The Glass Room (Vera Stanhope 5) by Ann Cleeves

Author:Ann Cleeves [Cleeves, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780230763098
Publisher: Macmillan Publishers UK
Published: 2012-02-02T06:00:00+00:00

Later, over strong coffee – she couldn’t imagine ever sleeping again, so caffeine was the least of her worries – she tried to explain to Vera Stanhope. They were back in the chapel. Outside, professionals in blue paper suits, looking oddly androgynous, had covered the whole terrace in a white tent. The other participants of the course had been taken away in taxis to a nearby hotel. Statements would be taken, Vera said. Their belongings would be returned to them once they’d been searched. Then they’d probably be allowed to go home. Holly was in the room too, taking notes. There was no sign of the young male detective. Nina would have preferred him there. He was less intrusive than Holly. Throughout the interview she was aware of the young woman’s presence. Even when taking notes she demanded attention.

‘So how many people would have read your story?’ Vera asked.

‘Nobody. I was going to read part last night. That scene. The body on the terrace. Then Joanna’s Jack arrived and interrupted.’

‘Coincidence then.’

Nina set her notebook on the table. ‘Read it,’ she said.

Vera bent down and took a pair of latex gloves from her bag, then pulled the book towards her and began to read. Once she had problems deciphering the handwriting and asked Nina to give her the word. When she’d finished, she closed it carefully.

‘The way the furniture is arranged is exactly as I described it in the story,’ Nina said. ‘The candle, the colour of the holder, the position of the glasses, the cup and the ashtray. Surely more than a coincidence.’

‘No mention of a handkerchief. We found a handkerchief under the table.’

Nina didn’t know what to say to that.

‘Maybe it had been dropped there during the day.’ Vera seemed lost in thought. ‘Or maybe not.’

‘You think the killer could have left it?’

‘That’d be good, wouldn’t it? Check for DNA and case closed.’

Vera gave a little laugh, and Nina saw she didn’t think it would be that simple.

‘The candle was there last night,’ Vera said. ‘Joanna and her bloke were sitting there, having a meaningful discussion with Giles Rickard.’ She paused.

Nina thought at least the detective was taking her seriously. Otherwise she might think she was going mad.

‘But it was a different-coloured holder. And no ashtray,’ Vera went on. ‘And there were only wine glasses. No coffee cup. And the chairs were in different places. So it was deliberately set up later to resemble your writing. Some bugger’s playing games.’

She leaned forward so that her face was only inches from Nina’s. ‘You do see how it looks? Your sleeping pills used to drug Professor Ferdinand. Now you’ve described in detail the manner of Miranda’s death, days before it happened. As if you’re some kind of fortune-teller. You’re implicated, whether you like it or not.’

‘Why would I kill Miranda? I didn’t know her.’ Nina heard the hysteria in her voice and tried to breathe through it. ‘If someone went into my room to take the pills, they could have gone in to read my story too.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.