Read Online The Edge by Clare Curzon - Free Book Online

suitable job for a woman, he was sure Salmon would consider it. He’d probably feel reprieved.
    Five minutes later Salmon joined him. ‘Briefing over,’ he reported glumly. ‘Anything useful from the mother-in-law?’
    It wrong-footed Yeadings for an instant. He’d thought of Anna Plumley as the grandmother. Mother-in-law? Salmon was clearly regarding Hoad family relationships from the man’s point of
view. Natural to him, of course.
    â€˜She is quite a disquieting lady,’ he warned the DCI. ‘But shrewd. Her view of the family’s a rather distant one, unfortunately. They’ve not recently kept in touch.’
    â€˜But now she’s getting in on it.’
    So Salmon fancied her as a vulture drawn to the corpses. ‘I doubt if she is looking for financial control. More concerned about Daniel, as sole survivor. She described him as unpredictable.’
    â€˜That hardly helps,’ Salmon grunted.
    Â 
    Unpredictable wasn’t the word she used to Zyczynski. ‘A charmer,’ was how she described the small boy she’d known. ‘Spent far too much time with his mother’s silly women friends and learned to play them like wind chimes. Quite the harem child.’
    She cocked her head, reminiscing. ‘I had a Sudanese friend way back who described how it was. His mother was a Copt but married into a wealthy Muslim family. Multiple wives. Made a great fuss of because he was pretty. They used to dress him up, giggle over him, put kohl on his eyes. Rescued in time, thank God, by an uncle, who sent him to school in Alexandria, then university. He’s a well-known microbiologist now, sexually straight, but he still has that appalling giggle.’
    Z listened fascinated. She remembered that Ned Barton had described Daniel to the Boss as ‘a milksop’. Implying a mother’s boy?
    They were driving in Anna Plumley’s Jeep attached to the caravan. Z had expected a combo, but this was a distinctly superior turnout. ‘Sleeps six,’ Anna had introduced it, showing her around.
    One of the Irish travellers on the camp had actually been installed in its lounge, with his dog tied up outside to keep off children’s sticky fingers. Anna greeted him as though she’d known him all her life. ‘Thanks, Sean, we’ll be off now. Run into you some other time maybe.’
    He’d grinned, accepting the banknotes she passed him and
removed himself together with his crumpled lager cans and the dog.
    There were two photographers hanging about the high iron gates to Fordham Manor, at least respecting the yellow crime scene tape. Mrs Plumley stayed at the wheel, impassive, as Z waved the men off, opened the gates and reclosed them behind the caravan. Now as they reached the end of the rising driveway Z observed the other police tapes had been removed. The constable on duty inside the gates came forward and spoke through the driver’s window. Anna identified herself without reference to rank.
    â€˜Yes, ma’am, we were expecting you. There’s a nice flat macadam area round the back suitable for parking, ma’am. Kitchen’s been left open, so you’ve access to all facilities.’ He handed over a key.
    â€˜Has anyone tried phoning the house?’
    â€˜The line’s been diverted, ma’am. Do you want it restored?’
    She considered. ‘I’ve my mobile, but it’s in case Daniel gets in touch … Yes, I’d rather he spoke to me than to a police station.’
    â€˜I’ll report that in. There’ll be a constable here twenty-four hours, ma’am, if you need anything.’
    â€˜Thank you. Have the scenes of crime specialists finished now?’
    He hesitated, looking at Z for his cue.
    â€˜Well, have they?’
    â€˜I believe so.’ He sounded reluctant.
    Anna took charge. ‘Then please ring Superintendent Yeadings and ask if Sergeant Zyczynski may show me around