Read Online Under a Silent Moon: A Novel by Elizabeth Haynes - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Haynes
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Fletcher-Normans?”
Andy coughed to make sure he had everyone’s full attention. “Right. Well, I understand we’re working on the possibility of the cases being linked. If you weren’t here yesterday, come and see me and I can give you an update after the briefing. To summarize: Barbara Fletcher-Norman was found around the same time as Polly. She was in her car at the bottom of Ambleside Quarry. We’re still waiting on the full PM report, which should be later today. Patrol reported that when they went to give the death message to Brian Fletcher-Norman, there was blood in the kitchen of Hayselden Barn, as if someone had washed their hands in the sink. The Barn’s been sealed since then, but until now we’ve not had the powers to go in. However, the CSI report from Yonder Cottage shows Barbara Fletcher-Norman’s bloody fingerprints in the kitchen and the hallway. She was in the cottage when Polly was dead or dying, and so we have a suspect, albeit a dead one.”
There was a little murmur from the people in the room.
“Thanks,” Lou said. “Les, did you get back to Dr. Francis about the seat belt?”
Les peered round Andy Hamilton. “Yeah. She had half fallen out of it when she was hanging upside down, but it was in place. I’m off back to the hospital in a minute for the rest of the PM.”
“When can we get CSI into the Barn—do we know?”
“Later today. Simon Hughes is going to be the senior.”
Lou had all but forgotten that Buchanan was there; this was one of her favorite bits of the job, bringing everything together, prioritizing, making sure that things got done and nothing was left out.
“Okay. Our priority for today is to find out what the connection was between Polly Leuchars and the Fletcher-Normans. How’s Miranda getting on with the Maitlands—anyone know?”
Jane Phelps said, “She’s still there. There seems to be plenty of people paying visits to the farm. Nigel Maitland claims he was out all day, came home late, last saw Polly a few days ago. He won’t say anything else without his solicitor.”
“And the daughter?”
“She seems to be the most sensible one in the house, shame she doesn’t live there.”
Lou thought for a moment. “We should talk to her properly, I think. Get to know her a bit.” She looked around for a suitable person, aware that allocating tasks was something she should trust to her sergeant—old habits were dying hard. “Andy, can you take that for me?”
He looked up in surprise. Did he think he’d done his bit?
“I’ve got meetings—I was going to brief the CSIs, sort out the Fletcher-Normans.”
He was trying it on, Lou thought. She took a deep breath. “Nevertheless, since you’re going to be across the road from the farm most of the day, I’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to talk to Flora.”
“Jane’s going to be at the farm all day.”
An embarrassed hush descended on the briefing room and for a moment they all faded into the background, even Buchanan, until it was just her and Andy, facing each other. It reminded her of the last confrontation they’d had, when she’d been in tears and he’d been tender, gentle with her, pleading. She hadn’t backed down then, either.
There was a cough and Ali Whitmore raised a hand. “Ma’am, I’d like to take that one, if I can? I’ve worked on Nigel Maitland before, so I might be able to bring something to that line of inquiry . . . if it would help?”
Andy kept up the hard stare but didn’t say anything else. It was tempting to push him to take the job but he’d been thrown a lifeline by Whitmore. Really, that had been embarrassing and unprofessional. He should have known better, and the room was charged with excitement now, as if they’d all enjoyed the little argument.
“That would be really helpful, Ali, thank you. Which brings us neatly on to intel,” Lou said briskly. “Barry—anything useful?”
“We should be getting some stuff in this morning. One thing
Andy coughed to make sure he had everyone’s full attention. “Right. Well, I understand we’re working on the possibility of the cases being linked. If you weren’t here yesterday, come and see me and I can give you an update after the briefing. To summarize: Barbara Fletcher-Norman was found around the same time as Polly. She was in her car at the bottom of Ambleside Quarry. We’re still waiting on the full PM report, which should be later today. Patrol reported that when they went to give the death message to Brian Fletcher-Norman, there was blood in the kitchen of Hayselden Barn, as if someone had washed their hands in the sink. The Barn’s been sealed since then, but until now we’ve not had the powers to go in. However, the CSI report from Yonder Cottage shows Barbara Fletcher-Norman’s bloody fingerprints in the kitchen and the hallway. She was in the cottage when Polly was dead or dying, and so we have a suspect, albeit a dead one.”
There was a little murmur from the people in the room.
“Thanks,” Lou said. “Les, did you get back to Dr. Francis about the seat belt?”
Les peered round Andy Hamilton. “Yeah. She had half fallen out of it when she was hanging upside down, but it was in place. I’m off back to the hospital in a minute for the rest of the PM.”
“When can we get CSI into the Barn—do we know?”
“Later today. Simon Hughes is going to be the senior.”
Lou had all but forgotten that Buchanan was there; this was one of her favorite bits of the job, bringing everything together, prioritizing, making sure that things got done and nothing was left out.
“Okay. Our priority for today is to find out what the connection was between Polly Leuchars and the Fletcher-Normans. How’s Miranda getting on with the Maitlands—anyone know?”
Jane Phelps said, “She’s still there. There seems to be plenty of people paying visits to the farm. Nigel Maitland claims he was out all day, came home late, last saw Polly a few days ago. He won’t say anything else without his solicitor.”
“And the daughter?”
“She seems to be the most sensible one in the house, shame she doesn’t live there.”
Lou thought for a moment. “We should talk to her properly, I think. Get to know her a bit.” She looked around for a suitable person, aware that allocating tasks was something she should trust to her sergeant—old habits were dying hard. “Andy, can you take that for me?”
He looked up in surprise. Did he think he’d done his bit?
“I’ve got meetings—I was going to brief the CSIs, sort out the Fletcher-Normans.”
He was trying it on, Lou thought. She took a deep breath. “Nevertheless, since you’re going to be across the road from the farm most of the day, I’d appreciate it if you’d take a moment to talk to Flora.”
“Jane’s going to be at the farm all day.”
An embarrassed hush descended on the briefing room and for a moment they all faded into the background, even Buchanan, until it was just her and Andy, facing each other. It reminded her of the last confrontation they’d had, when she’d been in tears and he’d been tender, gentle with her, pleading. She hadn’t backed down then, either.
There was a cough and Ali Whitmore raised a hand. “Ma’am, I’d like to take that one, if I can? I’ve worked on Nigel Maitland before, so I might be able to bring something to that line of inquiry . . . if it would help?”
Andy kept up the hard stare but didn’t say anything else. It was tempting to push him to take the job but he’d been thrown a lifeline by Whitmore. Really, that had been embarrassing and unprofessional. He should have known better, and the room was charged with excitement now, as if they’d all enjoyed the little argument.
“That would be really helpful, Ali, thank you. Which brings us neatly on to intel,” Lou said briskly. “Barry—anything useful?”
“We should be getting some stuff in this morning. One thing
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