“Alex, can you add the lady to our list, please?” said Gus. “How old is Genevieve? Do we know?”
“Forty-eight, guv,” said Lydia.
“Three years younger than Marion Reeves at the time of the murder,” said Gus. “Interesting. Have you got a schedule yet for my interviews, Alex?”
“The two builders are first on the list, guv. They’re working on a small housing estate in Bemerton Heath. Your invitation to attend Bourne Hill nick did not attract them. They preferred to make themselves available first thing after lunch today. We can drive over to talk to them at one o’clock.”
“Is there anyone I can fit in this morning?” asked Gus.
“Phil Youngman is retired these days. I can ring him now if you wish.”
“Give me his number, and I’ll make the arrangements,” said Gus. “Who else?”
“I thought it made sense for you to get an overview of how they handled the murder scene before you spoke to Warren Baker, guv. Phil Youngman should remember who did what, when, and where on the day. As he was first on the scene, he was in charge of most of it.”
“That makes perfect sense, Alex. Good thinking. When can I get to Warren Baker?”
“I’ll set it up for first thing tomorrow, guv. You can drive straight to Bourne Hill and speak to him before forensics receive their first call. When I contacted them yesterday, they said that Baker and the rest of the crew spend most of the day out of the office.”
“How long do you think we’ll spend with Milligan and Preston?” asked Gus.
“They will want to get back to work, guv,” said Alex. “Who did you think we could catch later this afternoon?”
“The tree surgeon, Ralph Tucker,” said Gus. “I’m prepared to accept Serena Campbell’s word he wasn’t the truck driver talking to Marion Reeves outside her bank, but he could have been at Churchfields on Monday morning.”
“Arthur Jackson told us they used Tucker on the estate between May and September, guv,” said Luke. “Ralph should be there tomorrow. Bemerton Heath to Wilton House is only a brief trip. Gus should be able to meet him by three o’clock at a push.”
“Thanks, Luke,” said Alex. “I’ll get onto it.”
Alex handed Phil Youngman’s phone number to Gus and called Ralph Tucker’s mobile number.
Gus called Phil Youngman.
“Phil, it’s Gus Freeman here. Remember me?”
“Blimey, you’re a blast from the past. Did I hear you went back to work after Tess died? I was sorry to hear about that, by the way.”
“Yes, it’s been a long time, Phil,” said Gus. “I sat on my allotment with nothing positive to think of for three years until Ken Truelove called me. We’re reviewing unsolved murders now. I’m sure you remember the Marion Reeves case?”
“Hard to forget the inside of that car, Gus. It was too much for the young PC I had with me that morning. She left the force after a couple of months. What did you want to know?”
“Can I drive over and have a chat now?” asked Gus. “I should reach you in an hour.”
“I’ll have the kettle on,” said Phil. “Coffee?”
“Black with no sugar, Phil,” said Gus. “How’s retirement, anyway?”
“Always under the wife’s feet. I get tired quicker than I used to when the grandkids are here, and I can’t pick up the local rag without seeing another old colleague who’s dropped off the perch. There is an upside to it, of course.”
“A lot less paperwork,” said Gus.
“You got it,” said Phil. “See you in an hour.”
“Are we good, Alex,” he said.
“I fixed the meeting with Ralph Tucker for three o’clock this afternoon, guv. Warren Baker will be in his Bourne Hills office at nine o’clock. He can’t think why you need to speak with him.”
“An interesting start to the day then,” said Gus. “Send directions to the housing estate on the Heath to my phone. I’ll drive there to meet you for our one o’clock meeting with MP Builders.”
“Will do, guv. Have a pleasant trip.”
Gus was already striding towards the lift. Alex believed Gus was right. Today was a breakthrough day.
CHAPTER 11
Gus arrived in Downton and weaved his way towards Greenacres. He knew the village well because he and Tess had lived not half a mile from where Phil Youngman was spending his retirement. Gus had heard his phone ‘ping’ when Alex sent a message as he drove along the A338. Plenty of time to check the directions later.
As he stood outside the compact semi-detached house, Gus admired the garden. Someone had green fingers. The flowers that bordered the lawn looked magnificent. A short, grey-haired lady answered the doorbell.
“Mrs Youngman?” said Gus. “Can Phil come out to play?”
“Och, get away with you, Gus Freeman. You’ll never change. And it’s Phyllis, as you well know. I worked in the back office at Bourne Hill when you were just a young whippersnapper in uniform.”
“That’s more years ago than I care to remember, Phyllis,” said Gus. “Somehow, you don’t look any older than when you left to have your first child.”
“If only, Phil’s in the front room. He put the kettle on as he told you, but I still have to pour the coffee for you both.”
Phyllis scuttled along the hallway to the kitchen, and Gus joined Phil.
“Good to see you again,” said Phil, shaking Gus warmly by the hand.
“You might revise your opinion on that when I tell you why I’m here,” said Gus.
Phyllis appeared in the doorway with two large mugs of coffee and a plate of biscuits. Gus
