to admit it’s very strange to have two families murdered in the same property. I think there may be some connection between the two murders.’
She smiled at him, and noticed there was a faint flush of redness creeping up his neck. She could see it through the open buttons on his white Armani shirt.
‘I guess there could, I didn’t think about that.’
‘When I was looking through the notes from the first murders your name cropped up a few times. Could you tell me how you knew the O’Briens?’
Morgan had no idea if she was overstepping her boundaries or not; she was totally winging it.
‘Am I being questioned here? Am I under suspicion?’
She shook her head. ‘No, not at all. I’m trying to get as much background information about the O’Briens as I can, to form a picture of them. What they were like, what kind of lifestyle they led. At the moment you’re the best link I have to them. It really is just helping me with enquiries.’
His shoulders relaxed. Taking a glass from the cupboard, he pressed it under the ice dispenser of the American-style fridge. The clanking as the chips of ice hit the glass seemed to echo around the room. He then took a bottle of whisky from the cupboard and filled the glass half full. He walked back to look at Morgan and took a large gulp.
‘Cheers, don’t mind me. It’s been a long time since I’ve thought about Jason and his family. It’s a bit of a jolt to the old system.’
‘Sorry to bring up bad memories.’
He pulled up a stool and sat opposite her.
‘They were a nice family. We owned a construction company, Jason and I. He was a very good friend and I thought a lot of Jennifer and the girls. It was a hell of a shock when I heard the news that they were all dead. I mean who does something like that?’
‘Hard to imagine why or who could do that. Did Jason have any enemies, fall out with anyone?’
‘No, he was a good guy.’
‘I read in the notes that you both had a bit of a falling out?’
His eyes narrowed and the redness on his neck began to spread to his cheeks. ‘We didn’t fall out exactly, it was more of a disagreement. Running a business is hard at the best of times. Things weren’t going too well. I wanted to sell up and cash in while we had the chance. Jason didn’t; he thought we should stick it out.’
‘What happened?’
‘Well he got killed, so it ended that discussion. I sold up, invested the money, and here I am.’
‘Yes, very impressive. When you found out about the Potters did it not cross your mind to speak to the police and tell them about the O’Briens?’
‘Look, Ms Brookes, I don’t like the way you keep making accusations yet saying they’re not. What are you trying to insinuate? Do you know who I am? I have friends in the police, high-ranking friends, and the police commissioner is an acquaintance. I’m going to have to ask you to leave now. I’m not answering any further questions unless it’s with a solicitor present.’
He began to stride towards the front door. Morgan stood up, taking one last look around. He had all of this because the O’Briens had died and he’d been able to sell the business that Jason had wanted to keep. Money and greed were as good a motive for murder as any. She followed him and stepped out into the fading sunlight. Determined not to let him think he had the upper hand, she stared him in the eyes.
‘It worked out pretty well for you, didn’t it, Jason O’Brien dying. It meant you got the business, the money. I mean look at this house. Yeah, it really did.’
She got into the car, slamming the door shut before he could answer her. She knew she’d gone too far, but couldn’t help it. All she wanted was to discover the truth and get justice for Bronte, her family and the O’Briens.
Forty-Two
Morgan took the police car back and swapped it for her own. She didn’t bother going upstairs. She had nothing to say to Ben. She’d emailed Wendy in the car and told her to speak to Ben about taking a sample of Bronte’s hair. Inside her flat, she kicked her shoes off. She was hot, tired and could still taste the overpowering scent of blood from this morning every time she closed her eyes.