Towers of Silence - [2]
Connie nodded. “She was fine,” she said to me.
“And you told the coroner that as well?”
“Yes.”
What were they saying? If Miriam Johnstone hadn’t jumped then what? She’d been pushed? My stomach tightened and I asked her outright.
“You think her death was suspicious? That someone else was involved?”
She drew in her cheeks, nodded.
“Or maybe an accident,” Patrick added, catching my frown.
“Is there anything, anything at all, to suggest that someone else was there?”
No one spoke for a moment.
“That’s what we want you to find out,” Connie said.
A tall order. I sighed. “Were there any witnesses?”
“No,” she said quietly.
“Any forensic evidence, anything at the inquest to suggest she was with someone?”
“No.”
“Any evidence of a struggle or an attack?”
“No.”
“Do you suspect somebody?”
“No,” even quieter.
I could sense the mist of despair seep into the atmosphere.
“Couldn’t you just make some enquiries though? The police hardly talked to anybody,” Connie said urgently.
Because there was no need to, I thought. I carried on trying to establish whether there were any grounds for an enquiry. I could do with the work but I need to believe that there’s something I can usefully do for my clients.
“Did Miriam have any enemies?”
“No,” Connie said.
“Feuds?” A shake of the head. “Was she involved in any business dealings?”
“No.”
“Did she have any money or property that someone outside the family stood to inherit?”
“No.” A sullen burn in her eyes. She knew my game.
“Any insurance policies payable on her death?”
“No.”
“Was she seeing anyone, romantically?”
Roland wriggled with resentment.
“No.”
I sighed. No reason for anyone to harm her. I didn’t need to say it aloud.
“I told you it would be a waste of time,” Martina burst out. “She’s just like the rest of them.”
Connie looked down at her hands resting on the folder on her knees. Her head bowing. Patrick put out his hand and clasped her arm.
Martina sighed theatrically and glared at me sidelong, Roland studied his shoes.
“We read about you in the paper,” Patrick told me. “About the racial harassment case. We thought you’d… have an open mind.”
“What’s the point?” Martina repeated.
“You think there could be some racial element?”
“She was a black woman,” Connie said.
“Had anyone been causing her any trouble?”
She shook her head again.
“Nothing? Threats, damage to property, hate mail?”
“No. What I mean is the police, that’s why they didn’t do much, didn’t listen to us. Because she was black.”
I nodded. It was plausible. Senior officers had recently acknowledged that there was institutionalised racism in the force. Black and Asian communities had known it for years and had little faith in the police. They didn’t trust them and there’d been a sorry stream of cases, including that of Stephen Lawrence, which demonstrated police failure and incompetence in serving black citizens.
“Look, I’m sorry,” I said. “I’m sorry about your mother’s death. Maybe the police could have done more but I don’t think it would have changed the verdict. If you could give me any stronger reason for investigating it I’d be happy to help but everything points to suicide.”
Connie rolled her eyes in impatience and inhaled. “She was fine when we last saw her,” she looked straight at me, spoke slowly to emphasise her points, “and she had a phobia of heights, high buildings. She even used to swap her duties with the other orderlies at the hospital so she wouldn’t have to do the higher floors.” She looked away sharply, I could see the tears of frustration glittering in her eyes.
“When she did get depressed, how quickly did it come on?”
“A few days.”
“Is it impossible that she was okay on the Wednesday and became ill on the Thursday?”
“It’s not likely.”
“Had she tried to harm herself before.”
I waited for her reply. “No.”
“We just want to know what happened,” Patrick tried.
“I think the coroner’s verdict is the closest you’re going to get. I’m sorry if that sounds hard but I don’t think I can do anything for you. If there was anything more concrete to go on… but as it is…”
“Think about it,” Patrick said, his face flushing lightly. “Don’t decide now, take a little time, maybe.”
“What’s the point?” Martina stood. I guessed she was about seventeen, tall and skinny. She was like her sister but she wore her hair pulled back in a bun. “She’s only going to say no again.”
Roland rose too, stuffing his large hands into his pockets, staring resolutely at the wall. He wore school uniform and had the awkward look of a boy growing into his body. His hair was twisted into small tufts.
“Look, in all honesty, the police saw nothing suspicious, found nothing. And from what you’ve told me I agree with them.”
“They didn’t even bother. They didn’t care. How did she get there? They never explained that.” Connie blurted out. “She didn’t drive. If she was depressed – and I don’t buy that – then she’d stay home. She’d retreat not go off into town. She wouldn’t have been up to getting on a bus. And she would never, never, never have gone up to the fifth floor of a building and thrown herself off.” Her words reverberated round the small room.
Blue Murder: Make BelieveThe third Blue Murder novel written by the creator of the hit ITV police drama starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis.For nine days the people of Manchester have been looking for missing three-year-old Sammy Wray then DCI Janine Lewis is called to a residential street where a child's body has been found. It's a harrowing investigation and Janine's personal problems make leading the inquiry even tougher. Is this the case that will break her?Praise for the Blue Murder books'Complex and satisfying in its handling of Lewis's agonised attempts to be both a good cop and a good mother.'The Sunday Times'Uncluttered and finely detailed prose.'Birmingham Post'Beautifully realised little snapshots of the different characters' lives… Compelling stuff.'Sherlock Magazine'A swift, satisfying read.'City Life'Precise and detailed delineation of contemporary family relationships.'Tangled Web'Lewis seems set to become another very popular string to Staincliffe's bow as one of the leading English murder writers.'Manchester Metro'Pace and plenty of human interest.'Publishing News'Blending the warmth of family life with the demands of a police investigation.'Manchester Evening News'Juggling work and family is a challenge of modern life and encountering realistically portrayed women with family responsibilities is a pleasure.
"A painfully honest exploration of an ordinary family under stress… A stunning piece of work." – Ann CleevesFour bystanders in the wrong place at the wrong time. Witnesses to the shocking shooting of a teenage boy. A moment that changes their lives forever. Fiona, a midwife, is plagued by panic attacks and unable to work. Has she the strength to testify? Mike, a delivery driver and family man, faces an impossible decision when his frightened wife forces him to choose – us or the court case. Cheryl, a single-mother, doesn't want her child to grow up in the same climate of fear.
Your husband, your family, your freedom. What would you sacrifice for love? A love story, a modern nightmare and an honest and incisive portrayal of a woman who honours her husband's wish to die and finds herself in the dock for murder.When Deborah reluctantly helps her beloved husband Neil end his life and conceals the truth, she is charged with murder. As the trial unfolds and her daughter Sophie testifies against her, Deborah, still reeling with grief, fights to defend her actions. Twelve jurors hold her fate in their hands, if found guilty she will serve a life sentence.
A daughter's deathA teenage girl is found brutally murdered in her squalid flat.A mother's loveHer mother is devastated. She gave her child up to the care system, only to lose her again, and is convinced that the low-life boyfriend is to blame.Two ordinary women, one extraordinary jobDC Rachel Bailey has dragged herself up from a deprived childhood and joined the Manchester Police. Rachel's boss thinks her new recruit has bags of raw talent but straight-laced DC Janet Scott, her reluctant partner, has her doubts.Together Scott and Bailey must hunt a killer, but a life fighting crime can be no life at all…
The fourth Blue Murder novel written by the creator of the hit ITV police drama starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis.A well-respected family GP is found shot dead outside his surgery; who could possibly want to kill him? As DCI Janine Lewis and her team investigate they uncover stories of loyalty, love, deception, betrayal and revenge.Praise for the Blue Murder books'Complex and satisfying in its handling of Lewis's agonised attempts to be both a good cop and a good mother.' The Sunday Times'Uncluttered and finely detailed prose.' Birmingham Post'Beautifully realised little snapshots of the different characters' lives… Compelling stuff.' Sherlock Magazine'A swift, satisfying read.' City Life'Precise and detailed delineation of contemporary family relationships.' Tangled Web'Lewis seems set to become another very popular string to Staincliffe's bow as one of the leading English murder writers.' Manchester Metro'Pace and plenty of human interest.' Publishing News'Blending the warmth of family life with the demands of a police investigation.'Manchester Evening News'Juggling work and family is a challenge of modern life and encountering realistically portrayed women with family responsibilities is a pleasure.
When private eye Sal Kilkenny is asked to discover the whereabouts of Jennifer Pickering, disinherited by her family twenty years ago, it seems that Jennifer does not want to be found. Despite her initial reservations, as the events of the past gradually unfold, single-mum Sal finds that she is becoming engrossed in the case. There are dark secrets waiting to be uncovered but can Sal break the conspiracy of silence that surrounds this mystery? As she spends her days tracing Jennifer, Sal's nights become shattered by an emotional and often dangerous assignment with the Neighbour Nuisance Unit on one of Manchester's toughest housing estates.
Луна временами становится красной. Кто-то даже не заметит, но только не жители маленького городка Делейси. События предстоящей ночи поменяют их жизни навсегда. Человек-без-имени хочет исцелиться от древнего недуга. Банковский клерк постарается изо всех сил спасти возлюбленную. А троица грабителей планируют сорвать солидный куш. Остаётся вопрос: а нет ли четвёртой заинтересованной стороны?
Юрий Ребров по образованию преподаватель русского языка и литературы. Долгое время занимался журналистикой, работал ведущим на радио и телевидении. Занимал должность главного редактора журнала. Сочинение детективных произведений — его старое увлечение. Повести Юрия Реброва неоднократно публиковались в журналах и были награждены премиями. В настоящее время вышло несколько его книг. Компания «Посейдон» лакомый кусочек: морские суда, ценные грузы, портовая инфраструктура. И владелец ее Юрий Филимонов тоже настоящая акула капитала.
Книга «Восемь дней в сентябре и Рождество в Париже» — это детективный роман петербургского искусствоведа В. И. Переятенец. Будучи аттестованным экспертом Министерства культуры РФ, автором многочисленных статей и таких книг, как «Русский антиквариат» и «Экспертиза и оценка произведений декоративно-прикладного искусства. Фарфор. Стекло. Ювелирные изделия», она хорошо знакома со средой коллекционеров и торговцев антиквариатом. Однако не следует воспринимать данное сочинение как документальное.
Действие нового романа Ирины Лобусовой «Красная комната» происходит в большом городе, куда приезжает, переживая любовную драму, талантливая художница Евгения Кравец, именующая себя Джин. Она устраивается на работу дизайнером в архитектурную фирму и снимает квартиру в старинном доме: ей очень нравится гостиная в красных обоях, производящая на многих зловещее впечатление. Джин чувствует некоторое родство с этой странной комнатой, да и сама она выглядит странно, эпатируя окружающих зелеными волосами, в том числе руководителя фирмы Вадима, человека пресыщенного, живущего в свое удовольствие, но давно потерявшего интерес ко всему.
В маленьком городке, затерянном среди бескрайних пустошей Австралии, произошла трагедия: священник местной церкви убил пятерых человек, а потом и сам погиб от пули полицейского. Что же стало причиной кровавой бойни? В этом решил разобраться известный столичный журналист Мартин Скарсден. Однако едва он приступил к расследованию, как городок потрясло новое преступление – возле запруды обнаружили тела двух неизвестных молодых женщин… Связаны ли между собой это двойное убийство и история священника-«стрелка»? Расследование Мартина приняло новый оборот.