Purple Death by Brian L. Porter

Author:Brian L. Porter [Porter, Brian L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Creativia
Published: 2014-04-10T23:00:00+00:00

Revisiting the Past

Connor and Clay sat at one side of the well-polished pine refectory table that took centre stage in the Stride's kitchen. At the other side of the table sat Mary Stride, looking pale and visibly shaking as she faced the two detectives. Constable Rawson sat beside Mary comforting her as necessary and Paul Bowers stood guard on the kitchen door with orders from Connor to admit no-one until they'd finished talking with the grieving doctor. Four cups of hot steaming tea stood on the table, made by Sue Rawson. After introducing himself and Lucy, Connor had asked Rawson to put the kettle on and make them all a drink in the hope that it would help to try and compose the grieving woman before asking her to relate her story. He could see the sorry state she was in and knew he'd get little of use from her until she was in a calmer frame of mind. Lucy Clay sat by his side, notebook and pen in hand, poised to record what just might be the words that would help them solve the case.

Mary Stride reached out with a trembling hand and took hold of the cup that Rawson had placed before her. It was all she could do to raise the cup to her lips and take a sip of the tea without it spilling over the lip of the cup and onto her clothes. She managed it, and the hot liquid seemed to have an instant calming effect on her; her hand trembling just a little less as she replaced the cup on the empty saucer.

Connor decided that the time was right to give Mary a little push.

“Doctor Stride? When you're ready I'd like you to repeat a little of what you've already related to Constable Rawson. I believe you seem to think that this is all your fault and that think you know who's responsible for all the recent deaths in and around the town. I need to hear your story for myself. When you're ready, please Doctor, in your own time.”

Mary Stride took a deep breath in an effort to regain a little more of her normal professional composure. She sniffed, reached for a tissue from the box that had magically appeared on the table courtesy of Rawson's forethought, and wiped the tears from her face. She appeared to slump into her chair for a second and then with what was probably a supreme effort on her part, she pulled her shoulders upwards and backwards, raised herself to her full seated height, and began.

“I'm the one responsible for all of this Inspector, because if I'd listened to my poor brother Mikey we could have helped you put a stop to this before it got this far and both he and Angela would still be alive. You see, I stopped him from calling the police despite his fears and his desire to `do the right thing' because I felt that our family had suffered enough

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