Murray.’
‘That’s it. Neighbours heard them having an almighty row the day before and she stormed out. Said it wasn’t a particularly rare occurrence, and that she wasn’t the only woman he had coming and going. Now, that raised alarm bells, see. Are we talking about a jealous lover here? I think possibly so. So we look into it a bit further. Speak to people. She’s got anger issues. So we bring her in for questioning. Trouble is, we’ve got nothing we can pin on her. Her DNA’s obviously all over his house because she’s his girlfriend. One of them, anyway. There’s a strong suspicion Speakman didn’t just fall and was pushed, but it’s not strong enough to prove it, and definitely not
