Deadly Whispers in Lower Dimblebrook by Julie Butterfield

Author:Julie Butterfield [Butterfield, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Butterfield Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Cecelia Lambourne looked less than impressed to find DI Wainwright in her drawing-room yet again, but nevertheless she asked Mrs Higgins to serve tea and settled in her high-backed armchair.

‘What can I do for you today, Detective Inspector Wainwright? Or have you come to tell us that you've finally found the person who murdered my daughter-in-law?’

The censure in her voice didn’t go unnoticed, the lack of progress in this case was beginning to feel like a weight around his shoulders.

‘I was hoping to talk to your son.’

‘Again. I fail to see what you think he could tell you now that he hasn't already mentioned. The only thing that my son wants to talk about is you catching the person responsible for his wife’s murder and letting him come to terms with Fiona’s tragic death.’

Wondering why all the villagers were so supportive of Cecelia Lambourne, he gritted his teeth and hung onto the pleasant tone he had adopted.

‘Finding the person who killed Fiona is what I want as well, Mrs Lambourne. But to achieve that, I need the co-operation of everybody, including your son and I need to speak to him. Now.’

Mrs Higgins appeared at the door with a tray that Wainwright had no doubt was silver and containing a tea service he suspected was Wedgewood.

‘Would you ask Anthony to join us please,’ Cecelia instructed and then proceeded to ignore Wainwright as she poured tea for each of them and waited in icy silence for her son to appear.

‘Good morning. Any news?’ asked Anthony hopefully, his face falling at the shake of the head he received in return.

‘I've actually come to ask you more about the morning in question. About your movements in particular.’

Wainwright saw Cecelia sit up even straighter, if that were possible.

‘I understand from Eric Bryson that you didn't travel to the stonemason together but you each took your own car.’

‘Yes, that’s correct.’

‘And that Mr Bryson arrived 15 minutes before you did.’

‘I don't know what time Eric arrived.’

‘We do. And it was 15 minutes before you eventually arrived.’

Anthony shrugged his shoulders. ‘If you say so.’

‘What we would like to know, Mr Lambourne, is why it took you 30 minutes to make a 15 minute drive to the stonemason.’

‘I didn't leave at the same time as Eric. He set off and I sat in my car making a few notes about the plans we’d drawn up. I wanted it clear in my head before we spoke to the stonemason. I don’t know how long I sat there but when I’d finished, I followed Eric and we carried on our meeting.’

‘And did you see anybody during this sojourn in your car? Did you phone anybody, speak to anybody? Did anybody see you sitting outside Woodbine Cottage making notes?’

Anthony shrugged again. ‘I didn't speak to anyone, I have no idea if anyone saw me. I don't understand why you’re asking all this now, I gave a full statement at the time covering my movements.’

DI Wainwright had already demanded to know who had taken the statement from Eric Bryson and why such an important point hadn’t been clarified.

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