Not long after Tom’s revelation about Martin and Amie, the digital forensics specialist arrived at Allure’s offices to back up and copy their computer systems. Knowing it was likely to take some time, and with bigger fish to fry, Caroline and Dexter made the decision to head over to Amie Tanner’s house for a surprise visit.
They hadn’t planned to spend the day ping-ponging across Rutland, but they found themselves once again on the Uppingham to Oakham road, bypassing the county town before veering off towards Market Overton, where Amie Tanner lived with her family.
‘It was a bit weird, that,’ Dexter said, not long after they’d set off. ‘I mean, the way he described Amie, saying how bubbly and friendly she was.’
‘Maybe we caught her on a bad day yesterday. Maybe she doesn’t like the police. Maybe it’s her way of dealing with grief. Maybe that’s Tom’s idea of bubbly. Who knows?’
‘True. But I know you clocked it too. I could see the look on your face.’
Caroline let out a small chuckle. ‘One thing you learn quite quickly in this job, Dex, is there’s no such thing as normal. Just because you or I might describe someone in a certain way, or because we’d have our own methods of doing things, it doesn’t mean everyone else would agree.’
Dexter looked at her. ‘Is that you trying to be philosophical?’
‘Maybe. Why?’
‘Because it was terrible.’
Caroline laughed again. ‘Alright, I’ll keep it to myself next time. You’re right on one thing, though. Something doesn’t quite seem to be adding up, does it?’
Dexter put his hand on his chest in mock offence. ‘What? Secrets, rumours and hidden scandals? In Rutland? Well I never.’
‘I know. Who would’ve guessed?’
‘So what’s your theory?’ Dexter asked. ‘Amie and Martin have been shagging, they’ve had a falling out, he’s threatened to tell her husband and she’s finished him off?’
‘Nice choice of words. But I doubt it’s that straightforward. Why would Martin want to reveal all? He had as much to lose as she did. More, if you count his affair with Monique and god knows who else on top.’
‘What’s that you were saying about nice choice of words?’
Caroline smiled. ‘You know what I meant. Rare to get a woman killing a man, too, and almost never violently.’
‘I’d like to see a non-violent murder.’
‘Yes, but I mean women tend to poison or set up accidents.’
‘Sounds pretty violent to me. What if Amie was being coerced or forced into stuff like Monique was? Maybe Amie’s husband found out? Got jealous, killed Martin, Amie worked out what’d happened and decided to cover for her husband to hide what’d happened.’
Caroline chuckled. ‘I think we should probably meet him and speak to him first, before accusing him of murder, don’t you?’
Dexter made a murmuring noise in return. ‘Alright, spoilsport.’