Read Murder at the Rocks for Free Online

answering a few questions?’
    ‘Yes, of course.  If you’ll come this way, Inspector.’  Parish turned back into the building.  ‘The offices are on the first floor.’
    Fitzjohn glanced around the small entrance way.  ‘Where does that door lead, Mr Parish?
    ‘Into the back of the jewellery shop.’  Parish started up the stairs.  Fitzjohn followed, the sound of Howard Parish’s laboured breathing filling the stairwell.
    ‘Are there stairs at the front of the premises?’
    ‘Yes.  Accessed from the street.’
    ‘And what’s on the second floor?’
    ‘Two workshops.’
    When Howard Parish reached the landing, he hesitated for a moment and took a deep breath.  ‘I find the stairs rather taxing these days.’  He pointed to a doorway.  ‘Through here, Inspector.’  Fitzjohn followed him into Brayshaw’s main office, looking at the clock on the wall as he did so.
    ‘You must have arrived early this morning,’ said Fitzjohn.
    ‘I did.  Half past six to be precise.’
    ‘Is it your usual practice?’
    ‘It varies.  If I’m behind in my work I like to come in an hour or so before we open.’  Parish raised his eyebrows.  ‘Less interruption.’
    ‘Detective Sergeant Betts tells me there’s been a disturbance in one of the offices.’
    ‘Yes, there is.  Through here, Inspector.’  Fitzjohn followed Parish to an open doorway on the far side of the main office where two forensic officers went about their tasks.  His eyes took in the wood panelled room, its walls adorned with photographs, military medals and plaques.  At his feet a cabinet lay on its side, the glass doors smashed.
    ‘Do you have any idea what happened here, Mr Parish?’
    Howard Parish shook his head.  ‘No.’
    ‘Then you weren’t the last person to leave Brayshaw’s last night?’  Fitzjohn followed Parish back out into the main office.
    ‘No.  I had an appointment at the bank so I left early.  Mr Harford was still here, as was our Office Administrator, Constance Plummer, and Mr Holmes.’
    ‘Holmes?’
    ‘Yes.  He manages our jewellery shop downstairs.’
    ‘I see.  So, all was well when you left?’
    Howard Parish’s hand trembled as he grabbed the top edge of a metal filing cabinet.  ‘No, it wasn’t.  As I left, Mr Holmes and Mr Harford were having words.’
    ‘You mean they were arguing?’
    ‘In a word, yes.’
    ‘Did this happen often?’
    ‘Before Mr Edward Harford’s retirement due to ill health, never, but since…’  Howard Parish paused.  ‘Laurence Harford was a man of uneven temper, I’m afraid, Inspector.’
    ‘And he and Holmes didn’t get along?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘You say, Edward Harford.  I take it he was Laurence Harford’s brother.’
    ‘Yes, his older brother.  By quite a few years, I understand.’  Howard Parish ran his hand over his brow as beads of sweat appeared.
    Fitzjohn, aware of Parish’s increasing anxiety stopped his questioning.  ‘Is there somewhere we can sit down, Mr Parish?’
    A look of relief came to the older man’s face.  ‘Yes.  My office is just along here, Inspector.’  Parish led the way to a small glassed in room overlooking the street below.  He gestured for Fitzjohn to sit down before settling himself into the chair behind his desk.
    ‘Tell me, Mr Parish, when did you last see Laurence Harford alive?’
    Howard Parish cleared his throat.  ‘When I left for the bank just before five o’clock yesterday afternoon.’
    ‘Have you found anything unusual about Laurence Harford’s behaviour in recent days?’
    ‘Well, as I mentioned before, he’s never been an even tempered man, but in the past few days, I did find him particularly irritable.  On edge, so to speak.’
    ‘Do you have any idea why?’
    ‘No.  He wasn’t the sort of person who shared his thoughts, Inspector’
    Fitzjohn glanced back over his shoulder into the main office.  ‘How many employees are there altogether, Mr Parish?’
    ‘Between the jewellery