Jack Culverhouse felt more than dishevelled as he knocked on the door of Shaun Jackson's house. It was no time to be called out to interview potential witnesses. Especially not people who'd probably turn out to just be another crank. He swore to himself that he'd have Luke Baxter's knackers in a vice if this one turned out to be a crank as well.
The front door clicked open to reveal a well-built man who appeared to be in his early forties. A tradesman, he presumed. Culverhouse prided himself on being able to tell what sort of person someone was purely based on looks. A copper's instinct, perhaps. Satisfied with his brief summing up, Culverhouse introduced himself and was welcomed into the house, carefully stepping around the St Bernard dog which had barked to signal his arrival.
‘Nice dog. What's her name?’
‘Holly,’ the man replied.
Culverhouse's bullshit machine was in full swing. He hated dogs. He also hated the noise of games consoles in the background as he tried to speak to witnesses. Fortunately for him, Shaun had picked up on this.
‘Aaron, will you pack that in? Go and play upstairs with Hannah or something, will you?’
The blonde-haired teenager grunted as he switched off the X-Box and trundled off upstairs.
‘So. You told one of our officers that you had some information for us?’ Culverhouse said.
‘Yes, well, I'm not sure if it'll be much use to you, but I think I have something which might connect Danielle Levy and Bob Arthurs.’
Culverhouse's eyes lit up.
‘Well, I say a link between Danielle Levy and Bob Arthurs,’ he continued. ‘I mean more of a link between Miriam Levy and Bob Arthurs.’
‘Go on…’ Culverhouse's patience was wearing thin.
‘Well, it's probably none of my business to say, but I've been a friend of Sylvia Arthurs for quite some time now. She used to work for my kitchen fitting business. Miriam Levy is a very perceptive woman, but she's also a very loyal woman. The fact of the matter is that Sylvia had known for some time that Bob was… well, playing around, let's say. She had found text messages and overheard phone calls. The woman he was seeing was Miriam Levy.’
‘So you're saying that Bob Arthurs was killed by his wife?’
‘I don't imagine so, Inspector, no. The funny thing is, Sylvia mentioned to me not long before Bob's death that her solicitor had been in contact regarding the amendment to his will. Sylvia knew nothing about it, other than that Bob had obviously made some changes. Now, I’m no detective, but I suppose that leaves you with four real suspects. Sylvia Arthurs, Miriam Levy, Darren Parker and Danielle Levy.’
‘Danielle Levy? So you're saying her death was some sort of revenge, or what?’
‘I’m just telling you what I know. The rest is up to you, Inspector.’
Having said his goodbyes to Shaun Jackson, Culverhouse went over the list again.
Sylvia Arthurs. Had found out that her husband had been having an affair with a younger woman and bumped him off.
Miriam Levy. As the lover, it was quite possible that Bob Arthurs had changed his will to include her as a beneficiary to his estate. Did she kill him to get his money?
Darren Parker. As the long-term partner of Miriam Levy, did he kill Bob Arthurs in a fit of rage?
Danielle Levy. Other than the threat to her mother and step-father's relationship, she had no reason to want Bob Arthurs dead. And, for some reason, she was now dead too.