Murder in the Round by Bruce Beckham

Author:Bruce Beckham [Beckham, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lucius
Published: 2024-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

16. SINCLAIR DESIGN II

Carlisle – 2.40 p.m. Thursday 6 June

‘RIGHT, THANK YOU, Mrs Lawson. We’ll look forward to seeing you and Mr Lawson tomorrow. Please let us know if there’s any problem with his flight.’

DS Jones ends the call, but remains staring at the screen of her mobile.

‘She’s working from home, again.’

DS Leyton, occupied by watching a red traffic light, steals a quick glance at his colleague.

‘Don’t suppose we should read too much into that, especially not nowadays.’

DS Jones nods and slips the handset into her satchel.

‘She’s going to call Jules now – and ask her to accommodate us. She said we’re welcome to use her office – apparently they’ve got clients in the main meeting room.’

DS Leyton makes a murmur of assent.

‘I didn’t quite get the gist of what she said about the training runs.’

DS Jones tilts her head a little from side to side.

‘More or less the same as Morag Sinclair. One of Sebastian Sinclair’s conditions was that they didn’t make a song and dance about it. So they’ve posted nothing on social media.’

‘Not even Frank Lawson?’

‘She said he’s probably told people in passing – at his golf club, business clients – but just informal chat – to impress, no doubt.’

‘Did she sound suspicious – that you were asking?’

DS Jones does not answer immediately. She replays the conversation in her mind. Having previously exchanged numbers, Victoria Lawson could not have been surprised by who was calling – she did not have to take the call. Compared to two days ago she sounded a little more buoyant – but still there was a tremor in her voice, as if underlying distress could break through at any moment. She had asked about their progress and was disappointed when met with ineffectual platitudes. But there will be the chance tomorrow to broach the subject of the threat to Sebastian Sinclair – something the detectives have agreed they want to do in person, and when both the Lawsons are present. She had not questioned DS Jones’s request that they would like to speak to the person who handles the mail.

DS Jones now shakes her head in response.

‘No – not at all, I’d say. Something, perhaps – but not suspicion.’

But DS Leyton has skidded to a halt in Portland Square, and is now craning over his shoulder, straining the button of his shirt collar as he performs a rapid reverse manoeuvre.

‘Handy – that’s our private parking space free, again.’

They are shown into Victoria Lawson’s ground-floor office by the same flamboyant receptionist (today’s ensemble featuring the creative use of brightly patched denim, and the hairstyle a topknot) and invited to sit at an arrangement of minimalistic Bauhaus armchairs that surrounds a matching chrome-framed coffee table, set into the expansive bay window. They accept the offer of refreshments, and are informed that Jules will be down shortly.

The room is immediately off the entrance hall, overlooking the front. It is a grand salon, with a high ceiling and intricate cornices, and an original fireplace; but it is sparsely furnished, with stylish artworks on each of the walls.

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