A Lesser Evil - Lesley Pearse [90]
Fifi related everything carefully. Now and then Roper would ask her to explain something a little more clearly, who she’d seen or talked to, the exact time of day, and the policewoman wrote it down.
By the time she got to the part when she entered the Muckles’ house and made her way upstairs, it was already noon and so hot she had perspiration running down her face. When they had a break for a cup of tea and for her to go to the lavatory, she was actually glad Dan hadn’t come with her. There really would have been no point in him sitting outside the interview room just waiting for her.
As they resumed the statement and she got to where she opened the door to the room where Angela was, she broke down. It was too much having to go through all that terrible part again. Roper got her a glass of water, and the policewoman comforted her. Roper waited patiently until she’d composed herself before continuing.
But finally it was over, she was given the statement to read herself, and she had to sign it to confirm it was an accurate account of the day’s events.
‘May I go now?’ she asked, very relieved it was over.
‘Just one more thing before you go,’ Roper said. ‘You said Mr Ubley was out all day?’
‘Yes, he went to visit his wife’s grave, and then to see his sister,’ Fifi said.
‘What time did he leave the house?’
Fifi shrugged. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Well, was it straight after he came up with your milk and said you could sit in his garden?’
‘I wouldn’t know. I got washed and dressed and that took some time. He was gone by the time I went down to his garden.’
‘So you didn’t see him walk up the street?’
Fifi thought that a very odd question. ‘No, otherwise I would’ve known when he left, wouldn’t I?’
‘But it was after you saw the Muckles leave?’
‘Yes. No. Oh, I don’t know,’ she said irritably. ‘He came upstairs with the milk before the Muckles went off, but I don’t know when he left the house. Why are you asking me about him anyway?’
Roper shrugged. ‘In a case like this we have to find out where everyone around was, and at what time, that’s all.’
Fifi couldn’t see why Frank’s movements should interest them. After all, they hadn’t asked her about Eva Price or Mr Helass, who had also been out in the road that morning.
‘Where are the other Muckle children?’ she asked.
‘They’ve been taken to a place of safety,’ Roper said. ‘Don’t you worry your head about them.’
That sounded a little patronizing to Fifi, and she bristled. ‘I just hope you don’t let any of the adults back to their house, they’re likely to be lynched,’ she said tartly.
Roper nodded but made no reply.
‘How did Angela die?’ Fifi blurted out suddenly. ‘Was she strangled?’
‘No.’ He paused as if considering whether to divulge the cause of death or not. ‘Unless something else comes up in her post mortem, we think she was suffocated, probably with a pillow.’
‘Really!’ Fifi said in surprise. ‘Do you know yet what time she died?’
‘Between eight-thirty and ten-thirty a.m.,’ Roper said tersely, as if she had no business to ask.
Fifi wanted to ask a great deal more but didn’t quite dare. ‘What will happen now? Will I have to be a witness in court?’
‘Almost certainly,’ he said. ‘But don’t trouble yourself about that now, a trial is a long way off.’
Fifi thought ‘a trial’ was a very vague statement, almost as if he hadn’t yet decided who had murdered Angela. But then she knew from her work in a solicitors’ office that police and lawyers always hedged their bets and were careful to be seen to be impartial.
‘Thank you for coming in so promptly, Mrs Reynolds,’ Roper said, getting to his feet to signify the interview was at an end. ‘I know this has all been very distressing for you, but do try not to let it prey on your mind. Obviously if you should decide to move away from Dale Street, please let us know your new address so we can contact you.’
It was even hotter outside the police station than it had been inside. Fifi bought a newspaper, then went into a café for a cold drink. As she flicked through the daily paper a headline