Seven.
The bedroom was in complete disarray. Sheets lay in heaps on the carpet, stripped from the big double bed which was covered with folders, files and sheets of paper. The doors to the built-in wardrobes had been pushed back and clothes dotted the room where they'd been ripped from hangers.
In the middle of it all stood a petite blonde woman swathed in a pink dressing gown and scattering items out of the wide-open windows.
"Err – Mrs Miller?"
Barnaby hovered on the threshold in amazement, the first woman to one side wringing her hands anxiously.
"Lorraine!" she hissed.
The woman in pink paused to look up, her face seemed emotionless, her tone brisk.
"I suppose you are with the police?" she inquired calmly, bending to collect an armful of men's clothing.
"Yes. I'm detective chief inspector Barnaby," he smiled warmly at her, the grin fading as she strode past him with a large bundle, heading for the bathroom. He followed, trying to maintain control of the situation, "I've just got a few questions I'd like to ask if it's not too much trouble…I'm aware it's a sensitive time…"
By now the three of them were in the bathroom, where Mrs Miller had flung the clothes into the bath.
"No not at all," she replied, by now rummaging around in one of the cabinets, "Ask away."
There was a startled pause.
"Err – right….," Barnaby cleared his throat, "In that case where were you last night at nine o'clock Mrs Miller?"
"Lorraine please."
"…very well."
"I was here." Brief and to the point. Barnaby nodded,
"Do you have any wit – ," it was here he paused as Mrs Miller twisted the cap off a bottle of bleach and poured it into the tub across the shirts.
"Lorraine!" the woman to his side gasped, hands to her mouth.
"Oh please mother! These are my things now, I'll do with them as I please…and as for the witness to my presence here last night, there was only myself and my daughter. Do feel free to question her inspector, she's recently learnt her alphabet, she should be a great help." She tossed the empty bottle in with the mess and strode back towards the bedroom, appalled mother and bewildered policeman in tow.
Barnaby paused, careful how he worded the next question, although taking a look around the room had pretty much already answered it for him.
"Mrs Miller…Lorraine, I take it you were aware that there are allegations of…infidelity against your husband?"
She snorted loudly,
"With that little tramp Abby Shaw. Oh yes, I knew about it all right."
As she continued with her campaign of destruction, Barnaby smiled one final time.
"Very well Mrs Miller. Thank you for your help. I'm…I'm sorry for your loss."
Another snort.
"Don't be."
It wasn't until they were out of earshot that Mrs Miller's mother spoke again, her voice quiet and ashamed.
"I'm terribly sorry inspector."
"Whatever for Mrs…"
"Whittaker, Barbara Whittaker. I'm a very proud woman Mr Barnaby, like my mother before me, I dare say it's a family trait, and for my daughter to be behaving like this well –,"
As they plodded down the stairs, Barnaby threw one of his famous good-natured smiles at her.
"Don't be embarrassed. She has just lost her husband under rather horrific circumstances, how she handles her grief is neither the business of myself or the police."
Barbara smiled,
"No, no of course. You're right."
Scott came to greet them as they stepped down into the hallway, obviously itching to know what had happened upstairs as the smell of bleach wafted about the house and more sheets of paper fluttered down from the first floor windows.
At the front door, Kitty wandered shyly out of the sitting room, trailing a comfort blanket in her wake. She padded quietly across the carpet to stand beside her grandmother's leg. The woman ruffled her hair affectionately.
"Poor little mite, she doesn't understand what's happening do you sweetheart?"
Kitty unplugged her thumb from her mouth,
"Bright light," she whispered.
Barnaby frowned,
"Bright light?"
Barbara soothed her gently, the sorrow playing across her face,
"Yes Kitty dear," she replied softly, "Daddy's in heaven now. Bright lights and angels."
His own memories of Cully as a small girl kicking in, Barnaby beamed down at the pretty little child, smiling warmly. Beside him Barbara sighed,
"I just hope you catch whoever did this to us as quickly as possible Inspector, hopefully then we can start to rebuild our lives."
As Scott stepped forward to open the front door, Barnaby turned his smile to the woman,
"We'll try our best," he replied, "We always try our best."
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Well, another chapter, and I'm cracking along with the rest of it too – that is, I've got it all worked out at least! Hopefully it should be quite a twist, but not too out there! Lol! Thanks for my lovely feedback, I'm glad my story is being enjoyed, particularly Greenleaf's Daughter – ta very much for your prompt reviews! Hope you enjoy this one too!