The Fourth String (A Fitzjohn Mystery Book 7) by Jill Paterson

Author:Jill Paterson [Paterson, Jill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J. Henderson
Published: 2017-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

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The two officers emerged from the elevator onto the eleventh floor and walked into the reception area of Worthington & Bentley to be greeted at the front desk by a woman in her mid-forties, her bobbed hairdo framing rectangular black-rimmed glasses.

‘You must be Mr Worthington’s next appointment,’ she said, turning to her computer screen. ‘Mr..?’

‘DCI Fitzjohn and DS Betts,’ replied Fitzjohn, moving a vase of flowers slightly aside as he held up his warrant card before looking at the woman’s nameplate. ‘We don’t have an appointment, Ms Brill, but we would like to have a word with Mr Worthington.’

‘Well, I’m afraid that presents somewhat of a problem and may not be possible,’ replied Ms Brill, moving the vase back in place. ‘I’ll have to have a word with Mr Worthington to see if he can fit you in.’ Brill stood up, her tall thin shape towering over Fitzjohn. ‘Wait here, I won’t be a moment,’ she added looking down her nose at him.

As she scurried away, Fitzjohn and Betts remained at the reception desk and waited. ‘I think we’ve upset her appointment schedule,’ said Betts with a grin.

‘It can’t be helped.’

‘I don’t think she liked you moving her flowers either, sir. It might work against us.’

‘Well, let’s just hope Mr Worthington isn’t quite so pedantic as his receptionist,’ replied Fitzjohn.

As Fitzjohn spoke, Ms Brill reappeared, followed by a short wiry man in his mid-fifties. ‘Good morning, gentlemen, I’m Geoffrey Worthington. I understand you need to see me. Come this way, won’t you?’

Under Ms Brill’s glare, the two officers followed Worthington into a large office at the end of the hallway, its window overlooking the street below.

‘Please, have a seat,’ he said as he settled himself behind his desk before making a steeple with his fingers. ‘Now, how can I help?’

‘We’re investigating the death of Crispin Fairchild whom we believe was your client,’ replied Fitzjohn as he sat down in a soft leather chair.

‘Yes, he was, albeit for a short period of time, I might add. Even so, I was saddened to hear of his death; and in such tragic circumstances,’ replied Worthington, sitting forward. ‘But I don’t see how I can be of assistance.’

‘Any information you have concerning his situation, in general, would help,’ replied Fitzjohn. ‘For instance, we understand he’d only recently returned to Australia.’

‘That’s correct, so as I said before, our association was short. We only met on one occasion which was the initial appointment when he gave me instructions to draw up his will. Having said that, however, we did have quite a lengthy discussion about his reason for making a new will. He told me that he’d recently returned to Australia to take up his post as the conductor of the Sydney Symphony after spending most of the last twenty odd years in Italy — Milan, I believe — where he’d married and made his home.’

‘But we’re led to believe he returned to Australia alone,’ said Fitzjohn

‘That’s right, he did. He and his wife had been

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