THE LANGSTONE HARBOUR MURDERS a gripping crime thriller full of twists (The Solent Murder Mysteries Book 2) by PAULINE ROWSON

Author:PAULINE ROWSON [ROWSON, PAULINE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Published: 2022-02-23T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Horton stared at the body lying face down in the pool of crimson water and knew immediately from the build and the dark suit that it was Tom Edney. His breath caught in his throat and he felt a mixture of dismay, anger and guilt. Oh, the stupid man; why hadn’t Edney told him what was troubling him? He might have been able to save him. Why hadn’t Horton pressed him harder or taken him in for questioning? But Horton knew that ruminating on what might have been wouldn’t get him his killer. It had to be Ranson. He was the only one left in the frame, except for Morville, and though Horton disliked the alcoholic he didn’t think Morville was the killer.

But could Ranson really have done this? Horton wondered, surveying the scene. The urinals and walls were spattered with blood; a tap was running into one of the washbasins and the water was trickling over onto the tiled floor. Horton recalled the architect’s fastidious appearance and supercilious manner. Somehow he just couldn’t see him killing Edney in such a messy manner. Ranson would have been covered in blood. Then another thought occurred to Horton: could Edney have taken his own life after once again seeing his precious prize of headship being snatched away?

Dr Price interrupted his thoughts. ‘Can’t remember when I last had one of these. His throat’s been cut. Want me to go through his pockets?’

Horton tensed and stared down at the body, which Price had gently eased over far enough for Horton to see the manner of death, but not so far as to disturb the scene before Taylor and his scene-of-crime officers went to work. ‘No. I know who he is. Could he have done that himself?’

‘Hard for me to say without a proper examination, but I doubt it; there’s no knife in his hand. It could have slid under one of the cubicles I suppose.’ Price straightened up with a grunt. ‘I’d say he’s been dead about two hours, maybe less. There’s only slight rigor in the neck.’

That long! Horton was surprised that nobody had discovered the body before the cleaner had found him just after sunset at six p.m., when he’d been about to lock up. But then the wet and windy weather had probably kept many indoors. Had Edney come straight from the school to meet his killer? Or had Ranson called Edney when he was en route to his home or elsewhere? They would need to check calls to and from the school and Edney’s mobile phone.

They stepped outside and Horton nodded Taylor in. Divesting himself of the scene suit Horton took a few deep breaths of the clean sea air trying to rid his lungs of the stench of death. It didn’t seem to have much effect; it lingered with him along with the gnawing guilt that he should have prevented this. He was sure that was what Uckfield was thinking; the big man’s face was suitably solemn as Dr Price relayed his findings to him.

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