“No, don’t bother, Luke,” said Gus. “Get home to bed. We’ll expect you in the morning. I want you with me when we interview Martyn Street.”
“I slept for four hours after I got home yesterday afternoon, guv,” said Luke. “I’ll sleep until lunchtime, and then I’ll be in the office by one o’clock or half-past. I’ve asked Alex to confirm those meetings for you today. See you later.”
“Okay. Luke,” said Gus, “further confirmation you’re a team player. Much appreciated.”
Gus ended the call. Suzie stood in the bedroom doorway wrapped in a bath towel.
“Bad news?” she asked.
“The worst,” said Gus. “We have to rely on others to tell us Graham Street’s story.”
They left the bungalow forty minutes later. Gus knew he had to rid himself of this sombre mood before speaking to Stephanie Reeves. The next few hours could be vital in this investigation.
Suzie had followed Gus through the gateway this morning for a change. She gave a brief flash of her headlights as she slowed to turn into the London Road car park. Suzie thought Gus needed a break tonight; perhaps an hour on the allotment and a meal in the Lamb would do the trick. It didn’t pay to get too close to a case. You needed to step back to see the complete picture.
Gus followed the steady stream of traffic out of town and pulled into the Old Police Station car park at three minutes to nine. Another day, but would this one see another collar Neil Davis was so keen to quote?
Alex Hardy and Lydia Logan Barre had travelled together from Chippenham in her Mini. Blessing Umeh was still trying to master her reversing technique, so Gus waited and watched the fourth attempt at getting her Micra straight.
Gus spotted another car in his rear-view mirror. Neil Davis was another excellent team member. Neil had put in a long shift yesterday but was back for more today.
“Good morning, guv,” said Neil as they eventually were able to park alongside Blessing.
“Not for Graham Street,” said Gus. “Did Luke call you?”
“Luke sent me a text, guv, and told me he was letting Alex know the situation. When I left Odstock hospital last night, the mood around the place hinted that they expected the worst. Street died alone, guv. Whoever was with him when he had that massive heart attack never travelled with him in the ambulance. The staff told me they didn’t get a single call for a report on his condition.”
“All we can do is work with the living, Neil,” said Gus. “We’ve got several witnesses directly connected to the case to interview, plus others with a connection to the victim that could prove invaluable. I want you to finish gathering the information on Graham Street you started yesterday.”
“I’ll give it my total concentration, guv,” said Neil.
Blessing was waiting by the lift for Neil and Gus to join her.
“Morning, guv,” she said. “Today will be a better day.”
“Let’s hope so,” said Gus. They travelled up to the first-floor office together.
“Stephanie Reeves has taken this morning off work, guv,” said Alex. “You know Downton village well, don’t you? I’ve left a note of her address on your desk. Arthur Jackson has agreed to accompany Martyn Street to an interview this afternoon. He asked if they could meet you in the café at the Wilton House Garden Centre. Jackson said it would be less stressful for Martyn. He doesn’t respond well to confined spaces or unfamiliar surroundings.”
“We’ll meet them there at three o’clock, Alex,” said Gus. “I don’t normally like witnesses setting the venue for meetings, but in this case, we can’t afford to antagonise the person involved. We need Martyn Street to feel at ease and answer our questions. Matt Price told us yesterday Martyn said little when they spoke with him seven years ago. The questions I want to ask could require a more detailed response. Let’s hope that’s not beyond the young man.”
“Who do you want with you this morning, guv,” asked Lydia.
“My nerves wouldn’t stand another trip in that Mini of yours, Lydia. Blessing, you can have a trip in my Ford Focus. I’ll show you the delights of my old stomping ground of Downton.”
“I can’t wait, guv,” said Blessing, collecting her notebook and pen from her desk.
Gus and Blessing were back in the lift less than two minutes after arriving in the office.
“I overheard you talking with Neil earlier, guv,” said Blessing. “How sad that Marion’s first husband died with no one to sit by his bedside. I hope that isn’t what lies ahead for me.”
“None of us knows what’s in store for us, Blessing,” said Gus.
“I’m sorry, guv. I forgot you couldn’t be with your wife when she died.”
“That’s alright, Blessing,” said Gus. “On balance, it’s better not to know for both parties involved, isn’t it?”
“When you’re twenty-one like me, you spend little time thinking about the subject,” said Blessing. “There I go again, putting my foot in it. I’ll sit in the passenger seat and keep quiet.”
Gus smiled as he unlocked the Focus. Blessing was a treasure they couldn’t afford to lose. He drove out of the car park, and they were soon passing the junction to Crook Lane, which led to the shiny custody suite that replaced the Old Police Station.
“We should reach Stephanie Reeves’s house in about an hour, Blessing,” said Gus.
“Is it near the Abbey, guv?” asked Blessing.
Gus had to think for a minute what Blessing meant.
“That’s a TV series, isn’t it?” asked Gus. “I don’t think there is such a place, Blessing. I talked to one of my friends from the village a month or two back. He was visiting Lacock Abbey with family members. That property featured in the filming of
