Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves Read Free Book Online

all have heard of them. Father is Davy Sharp, at present serving three years in HMP Acklington. There was no prosecution after the accident – it seems generally to be accepted as horseplay which got out of hand. It’s possible of course that none of this is relevant, but ask around. Was Luke involved with people his mother knew nothing about? Is someone trying to send a scary message here?’
    She paused again. She liked an audience, but preferred it if the listeners were responsive. No one answered. ‘Well?’ she demanded. ‘Has anyone heard anything?’
    They shook their heads. They seemed stupefied, too well fed, too hot. The room was airless, but she was surprised by their lack of excitement. Wasn’t this what they’d joined up for? It didn’t occur to her that she scared the pants off most of them, that even the ones who shouted their mouths off in the police canteen were too timid to commit themselves to an opinion which she might consider foolish.
    ‘The crime scene,’ she said. ‘You’ll have heard by now it was a tad unusual. The boy was strangled, then placed in a bath of water. Flowers had been scattered over his body. Luckily Julie didn’t empty the bath when she saw Luke. The CSIs spent hours scooping out the water and saving it. There might be something. They’re analysing the bath oil. We might even get a hair from the murderer if we’re lucky. But we can’t rely on that. We need to find where the flowers came from. Were they picked from fields and gardens in the village or did the murderer buy them? We need to know exactly what they were, then get someone to go round all the local florists checking that out. They didn’t seem to me the sort you’d get in a standard bouquet. Mostly wild flowers, I’d say. So where were they picked? Is there a local botanist who can help? Joe, can you find out from the university?’
    She didn’t wait for him to answer. ‘The more important question is why. Why the gesture? It seems a risk, an unnecessary fuss. It’s almost as if the killer wanted to draw attention to himself, make a grand spectacle. Julie was out for the night in Newcastle, but no one knew exactly what time she’d be back. She must almost have walked in on it. Laura, the sister, was in the house throughout. Fast asleep as it happens. Her mother says she could sleep through a bomb dropping. Is that significant?’
    A hand rose tentatively. Vera liked a responsive audience but she could be as cruel to interrupters as a stand-up comedian to unwelcome hecklers. She was gracious to this one.
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘Does it mean the murderer knew the family? Knew that Laura was a heavy sleeper and that Julie was out for the night? She didn’t often go out, did she?’
    Vera nodded in approval. ‘Maybe. Or that he’d been watching the place for a while, waiting for an opportunity.’
    Another hand. ‘Yes?’
    ‘Could it have been the sister? A row that got out of hand?’
    Vera considered for a moment. ‘You could imagine them fighting,’ she said. ‘A lad like that. It must be a nightmare having him as a brother, especially the age she is. That age you want to be the same as everyone else, don’t you? Last thing you need is a loony in the family. She could have drowned him too. If he was in the bath, it wouldn’t take a lot of strength to push him under. But he was strangled and then put in the water. I can’t see a fourteen-year-old girl doing that. She’s a skinny little thing. Nervy. I don’t think she’s hiding anything, though. Where would she get the flowers from? The mother confirms there were none in the house. I think we can forget the girl unless anything else comes up. Everyone agree?’
    There were a few half-hearted nods. Vera continued. ‘The father, though, is a different matter. It sounds as if he always found it hard to cope with Luke. He and Julie separated years ago, but he’s kept in touch with the family. Nothing formal. He calls in when he feels like it. The kids