any actual evidence linking it?â
âWitness statements to say that Brian Fletcher-Norman was having an affair with Polly Leuchars. Witness statements going on about how unstable Barbaraâthatâs our body in the quarryâwas, how she was jealous, an alcoholic.â
âEvidence, Andy? Rather than village gossip?â
âNothing yet. I reckon Barbara went over to confront Polly about her affair with Brian, got riled up enough to kill her, then went back to the Barn. Washed her hands, was overcome with remorse, drove drunk to the quarry, and went over. Accidentally on purpose.â
âThanks for that, Sherlock.â
âYouâre welcome.â
âIf you know anything more by tomorrow morning, come to the briefing?â
âWouldnât miss it.â
Every little thing felt like flirting where Hamilton was concerned. Did he do it to everyone, or just to Lou? And how did you stamp your authority on the working relationship when there was this sort of history between you? Two months ago sheâd been a DI, and his ranking equal. When it had happened, sheâd been his sergeant. Her swift rise to DCI was all to do with her grim determination to get her head down and concentrate on work rather than let herself be distracted by men, or one man in particularâAndy Hamilton.
Sooner or later she was going to have to have a chat with him. It wasnât going to be pleasant, but it had to be better than this.
She dialed the number for Mr. Buchananâs secretary. No answer, of course, not at this time of night. She tried the mobile, and got the answering service.
âSir, Lou Smith. Sorry I didnât get back to you earlier. Iâm guessing you were calling about the second case in Morden. Iâve sent Andy Hamilton over to establish links, if there are any. Hope this is okay. If you need me, the mobileâs on, otherwise Iâll brief you tomorrow first thing. Thanks. Bye.â
With luck, Buchanan wouldnât phone back tonight.
The next person on the list was Jane Phelps, who had finally made it back to the office. Lou had worked with Jane before, had confidence in her.
âHowâs the house-to-house?â
Jane waved a small pile of papers. âAll done for now. Area had covered most of it before we got there. Lots of people seem to be away on holidayâitâs that sort of place, weekenders and well-off families. And I tell you what, some of these women who sit at home all day planning lunch partiesâit feels like all they want to do is gossip about their neighbors. You wouldnât believe some of the things theyâve come up with.â
âI think I know what youâre going to say, but carry on, I like a good goss.â
âWell . . .â Jane rifled through the pages, handwritten at this stage. âMrs. Newbury at Willow Cottage, she seems to think Polly was having an affair with Nigel Maitland. Apparently heâs the reason she came here to work.â
Lou raised her eyebrows.
âMarjorie Baker from Esperance Villaâhonestly, Iâm not making it upâseems to think it was Brian Fletcher-Norman that Polly was seeing. Saw Brian coming out of Yonder Cottage once late at night when she went round there to deliver a Christian Aid leaflet or something.â
Just as Hamilton had said: Polly Leuchars and the man from the Barn across the road. But Nigel Maitland as well?
âHave we got anything we can actually use?â
âThe next house along, toward the pub, is Rowe House. Occupantâs a Mr. Wright, a weekender from London. Heâs staying for the week with his two children because of it being half term. Says he was woken up at two fifteen by the noise of a car driving along the lane at speed. Didnât look out of his window, went back to sleep.â
âOkay. Letâs get a proper statement from him. Remind me, where does that lane end up if you follow it in that
Hundreds of Years to Reform a Rake