Murder on the Downs by Julie Wassmer

Author:Julie Wassmer [Wassmer, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, General, Crime
ISBN: 9781472130099
Google: 31M9xAEACAAJ
Amazon: B07QZR1M3V
Goodreads: 52610047
Publisher: Constable
Published: 2020-09-29T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Pearl stretched her body and reached a hand out towards McGuire but found only an empty space beside her. Opening her eyes, she saw that he was standing near the bed having just zipped up his jeans. As he grabbed his shirt from the back of a chair, her gaze lingered on him – tracing the contours of his strong arms and suntanned back. A moment later, she asked sleepily: ‘What time is it?’

McGuire looked back at her, still lying in the bed he had just shared with her. The morning sunlight crept through the window, falling on her dark curls spread upon the pillow. He said softly: ‘Time I left.’ But then he lay down beside her, pressed his lips against hers and toyed with a ringlet of her hair as he went on: ‘I still owe you dinner.’

‘Can’t you to stay for breakfast?’ she asked. At that moment, the bells of St Alfred’s Church rang out. ‘Hear that?’ she said. ‘They’re chiming for early Communion. It’s Sunday. A day of rest.’

McGuire was clearly tempted but shook his head. ‘Next time.’ He got up.

‘Scared to find out if my Eggs Benedict are better than yours?’ she asked.

McGuire’s smile quickly faded. ‘I’m still in the middle of this investigation.’

At that moment, his smartphone beeped. Checking it, he remained silent for a moment as he carefully read an incoming e-mail. Noting his expression, Pearl leaned up on an elbow to get closer. ‘What is it?’

‘Autopsy,’ he said. ‘Cause of death … Cardiac arrest brought on by …’ He trailed off as he read on.

‘What?’ asked Pearl impatiently.

‘A neurotoxin,’ said McGuire. ‘Nicotine.’

Pearl shook her head, confused. ‘But … Weller didn’t smoke.’ She frowned. ‘He said so himself in the restaurant – he told Peter Radcliffe he’d given up.’ McGuire looked back at her and she explained: ‘Radcliffe’s the councillor who’s been championing the development?’

‘You mean the same guy who brought Weller and Ritchie to the pageant?’

Pearl nodded. McGuire now showed her his smartphone, allowing her to read on.

‘Administered by … “injection”.’ She looked up to see McGuire quickly buttoning his shirt, then she continued reading. ‘Entry point was …’

‘Back of the neck,’ said McGuire, taking his phone from her hand.

‘But I … didn’t even know nicotine could be that toxic.’

‘Clearly someone did.’

‘Well, how on earth would you get hold of enough to inject?’

‘Easier than you think,’ said McGuire. ‘Have you ever seen a reusable unit for electronic cigarettes? They’re filled with concentrated solutions of liquid nicotine – as high as ten per cent in some cases – and readily available on the internet. A lot of it’s coming from overseas without much in the way of safety standards. Readily available. Poorly regulated.’ He raked his hands through his hair. ‘And the killer wouldn’t have needed that much. I’ve seen reports that just a teaspoonful of highly diluted e-liquid could be enough to kill a small child.’

As Pearl took this in, McGuire reached for his jacket. ‘I’ve got to go.’

Pearl tried to make sense of what she’d just learned.

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