“It was inevitable someone would ask me about this in the end,” said Genevieve. “Tom did everything he could to keep a lid on it. When I heard of Graham Street’s death, I thought it might be over at last. What do you want to know?”
“Where did Tom work?” asked Neil. “What was his name? We didn’t find anyone in the county who matched the description of the mystery man we uncovered during our case review.”
“Tom Kellett worked in Winchester,” said Genevieve. “It’s a thirty-five-minute drive from here. He retired as a Detective Superintendent with Hampshire Constabulary. Tom always worked in Hampshire, and he and his wife lived closer to Southampton for many years.”
“When his wife died of cancer in the early Eighties,” said Blessing, “were you already seeing one another?”
“Heavens, no,” said Genevieve. “I was seeing someone else then.”
“A married man?” asked Neil.
“Yes,” said Genevieve.
“How did you and Tom meet?” asked Neil.
“What have you learned so far?” asked Genevieve.
“We’re asking the questions, Ms Harding,” said Blessing.
“Graham Street invited me to a party in the country in 1984. I was seventeen. I met Marion that night. She and Graham had only been married six months.”
“Did you know what you had agreed to?” asked Blessing.
“Oh yes,” said Genevieve. “I was looking forward to it. I’m sorry if that shocks you, but I couldn’t get enough of what I enjoyed with any of the young men I met. My married lover didn’t go to the parties, but he had whet my appetite. Graham Street and Dave Francis showed me there were places I could go to satisfy my urges. Tom’s wife died, which would have meant he couldn’t get an invitation to the parties anymore. We spent time together that first night, and I knew we were compatible. When he called to ask if I’d accompany him the following weekend, I said yes right away. We moved in together soon after and enjoyed the scene for another fifteen years at least. As years passed, the repercussions of getting found out increased and bothered him. He’d worked hard to get as high up the ladder as he had.”
“Let’s talk about the eighteenth of March in 2011,” said Neil. “Where were you when you got the call to drive to Oakley Road?”
“At Bourne Hill,” said Genevieve. “I told you I met Marion in ’84. Over the next four or five years, her relationship with Graham deteriorated. Marion wanted out, but Street was a nasty piece of work. I was happy for her when she finally walked out on him. Marion met Theo Reeves, and I learned they got married. So, when I received the name and address, I realised the incident at Churchfields involved Marion. I called Tom right away. He said he’d deal with it.”
“What did you think that meant?” asked Neil.
“Whatever it took to keep our names out of the case,” said Genevieve. “Tom had been involved in things from the beginning. He felt he owed some loyalty to Street and Francis, but most of all, he wanted to protect the others we met with most weekends.”
“The rich and famous who Street and Francis rubbed shoulder with,” said Neil.
“So, you do know something of what went on.”
“A friend of Marion Reeves gave us details of these parties but was afraid to give us names.”
“Serena,” said Genevieve. “That makes sense; they were close. Serena and Dave Francis were married for a while.”
“Who did Tom call after you rang?” asked Blessing. “We have his name. You might as well confirm it for us now. We’ll interview him later today.”
“Tom’s biggest fear was Marion’s mobile phone. Although she had left the scene by 1990, Tom knew the phone numbers of two dozen founder members were on that phone in the late Eighties. He couldn’t risk the police getting hold of it, so he called Warren Baker. Tom knew what a sleaze the man was; they’d worked at the same police station in Southampton. Tom was his superior officer and covered up an incident involving a Portuguese cleaner. On that Monday morning in 2011, Tom called Baker and reminded him he owed him one. Baker made sure the mobile phone didn’t reach Bourne Hill.”
“That confirms what we knew,” said Neil. “Thank you. Did Tom do anything else to influence the original investigation?”
“Billie Wightman needed little convincing,” said Genevieve. “Tom steered her away from anyone who could connect the case to the sex parties. Matt Price wanted to speak to friends of Marion, like Serena. I worked with Billie on several cases, Tom drove into Salisbury the day after the murder, and I arranged for us to bump into Tom casually. He asked how the enquiry was going. Billie was looking at Theo and other men in Marion’s life. When Billie told him Matt’s idea, Tom suggested she stuck to her guns. The killer was a man Marion knew, he said, why interview a girlfriend she might only have known for a few years?”
“A month later, the detective team hadn’t uncovered a single suspect,” said Neil. “The case went cold. Billie Wightman, Matt Price, and the rest of the team moved on to a new case.”
“Can I get in trouble for what I did?” asked Genevieve.
“Tom Kellett used his position to pervert the course of justice,” said Blessing. “He’ll never face charges now. Warren Baker tampered with evidence, which is a serious charge. All you’ve admitted to was making a phone call to your partner. If we find you played a more significant role, we’ll be back.”
The barking from the conservatory grew louder. Genevieve stood up and followed Neil and Blessing to the front door.
“How long do you
