"So, what's the next case then?" Gerry waltzed into the office as Sandra's icy glare at his appalling punctuality froze the light hearted cheer in the room.
"You would know if you were here on time, for once Gerry. Wouldn't you?" She retaliated, retreating to face the board to disguise her smirk.
"Megan Hartnoll." She began, in the same old way she had done for the past 6 years. "Was reported dead hours after she was apparently 'found' dead in her bath at her country cottage home."
"Apparently?" Brian queried.
"Yes, well this is where it all gets confusing. She was living with her girlfriend, Virgina Braithwaite at the time and was in the bath. Virgina's sister, Sarah Braithwaite was downstairs whilst Virgina was out."
"That's it?" Gerry interrupted before Sandra could breath.
"No." She snapped back, annoyed at the sharp tone of his voice on this morning. "The family tumbled into a police station in Leeds all confessing to be at blame to the death. Apparently, Megan, who left her husband Mike Hartnoll to be with Virgina, had recently tried to trick David Braithwaite, Virgina's father, into thinking that he had drunkenly slept with her and blackmailed him one million pounds."
"HOW MUCH?!" Gerry exclaimed nearly falling off of his seat.
"David Braithwaite…" Brian mumbled but didn't say anything more so Sandra continued.
"David was married to Dame Alison Braithwaite." She answered, expecting Brian to click into action.
"Alison Braithwaite, winner of the euro millions lottery and winner of thirty eight million pounds. Mother of four, the youngest a child of an affair with her brother-in-law. She set up the Jane Crowther trust with her winnings to help other people." Brian filled in what was written in the file on Sandra's lap, half way across the room.
"Well, anyway." Sandra proceeded. "He told Alison, despite being divorced from her and she went to speak to Megan, who was in the bath at this time, to settle things."
"If we got a confession and it was cleared 6 years ago, then why are we wasting energy looking at it now?" Gerry asked. Sandra feared that a question of the investigations nature would arise because she didn't fully understand the reasons either.
"Orders from above Gerry." This gave the quick-witted woman time to think. "And because all of this is basically based on Alison's word. What if she actually threw the TV in with Megan because she felt it would be best for everyone if she was gone? God knows I wouldn't want my daughter hanging around with a manipulative decoy!" Sandra expressed. It was a valid point considering she was thinking on her feet, yet again.
"Decoy?" Jack asked.
"Someone who is paid by someone's other half to try and hit it off with them. This would prove their trust." Gerry explained as Sandra drew in breath to explain.
"And how do YOU know that, Gerry?" She questioned softly, smiling.
Gerry look up at her, shuffling from foot to foot.
"Jane used one on me back before we split up. About our sixth year of marriage. And, I took it. She wasn't a happy bunny!" He exclaimed but deep down, Sandra could see the shame he was feeling that he masked with his beloved humour.
"So where do we start?" Jack asked, trying to change the subject before an awkward silence ensued.
"We are going to look into the family's past and see where and when Megan becomes involved in the Braithwaite family and why. We should also find out what each family was like before meeting each other and how things changed from there on in." Sandra directed, as her team wandered over to their desks.
She stared at the board, looking at the different faces dotted over the whiteboard. How could one little family case look so confusing?!