AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘So, to be clear, she lets you and your partner reside here while she’s away?’
‘That’s correct.’
‘So, when I asked if the Booths bought the land from you, it was actually’ – he consults his notes – ‘Anna Creed, the owner, they bought it from.’
‘Yes,’ Olly says.
‘Do you pay rent?’
‘We maintain the property. As custodians.’
‘But no rent?’
‘No.’
‘She’s a very generous friend, then.’
‘Indeed, she is. How is this relevant, detective?’
Steen emits a small sigh, through his nostrils. ‘I’m just wondering how I can get myself a friend like that, becausethis place, it’s something else. Not many people get to live like this.’
Olly laughs, though he’s immediately afraid it sounds a little too wild. Steen unnerves him.
‘Can you run mepreciselythrough what happened here on the morning of Tom Booth’s death?’
‘So far as I can remember, Sasha and I woke up at around seven. We had breakfast together an hour or so later. Kitty always gets up to make it for us, so she was probably in the Manor by seven-thirty. That would be typical. It was a beautiful morning. As I’ve said, I was in here working. Sasha gave a private yoga lesson and when that was over, she went outside. She likes to work on her practice under the oak tree out the front. I took a break for lunch and went outside to join her and that’s when Nicole Booth ran up the driveway shouting that her husband was dead in their pool. Sasha took care of Nicole while I ran to the Barn to see if there was anything I could do, but it was too late. Tom was dead when I got there. Sasha left Nicole Booth in the care of our housekeeper, Kitty, and came to join me. Your colleagues arrived while we were still there, and we showed them the body.’
Steen makes copious notes even though Olly has told him all this, in his first interview, the day Tom died. Olly starts to wonder if he’s soft in the head. When he finally stops writing he seems pleased with himself, and Olly sees a sharp flash of intelligence in his eyes. He frowns. He can’t get the measure of this man. His uneasiness ramps up a notch.
‘One last thing,’ Steen says. ‘Circling back. What’s the situation with your housekeeper?’ He flicks a page in his book. ‘Kitty Ellis,’ he says.
‘As I said, she lives here, on site, in a little grace and favour cottage, which was originally the Coach House. She takes care of all the domestic tasks. Sasha and I both work very hard.’
Steen nods. ‘I’m sure you do. Has Kitty had much contact with Tom or Nicole Booth that you know of?’
Olly shrugs. ‘I doubt it. She kind of does her thing here and goes home. Though I suppose I don’t know what she does with her evenings.’ He leans forward. ‘Between you and me, she’s a creature of simple habits. Not to mention a bit of a fantasist.’
Steen raises an eyebrow and Olly feels encouraged. ‘She doesn’t always tell the truth,’ he adds and enjoys the effect of his words when Steen and Jen exchange a look.
‘Can you give us an example?’ Jen asks.
‘Ah! She speaks!’ Olly says. Jen’s face remains impassive. He notes the snub and continues. ‘Kitty. Yes. She lies about things. We’ve noticed that she sometimes takes things from the fridge and the pantry, but she’ll never admit to it. And once she broke a vase and denied it. Little things.’
Steen doesn’t write this down, which is disappointing, but looks at Olly as if assessing him and asks, ‘Why do you employ her if she’s dishonest?’
Olly clears his throat. He must be careful what he says. ‘Every one of us is flawed, wouldn’t you agree, Detective?’
He smiles at Steen, hoping agreement on this will connect them, but Steen, like his partner, keeps his poker face on. Olly feels irritated. He’s used to being able to charm people.
‘One more thing,’ Steen says. ‘Have you seen any strangers in the area lately? Especially around the time of Tom’s death.’
Olly considers this. ‘A few weeks ago, I noticed someone was camping in the nature reserve. Gosh! Do you think they could have had something to do with this? I’m so sorry I forgot to mention it earlier. It totally slipped my mind.’
He’s lying. This didn’t happen a few weeks ago, but a few months ago. It won’t harm to throw some uncertainty into the mix, to keep the detectives busy. He likes the thought of messing with them.
‘Not to worry. It’s useful to know now. Did you see the camper or campers?’
‘No. I saw a tent set back from the footpath, hidden in the trees. The reserve is public land and people usually move on quickly, so I didn’t think much of it. It never occurred to me that it could be something to do with Tom. I’m so sorry. Is that bad?’
