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I KNOW SOPHIE told me, in no uncertain terms not to leave the estate, but when Wood had called, I couldn’t really refuse. So I was back with Nigel and his racing pages; the barmaid and her stout with hearts in the foam; and the quiz machine surrounded by men in fluorescent orange.
Wood and I took up a table in the corner as far away from the bar as we could. She would only tell me that Trin was awake before I got there and we’d made it through dinner and she still hadn’t said a word.
“Unless this is some kind of covert dating technique, I need to get back to work.” I enjoyed the flush of colour across her pale cheeks—I know what you mean, how did I miss that, right? Nil Point for super sleuth again.
“I don’t think you should go back there, Morgan.” She placed her phone so I could see it wasn’t recording. She pulled her top away to show no wire and her pockets barely managed to hold her phone so I wasn’t worried she’d concealed anything. “I’m going to tell you why and I want you to listen before you leap to her defence, again.”
“Can’t promise but I’ll try.” I leaned back in my chair. You know, Wood was growing into her role. She felt more assertive, more focused on what her task was. Considering the circumstances, it was nice to see.
“Sophie’s DNA was found in Trin’s house and I have an eyewitness sighting ten minutes before that puts her in Trin’s street.” Wood held up her hands before I could open my mouth. “Trin pushed her that afternoon and I mean Sophie looked ready to spear her then and there. I saw the look and she knew not only Jackie, but her husband and the son when I showed her the picture. I spotted the tell.”
I held my tongue. She wanted the floor, so I’d listen.
“I have her DNA in three crime scenes. I have motives for each killing. I have the go ahead from Derek to walk in there and arrest her but I want to give you the chance to extract yourself before you get sucked in too.” Wood held my gaze. “Please listen. You were a fantastic officer but that won’t protect you from prosecution.”
I licked my lips which still tasted of the salty chips. Yes, I’d had cheese and chips again. I don’t know what the barmaid did but she needed to take it to some chain because they tasted incredible.
“Say something,” Wood muttered and put her head in her hands. “You are driving me crazy, you know that?”
“I was listening. You asked me to.” I shrugged.
Wood sighed. “Speak then.”
“She didn’t hurt Trin.” I held up my hand. “Hey, I gave you the floor so you return the favour.”
Wood narrowed her eyes but nodded.
“At precisely one a.m., you will find me on camera in the courtyard with Sophie. Before that she was with her aunt in the library. She didn’t leave the estate.” I leaned onto the table. “Then, she was with me in the hospital which even you can’t ignore.” I tucked my hair behind my ears and leaned even closer. “You said yourself they were locked in some verbal battle earlier that day so maybe the DNA, whatever it is, was transferred that way.” I held up my hands. “Feel free to arrest her, Ruth, but I’ll have her de-arrested far quicker and you’ll be seriously in the shit.”
She growled but not like Sophie did. It was that real growl of frustration where your voice got high pitched and you clutched whole chunks of your hair. “You’re impossible to help.”
“I appreciate that you think you are trying to help me but Sophie is a brilliant woman, a wonderful boss, kind, and yes, deeply caring. I know you don’t see that because there is a massive clash of personality.” I leaned onto my fist and took her hand with my left one. “Derek is clearly off it if he has sanctioned the arrest. Yes, in a more straightforward case, I’d agree, what your evidence suggests shows a real plausible suspect.” I rubbed over her thumb. “In a complex case, it might be enough but you need something beyond reasonable doubt for the CPS to touch it. Yes, they want results but they want to win and being embarrassed in court in a high-profile case is not something they’ll go for.”
“I have enough, Morgan. I’m happy with that. It gives me the reason to get a warrant for the manor.” Wood shook her head, jaw set. “I’m arresting her.”
“Like I said, it’s your decision. I strongly advise you not to. With a highly influential, well-connected suspect, in a case with more hearsay and countless reasons for her DNA being present, you are going to struggle.” I loved Sophie, you get that, but I also wanted Wood to get this. I wanted her to find who really had killed Salisbury at least. I wanted her to get the result even if that meant I had to try and defend Sophie in court. Law wasn’t black and white, not even when there was good reliable evidence. Law in England and Wales was adversarial. It was down to who had the best lawyer and I knew the case, I knew the facts, and I knew no lawyer could convince a jury with me on Sophie’s side.
Call me arrogant, but as a barrister for five years, I’d never been defeated in a court. Once, even when the guy was a right cretin but he didn’t commit that crime. I had all that experience now, plus ten years as a police officer and five in investigations.
“Then give me something concrete yourself.” Wood gripped my hand. “Morgan, please. I don’t want to pull you in as an accessory but you look like one.”
“If you believe so strongly Sophie is guilty, I will look that way.” And she was right. I wasn’t going to deny it to her either. “Sophie told you Bright wants her land, did you listen?”
“Yes. He was in Reading and has been at a site there for a week.” Wood sighed and met my eyes. “And . . . I have my own concrete.”
“You don’t have to disclose it to me, Ruth. I’m Sophie’s lawyer.” I squeezed her hand and pulled away.
“For how long when I tell you Trin woke up earlier,” she whispered to me and stared at the table like she shouldn’t say it. Professionally, she really shouldn’t. “She said herself that Sophie attacked her.”
“Then she is confused, Ruth. I was with Sophie. I saw her.” Why would Trin say it?
“She wasn’t attacked at one, she was attacked at half-past eleven. I discovered her at one.” Wood leaned onto her elbows, took my left hand, and kissed the knuckles. “Did you see her then, Morgan?”
No, I hadn’t. “She didn’t leave the estate.”
“Did you see her?” Wood held my gaze. “Did you see her in that time period yourself.”
“No comment.” I pulled my hand back. Shit. Shit. I hadn’t seen her, there was the fireplace and the blood-soaked clothes. Would she have hurt Trin?
“Exactly,” Wood whispered and let out a weary sigh. “We’ll be at the estate in two hours. If you’re there, by all means represent her, but know if we find evidence you’ve lied or links you to the crimes—”
“Ruth, I know the process.” I set my jaw. “And I’ll prove her innocence.”
Wood nodded. “Then let’s hope you’re as good a barrister as you were a detective.”
“Better.” I got up and pushed my chair in. “I became a detective for more of a challenge.”
I let those words linger and strode out of the pub. Nigel hurried up behind me.
“For someone who has a boyfriend, you seem to meet a lot of women.” He bumped my hip with his. “And . . . teasing aside, you look really upset and I’m checking on you so no punching.”
I chuckled at him, heavy and sad, but I had a few familiar faces to say hello to in town and it was nice. “Oh, she’s someone I knew from a previous job. She wanted my opinion but she doesn’t want to listen when I give it.”
Nigel rubbed at his jaw. He had ginger stubble this evening and the usual oil on his hands not to mention the deep scars and chinks being a mechanic brought. “Yeah. I had this woman in a few days ago who wanted me to patch her puncture but she’d filled it with that rubbish they use. Makes the tyre completely unusable.” He shook his head. “She told me I didn’t know what I was on about but if I was trying to fleece her, she’d take me to trading standards . . . was it like that?”
“You know . . .” I grinned at him. He was at my eye level. “It was.” I chuckled again. “So what did you do?”
“I changed her tyre and said, ‘look, luv. I know what I’m doing. I don’t tell you how to do your job so take it or leave it.’” He shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Know what she said?”
“I can guess . . .”
He nodded, mouth to the side. “Told me I was a sexist arsehole who was treating her like a second class citizen.” He raised his eyebrows. “Can’t figure out for the life of me how she got to that.”
I eyed him. “Don’t suppose she was a Geordie was she? Sounds like someone I know.” Who had woken up and blamed Sophie specifically or had Wood leapt to that conclusion?
“Dunno. I’m not great with accents. Took Melissa to tell me you were Welsh.” He laughed and then held up his hands. “I swear I like Welsh people and women, I promise I do.”
“Melissa?” I bumped his hip back as he led me up to the baker’s shop Raquel had been living above.
“Barmaid.” He rubbed his hand over his balding head. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out though . . . and you’re always welcome to come and work for me if it doesn’t work out up there.” He grinned. “And if the bloke doesn’t work out . . . I’m good with cars. Got my own business. Nice place.”
I kissed him on the cheek. “Noting it down: free car servicing, employment, expensive holidays, and I can pull in an interior designer . . .”
He winced.
I snorted with laughter, kissed him on the cheek again, and headed up the lane. Thankfully it was only starting to get dark. I checked my watch, it was seven thirty. Best get a move on.