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DCI Dexter beckoned them to come closer to him. He gave them a curt nod. “Ms Kelburn, Mr Ward. Don’t take this the wrong way, but I was hoping I wouldn’t be seeing either of you again so soon.”
Maggie walked towards the detective. She said, “I was hoping I wouldn’t see you either.” She heard a small chuckle coming from Sam as he followed her.
DCI Dexter’s face was devoid of emotion. “What have you done this time, Ms Kelburn?”
Maggie was instantly annoyed at his accusing tone, but she kept her temper in check. “I haven’t done anything, apart from reporting this incident. I trust you have details of both my phone calls today. I think the first phone call is related to the second.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” DCI Dexter nodded in the direction of the body. “Did you know that man? Is he one of your neighbours?”
“No,” Maggie replied. “I don’t think I’ve seen him before, but it’s hard to tell because I can’t see his face. Shall I have a proper look at him now?”
“No.” DCI Dexter clicked his fingers at a couple of uniformed policemen at his side. They nodded, and then walked towards the deceased.
Maggie pressed her lips together. She didn’t like DCI Tyler Dexter. And it wasn’t just because he had been Sam’s best friend since childhood — until Sam found out he was having an affair with his wife. That was only one of the reasons Maggie didn’t like him. When Maggie had needed assistance from the police the previous month, DCI Dexter had been less than helpful. And he’d been rude to her.
Maggie realised the inspector was waiting for her to speak. “Did you say something?” she asked.
“Yes, Ms Kelburn. I asked you to tell me about your first phone call to the police station. If it’s not too much trouble?”
Maggie told him about the man-bun youth in the tree, her finding the coins, and Jake’s information about treasure hunters. She ended with how Sam had found the dead man a short while ago. “I think that poor man must have been looking for the treasure box in the tree, and then he fell out. He shouldn’t have been climbing the tree. The branches don’t look strong enough. Not that I’m an expert. I’m not the tree-climbing type.”
DCI Dexter’s glance flicked over her. “Yes, I suppose you aren’t. Did you say treasure hunters?”
“Yes.” Maggie frowned. Hadn’t he even been listening to her? “Do you know about them? I’d never heard of them before.”
The detective nodded. “I know about them. Nothing but trouble, the lot of them. No regard for the law. I’ve been called out more than once to check a suspicious-looking device, only to find out it was one of those ridiculous treasure boxes. And I’ve dealt with many trespassing cases. These people think they can go anywhere. I even dealt with a shooting once. A shooting of an arrow, not a gun.”
Despite her feelings about DCI Dexter, Maggie couldn’t help being intrigued. “Really? What happened?”
DCI Dexter’s mouth moved into a small smile. “A young man got his directions mixed up. He ended up in a field used for military training, right in the middle of their archery exercises. He was lucky he only ended up with an arrow in his shoulder.”
“Poor thing,” Maggie said.
The smile vanished from the inspector’s face. “He was trespassing. Anyone with an ounce of intelligence would have seen the warning signs around that field. These treasure hunters are obsessed with their pathetic game. They have no regard for property, or the safety of others.” His attention went to the man on the grass. “It was only a matter of time before this happened.”
Maggie thought his comment was harsh, but that’s how DCI Dexter was. She asked, “Do think this man’s death is linked to the other man I saw in that tree? They might have known each other. Or have been in the same treasure-hunting group.” Maggie nodded at her words. “It’s too much of a coincidence to be anything else. Don’t you think?”
“What I think is none of your business, Ms Kelburn.”
Sam said tersely, “I’m sure there’s no need to be so rude, DCI Dexter. Ms Kelburn is understandably upset at finding a dead body in her garden. You should be treating her with more respect. She might even need counselling. Don’t you have an officer with more patience and understanding who can take care of Ms Kelburn?”
A flash of something crossed the inspector’s face. Maggie didn’t know if it was anger or embarrassment. She suspected it was anger.
Before DCI Dexter could react to Sam’s words, one of the officers came over and said, “Sir, I recognise the deceased. It’s Harvey Chester.”
DCI Dexter took a sharp intake of breath. “Are you sure?”
The officer nodded.
“Who’s Harvey Chester?” Maggie asked.
For a moment, the inspector looked as if he were going to tell Maggie to mind her own business. But then he said, “He’s a treasure hunter. He’s always at the station complaining about other hunters. Harvey Chester was a man with many enemies.”
“Really?” Maggie’s eyes widened. She looked over her shoulder at the late Harvey Chester. “Do you think his accident might not have been an accident after all?” She looked back at the inspector.
DCI Dexter said, “This is a police matter, Ms Kelburn. You need to leave the crime scene while we get on with our jobs. I’ll be in touch with you soon.” He gave her a curt nod of dismissal before striding away.
Maggie said quietly to Sam, “It could be murder, and not an accident. What do you think?”
Sam replied tersely, “It’s none of our business. I’m sure DCI Dexter has everything under control.”
“I certainly have,” the inspector shouted back at them. “Leave the property immediately or I’ll have someone escort you away.”