Dark Rooms: the brand new 2022 Jane Tennison thriller from the bestselling crime writer, Lynda La Plante by Lynda La Plante

Author:Lynda La Plante
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jane was with Mr Hadley for two hours. They had a tense meeting with the head of the care home, Miss Summers, who was adamant that none of her staff would have taken the necklace, but Jane insisted that she would need to question them and might be obliged to file a report of theft because of the pearls’ value.

Hadley was becoming increasingly upset, particularly when Jane suggested to him that Jason Thorpe might have taken the pearls when he visited Helena on the Monday night – or perhaps Helena had given them to him.

‘Absolutely not! She would never have given them willingly to him,’ he insisted, clearly angry.

Jane also noted his reaction as Miss Summers handed her the death certificate, stating that Helena had died as a result of her injuries from a fall.

Jane said she would contact the local Sussex CID as Helena’s death had occurred in their jurisdiction. Although it appeared accidental, Jane thought it best that a full post-mortem was carried out and in the meantime the room should be sealed and examined by Sussex scene of crime officers.

Hadley clenched his fists.

‘Yes, I think it is of utmost importance,’ he said forcefully. He turned to Jane. ‘Thank you. I shall take it upon myself to inform her family.’

*

Jane returned to the station around three and got straight on the phone to Sussex CID. After a lengthy discussion, they agreed to order a full post-mortem and let her know the results. She knew Carter would go ballistic when he found out, so she was relieved to be told that he was tied up in meetings with the lawyer of one of the young men he had arrested on a burglary charge. She decided to take the window of opportunity that had been presented to her.

‘Come on, Tim,’ she said, walking over to DCI Taylor’s desk, ‘let’s go to Australia House and pick up our visas.’

On the way out, Jane told the duty sergeant that she would be at home if she was needed, anticipating that she would have a weekend off-duty as she was going to be flying to Australia.

By the time she got home, it was after six. Eddie was there working on his own, hanging wallpaper in the sitting room. He had erected a large pasting table and had already covered one wall.

Jane had stopped off at the local off-licence to buy a bottle of wine, holding it up as she walked into the room.

‘Wow! This looks fantastic!’ she exclaimed.

‘Yeah, I think it’s going to be OK,’ Eddie said, ‘but I’m not sure about doing all four walls in the same paper. Maybe one wall should a lighter shade of the green? Up to you.’

‘Listen, I’ve been happy with everything you’ve done so far, so it’s your choice. Is the bathroom plumbed in?’

‘Yup, first thing this morning. The putty should be dry by now, and we’ll have the tiles up tomorrow. Go and have a look in your bedroom. I’ve already papered the walls in there.

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