Chapter 10 – Widening the Investigation

Nikki and the police team had a coffee break then reconvened in the staff room. Florence had rejoined them.

'Hi Florence, how is your dad?' asked Jack as he pulled up a chair for her.

'Getting better, thank you. The doctors and nurses are doing a great job despite the circumstances here'

'Thank heavens for heroes' said J P.

'So how did the post-mortem go?'

Jack and Nikki filled her in.

'So' said Jack 'The next step is to interview all Adam Williams' friends and take fingerprints and DNA samples from them. We will also need exclusion prints from the kitchen staff who may have used the knife prior to the killer. JP, Ruby, you will go to the kitchen to obtain these before doing a thorough search of all the bins in the school for any item such as gloves that could have been used by the killer when stabbing the victim'

'Yes Sir' said J P.

'Can we use the swabs on the kitchen staff too?' Ruby asked excitedly.

'I don't see why not, the more data we can get the better' agreed Jack. 'Nikki, perhaps you could quickly show them how to do it properly before coming with Florence and me to interview the suspects?'

'Sure'

Duly prepared, the team split up to undertake their assigned tasks.

The Manchester group had finished their game of charades and were having drinks in the canteen. Pete groaned as he took a sip from his paper cup.

'I've had a better cup a tea' he sighed.

'You don't say' agreed David.

'To be honest I'm surprised they have tea in here' remarked Karen. 'My cousin who came to this island two years ago said it was hard to find a decent cup of tea anywhere'

'They must be gettin' used to British tourists comin' suggested Jenny.

'A pity they didn't get steaks and chips in instead of that soup then' Pete continued his rant.

'Now that would be a lot more difficult to prepare for so many people and would be much more expensive' David pointed out.

'Says the man who went looking for a comfortable bed!' Pete fired back.

'Now, now, perhaps we should stick to playing games!' laughed Karen, jokingly separating the two men before they began to fight properly.

'I still can't believe you didn't get Batman!' Jenny pointed at David.

'Not really my kind of film or TV programme I guess' David defended himself.

'Flying Pete…Bird Boy…Fly to Me…' Pete lightened up and recalled some of David's incorrect guesses, doing the mime himself.

'I really like Brian and Tania and young Daisy' said Karen. 'They seem like a lovely family'

'I know' said Jenny. 'It's a pity our Chloe's not here. It would be nice for Daisy to have a friend her own age to be stuck in here with'

'I hope our kids are not worried about us' said Pete. 'They must have heard about the storm on the news'

'Oh they'll be too busy having parties, I'm sure' David reassured the others. At that moment there was a crackling noise as the tannoy came to life again.

'Oh no, what now?' Karen had an uneasy feeling. Jack's voice came over to prove she was justified.

'Good afternoon, this is Detective Inspector Jack Mooney. Could Karen and David Marsden, and Pete and Jenny Gifford please come to the staff room on the first floor immediately'

'Oh no, so they do want to speak to all of us' Jenny shared Karen's unease.

'I hope they don't expect us to testify against Adam!' Pete suggested defensively

'I suppose we'd better go and find out' David got up and the others followed him out of the canteen.

The group arrived at the top of the stairs and found the Detective Inspector waiting at the door for them. They were ushered into the room and asked to sit down.

'Good afternoon, I'm Detective Inspector Jack Mooney as you probably know by now, this is Detective Sergeant Florence Cassell and Dr Nikki Alexander'

David got a shock to see the woman he had been talking to on the bus the day before and was embarrassed when Nikki gave him a look of recognition. Jack continued.

'Following the post-mortem carried out on Gavin Harper, and some forensic analysis by Dr Alexander here, we have decided to expand our investigation'

'So, you have found evidence it wasn't Adam then?' asked Karen hopefully.

'We haven't been able to prove or disprove anyone's guilt at this stage, but we would like to speak to everyone who had contact with Mr Harper on the island prior to his death and take fingerprints and DNA samples to work with.

'Are you suggesting one of us did it!' retorted Pete.

'We're not accusing anyone of anything. But since you are among the only acquaintances the victim had we will have to exclude you all first'

'But there are hundreds, possibly thousands of people in this school' said David. 'Surely it could have been anyone?' he nervously glanced at Nikki, imagining her thinking the worst of him.

'That's true, but in the vast majority of murder cases the guilty parties turn out to be friends or relatives of the victim. Hence this is the standard starting point we work from'

'So, if you're going by the book then shouldn't you been speaking to the fiancee? Isn't it the partner who did it some high percentage of the time?' protested Pete.

'And there was a man Gavin stood up to at our hotel. Is he not also a more likely candidate since he might have had a grudge?' suggested Jenny.

'As Inspector Mooney has said we will be speaking to all Gavin's acquaintances' Florence assured them.

'Now, for the record, could you please all tell me your name and where you were and what you were doing between the time you arrived at the school last night and the time you heard about the murder?' Jack looked at Karen.

'OK. I'm Karen Marsden. The four of us plus Adam Williams arrived at the school together on a coach at around eleven. We all waited in the queue outside the hall for around ten minutes, then I suggested I would go to the canteen to get us some drinks. My friend Jenny here came with me and we spent half an hour waiting in the canteen queue. We had just returned and were about to look for the men in the queue when I saw you leading Adam away in handcuffs'

'And I assume you are Jenny?' Jack looked at Jenny.

'Yes, I'm Jenny Gifford. I went to the canteen with Karen and was also away from the group for thirty minutes. When Karen went away with yourselves I noticed Tiffany Smith crying and got the information about what had happened from her and I stayed with her for the rest of the night'

Florence noted this information down. 'And you Sir?' she prompted when she had finished, looking at David.

'David Marsden. I arrived with the others at eleven. About five past I went for a walk to see what facilities there were in here. I came back to rejoin my friends around eleven forty-five, only to find the place in chaos and Jenny and Pete comforting Tiffany who was hysterical.

'You went for a walk to check out facilities?' said Jack, incredulously. 'May I ask what you were looking for exactly?'

'Well, to be honest, I didn't like the idea of being so…close to people. I had hoped to find a quiet spot somewhere'

'Oh really? I don't think that's possible in these circumstances?' Florence was also puzzled.

'No, so I discovered' David bowed his head, not daring to look towards Nikki.

'So, where did you go?'

'I looked for open rooms on the two levels. I think I ended up in the medical room where I was not admitted as I am apparently well'

'Can anyone confirm where you were?'

'The nurse in charge might just remember me'

'OK I guess we'll speak to the nurse' Jack concluded. So, what about you?' he looked at Pete.

'Pete Gifford. I was the one who waited in the queue outside the hall with Adam while the others went off to do other things. We were together until just before eleven twenty-five when we were allocated our spaces and Adam went off to the gents. I got talking to a couple from Manchester and lost track of time. It must have been around quarter to twelve when I left the hall to look for Adam and discovered what had happened'.

'And this couple from Manchester – they would be able to back up your alibi?'

'Yes. Their names are Brian and Tania Ormsby'

'Thank you, we will speak to them'. Jack then addressed the whole group. 'Now, I know your acquaintance with Mr Harper and Miss Smith was a short one, but from anything they mentioned in conversation, can you think if there was anyone who might wish to harm Gavin?'

'There was that horrible bloke at the hotel I mentioned' said Jenny.

'And have you seen this man in the hall since you arrived?' Florence asked her.

'We saw him this morning when we were playing games, but he left the hall just before lunch time and we haven't seen him again since'

'OK' Jack moved on. 'Now Dr Alexander will take a DNA swab from each of you and your fingerprints will also be taken. After that, you are free to return to the hall, but if any of you wish, you can stay in the Head Teacher's office with Mr Williams since he is now no greater a suspect than any of you'

'Great. I will stay with Adam' Karen felt some relief. 'What would you three like to do?'

'I'll go back to the hall if you don't mind' said David, not wanting to be in a room with Adam and Karen.

'Perhaps we should stay in the hall too and look out for the man we need to point out to the police?' Pete suggested to Jenny.

'I agree' said Jenny. 'But can we all see Adam first?'

'Yes, I'll take you all to the room after Dr Alexander has finished with you'

'Who shall I swab first?' Nikki, who had been quietly listening to the interviews in the background, now came forward to do her job. David volunteered, deciding to get the embarrassment overwith, and she got him to open his mouth. Florence assisted by taking the finger prints at the same time and she started with Jenny.

Down in the canteen, J P and Ruby had finished taking fingerprints from Catherine's team of kitchen volunteers.

'Would you like a drink before you get back to work?' Catherine asked the officers.

'A quick one would be good' said J P.

'Yes please' agreed Ruby. As Catherine prepared coffees, J P asked her and her team

'Before we conclude, did any of you notice anything out of place in the kitchen last night, or see anybody that wasn't meant to be there?'

'I certainly didn't see anybody myself' answered Catherine, turning around, and the rest of the group all shook their heads in unison. 'But with the number of people coming in, and considering how busy we were it is possible we might not have seen them. I'm sorry'

'It's not your fault, Catherine. Nobody could keep a constant lookout in these circumstances' Ruby put a hand on her shoulder.

'We also don't normally work here so don't know how things are normally arranged' added a volunteer.

'Of course not' Ruby sympathised. 'We are just trying to find out as much information as we can since it will be hard to do the background checks we normally do on the victim and the suspects with no access to police systems'

'Um…I might be able to help' said a voice from behind them. The two police officers looked round to see a young female kitchen volunteer with a big smile on her face.

'Remind me who you are?' J P asked her.

'Polly Jackson. My usual job is at the Honore Palace where the victim and your English suspects were staying'

'And how do you know who the victim and suspects are?' Ruby quizzed her.

'Well, I saw the body in the corridor last night and I was then asked to take breakfast up to Adam Williams this morning, and I heard over the tannoy who your Detective Inspector wanted to speak to. Shall I go on?'

'OK and how do you think you can help us?' asked J P.

'Well, I make it by business to find out everything I can about the guests staying at my hotel. Helps me tailor our services to their needs'

'In other words, you spy on them!' Ruby chuckled, popping her eyes out at Polly.

'I think of it more as making them my best friends for the week or two they are with us'

'So, what exactly can you tell us about Gavin Harper and his fiancee and acquaintances?'

'You will be surprised – rather a lot. Almost as much as your computer system would tell you?'

'That's a lot of spying!' exclaimed Ruby.

'Perhaps we should find an empty classroom and have a chat' J P suggested. 'Do you mind if we borrow Miss Jackson for a while, Catherine?'

'Of course not. Please come back right away though, Polly, as the crowds will be coming through for their evening meal shortly.

'This shouldn't take long…I don't think!' Ruby tried to assure her. Catherine and the remaining volunteers went back to the kitchen and Polly followed the officers.

Once in a nearby music classroom, Polly got excited and started to play a tune on a xylophone and Ruby picked up a guiro to provide a bit of accompaniment. Poor J P had the task of breaking up the musical interlude.

'Um…girls? Shall we finish this interview before dinner time?'

'Dinner time? So it is! That's why I'm hungry!' Ruby noticed and put the guiro back in the percussion box. Polly followed her over to some desks.

'OK now that you are ready Polly, would you like to tell us what you know?'

'Goodness, where do I start?' Polly thought for a moment and J P and Ruby squinted at each other.

'Yes, I suppose I should tell you that Gavin Harper is…was a journalist with the Northern Gazette in York, England. He was engaged to Tiffany Smith who you will have spoken to. A bit of a drama queen that girl, and easily scared, but seemed decent. You should know, though, that Gavin had just told her when they were waiting in the hotel lobby to be allocated a room, that he didn't believe he would get an opportunity for promotion to an editor's job for at least five years – I got the impression Tiffany was counting on it being sooner and had plans for spending the extra money he would have earned'

'So you think she might have been marrying him for his money and perhaps looking for a way to get out of it without being thought badly of?' J P asked her to clarify.

'I suppose you could look on it that way'

'OK and what about the group they met. Did you overhear anything that might have suggested Adam Williams or any of the others might have had a motive?' asked Ruby.

'You know, I don't recall hearing anything about Adam that would give him a motive. Unless it was jealousy of his youth and career. Apparently, Adam feels out of place in the office he works in that is full of young people'

'I see' said J P.

'And then there is the slightly older man…David Marsden isn't it?' Polly continued.

'Does he have a motive too?' Ruby was getting excited.

'Not for killing Gavin, but it could be advantageous to him if Adam Williams was behind bars for a long time'

'Really? In what way?' J P was becoming just as intrigued as his partner.

'Well, the woman Adam is currently with, the tall blonde one…Karen isn't it?, is David's ex-wife, and I heard him mention to his other friend that he still loves her and has never given up on getting her back'

'So, you think he might have committed the murder and tried to frame Adam?' Ruby sat forward in her chair excitedly.

'Exactly' said Polly. 'And what's more David has been in prison – got off but who knows whether he was really innocent?'

'And how do you know that? asked J P.

'Oh, he had a few beers and started talking about it. Conspiracy to defraud, I think it was for. Something to do with selling fake flats in Hong Kong or something'

'Wow!' Ruby scribbled this down.

'And there's more' Polly continued. Karen herself is a publishing editor and Gavin's newspaper prints reviews of some of the books she publishes. Earlier this year she had a bit of a problem in that one of her authors who claimed to be a woman was actually a man, and she got her friend, the other woman in the group, to dress up and pretend to be this author for publicity interviews. I think the authors name was Nora, no Nina B…St John was it? No it was St James…Nina B St James!'

'The plot thickens!' commented J P who's eyes were now as wide as Ruby's.

'And I heard the two women whispering anxiously last night – apparently Gavin looked at…now what's her name again?...Jane? Jill?...No,Jen it was they call her…so anyway, Jen thought Gavin had looked at her thoughtfully and might have realised who she was and what they had done!'

'So they have a mutual motive you could say!' Ruby anxiously wrote down the details, excited for Polly to go on.

'That's right. And then there's Nina's…Jen's husband, Pete . He was a driver for the taxi company, MCR Cabs, that Gavin's paper use when their staff visit Manchester. Apparently, Pete and some of his colleagues had been overcharging clients. The paper found out and made a complaint, but the staff members couldn't identify with certainty which drivers were involved. Again, Gavin looked at Pete in a way that could have suggested he recognised him'

'So, Pete could have been in big trouble and therefore also has a solid motive for murder!' recognised J P.

'He does. And finally, there was this man who was harassing me that Gavin stood up to. His name is Edward Phillips and he has a serious attitude problem. He seemed to me to be the kind of guy who would have no conscience and be capable of any crime. He might have held a grudge and taken the ultimate revenge!'

'Yes we did hear about this man but didn't know his name until now, thank you very much for that' said J P. 'Have you seen him in the school?'

'Yes, he was in the canteen making trouble last night. I can point him out to you'

'That would be helpful' said Ruby. 'Gosh, that's a lot of information to work with'

'We'll pass this on to Inspector Mooney and he may wish to ask you more questions' concluded J P.

'Of course, I understand' Polly agreed, and the interview was over.

Adam once again did not know how long he had been sitting in the Head Teacher's office on his own since his last interview with the detectives. Following this interview and the finding of the knife in his rucksack, any hope he had of his nightmare coming to an end seemed to have been in vain and the more he thought endlessly about his situation the more he was becoming resigned to the fact that, unless some major miracle happened to prove his innocence he was going to have to spend the rest of his life in prison. He had no idea what the conditions were like in a Caribbean prison and the unknown frightened him. How would the staff treat him? Would he be bullied by his inmates? How often would his family and friends be able to come over and visit him? What would become of his son Matt? Would Karen take him on as his Godmother and how would that work out? Would he suffer at school for being the son of a convicted killer when the story got out? And would Karen decide a long-distance relationship on different sides of bars could never work and end her relationship with him before it had hardly begun? These thoughts gave rise to a bout of frustration and he got up, paced the room, took a book from the bookshelf behind the desk, threw it to the ground and swore. He paced back across the room and was about to sit down again when he heard voices outside, voices that seemed familiar, and moments later the key was turning in the door. Inspector Mooney ushered Adam's friends into the room, saying

'Here's your partner and friends to see you Mr Williams. I will let them fill you in on the latest news. I'll wait outside'

Once Jack had left the room, Karen ran up to Adam and threw her arms around him. She was quickly followed by Jenny and Pete and even David. They did not break apart for at least a minute. Finally, it hit Adam that he was no longer alone in his bleak thoughts and asked the others

'OK so what's this latest news then? Is it good or bad?'

'Oh Adam' began Karen. 'I don't think it's either really. The good part is that you are no longer the only suspect…'

'Really?' A weight seemed to lift from Adam's shoulder, but the relief was short lived when he saw the serious looks on the faces of the others.

'The thing is, we are all under suspicion now' began Pete. 'It turns out that the DNA on the murder weapon was not yours, but since we were Gavin's only acquaintances apart from Tiffany and that horrible man at the hotel they are investigating us all!'

'This is crazy!' said Adam. 'They can't possibly have any evidence to suggest any of us were involved!'

'But they can't prove we aren't either, that's the problem' explained David.

'I'm sure when the storm is over they will use their forensic technology and see that it was that nasty man or someone else altogether, but the storm could go on for days!' sighed Jenny. 'Until it does I don't think any of us will sleep!'

'The better news is that you don't have to stay on your own in here any more!' Karen informed him and they stole another quick hug. A few minutes later Pete, Jenny and David said their goodbyes and returned to the hall while Adam and Karen were given mats from the hall.