“That’s not a bad idea, guv,” added Luke. “It could suggest how the killer arrived at the Churchfields Industrial Estate. Was it possible to get there on foot? Were they already close by because it was where they worked? Did they drive there to meet Marion? Where did they park? Marion parked on a side street without anyone spotting her. If another car parked next to her, it increased the risk of discovery.”
“If there was another vehicle,” said Blessing, “say, a pick-up truck, it wouldn’t have stood out given the nature of the businesses operating on the estate. Plus, it helps to explain how the killer left the area despite getting covered in blood in the attack.”
“Okay, I’m sold on the idea,” said Gus. “To slightly amend a well-known phrase, we’re going to need a bigger map.”
“If we take Wilton House as the centre of operations,” said Blessing, “we need something that covers Oakley Road and South Street to the west, Old Shaftesbury Drove to the south, and Netherhampton Road to the east. The Churchfields Industrial Estate is approximately three miles west of the country house. Marion Reeves drove along The Avenue from her home and joined the A36. She should have turned left and driven towards Salisbury.”
“How far was it to the industrial estate?” asked Lydia.
“A little over two miles,” said Blessing. “A six-minute drive.”
“If we can get a map to cover all those aspects, then go for it, Alex,” said Gus.
“I’ll contact the Hub, guv, and get one custom-made.”
“Out of interest,” said Gus, “how big is the Wilton House estate?”
“Fifteen thousand acres, guv,” said Luke.
“No wonder they needed one hundred and forty staff back in 2011,” said Gus. “Do you have any meetings arranged for me tomorrow morning, Luke?”
“Theo Reeves retired at sixty, guv,” said Luke. “He’s a keen fisherman and fair-weather golfer in his retirement. He still lives at the Oakley Road address. I’ve forwarded you the details. Theo can see you at ten o’clock.”
“Tell him I’ll be there,” said Gus. “Lydia, I’d like you to accompany me.”
“Any instructions on what to wear, guv?” she asked.
“Something modest will fit the bill,” said Gus.
Gus hoped that his and Lydia’s understanding of modest fell in the same ballpark. The time the team had spent chewing over the case this afternoon had been valuable. At least they had several options available to them now. The tricky part would be deciding who to interview next. Perhaps it might be best to wait until they spoke to Theo Reeves.
“I don’t think we can do much more this afternoon,” said Gus. “It’s almost half-past four. Get off home, and we can start afresh in the morning.”
With that, he cleared his desk and headed for the lift. Blessing made it to the door just ahead of him.
“Are you in a rush, Blessing?” he asked.
“Everyone is leaving at the same time,” she said. “I will feel better if I can drive away before the others get downstairs.”
“Say hello to John and Jackie for me,” said Gus. “Tell them we’ll get across to Worton in the next week or so to see them.”
Blessing nodded and trotted off to her little car. Gus slid behind the wheel of the Focus and waited until Blessing had driven towards the car park exit.
The drive through Devizes and onwards to Urchfont was trouble-free that afternoon. Suzie was due to leave London Road as Gus turned into the gateway of the bungalow. He had fifteen minutes, tops, to himself. Gus checked the fridge and decided to wait until Suzie arrived home before starting to cook their meal. The ingredients he saw inside could get used in two or three different ways. Knowing his luck, the recipe he chose would be the last thing Suzie wanted.
Gus went into the lounge and laid his jacket on the back of the settee. He looked at the television. Where would he find details of the series The Reverend talked about on Sunday afternoon? Gus flicked through the channels without luck and studied the remote control. Why were there so many buttons? It might be best to leave it to Suzie. She knew which buttons to press.
Two minutes later, while he was still daydreaming, he heard the VW Golf pulling up outside.
“Honey, I’m home,” cried Suzie as she burst through the front door.
“I take it you had a good day?” asked Gus as she walked into the lounge.
“I managed to avoid punching anyone,” said Suzie.
“Geraldine Packenham?”
“That woman is a pest,” said Suzie.
“The bacon bap I had at lunchtime was delicious,” said Gus. “Vera Butler informed me that the new caterers were Ms Packenham’s idea.”
“Why are you home early?”
“I awarded a thirty-minute bonus to myself and the team for last week’s stellar performance,” said Gus.
“Did you get a new case today?”
“We did,” said Gus. “Marion Reeves, from March 2011. Does that ring a bell?”
“Not really,” said Suzie, leaving Gus to walk to the kitchen.
Gus got up, collected his jacket, and followed her.
“A stabbing inside a car between Wilton and Salisbury at ten in the morning,” he said. “No witnesses. No suspects. Next stop, cold storage.”
“A married woman?”
Gus nodded.
“The percentages say it was the husband or a lover,” said Suzie.
“Have you ever met DI Billie Wightman?”
“On a couple of training courses, yes,” said Suzie. “Possibly the most unpleasant female copper I’ve ever met. Bitter doesn’t go far enough to describe the woman.”
“She was SIO on that murder case seven years ago.”
“Because she couldn’t pin it on any of the men the victim knew, she lost interest,” said Suzie.
“Harsh,” said Gus, “Billie and her DS, Matt Price, interviewed a hundred people over
