Denial of Murder by Peter Turnbull Read Free Book Online

have been illegal. Gordon would have lost his job, he would be finished in teaching because having a sexual relationship with a pupil, even if she is over the age of consent, is still a sackable offence, but he could have carved out a good career as a linguist because he would not have criminalized himself. He was just very emotionally immature … he could not see beyond the end of his silly, stupid nose … and they were both consumed with passion … as in the old Romeo and Juliet number … what is that phrase?’
    â€˜A pair of star-crossed lovers?’ Yewdall suggested. ‘Is that the phrase you are thinking of?’
    â€˜Yes,’ Derek Cogan smiled briefly, ‘that’s the phrase. That’s it exactly. Driven by emotion and they, particularly Gordon, who should have been in control, did not think logically … it was all very impulsive. So kindly old Mr Justice Easter took all that into account and sentenced Gordon to six months in prison, backdated to the date of his arrest, which meant he walked out of the court that day, having been arrested and remanded more than six months previously. It all happened back to front for him; he served his sentence, then was put on trial, then released from custody. But his life to all intents and purposes was over by then. His real sentence was just beginning.’
    â€˜I see,’ Yewdall replied, allowing a little more warmth to enter her voice. ‘I can see what you mean now when you described your late brother as being “silly”. His record, as I said, suggests something much more unpleasant.’
    â€˜Oh, yes, don’t I know it.’ Derek Cogan took another sip of his whisky. ‘His convictions conjure dreadful images of a young girl being taken against her will and bundled into the back of a car and all the sordid rest of it. So yes, I know how badly it all reads but, as I said, it was the actions of an immature young man and soon-to-be sixteen-year-old schoolgirl who were both hopelessly head over heels in love with each other. In fact, they were actually arrested whilst they were strolling up Shantalla Road in Galway, holding hands.’
    â€˜That’s a precise location you mention,’ Ainsclough commented. ‘It’s very interesting in its precision.’
    â€˜Ah … yes … yes … perhaps I should explain.’ Derek Cogan nodded gently. ‘I’d better explain. You see, our parents did not use the annual holidays to introduce their children, Gordon and I, to different parts of the UK – you know, Cornwall one year, Devon the next, Scotland the next … then the Isle of Man … the Isle of Wight. No … we went to Galway every summer, without fail, because that’s where our parents had spent their honeymoon. So year after year, summer after summer it was two weeks in Galway for us. Gordon and I got to know the town and the surrounding area well, very well indeed. And Gordon might have got three university degrees but they were all taken at the University of London so for Gordon, Galway was the only other place he knew outside London. Where else to take his girlfriend when they ran away together but to Galway and, I believe, there was in fact, by coincidence, an Irish connection for the girl. Her parents came from that part of Ireland, and she had also visited Galway often, so she was apparently very happy to be taken there. It was something that they had in common – Galway was a home from home for them both.’ Again Derek Cogan paused. ‘So … to continue … anyway, when Gordon was sentenced there was total uproar in the court. I mean total pandemonium. Her father was there and her extended family … a whole team of them: men with rings in their ears and their hair tied back in ponytails, but I mean in a very manly fashion … they were real bruisers, you understand, really heavy-looking, beefy, brawny guys and all with that pinched