CXVI The Beginning of the End (Book 1): A Gripping Murder Mystery and Suspense Thriller (CXVI BOOK 1) Read Online Free PDF

that might have caused Mr
Hussain to take his own life?”
    She shook her head.
    “Has he ever discussed ending his life?”
    “No,” she said, but then hesitated. “He did mention
someone he knew had committed suicide, and I think it had an impact on him.”
    Higgson chewed his lip. “Who else knows about your
relationship?”
    “No-one,” she said defiantly, crossing her arms. “We
were very discreet, making sure always to go out in separate cars, leaving and
returning at different times, being careful not to advertise we were an item.
Neither of us wanted any trouble, or for our other halves to find out.”
    “Do you think your husband suspects?”
    She shook her head. “No, he’s only interested in
golf. Oh and maybe his pals down at the golf club.”
    Higgson paused for a moment. “Mr Hussain sent you an
e-mail late on Thursday evening.”
    “Yes, he did. I didn’t receive it until I logged on
at work yesterday morning. I desperately tried to ring him, but his phone was
switched off. I replied to the e-mail, and never got a response. Then later in
the day there were rumours flying around at work saying he’d died. I deleted
the e-mail; I’ve been frantic with worry ever since.”
    “Did you notice anything strange about the e-mail?”
    “No, should I?”
    “It ended MCXVI. Does that mean anything?”
    “Eleven, sixteen, I googled it. It’s the exact time
the e-mail was sent; I assumed he was letting me know it was late. He was
always ending his e-mails with quotes, or silly puzzles that you had to work
out; he was well known for it at work. My favourite was, ‘for the Snark was a
Boojum, you see,’” she looked at Higgson who had raised one eyebrow. “Lewis
Carroll,” she said, with the hint of a smile.
    “Oh.” The quote had obviously thrown him off track. “Right,
that’s about it for now. If you think of anything else please give me a call.”
He handed her a card.
    “What happens next?”
    “I finish my investigations and produce a report for
the coroner.”
    “Will there be an inquest?”
    “Yes.”
    “Will I be asked to give evidence?”
    “That’s up to the coroner; he might accept the
e-mail as sufficient evidence or he may decide to call you to the witness box.”
    “When will I know?”
    “I can’t say really; I’ve still to complete the
investigation.”
    “So it’s weeks and weeks of purgatory for me, is
it?” She held her head in her hands.
    “I’ll let you know when I’ve completed my report,”
Higgson said, getting up.
     
     
    When Higgson returned to his desk
there was an e-mail from the pathologist who had completed the interim post-mortem
report on Hussain; he immediately opened it and started reading. The report
stated that Hussain had died as a result of asphyxia due to hanging by a
ligature; his body had been suspended by an 18mm rope with a six loop hangman’s
knot. The time of death was estimated at around midnight; the chill factor from
the variable Pennine wind and Hussain’s empty stomach made it difficult to
determine. When examined, Hussain’s mouth was open and his face congested; his
tongue was found to be protruding and both eyes were partially open with the
cornea hazy. There was an 18mm ligature mark encircling the neck running
upwards towards the back of his head where there was a small gap which was
beneath the knot. On the right side of his neck were two small 8mm burn marks;
the marks were 14mm apart and approximately 21mm below the ligature mark. There
was no mention of other marks on the body and the major organs were described
as normal, although toxicology results were awaited.
    Higgson snatched up the phone, called the
pathologist and after introducing himself asked about the two burn marks on
Hussain’s neck. “Any idea what might have caused them?”
    “That’s your job, Inspector.”
    “Ignited petrol splashes? It appears he set fire to
his car before walking to the bridge.”
    There was a pause.
    “Yes, that’s