‘This woman here, Samantha Felton, do you recognise her?’
Maggie picked up the photo and scrutinised it. She nodded as she blew her nose. ‘Yes. It was a long time ago. We were at a disco at the social club in Cleevesford. Richard was taking photos, it was his thing. He wanted to practice so that he could become a professional but he wasn’t good. I told him that and we argued. I didn’t mean to have a go but it was annoying me how he seemed to focus so much attention on her, Samantha. In many ways she reminds me of Aimee, centre of attention and highly admired by the opposite sex. I got angry and left him. I remember hearing a few days later that Samantha had vanished but thought nothing of it.’ The woman stared at the back wall again and her eyes widened. ‘No, no, it can’t be.’
‘What is it, Mrs Leason?’
‘No,’ she yelled as she began punching the table.
‘Mrs Leason, calm down and tell me what happened. Samantha has people who care about her. We need to know where she is. If you know something, now is the time to share that information. Your sister-in-law, Diane, is not only recovering in hospital, she’s worried sick about Samantha.’
‘Sister-in-law?’
‘Diane Garraway.’
She stood, the chair toppling over behind her. Placing her head against the back wall, she began to hit. ‘How could he lie to me like that?’
‘Please sit, Mrs Leason. What are you trying to say?’
She grabbed the chair, positioned it back in front of the table and sat. After a few deep breaths, she continued. ‘I didn’t know I had a sister-in-law. He told me his parents were dead and he never mentioned a sister, ever. Our whole life has been a lie.’
‘I know this is hard for you, but it’s really important. Go back to Samantha. Do you remember anything after the disco at the club?’
She slowly nodded as the colour drained from her face.
‘Are you okay? Do you need some air or a short break?’ Gina was sure the woman might faint or throw up.
She turned the chair and placed her head between her legs and held a hand up. ‘I’m okay. It’s just the shock of it all.’ After a moment, she slowly sat back up and rubbed her eyes. ‘He sent me away the next day. I went to my mother’s. He wanted to surprise me and said I’d spoil things if I didn’t leave him to finish the garden. He’d been all apologetic about our argument and I believed him. When I arrived home two days later, he’d slabbed the garden and built a beautiful shed and a pagoda at the back of the garden. I was so happy. If he has anything to do with it, Samantha might be—’ The woman darted out of the room. Gina heard her heaving in the distance.
‘Interview ended at sixteen thirty-seven. To be resumed later.’ Jacob pressed the stop button.
‘Take five and let Bernard know what we’ve just found out. I want that garden turned upside down. It’s going to be a long night. We also need to find out if Aimee or Diane are in a position to speak to us yet.’
Seventy-Two
Richard had been sitting in silence for fifteen minutes as Gina had explained what the interview with his wife had produced. She glanced at her phone. It was far too soon for Bernard to have arranged for the shed and slabs to be dug up, but she still hoped that news would arrive swiftly.
‘Richard, do you understand the charges against you?’
He nodded. His solicitor whispered in his ear. It was clear that he had no defence. Along with his capture, finding the murder weapon, then there were all the witnesses that had seen him in action earlier that day. His collection of photos had sealed his fate.
‘Why Mr Leason? Richard.’
Richard whispered to his solicitor. ‘He said it’s Mr Leason to you.’
Jacob shook his head and sighed.
It was going to be one of those interviews. ‘Mr Leason, we have secured the mallet that you attacked Aimee with. This weapon has blood on it. We are expecting the results to come through any minute. If one of those blood samples is proven to be that of Jade Ashmore, we have our evidence. You’re now wishing you cleaned it better, am I correct?’
His large face reddened and his brow crumpled. He was trying too hard to hold back his reactions and they were all betraying him. His solicitor whispered and Richard Leason’s shoulders dropped.
‘Am I correct?’
He slammed his fist on the table, shaking it slightly. ‘I didn’t mean to kill her.’
‘Like you didn’t mean to kill Samantha Felton. We are digging up your garden as we speak, but I’ve already told you that. It’s time to come clean, tell us what you know.’
The solicitor whispered in Richard’s ear once again and Richard whispered back and sunk in the chair. ‘I wanted to get them back to my workshop, give them time to think about what they were doing. They fought back. If they’d have just calmed the hell down, they’d all still be alive. I didn’t want them to make the same mistakes in life as Diane.’ His voice trailed off and he withdrew into his own world.
Gina almost wanted to jump up and down with glee. They had everything they needed, except motive. She’d start at the beginning. ‘Why Samantha?’
