‘Could it be murder?’ Mrs Harlow said quietly.
‘There didn’t appear to be anyone near Mrs Weiss at the time of her death,’ Randolf concluded.
Mrs Harlow shot me a glance and I felt a chill run through me. The implications were clear– with all the recent deaths in the family, murder couldn’t be ruled out so easily.
Miles cleared his throat. ‘When exactly did this happen? You said the body was found two days ago?’
DCI Randolf consulted his notes. ‘The incident occurred early on Monday evening at Crewe Station, around four-thirty p.m.’
Monday. My mind raced, trying to piece together where everyone had been. I was in the village, writing in the café. Ihad been with Miles, hadn’t I? Or had I? The days were starting to blur together.
‘We’ll need to speak with each of you individually,’ Birch said gently. ‘To establish timelines and gather any information that might be relevant.’
Jeannie nodded stiffly, her face a mask of shock and grief. ‘When we’ve told the girls. We must tell the girls.’
‘Before you go, there’s something else you should know.’ Randolf clasped his hands in front of him. ‘A member of our team found a car in a layby not far from here. The car was reported missing when it should have been returned to a rental company four days ago.’
Miles and I looked at each other. Quentin. Quentin is here.
Hot dread ran through me anew.
‘Quentin Weiss rented that car,’ said Randolf gravely. ‘Have any of you heard from him since his release?’
‘No,’ said Jeannie. ‘Not a thing. I’ve been trying to contact him for days. It just keeps ringing out.’
Randolf gave Birch a look that said they needed to get on with locating him straightaway.
‘If you don’t mind,’ Jeannie said, ‘I must speak with my granddaughters immediately.’
Randolf nodded in agreement.
‘Do you want me to come with you?’ Miles asked Jeannie. She nodded weakly and they left to deliver the news together.
‘Shall we head somewhere more private, Mrs Weiss?’ Randolf asked. After a moment he repeated, ‘Mrs Weiss?’ and I realised he was referring to me. There were far too many Mrs Weisses… No. No, there were only two Mrs Weisses left. Two out of five remained. I didn’t like the sound of those odds.
20
DECK THE HALLS… WITH LEGAL FALLOUT
22ndDecember 2025
I got on the train from the village all the way to Crewe. She didn’t even notice me, so self-absorbed and eager she was to get away to her loverboy. It really was testament to her utter narcissism because I was dressed as friggin’ SANTA and she STILL didn’t notice me. I got on in the carriage behind her, and could see her the whole time laughing away, so happy, even though her husband had not long died and she was leaving her children behind forChristmas. But hey, love makes you do crazy things, I guess.
We had to make a change at Crewe. I didn’t fancy going all the way to London so it had to be done then and there. The platform was icy, she stood waiting for the next train, grinning stupidly at her phone, barely paying attention to where she was going. Is there anything worse than that? It’s dangerous, if you ask me. Especially when you’re tottering about in high heels. It was an accident waiting to happen.
I lay in wait in front of a pillar. As the train came in, her feet strayed over the yellow line. All it took was a brisk walk past her and a nudge.
Clip clop clip clop—SPLAT.
I bet she still tried to land on her best side.
Inodded numbly and followed DCI Randolf to the study. We settled into the leather chairs whilst I tried to gather up my scattered thoughts. The reality of Mimi’s death was still sinking in, along with the chilling implications.
‘Mrs Weiss, can you tell me where you were on Tuesday evening around four-thirty p.m.?’ Randolf asked calmly.
I fidgeted, trying to remember. ‘I… I was at the village café, writing.’
Randolf nodded, jotting something in his notebook. ‘Do you recall what time you returned to the house?’
