With a Narrow Blade by Faith Martin Read Free Book Online Page B

anything odd or out of place in the room?’
    Caroline frowned, looking puzzled. ‘No. I don’t think so. I didn’t really notice. All I could see was Flo.’
    ‘And earlier, when you approached her house. Did you see anyone hanging around, or a car you hadn’t seen before, parked close by, or pulling away from the kerb?’
    Caroline shook her head.
    Hillary hadn’t really expected anything else – it was beginning to look more and more as if the old woman had been killed last night. But the routine questions were having the effect of calming the witness down. ‘Had Flo mentioned anyone harassing her lately?’
    ‘No. Well, only that grandson of hers, but he was always scrounging off her. Nothing more than usual.’
    ‘And she seemed much the same as ever, this last week or so?’ Hillary asked.
    ‘Yes. She was looking forward to her birthday party for instance. Nothing fancy, she was just going to invite all her old friends around. I was going to bake her the usual chocolate cake. She always liked my chocolate cake. Everyone was to bring a bottle of booze with them, and she and Walter next door would make sandwiches and heat up sausage rolls, that sort of thing. She did it every year.’
    Hillary nodded. This confirmed Walter Keane’s assessment of Flo Jenkins. It was looking more and more unlikely that the victim had been aware of any danger. Had she simply been killed for her pension money? It seemed a bit extreme. But stranger things had happened. She’d certainly have to interview this grandson of hers soon.
    Caroline Weekes closed her eyes for a moment and then had to force them open. Soon, she’d be asleep. Hillary had seen that before. Emotional exhaustion had a way of catching up with you.
    ‘Well, that’s all for now, Mrs Weekes. I’ll just have a quick word with the WPC. She’ll stay for a little while longer. Has she called anyone for you?’
    ‘Yes, my mother. She lives in Cowley. She’ll be here soon.’
    ‘Good. I’ll probably have to talk with you again, as things come up. Perhaps, when you’re feeling better, you can have a think about any items of value you noticed in Flo’s house and make me a list. We haven’t ruled out robbery as a motive yet.’
    ‘Oh. Well, I’m not sure I’ll be much good at that,’ Caroline demurred, flushing slightly. ‘I’m not the sort of person who notices things like that. I mean, what people have. Or wear. That kind of thing.’ And then, as Hillary glanced around the glamorous room, she laughed. ‘Oh, all this is down to my husband. He has taste,’ she said the final words as if it was a virtue on a par with courage or chastity.
    Hillary nodded. ‘Well, if you could do your best,’ she encouraged, and got up. Out in the kitchen, she accepted a now nearly cold cup of tea, and drank it off in a few gulps, reminding the WPC to bag and tag the clothes Caroline was wearing, and send them to the evidence officer. ‘Oh, and take a set of her prints. At this point we only need them for elimination purposes.’ But you never knew. If Caroline Weekes’ dabs turned up on the murder weapon, she might be able to wrap this case up in record time. But something told her it wasn’t going to be that easy. In the meantime, it was back to number 18 Holburn Crescent.
     
    Back at Kidlington HQ, a young man dressed in uniform watched as one of the civilian admin workers pushed the mail trolley down the corridor and paused outside the common room. It was mostly deserted and when she went inside to help herself to a quick cup of coffee, he moved carefully and fast, slipping a long, plain brown envelope under a pile of internal mail. He did it without breaking his stride, and once past the trolley, he began to whistle lightly as he crossed a small hall area, and headed for the stairs.
    He was smiling as he headed down towards Records. The blonde baby doll was going to appreciate his latest offering, he was sure.
     
    Hillary wasn’t all that surprised to find most