Gathering Clouds: The Freeman Files Series: Book 23 by Ted Tayler

Author:Ted Tayler [Tayler, Ted]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-01T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

Gus donned his overcoat, tucked the file folder under his arm, and trotted downstairs to the car park. His hopes for a quieter drive home in the middle of the afternoon were dented by a minor traffic accident in Shrewton. A milk float must have skidded on the icy road and overturned. There was broken glass everywhere on the right-hand-side of the narrow road through the village. It would be single-file traffic for several hours yet. Gus turned the Focus through the gateway of the bungalow a few minutes before three.

After a cup of coffee, he sat in the lounge with the murder file and prepared a set of questions for Jeff Sheppard. Gus remembered he and Suzie would be visiting Worton Farm in the morning. If Blessing was out of bed, he could run through the list with her. Five minutes tomorrow would save precious time on Monday morning. Holmwood House wasn’t far from Bourne Hill nick, but Jeff’s insistence they didn’t disrupt his daily Tai Chi session at ten-thirty meant they were tight for time.

After suffering the traumas of the crime scene photos and Jeff Sheppard’s autopsy report, Gus sought more information on Mandy Howard. Something had been troubling him ever since he had spoken with Emily Farrell.

Gus found a report of an interview his new pal, Phil Crocker, had with another council employee. Gillian Lye had been a year younger than Mandy Howard and worked in Adult Care. There was an address and a contact number in the file. He wondered whether it was too late to call today and then dialled the number anyway.

“Gillian Lye?” asked Gus.

“Yes. How may I help you?”

“My name is Gus Freeman, a consultant with Wiltshire Police. We’ve reopened the investigation into Mandy Howard’s murder. I shall be working at Bourne Hill Police Station from Monday morning. I want to set up a meeting as soon as possible. When would be convenient?”

“I can be available Tuesday morning at ten o’clock,” said Gillian. “My diary for the next three days would make it impossible to meet you before then, I’m afraid.”

“I imagine you have to make home visits in your job,” said Gus. “I understand, but as you and Mandy lived together for over a year, we must hear what you can tell us about her.”

“I won’t be popular with my boss,” said Gillian, “but I’ll book a half-day holiday on Tuesday. Do you have my home address?”

Gus checked the details from the murder file report were unchanged, and he told Gillian he would arrive in Hilltop Way at ten on Tuesday morning with a female colleague.

“Okay, see you then,” said Gillian.

Gus ran through the report again and compiled another list of questions.

Phil Crocker had first asked Gillian Lye about her role with Adult Care for Salisbury Council.

“We support independent lives in our communities,” she replied. “We always try to support people in their own homes, but sometimes people must move to more suitable accommodation to continue to live independently. We try to ensure there is always a range of accommodations that allows people to be supported at home.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.