live in a rural county it doesn’t mean people don’t do stuff like that.’
Jackie spoke up. ‘I thought the oldest daughter survived and was in hospital, have I missed something? Bless her, is she dead?’
Jamie turned to her. ‘No, sorry. She isn’t, but my source said it’s not looking very promising for her. She’s suffered terrible head injuries.’
‘Poor girl, I taught her in year six. Such a lovely family, her younger sister was a delight to teach as well. I just can’t believe it.’ Jackie sniffed and Steph passed her a tissue from her handbag.
Greg wanted to tell her to snap out of it. She was always so dramatic; there was just no need. He didn’t though. ‘So, then what are we to do? I think we need to ask for more rural patrols and get the Chief Super to make an announcement. I’ll ring him tomorrow.’ He caught the eye roll Jamie gave to Steph.
‘Right, well, has anyone got any other business? No? Let’s call it a day.’ He stood up, eager to get out of the room away from them all. They knew nothing, he knew nothing. He wanted to leave before Jamie cornered him and almost made it to the bottom of the stairs before he heard his name being called.
‘Greg, hang on.’
Stopping, he turned to face him. ‘What?’
‘You do know the history of that house, right?’
‘Of course I do.’
‘Well don’t you think it’s a bit of a coincidence that two families have been murdered in the same house? Didn’t you know the first family as well? I know you were friends with Saul and Olivia Potter; there have been a fair few photos of you all snapped at various charity events.’
‘What are you insinuating? That I know more about this tragedy than I’m letting on?’
Jamie shrugged.
‘I did know the O’Briens; in fact I worked with Jason for a few years. They were a lovely family and he was a good friend. I was devastated when they were murdered, just as I’m devastated by the loss of the Potters.’
‘You have to admit it’s weird though. It’s as if that house is cursed or something. I’ve got a reporter looking into the history of it. You know it was empty for years before the Potters bought it to renovate. I’m going back to do some in-depth research, look through the archives at the paper and pull everything that’s ever been printed about what’s happened at that house. Who knows, perhaps your name will crop up once or twice. Once I’ve got my story and sold lots of papers, I’ll hand it all over to the cops.’
The smile which spread across his face made Greg want to hit him, hard, but he couldn’t; it would make him look guilty.
‘We live in a small area, of course people know each other. What do you want me to say, that I killed them all?’
‘I don’t know, is that a confession, Greg? Did you?’
‘No, it bloody well isn’t, and is this blackmail, Jamie? You must be desperate if this is all you can come up with. If you so much as print any of that on the pages of that rag, I’ll take you and the paper to court for defamation of character. I’ll sue you for so much that you’ll have to sell your house, car and shitty business to pay me. Now piss off and leave me alone before I phone the cops and tell them you’re harassing me.’
He strode out of the building, towards his car. He had to get away from here before he did something he’d regret for the rest of his life.
Thirty-Four
Morgan entered the house on Easdale Road for the fourth time in as many days; this time she walked behind Ben. He pointed upstairs and she followed him. At the top they paused.
‘Did you bring the original crime scene photos with you?’
She nodded, pulling the packet out of her pocket and passing it to him. She had put them in order of the bodies found. She looked at the photograph he held in his hand of Jason O’Brien. He would have been lying just in front of where they were standing now.
‘The plaster on the walls is new, it’s all been replaced.’
‘So is the flooring.’
Ben glanced at the polished hardwood flooring. There was thick carpet on the original. He pointed to the cupboard. It was still there; the doors and handles were new.
‘You were right, it is a fair old size.’ He opened the double