Amanda gave a loud screech and hurled the empty bottle of water at Jack.
There was a short delay whilst Amanda Dunn was given her arrest details and told that she would be held in a secure place for protective custody until she was re-questioned prior to her trial. She appeared confused, believing that after the interview she was going to be walking out, then started sobbing loudly.
Jack made his escape and left it to DCI Clarke and Bukhari to explain the proceedings to her. Jack was exhausted. His head throbbed as he hurried to the incident room to collect his briefcase. Anik was also getting ready to leave and looked over at Jack.
‘Well done, very impressive. You made the first big crack in her defences when you brought up that story about you falling over your kid’s toy and the curtain cord. What was that all about?’
‘Oh that, I just made it up. I hope you’re feeling better?’
‘Yeah, a bit. Stomach’s still churning, though, so I might take the day off tomorrow.’
‘Well, you started the ball rolling for me. Good work.’
Jack watched Anik walk out. He was still irritating, but at least he’d made the effort to thank him. He picked up his briefcase as DCI Clarke opened his office door.
‘Jack, a moment. That was impressive, if at times a bit unethical. I have made the decision that you’ll lead the interview with Rodney Middleton on Monday. We all need a break, you more than anyone. It will give us the time to assess Amanda Dunn’s statements and see how we can use them. So, I’m holding back until Monday, which will give you two days off. We can reconvene on Sunday to discuss the Middleton interview. It will also give you the time you need to be ready for him and the formidable Georgina Bamford. You made mincemeat of her prodigy, Mr Bukhari, but she’s far tougher.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
Clarke shook his head. I’ve got to say, Amanda Dunn even had me for a while, believing she was an unwitting pawn in the murders.’
‘Almost had me too, sir. But I always had a gut feeling she was a devious liar.’
‘Well, you get some rest and get ready for Monday. Good work, very impressive.’
Jack walked out and once he was alone in the corridor, all the tension of the last twenty-four hours was suddenly released. He pumped a fist in the air and let out a muted ‘Yes!’
Tired as he was, he couldn’t wait for Monday.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
That Friday evening, Maggie prepared a dinner for Penny and Marius, laying the table in the dining room, not the kitchen.
Jack had spent most of the day in his office checking through files and making notes in preparation for the Monday interview, but after the elation of the Amanda Dunn interview, he had crashed back down to earth and now felt utterly exhausted. Maggie had to nudge him at the table a couple of times when he nodded off, but at least when he was conscious, and he seemed to enjoy the evening, amused to see his mother being so flirtatious and happy. He also found it a relief not to talk about, or even think about, the case. Maggie made him rinse his nose well with salt water before finally sending him to bed with an ice-pack mask on. Despite feeling a bit uncomfortable, he dropped into a deep, dreamless sleep almost immediately.
Saturday was a lovely crisp, sunny day and Maggie and Jack decided to take Hannah out to Richmond Park. She was so excited at seeing the ducks that she almost fell into the big pond. Penny cooked a roast lamb for lunch, with all the trimmings, and it was only after she had served the sticky toffee pudding that Maggie asked Jack where the car was.
‘Oh, yes, been meaning to tell you,’ he said. ‘Had a big engine fault, so I’m waiting to see about exchanging it for something else, perhaps in a less conspicuous colour than pea green.’
If he’d thought Maggie would be pleased, he was wrong. ‘We paid a decent price for it. Maybe I should go back to the man we bought it from and complain,’ she suggested.
‘I wouldn’t bother,’ he said. ‘The insurance will cover the difference.’
‘What do you mean? Did you have a prang or something?’
He shrugged. ‘Kind of, don’t worry, I’m sorting it.’
Maggie decided not to push it, but she was very suspicious. Penny changed the subject by saying that Marius had suggested that she take driving lessons. Jack and Maggie were open mouthed.
‘Driving lessons?’
‘Yes, I could then do a lot more for us, like taking trips out with Hannah. I’ve got to get a provisional licence first, but I want to try. I don’t like the thought of getting stuck in a tedious routine; you only live once, don’t you?’
After their initial surprise, Maggie and Jack nodded enthusiastically. Since she had met Marius, Penny had definitely become more outgoing, and they put her forgetfulness down to her anxiety about how Jack would react to her having a ‘gentleman friend’.
When Penny had left them alone in the kitchen, they instantly looked at each other. Maggie burst out laughing.
‘Your face, Jack, when she said she wanted to have driving lessons!’
‘You looked gobsmacked too,’ Jack protested. ‘I mean, you’re the one who’s been thinking she had dementia, not me. And now, on the contrary, it turns out she’s got a new lease of life.’
‘Yeah, I know. And thanks to Marius we’ll have the hall redecorated and a new coat cupboard, too.’
She leaned in close to him and whispered.
‘Talking of a new lease of life, what would you think about taking me upstairs and ravishing me?’
Jack grinned. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the kitchen but had to put her back down on her feet to go up the stairs. They walked up arm in arm and as they reached their landing they heard the high-pitched voice of the character from the Frozen movie singing, ‘Let it go’ Hannah was trying to join in. Jack stopped in his tracks, listening.
Maggie frowned. ‘What is it? Don’t you try and back out of ravishing me. I’m all geared up now and...’
‘That song is from the film Frozen, isn’t it?’ Jack said, remembering Amanda telling them about the way Nadine had kept singing it.
‘Yes, it’s Hannah’s favourite. We got the DVD for her last Christmas, remember. She loves it. There’s now a sequel we need to buy her, actually. And when she’s a bit older we could maybe take her to see the musical.’ Maggie put her arms around him. ‘What is it, Jack?’
‘Nothing, nothing,’ he said, his thoughtful expression replaced by a lascivious grin as he pushed open the bedroom door. ‘Now, just be careful you don’t bash my nose...’
They were woken by the sound of the doorbell. Maggie sat up quickly, looked at the bedside clock, then flopped back onto the pillow. She dug Jack in the ribs and he leaned up on his elbow.
‘What time is it?’ he asked blearily.
‘Seven thirty on a Saturday evening! I thought it was an emergency call for me or something. Maybe Penny’s expecting the boyfriend.’
The doorbell rang again, and Jack got out of the bed and put on his boxer shorts. Maggie snuggled down and pulled the duvet closer. ‘I’m not getting up, whoever it is.’
Jack dragged on his dressing gown and hurried down the stairs, stopping midway as he could see through one of the stained-glass windows in the front door. It was Ridley.
Opening the door, Jack took a step back as he was presented with a large bouquet of red roses.
‘For Maggie,’ Ridley said with a broad smile. ‘My apologies for calling unannounced but I wanted to get a few things sorted before my departure.’
‘Where are you going?’ Jack asked.
‘The Caribbean for three weeks, leaving first thing Monday. Are you going to invite me in?’