Matt felt emotionally drained when he drove through the open gates and along the drive to the front of Sir Reginald’s mansion and parked. Peterson came out and waited for him at the entrance. Matt mustered up a smile, nodded to him and began to exit his vehicle when his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was Audrey. He hesitated. Drawing in a deep breath, he accepted her call. For a moment he said nothing until he heard her voice.
“Matt?!” A brief silence invaded each breath she took. “I’ve heard. Philip told me.”
Hearing Philip’s name was worse than nails across a chalkboard. “I’m not going to get away for some time. Maybe you shouldn’t wait, Audrey.”
“Matt. I’ll curl up on the couch. We don’t need to talk tonight.”
Matt sighed. “I don’t think I could. Not tonight.”
“I understand…You shouldn’t be alone.”
“I know.” Matt looked up to find Philip Forsythe, Deputy Commissioner, standing beside Peterson. “I’d better go. I see Philip has arrived…Audrey?”
“Yes.”
“You take the bedroom. I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s better that way. So, I don’t disturb you.” For a moment, his words were lost. “I…I must go.” And he disconnected. Deep down he loved her but seeing her in Philip’s arms when he followed her from Antonio’s Restaurant that night had left him hurt and confused. He wanted to talk to her. He needed to talk to her. He needed to understand what happened. But the timing was horrible. Too many things now ran interference. And he didn’t want what precious time they would have together dissolve into a war of words steeped in disputations and unresolved misunderstandings. He drew in a deep breath. He had to remain focussed. Though he knew his thoughts were tethered to Audrey he also knew that they had to be contained. Not forgotten. Just placed in a quieter part of his mind until this case was finished. He drew in another deep breath and exited the vehicle. He felt the intensity of Philip’s eyes upon him as he walked toward them. The Deputy Commissioner’s scowl was anything but inviting. In the pit of his stomach a familiar corkscrew feeling began to ground out a probable ulcer. He was a big boy and ready for any admonishment that was about to be doted out. But to have a dressing down by Audrey’s ex, now that he downright hated. Mustering up a smile and a pleasant nod, he followed William Peterson and Philip Forsythe in and across the foyer to the library.
Three hardback chairs had been arranged in such a way that the one Matt sat in was directly opposite Philip’s while Peterson’s was situated more off to the side. For a moment nothing was said. The silence was broken by Philip clearing his throat.
Hands clasped in front of him, Philip leaned forward. “Reports coming back to me from you give me the uncomfortable feeling that you have dropped the ball on this one.” He stared at Matt long and hard before he continued. “Sir Reginald’s murder. And the murders of Chris and Claire Finlay. Any suspects yet?”
“Circumstantial at this time, sir, but…My hope is that Ms Henderson and her son, Alan, will shed some light on this investigation.”
“In what way?” Philip asked, sitting back in the chair, and peering at him in a meditative manner.
“I’ve been told that her son Alan kept meticulous records on the comings and goings on the estate.” He reached into his jacket pocket and handed Forsythe the photos. “These snaps were taken by him. I found them in the boy’s hiding place in the ceiling in his bathroom.”
After Forsythe sorted through the photos, he handed them back. “Do they have significance?”
“I think they do. But only Alan has the answer to that query,” replied Matt.
“Did he keep other kinds of records?”
“He did. A series of diaries.”
“And where are they?” Forsythe asked.
“At the moment, sir, I wish I knew. I’m sure they were with the boy and his mother. But… they’ve disappeared.”
“Excuse me, sir,” Peterson interrupted. “Matt. They’re each in their rooms upstairs. They appeared out of nowhere about fifteen minutes before the Commissioner arrived. I asked two of your constables, I believe their names were Rowntree and Smythe, to remain outside their doors until told otherwise. I hope I didn’t overstep my jurisdiction?”
“You probably did, William, but you did the right thing.” Filled with a happy adrenal rush that he could barely contain, Matt returned his attention to the Deputy Commissioner. “Well, sir, should we go and hear what they have to say? If I’m not mistaken, there’s a good likelihood they hold the key to solving these crimes.”