Blood Spots: A gripping Suffolk coast murder mystery full of twists (Steph Grant Murder Mystery Series Book 5) by Lin Le Versha

Author:Lin Le Versha [Versha, Lin Le]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hobeck Books Limited
Published: 2025-02-18T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

MONDAY 19TH AUGUST: 8.20PM

Steph checked her watch. Eight twenty. He was cutting it fine. At that moment, the door crashed open, and Hale rushed in, threw his bag on the armchair, pulled out a notebook and pen and sat in front of the laptop Steph had set up on the dining table. He pulled another chair beside him, waved at Steph to sit in it, and opened the zoom link.

After several clicks, Hale’s picture filled the screen, then shrunk to half size as another picture split the screen. A very good-looking, dark-haired man in his late forties or early fifties appeared on the screen sitting in front of a loaded bookcase, crammed with old leather volumes, punctuated in the gaps by small bronze sculptures and silver-framed photographs. The large window to his left showed parkland beyond.

Steph wished she’d inserted one those false backgrounds – a field of wildflowers or a sky filled with stars instead of the dull bay window and desk piled high with papers behind them. Hugo Dubois appeared to be sitting in a picture book French chateau. Naz had said Hugo was loaded – now she could see what he meant.

Hale moved the laptop ensuring Steph was in the picture. ‘Good evening, Monsieur Dubois, I am Chief Inspector Hale of the Suffolk police, and this is Steph Grant, who is working with me on the case. Thank you for agreeing to talk to us.’

Even Hugo’s frown made him look like a thoughtful philosopher rather than a grumpy man being interviewed by the police! Steph could see why he was so popular in his early twenties. ‘Case? What case may I help you with?’

Hale had adopted his best phone voice, which made Steph smile. ‘We are investigating the death of Jessica Marlowe, whom you would have known as Jessica Connell?’

The elegant frown re-appeared, along with a shake of his head. ‘No … I don’t think I know this woman.’

‘It was a long time ago in 1989 when you played Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream here in Oakwood.’ In the pause, which Hale allowed to run, Hugo closed his eyes as if re-playing his memories. ‘She played Helena.’

Hugo opened his eyes, and a wide smile appeared. ‘Oh, you mean the spaniel!’

‘Spaniel?’ Hale appeared puzzled.

‘Yes, that’s right, she’s the one who crawled around the stage after Demetrius.’ Steph interrupted, having recalled the newspaper review.

Hugo laughed. ‘And believe me, he wasn’t the only one she crawled after!’ His smile switched off suddenly. ‘Oh! I am sorry – you said she was dead?’

Hale nudged Steph under the table, which she took as a signal to carry on. ‘Yes, she died when a stage light fell on her. We suspect it was murder. In our investigation, we think her death may be linked to the last play she did in Oakwood in 1989. I wonder if you can tell us anything you can remember that was strange, unusual or anything that may have led to her death thirty years later?’

Hugo closed his eyes, evidently recalling his experience from long ago.

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