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‘You clearly led us to believe that you had a lie-in on Saturday.’ She leant forward as she spoke, and she stabbed her forefinger abruptly towards Sarah. ‘That’s a fact, not an assumption. And another fact is that one of your neighbours saw you driving off from here at approximately 7.45 a.m. So perhaps you would be kind enough to explain the discrepancy.’
‘I went to the supermarket. I needed some things.’
‘Which one?’
‘Sainsbury’s. In Kidlington.’
‘What did you get?’
‘What did I get?’ There was a note of surprise in her voice. ‘What the hell has that got to do with my husband’s death?’
‘Do you have the receipt?’
‘Do you keep your receipts, Inspector?’
‘Yes, I do. Did you pay with cash or by card?’
?
?What?’
‘We’re trying to establish your alibi, Mrs Russell. You’re an intelligent woman, so I expect you’ve worked that out. Is there any person or any thing that can confirm that you were in Sainsbury’s on Saturday, and the time you were there?’
‘No!’ Mrs Sarah Russell was indeed an intelligent woman, and she realized it was time to come clean, at least partially. ‘But I do have an alibi for after that. I went to see Alan Tull.’
‘I see,’ Holden replied, though of course she didn’t see. She didn’t see at all. ‘Can I ask why you visited him?’
‘We’re part of an amateur dramatics society. Alan is due to direct An Inspector Calls and I wanted to know if he was still up for it. In the circumstances, I thought he might want to pull out, and as the chair of the society I needed to check it out.’
‘So how long were you with him?’
‘I must have got there between half-nine and quarter to ten. He made us some coffee, and we sat and chatted until maybe eleven thirty, and then I went home.’
‘And he’ll confirm that?’
‘Yes. Why shouldn’t he?’
Holden nodded. It would be easy to check out, but if they were in some sort of relationship, they’d protect each other, wouldn’t they? And if they were in some sort of relationship, what did that do to the investigation, not to mention their motives.
‘Can you give me his mobile number then?’
Sarah looked at her inquisitor warily. ‘If you want. But you must know where he lives.’
‘It’ll save time,’ Holden said firmly. ‘I could ring the police station, because we’ll have it in the files, but if you give it to me, Fox can give him a quick ring, and if he doesn’t answer we can try the surgery, and that way Dr Tull can confirm your alibi – for that period only of course – while we are still here.’ And before you can tip him off, she might have added.
Sarah Russell shrugged, as if unconcerned. ‘Be my guest, Sergeant. The address book is by the phone in the kitchen.’
It took Fox less than five minutes to get hold of Dr Alan Tull and to receive from him confirmation of Sarah Russell’s visit, including the approximate timing of it and its purpose. Either they were very well organized, or she was telling the truth. Fox was disappointed. He disliked the woman, and had done since he had first clapped eyes on her. She was far too sharp and combative for his taste, and it would have given him the greatest pleasure to trip her up. The idea of her being the killer of her husband, not to mention Maria Tull and Jack Smith, appealed to his sense of justice. But they needed evidence. He made a face, and then scratched his cheek, realizing as he did so that he’d forgotten to shave that morning. Sainsbury’s? Did she really go there? His eyes roved slowly round the kitchen, like a camera panning a long, slow shot, and they stopped only when they reached the fridge. The metaphorical camera zoomed in until only the fridge was in frame. Fox walked over and pulled the door open. He picked up the four-pint plastic milk bottle in the door, examined it and put it back. He did the same to a tub of dairy-free spread, briefly prising its lid off. There were two small pots of yoghurts which he also picked up, before shutting the fridge door.
Back in the sitting room, Holden and Sarah Russell turned as one when he reappeared.
‘Did you get hold of him?’ It was Sarah Russell who asked this, her voice demanding and impatient.
‘Yes,’ Fox replied. ‘Dr Tull confirmed what you said. There was a little variance in his timings, but nothing significant.’
‘Well, thank God for that.’
Holden stood up. She had spent the time probing Sarah about her relationship with both Alan and Maria Tull, but right now there was nothing more to be asked.
