“Oh… Hello there. So, are you going to be able to help me?” I sat down at the table opposite him.
“I’ll do the best I can. Now, you are aware there is a lot of evidence against you, and this is going to be a difficult case to defend, so I will need to find out whatever we can to try and get you off the charge. However, and I need to be honest, I am not sure if that will be possible.”
“I suppose telling you I didn’t do it is pretty pointless.”
“Sadly, as much as I might believe you, we have to convince a jury. Now, the best chance we have is to try to reduce the sentence, however, the likelihood of getting a manslaughter charge rather than murder is pretty minimal. You fetching a pitchfork and waiting for the victim seems a bit premeditated. We could try for diminished responsibilities. Sorry, it means you were not in your right mind at the time, it would mean you could be charged with voluntary manslaughter and detained in a secure hospital under section 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 rather than prison, however that is a difficult route also.”
“Okay, so, is my innocence an option here at all?”
“Honestly, with the evidence, the police have on you. No. Sorry.”
“Shit.”
“I’m sorry, but there is too much corroborating evidence against you. As I said, this is going to be a long and difficult process.”
* * *
“Miss Benson?” I looked up smiling as the woman invited her into the tack room. The yard was beautiful, part of a private estate some distance from the main manor house. The drive through the Devon countryside had been beautiful.
“Please, call me Elizabeth…”
“Okay, well Elizabeth. Come through we can have a chat in the tack room. You have a good deal of experience as an event groom and sole charge of hunting yards. This is a very impressive CV. So, why you are looking for a new opportunity now?”
“I thought it was time for a change. I’d been working in Yorkshire for some time.”
“Oh, you must have heard of that murder in Yorkshire. On Hilary Wessington’s yard, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, I heard about that, a nasty business. I met her groom once. I wouldn’t have wanted to be working on that yard. Ughh… That poor innocent girl. Anyway, I’d rather not talk about it.”
“Of course, I can understand. Well, down to business. We’re looking for a sole charge groom. Look, I won’t beat about the bush, as I said on the phone, I think you would be well qualified for the job, so if you would like it?”
“Thank you…”
* * *
“I’ve tried for three days to get in touch with Hilary, her phone has stopped going to voicemail and seems to now say the number is not in use. It must be broken. I am sure she was about to tell me something about the CCTV.”
“She was drunk, you could hear that on the recording. Did you try her groom? You had her number, didn’t you?”
“I did, but it just kept ringing with no answer. Look, I know this may seem extreme Amanda, but could we drive across there. Just to see if she will have a word with us? I’m sure it’s nothing. We could do it tomorrow as we go to visit Adam.”
“Kate, I think you’re wasting your time. But, if you want to drop in, I am sure we can. Just be ready for a frosty reception again.”
“Thanks. I owe you.”
* * *
We weren’t due to see Adam until the afternoon when our visiting order set out the times and details instructions. So we left early arriving at Hilary’s yard by mid-morning. All was quiet with no horses in the stables, I tried knocking on the farmhouse door but there was no response.
“This is weird…” I turned to Amanda.
“Let’s try the groom’s cottage, see if she is in?”
We walked over to Sally’s cottage; her car was parked beside the cottage so we knocked on the door. She opened the door sighing and shaking her head.
“Look, I don’t want to see you…”
“Please… We need to see Hilary.”
“You’re too late, she’s left now.”
“What? She’s left? Where has she gone?”
“Well, the owners took their horses away after it all happened, and she as didn’t own the yard, she’s gone to work overseas.”
“Overseas?”
“Yeah, I think she knew somebody in Germany so she was going to work over there, they don’t know her for the shit your husband did over there. So, thank you for making me both unemployed and homeless.”
“Oh Sally, I’m sorry…”
“Yeah, not as sorry as me. Well, there you are. I’ve got to go; I’m moving on too. So, thanks for nothing and bye. Oh, I hate to be rude, but fuck you!”
Sally slammed the door closed behind her and got into her car, driving away rapidly spraying us with gravel.
“Shit!”
“Kate. It’s likely for the best. Hilary’s found something better to do, Sally is moving on. There’s nothing we can do here now.”
“Maybe…”
I walked towards the farmhouse, peering through the windows it didn’t look as if Hilary had packed up and left, there were unwashed plates in the kitchen sink and pictures on the wall.
“Wow, what a slob! She left the place in a mess.” Amanda shook her head.
“She left in a real hurry…”
I tried the back door which was locked.
“What are you doing?”
I walked to the front door; it was also locked. I started to look around, lifting the doormat and plant pots beside the door. I found a spare key hidden on the top of the door frame. I slid it into the door and turned the lock.
“Shit! Kate what are you doing?
