02 Murder at the Mansion by Alison Golden, Jamie Vougeot Page B

girl.
    “You’re innocent, Poppy. I know you are. You did nothing wrong. That’s why this is difficult for you to take. Tell the truth, and set things right.”
    Poppy looked up from the scrunched up tissues she held to her nose and into Annabelle’s compassionate eyes.
    “Go on,” Annabelle urged.
    “William…Will,” Poppy said suddenly, as if it were an uncontrollable reaction. “Will Conran. He’s a friend of mine – an ex-boyfriend. We grew up together. We’ve known each other since we were kids.”
    Annabelle rubbed Poppy’s back. She could see the relief flooding through the younger woman’s slim body, as if purging a poison she had held inside for a very long time.
    “He’s always been an archer. He’s always used crossbows, since he was a teenager. Goes hunting regularly. Sometimes he’d go on several trips a week.”
    “You think Will might have shot Sir John?”
    “I don’t know for sure, but I think so.”
    “Why?”
    Poppy’s sobs grew a little louder, and it took a while for Annabelle to calm her down enough to speak again. When she had, Poppy turned to the Vicar, and gathering all the strength she had, said,
    “Because I left Will for Sir John.”

    The next few hours were a flurry of activity and noise. Once Annabelle had given the Inspector the name, he put all of his men on the tail of William Conran. With the call sent across police stations nationwide, it took barely an hour before they tracked Conran to Reading, just south of London. The Reading police were sure to secure the suspect and bring him to the local station, so it was just a matter of Inspector Nicholls driving there to question him. He threw on his distinctive trench coat and made for the police station exit.
    “You coming, Vicar?” he asked.
    Annabelle, who had been milling around the station, caught up in the excitement while swapping questions with Inspector, found herself utterly befuddled.
    “Me?”
    “Do you see any other vicars around here?”
    “You want me to come with you to Reading to interrogate the suspect?”
    “Why not? As you said, Vicar, you’ve been involved each time we’ve made a breakthrough. Either you’re very good at this or extremely lucky. Either way, I’d rather have you with me than not.”
    Annabelle grinned at the Inspector’s words. She would have hoped for nothing more just a couple of weeks ago.
    “Of course, Inspector. Lead the way.”
    Annabelle found herself carried off toward Reading police station along with various members of the police force. As the convoy of police cars set off into the dark night among a flurry of squealing sirens and flashing lights, Annabelle found herself giddy with childish excitement. This was a change of pace from the county fair! They arrived as it was getting dark. Though the larger, busier atmosphere of the station made Annabelle feel slightly intimidated and a little over her head, she prepared herself to accomplish what she had set out to do since the beginning – discover the truth.
    With assurance and professionalism, the Inspector exchanged a few words with the Reading officers and was soon led toward the interview room that held Will Conran. Annabelle followed close behind, her self-confidence quickly being sapped as she realized the immense seriousness of what was happening.
    Conran was in his mid-twenties and as much a picture of youth and attractiveness as Poppy. With his chiselled jawline and sparkling blue eyes, Annabelle couldn’t help but notice what a perfect match they were – or at least, had been. Such a good-looking young chap would have no problems meeting a new girl, Annabelle thought, so if he were still to care about Poppy after all that had gone on, it must be a very deep love.
    “Why’s the Vicar here?” snarled Conran.
    “New justice system,” the Inspector said, gesturing Annabelle toward a seat opposite. “If you’re guilty, she’ll damn your soul straight to hell.”
    “Guilty of what?” Will