Линда Ла Плант - Unholy Murder

‘I was more annoyed than angry,’ he replied.

‘Did you lose your temper and push her down the stairs?’ Jane asked.

Lee looked distraught. ‘No. It was all a terrible accident. If she hadn’t tried to go down to the cellar, none of it would have happened.’

‘Why didn’t you just call the police and say there’d been an accident?’ Boon asked.

‘Because I thought no one would believe me and I’d be arrested for something I didn’t do.’

‘Why have you packed a suitcase?’ Boon asked.

‘Nick phoned me late last night. He told me about Tom’s heart attack while you were searching his house. I was scared. I didn’t want to go to prison for something that wasn’t my fault. I was going to stay with a friend in Spain.’

Boon glared at him. ‘Which conveniently happens to be a country we have no extradition treaty with.’

‘I swear on my life, I didn’t push her.’

Boon shook his head. ‘I don’t believe you and I doubt a jury will either.’

A terrified Lee looked at Jane. ‘Am I going to be charged with murder?’

‘That’s not for me to decide. A post-mortem is being carried out later this morning. We will interview you again after the pathologist has completed her examination of Becky’s body. There are a couple of other things I need to ask you about the convent. Did you or Thomas Durham ever do any work there prior to the purchase?’

‘No.’

‘How long have you been working with Thomas Durham?’

‘Since he started the company, which was about twenty-five years ago.’

‘What was the name of the company when he first started it?’

‘Thomas Durham Builders. He changed it to Thomas Durham and Son when Nick started working for him.’

‘I’ll ask you again, did you or Thomas Durham ever do any work at the convent prior to the purchase of the buildings and land?’

‘No, I told you.’

‘Then can you explain why we have found quotes and invoices for repair work at the convent with the letterhead Thomas Durham Builders, some of which are dated 1960, 1961 and 1962?’

He started to look nervous. ‘I don’t know anything about them... honest.’

‘All of them are signed by Thomas Durham... who you worked for.’

Lee licked his lips. ‘I suppose we might have done some work back then. Actually, come to think of it we did repair the chapel roof at one time.’

‘There is a quote and invoice for that job,’ Jane told him. ‘By we, do you mean yourself and Thomas Durham?’

‘Yes.’

‘And did you do other repair work back then?’

‘Probably, but it was so long ago it’s hard to remember now.’

‘Does the name Melissa Bailey mean anything to you?’

‘No, should it?’

‘She was a sister at the convent. It was her body we found in the coffin. She was murdered during the time you and Thomas worked at the convent.’

Lee looked shocked. ‘We didn’t know any of the nuns. We never even spoke to them other than to say good morning.’

‘Did you or Thomas Durham murder Melissa Bailey?’

‘No! Why on earth would you think we’d do a thing like that?’

‘Because you both lied about knowing each other, never mentioned you’d worked at the convent and now Becky Rogers is dead.’

Lee started shaking his head from side to side. ‘I swear I’ve told you everything.’

‘There’s something you’re hiding from me, Lee, and I think it’s to do with Melissa Bailey’s murder. If you’re trying to protect Thomas Durham, I can assure you you’ll only make matters worse for yourself.’

‘Thomas is a good man... he’s not a murderer,’ Lee said, putting his head in his hands.

It suddenly dawned on Jane what he might be hiding.

‘Amongst the documents we recovered was a quote to repair the fire-damaged buildings. Obviously, a survey must have been done first. Did you do that survey?’

‘No, Thomas did it. But the diocese couldn’t afford to repair the buildings.’

Jane could see he was getting agitated. ‘And as we all know they then sold the convent to Mr Durham.’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Do you know how the fire started?’ Jane asked.

‘No,’ he said, nervously shaking his head.

‘Do you know where it started?’

‘Thomas said it was in the bakery.’

‘When did he tell you that?’

‘Just after he did the survey.’

‘The thing is, Lee, we had the bakery examined by a fire investigator. Even after all these years he was able to tell it was a case of arson. In his expert opinion, someone poured oil from a paraffin heater in three separate areas and set light to it.’ Jane noticed Lee’s eyes widen. ‘The Mother Superior and the sisters at the convent had nothing to gain by setting fire to the outbuildings — whereas you and Thomas Durham had everything to gain. So, my question is, did you set light to the bakery?’

Lee’s lips began to tremble, and he put his head in his hands.

‘You wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for Thomas Durham. Everything dishonest he’s asked you to do has now ruined your life.’

Lee looked up at Jane. ‘Yes, I started the fire.’

‘Tell me Thomas Durham’s part in it all.’

‘The Mother Superior told Tom the diocese was concerned about the cost of the constant repair bills and she was worried they might close the convent. Thomas went behind her back and spoke with the bishop. He said if the Church ever put the convent on the market, he’d be interested in buying it. The bishop said the Church didn’t want to sell just yet, but if and when they did, he’d give Thomas first refusal.’

‘Was that Bishop Malone?’

‘Yes. We figured if the outbuildings were destroyed by fire, the Church wouldn’t repair them and it’d be forced to sell. I snuck into the bakery late at night and set light to it. Thomas then overinflated the quote to repair the buildings.’

‘DC Boon will read over the questions we asked and your answers,’ Jane said. ‘If there’s anything you want to add or change, then tell him before you sign his notes.’

Jane went to see how Stanley was getting on with the search and found him in the hallway.

‘He’s saying Becky fell down the stairs. He’s either telling the truth or he’s a bloody good liar.’

‘I was listening by the door. That was a good interview, Jane. Connecting Lee and Thomas Durham to the arson was brilliant. I really thought it was Meade.’

‘So did I at first. It doesn’t look like they murdered Melissa Bailey. If they had, I can’t see them putting her in a coffin, then having it buried in the convent grounds. It also looks like Thomas Durham wasn’t at the house when Becky died,’ Jane added.

‘Holland could be covering for him. We need to speak to Nick Durham about his father’s alibi.’

‘I’ll do it after the post-mortem,’ Jane said.

‘Are you sure? I don’t mind speaking with him,’ Stanley said.

‘I’ve got to face Nick at some point — though I suspect he won’t want anything more to do with me,’ Jane said sadly.

Jane and Boon took Lee Holland to the charge room and booked him in, whilst Stanley informed DCS Salmon of his arrest and interview.

‘How are PC Rogers and his wife?’ Salmon asked.

‘Absolutely devastated. They were heartbroken. When I told them where we had found Becky’s body, Mrs Rogers had a total breakdown. It was that bad I asked the police doctor to attend. He gave her some sedatives. I’m dreading telling them that Lee Holland said it was an accident.’

‘It’s going to be hard to prove murder in court,’ Salmon remarked.

‘If the post-mortem reveals injuries that are inconsistent with a fall, Holland’s screwed.’