Lee Weeks: Frozen Grave

‘Yes. I had things to do.’

‘Busy time?’

‘I spent the evening with my agent.’

‘From what time was that?’

‘From seven. I left the other women and I walked to the station with Lisa. Emily was going the other way, Paula was just next door, working. I left Lisa at the station and then went to do some shopping and met up with my agent at about nine.’

‘That’s quite a long time to go shopping.’

‘Of course it isn’t.’

‘But the shops close normal time now – that’s half five.’

‘Okay, so you’re right – I spent my time drinking in various bars, until I met my agent. I don’t get into town much so I like to enjoy myself. I was staying the night at my agent’s, so I could afford to let my hair down.’

‘Did you drive up to town?’

‘Yes. It’s just too much of a nuisance sometimes to leave the car at Plymouth Airport or at Exeter St David’s to catch the train. By the time I do that I could be halfway there. Then there’s all the disruption to the track because of the storms. Look – I’m sorry but I don’t get your line of questioning. Have I done something wrong?’

‘We would urge that you don’t entertain the idea of having JJ Ellerman to stay here until we solve these deaths.’

‘I can’t believe he is capable of anything like that.’

‘You never saw any flares in his temper, or any behaviour that worried you?’

‘I’ve seen the normal stuff associated with a man who is used to being Mr Big. He loves the sound of his own voice. He is short-tempered, but I wouldn’t say his temper is a major problem.’

‘When we went into Lisa’s house, we found something that we think belongs to you.’ Tucker took out his phone and showed Megan a photo of her painting. ‘We found this on Lisa’s lounge wall.’

Megan shook her head. ‘Figures. JJ often came down with random gifts. I expect we’ve all got things that belong to others. It sums him up, doesn’t it? We’re all part of a chain, aren’t we? Interlinked.’

‘Can I ask you again what you and the other women decided to do about your “interlinked” relationships and financial dealings with JJ Ellerman? I am trying to persuade the women who have invested in his so-called business ventures to consider pressing charges. It will give us the ability to thoroughly investigate him.’

‘Personally? I didn’t invest money and I will chalk it all up to experience. I can’t speak for the other women. I intend to have my say with JJ Ellerman, then walk away for ever.’

After the detectives had left, Megan phoned Emily and left a message for her to return her call ASAP.

Twenty minutes later she got a call.

‘I’ve had the police here too,’ Megan told her. ‘They’ve just left. Remember – they can’t start investigating the fraud case unless one of us makes a complaint. As long as no one does that then there’s a chance to get the money back straight from Ellerman. How are you getting on with drafting a statement for him to sign?’

‘I think I’ve taken everyone’s case into consideration. I have stipulated that we all become equal partners and decision-makers in his Spanish business. Everything he does is run through us first and we get total control of his funds for the business.’

‘When will it be ready and when can you come down?’

‘I can come tomorrow.’

‘They told me about poor Lisa.’

‘Yes. It was a shock.’

‘Are we suspects?’ asked Emily.

‘I think they’re just trying to tie it all up in a time-frame. If anyone’s a suspect – it’s JJ.’

‘Any news, Eb?’ said Carter. Willis was looking at a message on her phone. They were in a lay-by on the moors, where Carter had pulled over to talk plans.

‘It’s a phone call about my mum again.’

‘You want to ring the hospital?’

‘No. I would rather just talk about the Ellerman case and I’ll ring them later when we stop for a coffee on the way.’

‘Okay – you’re in charge.’

‘Is your mum okay?’ asked Tucker. ‘She’s in hospital?’

‘Yes. It’s all okay, thanks.’ A heavy silence in the car meant that everyone got the message that Willis was dealing with things in her own way.

‘I’ll send the voice recordings up to Robbo,’ she said as she opened her laptop.

‘So what observations do you have of our interviews?’ said Carter when she seemed to have finished.

‘Okay.’ She took out her notebook. ‘My main observations on talking to Emily Porter yesterday and Megan Penarth today was that they were not telling us what was actually said at the meeting between the four women. They are closing ranks on us and I would guess that Megan Penarth is the ring leader.’

‘But she didn’t give him any money.’

‘No, but she gave him something more important to her – she gave him her trust,’ replied Willis.

Tucker was sitting in the back seat. He was thinking and staring out of the window at the moors. ‘And… correct me if I’m wrong, but she’s a woman’s woman and a little bit more. She took a shine to Ebony here,’ he said.

‘She was motherly… I think.’ Willis turned to look at him.

‘No, Tucker is right,’ said Carter. ‘She was intrigued by you. She couldn’t take her eyes off you.’

‘In my opinion—’ Tucker leant forward to talk to them between the front seats – ‘she will want revenge. She’s more angry than hurt. But she’s become a representative for all of the women and all of their grievances with Ellerman.’

‘What about Ellerman?’ said Carter. ‘What do we do about him now?’

‘We have the women shutting us out and we have Ellerman with enough alibis to sink a ship. They want to deal with this themselves.’

‘Even though we’ve told them he could be a murderer.’

‘Yes. They don’t seem to get it. They don’t think he’s capable.’

‘Because he’s not, maybe?’ Willis looked across at Carter. ‘Because one of them or more than one of them knows more than we think about the murders?’

‘They didn’t know about one another till the letter came?’ said Tucker.

‘Perhaps. We only have their words for that,’ answered Carter.

‘We need someone on the inside,’ said Tucker.

‘Harding.’ Willis looked across at Carter. ‘Could we ask Harding?’

‘Ring her now and tell her we need her help.’

‘Harding? She’s one of the names on the list?’ Tucker got out the list to look her up. ‘Dr Jo Harding?’

‘Yes. She’s the pathologist attached to Archway. She’s already agreed to help.’

‘Were they close?’

‘No. Harding’s never close to anyone,’ answered Carter. ‘But they were having a sexual relationship at one time, briefly. Harding also knew Olivia Grantham in the same way. All three had sex.’

Willis phoned her. ‘Dr Harding, we need you to talk to some of the women on the list. We’re not getting anywhere with them.’

‘Okay. Which one first?’

‘Megan Penarth.’

‘What’s the line you want me to take?’

‘Tell her you didn’t invest any money but that you’re angry and upset. We need her to trust you. But you’d better ring once and hang up. We don’t want her thinking we put you up to it – we’ve only just left her place. Then, when you do get through, ask her for help to deal with it.’

‘Okay, I’ll do it. I’ll let you know when it’s done,’ Harding said and hung up.

‘Now, Eb, tell me to mind my own business, but I would feel better if you phone and find out about your mother. It might affect what we do today.’ Carter waited to start the engine.

Willis picked up her phone, opened the door and got out of the car.