‘Hello?’ I said. ‘Harry Foster speaking.’
‘It’s Arabella Chadwick. Can you come to our house?’ There was a degree of desperation in her voice, even panic. ‘Please come.’
‘What? Now?’
‘Yes, now. Straight away. We need you.’
‘Why?’ I asked.
‘The police are here. They’re arresting Declan for Zoe’s murder.’
Ten minutes later I was climbing out of a taxi in the driveway of Declan and Arabella’s house on Hamilton Road, when I’d have so much rather been in bed with Kate.
‘Wait for me, will you?’ I said to the taxi driver. ‘I may need you.’
‘You’re paying,’ he said, reclining his seat and closing his eyes.
There were four other vehicles parked in the driveway, two marked police squad cars, one blue Ford Mondeo and one plain white van with SUFFOLK CONSTABULARY painted on the side.
Arabella was standing outside the front door, as if waiting for me.
‘Thank God you’re here,’ she said.
‘Where are they?’ I asked, waving at the empty cars.
‘Declan is in the dining room with two plain-clothes detectives and a uniformed copper. Four others in white spacesuits are searching the place. I was told to get out.’
‘They can’t do that.’
‘They just did. That’s why we need you.’
‘What you need is a lawyer.’
‘But you are a lawyer,’ Arabella said. ‘You told us so on Monday.’
‘Yes,’ I agreed, ‘but Declan needs a solicitor who regularly deals with major criminal cases. Don’t you know any other lawyers?’
‘No.’ She was adamant. ‘Declan wants you. He says that you can prove his innocence.’
My first, second and every instinct was screaming ‘no’. I may be a lawyer by training, and I was certainly accredited by the Law Society, such that I was permitted to practise as a defence solicitor in England and Wales, but I’d done precious little serious criminal work and certainly nothing approaching murder.
My more standard fare in that respect was what I called the five Bs — Bankers, Bonus, Booze, Birds and Barbiturates (although it was nowadays more likely to be cocaine) — bailing over-rich, over-drunk, over-sexed and over-drugged young men out of difficult and often violent situations in nightclubs, while trying to keep a lid on the publicity to protect the reputations of their employers.
I tried explaining all of that to Arabella. But she wouldn’t listen.
‘Declan needs you,’ she said. ‘Not some other person we don’t know.’
‘But he only met me two days ago,’ I pointed out.
‘Better than not at all. Declan trusts you.’
‘How can he?’ I said. ‘He doesn’t know me.’
‘If Sheikh Karim trusts you, that’s good enough for us.’
I stared at her. She was a very determined woman.
‘I’ll have to make a call,’ I said.
I walked away from her and used my mobile to ring ASW.
‘I don’t see why not,’ he said after I’d explained the situation. ‘It might help you find out why the horses died. I’m sure the Sheikh would approve. I’ll fix it with him in the morning.’
‘What about the potential for conflict of interest?’ I said. ‘If Declan actually did set fire to the stables and killed the Sheikh’s horses, then I would then be representing opposing parties.’
‘Mmm, I see what you mean. Awkward.’
Ensuring there was no conflict of interest should always be a primary concern for any legal entity although, in my experience, some commercial solicitors could evidently barely even spell the words, ploughing on regardless with a case when they should have rightly stepped aside altogether.
‘Do you think Declan did it?’ ASW asked.
I thought back to how he had gone so pale and faint when he’d initially heard the news that Zoe had gone missing. That had been genuine, I was sure of it. But I was also convinced he knew more than he was telling, otherwise why would the news have produced such a reaction in the first place?
‘I don’t know,’ I said. ‘But there’s a lot more going on in the Chadwick family than first meets the eye.’
‘All the more reason for sticking close to them.’
‘If you say so,’ I said. ‘I’ll go along with it for now, but they’ll have to find someone else if he’s charged.’
At that point the front door of the house was opened and Declan came out escorted by a large uniformed policeman. At least there were no handcuffs. The ex-jockey looked very small and vulnerable next to his burly minder. They were followed out by DCI Eastwood and another man also in plain clothes. His sergeant, I thought.
‘I’ve got to go,’ I said to ASW.
I hung up and walked purposefully over to the chief inspector.
‘Hello, Mr Foster,’ he said. ‘What on earth are you doing here?’
‘I’m Mr Chadwick’s solicitor.’
If he was surprised to see me in the first place, he was now astounded.
‘But I thought you represented Sheikh Karim.’
‘I do, but I’m also here to represent Mr Chadwick.’
I could tell he didn’t like it but he couldn’t send me away, that would have contravened Declan’s rights, and he knew it.
The uniformed policeman took Declan over to one of the squad cars and placed him in the back seat.
‘Where are you taking him?’ I asked DCI Eastwood.
‘Bury St Edmunds PIC.’
‘PIC?’
‘Police Investigation Centre. On River Lane.’
I walked over and stood next to the car.
‘Declan,’ I shouted. He turned and looked out at me through the window. ‘Don’t say anything to anyone other than confirming your name and address. Do you understand?’
He looked as if he was in a daze.
‘Do you understand?’ I shouted again.
This time Declan’s eyes focused on my face and he nodded.
‘Good. Say nothing. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’
He nodded again.
I turned back to the chief inspector. ‘Mrs Chadwick requires access to her home.’
‘No problem,’ he said. ‘However, my officers will complete their search of the premises. Please advise Mrs Chadwick not to obstruct them in any way or she will be liable for arrest. It would be ideal if she remained in her dining room until my officers have finished. And we reserve the right to seal off any areas of the house we see fit for further examination.’
‘She will get a list of any items removed?’
‘Of course.’
The DCI climbed into the Mondeo and backed it out onto the road, while the sergeant sat in the squad car next to Declan and was driven away.
I went over to Arabella.
‘Why is this happening?’ she said desolately. ‘Declan would never hurt anyone. It’s all a big mistake.’
‘Then he will soon be home,’ I said, trying to reassure her. ‘The police have said you can go back into the house but they are going to finish searching. They have the right to do so. They may also lock some rooms if they think that’s necessary. Just stay calm and let them get on with it. Best not to even talk to them. They will give you a list of everything they take away.’
‘Take away?’
‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Computers, for example. Or mobile phones. The police are especially keen on seizing people’s phones. They can give up all sorts of information.’
‘But Declan didn’t do it,’ she said confidently. ‘I know he didn’t.’
Was she trying to convince me, or herself?
She started crying, which spoilt the immaculate make-up.
‘Is there anyone who can come and be with you tonight?’ I asked. ‘Or somewhere you can go and stay? Perhaps with friends?’