Chapter 12 – New Day New Tensions

'Good morning ladies and gentlemen' the school awoke to the sound of Jack's voice on the tannoy once again. 'I am sorry to tell you that the storm is still in progress although it is beginning to move towards the south cost of the island. It does not, however, look like we will be able to leave the school today' Despairing groans and complaints, louder than those of yesterday, resounded throughout the hall, gym and medical room. 'We are making some progress in the murder investigation, however. Today we would like to speak to Miss Tiffany Smith once again, also Mr Edward Phillips, Mr David Marsden, Mrs Karen Marsden, Mrs Jenny Gifford and Mr Pete Gifford. Could these people please report to the waiting area outside the staff room on the first floor. Thank you' And there was a final hiss as the tannoy was switched off.

As well as the decline in people's moods, the hall was also becoming increasingly smelly due to the fact there were only four gym showers in the entire school and water was scarce. There were an increasing number of disputes over mattresses and floor space due to people having left the hall to seek food and drink and attend to nature. Friendships had also been formed and people negotiated with neighbours for swaps of spaces to allow them to be beside their new friends. And the fact that there was the prospect of a murderer being on the loose in the building made people afraid to move outwith the heavily populated areas or allow members of their family, particulary children and teenagers, to go anywhere alone. This was causing a lot of family arguments.

'What do they want from us now?' groaned Jenny as she sat upright. 'I barely slept and I am not feeling too good today. I could really do without this'. Pete put his arm around her.

'Don't worry, love. I'm sure they just want to ask another couple questions and then they will be finished with us. They can't make any arrests until they have completed their forensic work but as soon as we are out o' here they will confirm we are all innocent and this nightmare will be over. You can rest when we come back'

'I hope so. I can see all this making me ill again! It's the last thing I need!'

'I know, I know' Pete held her closer. He turned to David who was at his other side and made rude gestures regarding the police.

'I suppose we should go to the staff room and get this overwith' David suggested.

'I just hope that prick of a man comes forward or is found. Is that who this, what was his name, somebody Phillips is?'

'Who knows' shrugged David. Pete helped Jenny to her feet and the three of them headed out of the hall.

Tiffany was the first of the individuals summoned to arrive at the seating area outside the staff room and she sat in a chair staring into space, still feeling extremely numb and neither knowing nor caring what day it was. She was aroused by the approach of footsteps and anxiously wondered whether she was about to come face to face with one of the detectives or one of Adam Williams' friends. She had stayed in a hidden corner of the hall since her interview the previous day as she could not face being with Jenny and Pete and the others when their friend, and now possibly all of them, were under suspicion for her fiancee's murder. She got quite a shock when her companion from the plane appeared off the staircase and looked at her with sympathetic eyes.

'Oh Tiffany!' Nikki hurried over and gave her a hug. 'I am so sorry for what has happened'

'Thank you' relief at seeing a friendly face who was not a suspect coursed through her, until she spotted the cardboard box Nikki had laid on the floor containing the cotton buds and paper with squares for finger prints. 'W-what's this? Are you with the police?'

'No, I'm a pathologist. I assist the police but I am not one of them. I carried out a post-mortem on Gavin yesterday'

'I had heard it had been done but…I had no idea it was you!'

'It's lucky I was on the island at this time. If there had been no pathologist here the police wouldn't have been able to make much progress with the investigation until the storm was over'

'I see. Well…thank you'

'Listen, I am really sorry about this, but it is necessary for me to take some DNA and finger print samples from you'

'Why? You don't think I killed Gavin, do you?'

'No, of course not. It's just procedure. We are taking samples from all Gavin's acquaintances'

'OK, I suppose I understand'

'Would you like to come inside the staff room to do this? Inspector Mooney and DS Cassell should be here shortly. I don't know if they have any more questions for you'. Tiffany consented and they went into the room to begin the job.

Half an hour later, the fingerprint and DNA samples had been taken from Tiffany and Jack and Florence had arrived.

'Miss Smith, we have received information from a witness who overheard a conversation between yourself and Gavin the evening you arrived at your hotel' Jack began.

'What? Who?!' Tiffany seemed alarmed.

'I am unable to tell you who it was, but I need to ask you a couple of questions about what they told us. Now, I understand Gavin was a journalist with the Northern Gazette, is that correct?'

'Yes'

'That's a very good job for a young man. Was he quite ambitious?'

'Moderately. He hoped to become an editor one day?'

'And was that likely to happen in the foreseeable future?'

'He had applied for the editors' training programme earlier this year but had just been told he had been unsuccessful. The next opportunity won't be for a few years'

'That must have been a big disappointment for him…and for you as his future wife'

'Yes, he was gutted, but he was never going to give up. I was disappointed for him, a bit mad really as I know he worked much harder for it than some of his colleagues that got accepted'

'You were mad about the injustice' Florence clarified and Tiffany nodded.

'Yes. It seemed so unfair'

'The extra money he would have earned as an editor would have given you both a privileged lifestyle, would it not?' Jack pursued his lead.

'Yes, but…are you implying I killed him because he wouldn't be earning as much as I hoped?!'

'Our source seemed to think you might be concerned about that'

'What?! I never said…whoever your source was has obviously misheard or misunderstood our conversation. I was only concerned about how unfair the newspaper's decision was to Gavin. If I wanted to marry for money I could just have left Gavin and found somebody richer, could I not?! For goodness sake, I loved him!' Tiffany screamed before bursting into tears.

'OK I believe you' Jack backed off as Florence noted what had been said. 'We just had to follow up on that lead, but we are not accusing you of anything. That will be all for now. Thank you for your time, Miss Smith'

Tiffany stood up and left the room without looking at Jack, Florence or Nikki.

'Poor girl, she doesn't strike me as a potential killer' said Nikki when the door had closed.

'Me neither' agreed Florence. 'Do you agree, Inspector, or is my judgement clouded?'

'You still seem to be capable of making an unbiased assessment' Jack assessed her 'And I have no reason to believe she is lying either. I sense feelings of betrayal which are understandable. We just need to be sure the evidence backs us up'

'Of course' said Florence and Nikki agreed.

Tffany was desperate to get back to her quiet corner away from prying eyes after that interview but was confronted by Jenny in the waiting area outside.

'There you are, Tiffany love. We wondered where you were. We was worried about you'

'Oh I…I just felt like being alone, thank you' she briefly replied and turned to walk on.

'I understand, but if you feel like company or someone to talk to…'

'I'm happy on my own, thank you'

'OK but you know where we are'

'Right' Tiffany hurried away without engaging with Jenny any further.

'She seems more tense this morning' commented Pete once she was out of earshot.

'She doesn't seem to like us any more. I hope she doesn't think we are responsible'

'It's a really tough time for her. It's maybe nothing personal' Pete tried to assure her.

'Plus, we don't know what the police have been saying to her' added David.

'True' Pete shook his head at the mention of the police once again. At that moment the door opened and Jack came out to address them.

'Good morning Mr Marsden and Mr and Mrs Gifford. I had forgotten Mrs Marsden was in the Head Teacher's office with Mr Williams. No sign of Mr Phillips then?'

'Doesn't look like it' said David.

'OK. Mr Marsden, we would like to speak to you first – please go inside the staff room. Mr and Mrs Gifford, would you mind joining your friends in the Head Teacher's office for just now and we will come and get you when we are ready for you? I will let you in now. And with that he led them away, leaving David wondering what to expect inside.

Ten minutes later Jack was seated in the staff room once again between Florence and Nikki, this time with David sitting opposite them.

'Thank you for joining us Mr Marsden. We would just like to ask you a few questions following on from our brief chat yesterday' he began. Could you please talk me through, once again, what you did when you arrived in the school building the night before last?'

'Of course. Well, as you know, I arrived on the bus with my friends at eleven, and we all joined the queue for the hall together. When I saw how crowded and cramped the hall spaces were, and also noticed people heading in other directions, I decided to have a look around and see if I could find a more private spot. I'm quite a private person, you see'

'You thought you would find a private spot in a refugee zone with over one thousand people in it?' Florence asked him incredulously.

'Well, I thought there might be, say, a bench somewhere. I know how it looks but I have had to sleep rough before and have found hidden spots even then so did not easily resign to sleeping in the hall'

'You have slept rough?'

'Yes, twice. I lost my job and my home three years ago and ended up sleeping in my car. Then earlier this year things went bad again and I ended up sleeping at Manchester airport. I found a bench in a dark corner there'

'And you prefer a hard bench to a relatively comfortable mat and blanket?'

'I prefer to sleep alone' He looked down at his hands for a few seconds. 'I do, but to tell you the absolute truth so that you understand, I was finding the idea of sleeping in close proximity to my ex-wife and her new partner rather an uncomfortable one. Surely you must understand that?'

'I see. So, where in the school did you go after you left the hall queue?' Jack went on to his next line of enquiry.

'I went along the corridor to the left and found no chairs in the corridor. All the classrooms were locked. I then tried the adjacent corridor where I found the medical room. There were less people in there so I asked if I could sleep there but the nurse at the door told me it was only for sick, elderly and disabled people and their families. Apparently I'm not old enough. My daughters would be surprised! …Anyway, I carried on up the stairs and along the top-level corridors and found nothing open but the gym which was crowded with screaming children. So, I decided at that point that I was just going to have to rough it with the others and swallow my pain after all'

'Did you enter the canteen or kitchen at all?' Florence asked.

'No, I didn't bother trying that corridor. There was a queue all the way back to the hall so would have got no privacy there anyway'

'And what time did you return to the hall area?' Jack continued.

'Around eleven fifty. I found the place in chaos by then as I told you last night'

'Did anyone see you in the corridors when you were searching for alternative accommodation?' Nikki asked him.

'There was just the nurse at the door of the medical room as I said before. She might remember me. I wouldn't recognise anyone else I saw if I saw them again'

'OK we will speak to the nurse as I said' Jack continued. 'Now, there is just one more thing. You mentioned your ex-wife, Karen isn't it?'

'Yes, that is correct'

'How is your relationship with Karen now?'

'Well, we separated nearly twenty years ago but we are still friends'

'I must ask you, do you still love her?'

'What? Why? I mean, we were happily married for several years before things went wrong. I'll always care about her'

'You also said it was tough for you seeing her with her new partner. It must be especially hard when that partner is you friend Adam Williams?'

'Of course!, it was rather a shock when I learned they were seeing each other. It is taking me a bit of time to come to terms with the idea, but I'll get there'

'But perhaps if Adam was behind bars for a long time you might have some chance of getting Karen back?'

'What…what are you suggesting?! I would happily turn back the clocks to the time we were happy, but Karen has made it clear she is not interested in ever getting back with me so that's that. My issue with their relationship is not jealousy, I am just worried Adam will break her heart since he has always been a womaniser who rarely settles down. Besides, if I had really decided to get her away from Adam through…murder, do you not think I'd be more likely to kill Adam himself rather than frame him by killing an innocent young man I had only just met and who had done me no wrong? There are times I have felt like doing that, believe me, but…I'm not a murderer!'

'You make a good point there' agreed Nikki. 'But we have been informed that you have been in trouble with the law before, Mr Marsden. Is that correct?'

'Who told you…did one of my friends tell you that?!'

'A source overheard you talking about your previous troubles' said Florence. We are unable to name that source, but could you please answer the question?'

'Yes, I was accused of conspiracy to fraud three years ago and I was sent to prison for a few days since I was unable to prove my identity as my passport was missing, but when you are able to access your systems once again you will see that the charges were dropped. Even if I had been guilty, surely murder is a big step up from conspiracy to fraud?!'

'I guess it is' decided Jack. 'OK, I think that will be all for now unless there are any further questions?' Nikki and Florence both shook their heads, so David was dismissed. He went for a walk around the corridors to clear his head after his interview.

'Hmmm, he seems quite proud despite all he says he has been through, but he just doesn't seem like a psychopath either' said Nikki.

'No, he just strikes me as your everyday corrupt businessman who got caught out' agreed Jack 'although I am surprised it took him forty minutes to search the corridors. It's hardly a large school'

'I guess it depends how much time he spent trying to negotiate with the nurse for admission to the medical room' said Florence. 'A few people did come up and beg for such a long time that the poor nurse was pushed to the limits with her patience'

'And perhaps he was in no rush to rejoin his ex-wife and her partner and took his time' suggested Nikki. 'He has been frank about his feelings about that situation and I can imagine that must be very hard for him'

'I suppose so' said Jack. 'Well, let's wait and find out what the nurse says'

Jenny and Pete were seated in the Head Teacher's office, filling Adam and Karen in on what was happening since the tannoy could not be clearly heard in this room.

'So, they want to interview all of us again, one by one, do they?' gasped Karen.

'It would appear so' confirmed Pete. 'David is in there now'

'Am I to be interviewed again as well?' asked Adam.

'Your name was not called, so presumably not' said Jenny.

'What else did they say about the investigation' asked Karen.

'Only that they had made progress' said Pete.

'Apart from that they just gave us the news that the storm is still in progress and we won't get out of here today' sighed Jenny.

'But the storm is moving south which made it sound like it might not be much longer' added Pete.

'Well, that's hopeful at least' agreed Adam. Just then the door opened and Jack walked in.

'OK ladies, can we speak to the two of you next, please?' he looked between Karen and Jenny, who looked bewildered as they stood up and wondered why they were to be interviewed together while the others were being summoned individually. When they had left, Adam turned to Pete and said hopefully;

'You didn't by any chance happen to bring a pack of cards in with you? I could do with something to take my mind off all this'

'I agree, but I'm afraid I didn't bring any games with me' He looked around the room. 'But I know what we could do. There is a big dictionary up on the shelf there. Why don't I pick a word and see if you can guess the meaning?'

'Hmm…not as much fun as having a pint with you or even playing cards, but since there's nothing else to do…why not!'

Pete reached for the dictionary and turned a few pages before settling on a word. 'rangiferine'

'Rang…what?'

'Ran-gif-er-ine'

'Is it a Caribbean tangerine?'

'Ha ha, no, but a good guess. Think animals'

'Animals? Is it a type of porcupine?'

'No. Think Christmas'

'Christmas? It must be a type of reindeer then'

'Close. Relating to, or resembling, the reindeer or caribou'

'OK, but I was practically right, right?'

'I guess so'

'Alright, my turn' Adam took the dictionary from Pete. 'Let me see…OK, here we go. Jacaranda'

'Jacaranda? Well, is Inspector Mooney's first name not Jack? Is it the colour of his backside when I have finished slapping him, tying him to a roundabout and pushing hard?' They both laughed.

'No, but that's much better than the real meaning!'