Murder in Mind Read Online Free PDF Page B

not,’ said Ellie, trying to think why this likeable woman was on the doorstep. She hadn’t done anything wrong lately, had she? ‘Come in. Time for a coffee? Do close the door behind you. It’s going to rain any minute, by the look of it. Thomas hasn’t got another parking ticket, has he? It’s dropping elderly people off outside the tube station that does it. He can’t seem to grasp the fact that he can no longer stop the car there. But you aren’t in the traffic department, are you?’
    â€˜No,’ said the DC, smiling. ‘But I did want to pick your brains, if I may.’
    â€˜Gracious! Are you sure? I’m not exactly Brain of Britain, you know.’
    â€˜Eyes and ears of the world, that’s you. And I really do need your help. Shall I put this lot down on the chair here?’
    Rose appeared from the conservatory, brandishing her little watering-can. Rose liked Ms Milburn. ‘Coffee and cake? Ellie, if you think you’re going to use those curtains, you’ve got another think coming. Phew! The dirt! Shall I put them out with the rubbish?’
    Ellie tried to brush herself down. No matter how good your cleaners were, empty rooms attract dust if not attended to at frequent intervals. ‘Yes, Rose. Thanks. And I’d love a cuppa. Sorry, Ms Milburn. We’re expecting visitors and I’m trying to get the junk room for occupation. There’s a double bed up there which might do, but I’m at my wits’ end to . . . And these curtains fell to pieces as soon as I picked them up so they won’t do, either. Sorry. You wanted to talk to me about something. Come and sit down and tell me what’s troubling you.’
    â€˜It’s the Hooper case.’ Ms Milburn followed Ellie into the sitting room. ‘I thought you might have heard something, know something. All gossip is grist to my mill. What do you know of the family?’
    Ellie felt her nerves tighten, but kept her tone light. ‘I read about the death in the paper this morning. Shocking. I’m afraid I don’t know really know the family. I’ve had some business dealings with Evan Hooper in the past, and my daughter’s estate agency has been absorbed into Hoopers; beyond that, no.’
    â€˜You’ve never met any other members of the family?’
    â€˜No. Sorry.’
    â€˜You’ve heard about them?’
    â€˜I think – but this is only gossip – that there’s an older boy. Is he at college or something? And another couple of girls? That’s the extent of my knowledge.’
    â€˜Didn’t you think that two deaths in the family was rather odd?’
    â€˜You mean that one was an accident but that two looks like carelessness?’ Ellie did a double take. ‘What do you mean,
two
deaths?’
    â€˜Or, murder.’
    â€˜Murder?’ Ellie sank into her big, high-backed chair by the fireplace. ‘
Two
? Now, hang on a mo, the paper reported the death of a teenager this morning. Can’t remember her name. Oh, Fiona. I think. Electrocuted, was she? Something to do with the treadmill in her gym?’
    The DC sat down, only to have Midge the cat landing on her with intent. Midge knew that there was likely to be cake on the tray Rose was bringing in. Midge liked cream, and he knew Ellie wouldn’t give him any, but perhaps the visitor would?
    â€˜That’s right. Fiona. We received a call at twenty hundred hours on Monday evening from the ambulance service. One of my colleagues attended and was met by Mr Hooper, who led the way to their gym in a conservatory at the back of the house. The constable found a fifteen-year-old girl lying there, dead. A doctor was already there, who confirmed that life was extinct. There’s a strict procedure to be followed in any case of a fatal accident, you know, and my colleague followed it to the letter.
    â€˜Forensics arrived, took photographs, dusted for prints, etc.