The Scent of Death--A Sukey Reyholds British police procedural (29 page)

‘I'm sure that's not true,' she assured him. ‘It is one hell of a case and we've all been feeling pretty frustrated, but I'm sure Mr Leach knows that you're doing everything you possibly can to get a result. I have to admit I share your doubts about Grayson; there's no doubt he had a motive but the only evidence we have against him is circumstantial and not enough to detain him. But if neither he nor Freeman is our man, the question is where else to look? From a quick scroll down Rainbird's laptop there doesn't appear to be anyone else there with means, motive and opportunity.'

‘You're right,' he agreed despondently. ‘In fact Freeman is the only one actually known to have been at Dallington Manor when both Rainbird and Law were killed, with Grayson another possibility on the grounds that he had an even stronger motive and has no alibi, plus he was actually in the neighbourhood the day of Law's murder. We'll have a thorough go at him tomorrow and see how long it will be before he breaks. And if he doesn't break, I can't for the life of me think where to look next.' He took refuge once again in his coffee, swallowed and then waved the empty cup to and fro as he continued, ‘I'm pretty sure of one thing; Rainbird and Law were killed by the same person. Rainbird's murder was premeditated, Law was killed out of necessity – he simply became a threat and had to be eliminated. But who carried out those murders? Where else do we start looking? You know what, Sukey? What we need is another of your famous hunches.'

‘I'll see what I can do,' she promised, and he held out a hand.

‘You're a mate,' he said, and for the first time that day he appeared to relax. ‘Thanks for listening. See you in the morning.'

When Sukey reached home she found a message from Harry. ‘Another day in court and none of the accused is cracking so far. How has your day gone?'

‘It's getting interesting. Rainbird's laptop has some very interesting stuff in it that we have to follow up.'

‘A new lead?'

‘Maybe, but I'm not saying any more for now.'

‘Not even the tiniest hint?' he wheedled.

‘I'm sorry. Like I said, I promise you'll be the first to know once any info is released.'

‘OK, I understand.' He yawned. ‘It's been a long day and I'm turning in when I've watched the news. Talk tomorrow, love you.'

The next morning Rathbone greeted the team with the news that Grayson had managed to contact his own solicitor who, as he suspected, was on holiday in Austria. His advice was to use the services of a duty solicitor, so it was not until half past nine that Rathbone, Vicky and Sukey, with Mike and Tim as observers, assembled in the interview room, where Grayson and Fiona Girling, the duty solicitor and a woman of about his own age awaited them.

‘Right, Mr Grayson,' said Rathbone after completion of the formalities, ‘I hope you had a comfortable night.'

‘I've known better,' Grayson responded with a shrug.

‘And a good breakfast?'

‘It could have been worse.'

‘Right then. Let's go over the facts of the case. We know that Lance Rainbird was murdered and we know from the evidence in his personal files that he had enough information about your private life to cause you acute embarrassment, to say the least, and possibly financial ruin.'

‘One moment, Inspector,' said Fiona Girling, ‘my client has told me that he has not personally seen this file and has only your word that the information you refer to was contained in it.'

‘It is true that he has not actually seen the file, but when confronted with the information it contains he made no attempt to deny it. In addition, even before this came to light he had lied about his own movements at the crucial time.'

‘He maintains he had no intention of lying; it was a natural mistake.'

‘One which would have gone unnoticed but for the fact that last Saturday my colleague, DC Reynolds, happened to be in the place he claimed to have been and took the opportunity of checking your client's statement.'

‘I should like to hear from Constable Reynolds herself why she is so sure my client was lying about his whereabouts.'

Rathbone nodded at Sukey and she scrolled back in her notebook. ‘When my colleague DS Armstrong and I interviewed your client in his office last Tuesday afternoon I asked him as a matter of routine where he was between the hours of eight p.m. and midnight on the previous Friday and he said he was at the Ritz hotel, checking the arrangements for his mother-in-law's birthday party the following day.'

‘Do you accept that as a true record?' asked Rathbone. Grayson nodded.

‘It so happened,' Sukey continued, ‘that last Saturday I was lunching with a friend at the Rivoli Bar in the Ritz hotel and while there I took the opportunity of speaking to the events manager. He confirmed that your client was there on the day in question, but was quite positive that it was in the morning, not the evening.'

‘Thank you,' said Rathbone. ‘Have you any further questions, Ms Girling?'

‘Not for the moment.'

Rathbone turned back to Grayson. ‘The fact remains that without the evidence of your lover, Cynthia Franks, who was prepared at first to swear that you were with her but has now formally withdrawn that statement, you have no alibi for the night Rainbird was murdered in the grounds of Dallington Manor hotel. I put it to you, Mr Grayson,' Rathbone struck the desk with his forefinger to emphasize each point, ‘that Rainbird had told you he was in possession of information that would ruin you if it were made public, that he made certain demands as the price of his silence and that, having agreed to meet him, ostensibly to discuss those demands, you knocked him unconscious and pushed him into the lake, where he was later found drowned by a member of the hotel staff.'

‘No!' Grayson sat erect in his chair and met Rathbone's gaze without flinching. ‘I categorically deny the accusation.'

‘And I further put it to you,' Rathbone continued as if Grayson had not spoken, ‘that your attack on Rainbird was witnessed by one of the waiters at the hotel, that he too threatened you with exposure, and that two days later you found an opportunity to waylay him and throttle him.'

‘That is completely untrue.'

‘As untrue as Mrs Franks' original statement that she spent Friday evening and all night with you?'

Grayson had the grace to appear shamefaced. ‘I admit I did not contradict her statement when she made it in DC Reynolds' presence. I was not comfortable with it, but …'

Rathbone pounced. ‘You hoped – and no doubt believed – that Constable Reynolds would accept her statement without question so that you would not be exposed as a liar for the second time. Did you really suppose that an experienced detective would be that naive?'

‘I don't deny that to allow her to lie on my behalf was a cowardly act of which I am deeply ashamed.' Grayson's attitude changed from defiance to contrition, but he still met Rathbone's eye without flinching. ‘I can only repeat that I was at home alone from midday on Friday until my wife returned with her mother on Saturday morning.'

‘I believe the party was on Saturday evening. When did your mother take her mother home?'

‘On Sunday afternoon.'

‘Did she return the same day?'

‘No, she came home first thing Monday morning. By then of course she had learned of my brother John's death in the road accident. My wife is not a churchgoer but she did accompany me to church and sat with me holding my hand while I prayed for him.'

‘You are fortunate to have such a devoted and supportive wife,' said Rathbone. ‘Perhaps if she was aware that you have consistently been unfaithful to her she would be less sympathetic?'

‘That's a cruel thing to say, Inspector,' Grayson protested. ‘She was very fond of my brother and shared my grief. And before you put any more offensive questions, it so happens that for reasons which are highly personal my wife has accepted the fact that I have found the need to seek … what I might describe as certain solace … elsewhere.'

‘And she knew the identity of your current mistress?'

‘I doubt it; as I said before, she isn't a churchgoer.'

‘But she will no doubt be prepared to confirm that she was familiar with your special needs?'

‘I'm certain she will, but do you really have to drag her into this? She knows about Lance Rainbird's death, but she has no idea that I'm a suspect for his murder. I shall of course have to explain my sudden absence when I return home.'

‘Inspector Rathbone,' said Fiona Girling, ‘my client has admitted that his marital arrangements are unconventional but it is obvious that they are totally irrelevant to this case.'

‘May I remind you, Ms Girling,' he replied without shifting his gaze from Grayson, ‘that this is a murder enquiry and it is our duty to explore every possible avenue in our efforts to find the culprit, no matter how distasteful some people may find it. Mr Grayson, I put it to you again that, fearing Lance Rainbird would divulge the details of your sordid behaviour and so ruin your reputation, and unwilling to accede to whatever conditions he offered in exchange for his silence, you killed him, and subsequently killed Reginald Law because he had witnessed the attack and threatened you with exposure.'

‘I can only repeat what I have told you all along – I am totally innocent of these murders.'

Recalling how with one simple question Penny had caused Cynthia Franks to admit that she had given her lover a false alibi, Sukey gave Rathbone a discreet glance. He responded with a brief nod. ‘Mr Grayson,' she said, ‘as a committed Christian, are you prepared to swear on the Bible that what you have just told us is the truth?'

He solemnly raised his right hand. ‘As God is my witness, it is the absolute truth.'

‘Does that satisfy you, Inspector?' Fiona Girling gathered her papers together as if the interview was as good as over. ‘Apart from a few shreds of circumstantial evidence you have found no valid excuse for detaining my client, or indeed for having arrested him in the first place. I shall be giving him some further advice on that, but I now insist that you either charge him or release him immediately and unconditionally.'

Rathbone got up and left the room. He was absent for a short time; when he returned he said stiffly, ‘Thank you, Mr Grayson, you are free to go.' To the group of waiting detectives he said, ‘Right, we're finished in here.'

They followed him in silence. The moment they were outside and the door shut behind them he said, ‘Right, Mr Leach's office in fifteen minutes. Grab yourselves a coffee and meet me there.'

‘Sit down everyone,' said Leach when they assembled in his office. ‘At least yesterday wasn't a total write-off; we've finally eliminated a very strong suspect.'

‘Fiona Girling was dropping hints about bringing a case against us for harassment and wrongful arrest, sir,' said Rathbone. ‘You know what she's like; she may persuade him he has a case.'

Leach shook his head. ‘She has an eye to a fee, no doubt, but she must be well aware that we'd contest it and the last thing Grayson would want is to have his dirty linen washed in court.' He chuckled. ‘The paparazzi would have a field day. Now, we have to think seriously about where we go from here. By the way, I haven't written Freeman out of the frame, even though Sukey gave him a good character. Greg, I believe you've sent the gloves Sukey found in the waste bin at Dallington Manor and various samples she found in Rainbird's flat for DNA testing.'

‘That's right, sir.'

‘Did you ask for them to be fast-tracked?'

‘Well, no sir. Do you want me …?'

‘Leave it with me.' Leach made a note on his pad. ‘What about the lady's handkerchief Sukey found under Rainbird's pillow?'

‘I've kept that, sir. I assumed it belonged to Rainbird's lady friend and even if she had reason to murder him it was unlikely she'd travel to Dallington Manor and strangle him.'

‘A reasonable assumption,' Leach agreed, ‘but it may yet prove useful so be sure and hang on to it. Now, about the diary that was hidden under Rainbird's bed, you told me you'd sent that to forensics for possible finger prints. Any joy there?'

‘I'm afraid not, sir. There are traces of prints on the cover but all badly smudged. They think she probably kept it in her handbag where it would have rubbed up against the usual odds and ends women carry around with them. It's not a diary, by the way; it's an address book.'

‘In that case it might yield some useful information. Go through it and see if you can identify any addresses within a reasonable radius of Rainbird's flat. Yes, Vicky?' he said as she put up a hand.'

‘We learned from our enquiries among the people in Freeman's group, sir, that some of the women found Rainbird attractive. Do you think it might be worth finding out which of them attend his events regularly, if they live fairly near him, if they're married and whether their husbands normally accompany them?'

‘You're thinking of one of them being the owner of the handkerchief and the diary, with her jealous husband being our man, I take it?'

‘It seems like a possibility, sir.'

‘Good thinking. OK Greg, get your people busy. That's all for now.'

W
hen the team reported to Rathbone the following morning he summoned them to his office and said, ‘I see no point in spending further time ferreting around at Dallington Manor, so Mike, Tim and Penny can go and start work on the cases that have come in the past couple of days. I'll be with you in a moment to allocate the jobs.'

‘Right, Guv,' said Mike. Sukey noticed that all three appeared relieved at the decision.

‘Vicky,' Rathbone continued, ‘you will get hold of Freeman and get him to check his records and let you know which of the married couples or women on their own would have been to the same events as Rainbird. If any of them live within, say, a five- or ten-mile radius of Rainbird's pad, make sure you have their address and phone number and come back to me for further instruction.'