Cambridge Blue - Alison Bruce [118]
Marks sipped his coffee thoughtfully, then turned his attention back to the journal, flicking slowly through its pages. ‘Imagine having to wade through fifty-six volumes of this stuff, he’s cryptic beyond belief. And obsessive. And I worry about someone who can’t at least be honest in their own private diary.’
‘Perhaps he’s the unstable one?’
‘But somehow I doubt he killed those two women from beyond the grave,’ Marks replied drily.
They still didn’t know nearly enough about Lorna Spence, but it had become obvious to Goodhew that the people who liked her the least would inevitably turn out to be the ones who knew her best. He remembered a comment that seemed to sum her up, and realized that it led them towards a different line of thinking. ‘Lorna only did things for Lorna – that’s what Wayne Thompson-Stark and Hayley Sellars said.’
‘And what are you saying?’
‘If that’s the case, Lorna didn’t hire Colin Willis on anyone’s behalf except her own.’
‘And if Jackie Moran knew that, it would be sufficient motive for revenge.’
Goodhew stiffened, because he hadn’t intended to throw greater suspicion on Jackie Moran. He reined in his feelings. Just because he hoped she was innocent didn’t mean that she was. ‘That’s not exactly what I meant but, yes, you’re right.’
He closed his eyes to help him concentrate. Eventually Marks prodded him in the arm. ‘Are you feeling all right?’
Goodhew opened them. ‘If I come up with another possible scenario, sir, will you shoot it down in flames again?’
‘Only if it’s crap, Gary. What are you thinking?’
‘We know that Lorna had a history of playing games with people’s lives, being an arch manipulator. Say Lorna hired Colin Willis after becoming aware of the contents of that journal. If she could successfully frame Alice, then, with Jackie gone, she would have had brother Richard and his money all to herself. Lorna nicked the crucial page from her friend Victoria, who’d been having a relationship with Alex Moran, and that’s what they fell out over – not some boyfriend. Wayne said Lorna’s friend back then was called Vicky – if that’s Victoria Nugent, it would have been her that sent all the junk mail because she was the only one who had known Lorna long enough to know about Wayne and Hayley.’
‘Apart from Wayne and Hayley themselves.’
‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Goodhew admitted.
‘OK,’ Marks continued slowly, ‘it makes sense so far. You’re saying that, after Jackie Moran survived the attack, she would have realized that Lorna – and therefore Victoria – had access to Alex Moran’s files. You realize your scenario still makes Jackie the prime suspect?’
Goodhew pulled a face. ‘I know that, but I just can’t imagine her killing anyone.’
‘Apart from Colin Willis, of course?’ Marks shut the journal. ‘I’m not quite as trusting as you, Gary, so I’ve sent a car to bring her in. You have half an hour to plan your interview, then we’ll speak to her together.’
FORTY-EIGHT
Marks deliberately arrived at the interview room fifteen minutes before Goodhew appeared. He’d wanted a few minutes alone to assess Jackie Moran.
She seemed very withdrawn and she reminded him of certain children he’d interviewed in the past, the ones whose lids were so tightly sprung that they stayed snapped shut. A crowbar might prise them open, but it was only patience that ever budged them without causing permanent damage.
He wondered what was going on inside her head, but she kept it all secret, except for a response he’d noticed when she’d heard Goodhew’s name. Just a quick blink. A move of the hand. Two signs that let him know that he’d been wise to have Gary back.
He and Jackie Moran sat in virtual silence for the remaining ten minutes it took for Goodhew to join them. After a while, Marks