The Truth We Chase by Carl Richards

Author:Carl Richards [Richards, Carl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: crime fiction, murder, Revenge, thriller, International Crime
Publisher: Carl Richards
Published: 2020-04-12T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

The Trial – Amanda Whixall

The Prosecution continues.

‘Let us concentrate on the events leading up to the murder of Ms Breathnach. We will start with evidence from Amanda Whixall, Reception and Hospitality Manager from The Riverside Lido Hotel.’

‘Mrs. Whixall, if I could start by outlining your experience in the hotel and hospitality trade, how many years have you been in this line of work?’

‘Since leaving school, so that would be nineteen years, although I’ve only been at the Riverside Lido for five years.’

‘And in that time, I presume you have experienced a variety of people and situations?’

Her reply starts with a nervous laugh. ‘Yes, you could say that!’

‘Is it normal for someone to book a room just for themselves, but then have a second person stay for the duration of the booking?’

‘Only the “day stays”, they tend to be people who are having an affair.’

‘So, that would be to conceal their presence in the hotel from other parties, such as a partner, husband or wife?’

‘Yes, that is correct, although I’ve never experienced it at this hotel, my experience of this type of booking is more common in the city centre hotels. If we are talking about this case, I’ve never known it for such a long duration, Mr Ryebank had booked the largest room we have and he paid a hefty single person supplement which he could have avoided if he had chosen a single room.’

‘So, on the face of it, by booking that type of room, Mr Ryebank was expecting company for the duration but wanted to conceal the fact he was actually sharing the room?’

‘On the face of it, yes. From my experience, people don’t want to pay any more for a room than they have to.’

‘How much extra did Mr Ryebank pay to stay in this deluxe room at your hotel?’

‘Three hundred and twenty pounds.’

‘Three hundred and twenty pounds extra! I hope he was happy with his stay.’

‘He did comment on several occasions in conversation with my staff, that he was delighted with the hotel and service.’

‘I’m sure he was! So, reading your Police statement, you confirm that you were on duty the day Ms Breathnach arrived, which was the second day of Mr Ryebank’s stay, and dealt with her in person, as, at that time, you were covering the front reception desk. Your statement goes on to say that Mr Ryebank arrived in the reception area as you were speaking with Ms Breathnach and that when they embraced, they looked very much in love with each other.’

‘That is correct, I was on reception and they did look very much in love, I was quite envious in a way, you don’t often see such genuinely warm affection being displayed in public anymore.’

‘...And for the record, it didn’t look as if they were meeting for the first time in seventeen years?’

‘No, not in my experience. I’ve seen many people meeting during my time in the hotel and hospitality business, friends, family, colleagues, reunions. You can gauge how long

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