In for the Kill by Pauline Rowson Page A

always was very ambitious.’
    She tossed me a smile over her shoulder as she filled the kettle. ‘Tea or coffee or perhaps –’
    ‘Tea thanks.’
    ‘How did you know Roger?’
    ‘We worked together years ago at Seatons, the travel company. Then I went to the States and Roger started his own company. I believe he was very successful.’ I knew Brookes’ background and that of the other three victims by heart. ‘How did he die?’
    She turned away to make the tea but also to avoid looking at me. ‘Suicide.’
    When she turned back I could see the anguish on her face. I felt a little sorry for her. But I hardened my heart. I had a job to do and whatever it took I would do it.
    I said. ‘Maybe I had better go if this is too painful for you.’ Of course it worked.
    ‘No, please. It helps to talk, or so they tell me.’
    ‘What happened? Was the business in trouble?’
    ‘On the contrary, we were doing extremely well, better than ever. Roger got depressed and couldn’t get out of it, midlife crisis, I suppose.
    Who knows?’ She handed me my tea. She knew all right. I could tell. ‘Help yourself to sugar.’
    I declined. I remained silent hoping that she would fill the void. She did.
    ‘I suppose it had something to do with the fraud.’
    ‘Fraud!’
    ‘Oh, not by Roger. He was conned by a very clever man, who got one million pounds out of us and two other businessmen before the police discovered what he was up to. We were OK
    financially, even though we never got the money back, and I thought Roger was over it, but it must have preyed on his mind.’
    ‘But why did Roger give away one million pounds? Was he being blackmailed?’ I asked as innocently as I could. I got a reaction all right and it told me the truth. Her eyes narrowed and her body language stiffened, she lowered her head and took a sip of her tea, avoiding my glance.
    ‘Of course not,’ she replied tetchily. ‘It was a charitable donation, only there was no charity.’
    ‘That was clumsy and rude of me. I didn’t mean to imply there was anything shady or wrong in Roger’s business or private life, I just know how these things work. A deal gets done that is OK
    but not strictly legit, some past aggrieved employee gets hold of it and before you know it you’re covering your tracks and someone’s got you by the balls.’
    She gave a strained smile.
    ‘The police caught this man though?’ I asked.
    She put down her cup. ‘Yes. James Andover was the name he used. His real name was Alexander Albury. He went to prison but he wouldn’t say where the money was.’ She began fiddling with a gold bracelet, then she looked at her watch. I could tell she was regretting letting me in.
    ‘And did Albury say why he had picked on Roger?’
    ‘Because he was wealthy, I suppose.’
    ‘So are lots of people but they aren’t targeted.
    There must be a connection, so did the police find one?’
    Now she was looking at me a little suspiciously.
    ‘ No. Besides what does it matter? It’s over now, Albury is in prison and Roger’s dead.’
    I nodded and sipped my tea. ‘I wonder if he’ll do it again when he comes out of prison? Pick on some other unsuspecting victim that is. I hope he doesn’t come back to you,’ I mused.
    She looked alarmed. ‘But surely that won’t happen. He’ll have learnt his lesson.’
    ‘People rarely learn, and the police can’t be everywhere. If he’s that clever then maybe next time he won’t get caught.’
    She rose abruptly and said, ‘I’m really sorry, Bob, but I didn’t realise how late it was. I’ve got to go out.’
    ‘It’s me who should be apologising for taking up so much of your time and for upsetting you.’
    She ushered me out of the door quicker than a kitchen salesman. I had stirred up something and now all I had to do was sit back and see which way she ran.
    It was to a house outside Tetbury, about a half hour’s drive away. I was prevented from driving up to the front door because the house