Thanks to all who've stuck with AYSTAED so far. Here comes the next installment - New scene designated in the usual way :)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"I told her" The four members of UCOS listened to Clare Bernard's conclusion to her testimony on tape which Sandra had brought in after the interview.
"Well, why now?" Jack asked, "I mean, seems a little bit late to start bringing things up like this doesn't it"
Sandra nodded, "Strickland said the same"
"And what did Bernard say to that?"
"She said that she didn't owe them anything anymore" Sandra explained.
"And what did she mean by that?" Gerry asked, "What might she have owed to them to prevent her from telling us something that we now apparentlo
"Sounds to me" Jack said, dismissing his colleagues interest "that she can see the net slowly starting to close around her, and that she needs to put the suspicions around someone else,
"But if it is the truth" Brian said, raising to his feet, glasses perched above his eyes, "then this would give Maura Jackson a motive to want him dead"
"But she's lying" Jack protested, "She's been lying from the start. You could tell in the interview. Why would she be so frightened of coming with us for interview when we arrested her. Why the no comment, no comment, no comment answers."
Gerry glanced at Sandra, she was taking in each word of her team, but also staring into space, alone in her thoughts;
"You believe er don't you guvnor" Gerry mused, Sandra gave the slightest nod.
"I'm surprised Sandra" Jack replied, "Why was she so frightened of coming with us for interview then? Why do you believe her now? After all doesn't this mean she's spent a large amount of time lying to you."
"I don't know really" Sandra replied walking towards her office as she heard her phone ring, "I just get the feeling that this time she might be telling the truth." She picked up the phone.
"Trust me," Jack responded sounding confident, "we're wasting our time taking this seriously."
Sandra hung up, peering her head through the door. "That was the front desk, Maura Jackson is upstairs, what do I do?"
"I think you've got to ask her, however uncomfortable it might be" Gerry suggested as Jack shook his head.
"What do you think Brian?"
"She's got a motive. Speak to her, see what she has to say for herself."
Sandra nodded at Brian's advice. "Brian, you're coming with me."

"Thank you for coming in Mrs Jackson," Sandra introudced herself as they sat in the interview room. "I'm Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman and this is my colleague Brian Lane, we represent the Metropolitan Police's Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad." As she explained her role, Sandra could see that Maura Jackson seemed to be disinterested in what she was saying.
"Why are you investigating Simon's death?" Mrs Jackson asked, eyeing the people opposite with a large deal of suspicion. "My husband died of a heart attack"
"We've been given information in relation to your husband's death" Brian explained. "Information that would seem to suggest that Simon's death was the result of foul play."
"But, for the past decade everyone's said that Simon died of a heart attack, wouldn't it be better to let him simply rest in peace."
"Foul play can and has never been ruled out Maura" Brian said, "The coroner at the time recorded an open verdict in the case, not that the death was caused by natural causes, as a heart attack might cause"
"Simon was in poor health though, you remember he did have a near fatal heart attack he had in 1990"
"Yes, we've seen the report" Sandra said, wanting to be able to regain control of the questioning "and the funny thing is that the same also report informs us that in the months, and indeed weeks which led up to Simon's death, he was also in rather good health." Sandra narrowed her gaze at Maura Jackson, staring at her intently, "which makes it all the more interesting that he died ever so suddenly, and also when the relationship between him and his colleagues were at arguably the worst they had ever been during 'Knowitalls' run.
"What do you mean?"
"Well from what we heard, Emily Fletcher was actively pressing him to retire as host."
"I know she was"
"How?"
"I wanted Simon to retire. He'd presented the show for twenty years, that it was time for him to take a break. I mean he'd had the heart attack and a couple of scares due to the stress of being on the show. When the big money quiz shows came around, they needed to try and alter the format enough to make it look fresh enough to keep it looking like something brand new. He'd always said he'd pack it in when he reached 60. We'd planned to retire to the Ardeche together. Nothing other than the show to actually keep us in the UK really.
"How did you feel when he decided to sign to do at least another three series?" Brian asked, "if you'd been looking forward to him retiring."
"I was devastated inside, but I tried not to show it to Simon. He just said that this would be the final three series he'd do, not that I believed him inside, I could see what happened happening."

Sandra sat back, wondering whether she had been actually wrong in her initial judgement of Mrs Jackson.
"Maura" Sandra asked her, "did you tell Emily Fletcher first that Simon was going to stay on?"
Maura Jackson sounding nervous, nodded.
"What did
"Emily said don't worry and that she'd sort it out." Maura's face of nervousness turned into one of horror. "Oh God!"
"What's the matter?" Brian asked, expressing concern.
"Emily, you don't think? Surely she couldn't have anything to do with Simon's death?"
"I'm afraid it's a possibility" Sandra replied, getting up to comfort Maura Jackson.

More to Come very soon