Miss Lesser about the crucifix?’
‘Not yet, she wasn’t in her office. Seems they don’t start work until ten so I’ll call her later. Did you get the lists of the last calls Amanda made? We’ve taken them off her mobile.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
He opened his briefcase. ‘Here you go. I’ve got copies. We’ll also need to get DNA swabs from the actors associated with her as well as fingerprints from everyone you’ve lined up to see today, so we can eliminate them.’
Anna hesitated, about to mention the book, but decided against it until she had spoken to Andrea Lesser personally. Her competitive nature was surfacing – a bad trait, she knew. She wanted to be the one who cracked open the case, not Simon Dunn.
Scott Myers lived in a substantial property backing onto Hampstead Heath. It was well-maintained with a small front garden and stone steps leading up to an imposing front door with stained glass panels. A Volvo hatchback pulled up and parked, and the driver tooted the horn. Anna turned and waited as a slim, dark-haired woman got out carrying two large, eco-friendly grocery bags.
‘Are you from the police?’ she called out.
‘Yes, I am DI Anna Travis. You must be Fiona Myers. Do you need a hand?’
‘Good God no, this is a very light load. Could you just get the front-door key out of my pocket and open the front door though?’
Fiona had a heart-shaped face with big, dark brown eyes. Her hair was cut in a fringe and just above her ears, giving her an elfin look. She was very slender and as Anna opened the front door she hopped over the mat into the hall.
‘Be careful, that brass thingy on the door is a bit loose. I keep meaning to get it fixed but haven’t got round to it. Come on in.’
She headed down a wide hallway, cluttered with scooters and roller skates.
‘You mind coming into the kitchen? Then I can unload.’
Anna followed her into a huge kitchen, lined with pine cabinets and with a big stripped-pine kitchen table in the middle. The fridge was covered in spelling magnets and there was a bright red Aga.
Fiona dumped the bags down. She crossed to open a dishwasher and muttered, ‘Bloody thing, it has a mind of its own. You switch it on and then it does nothing, then about an hour later it springs into life. I’ve asked the bloke to come out and sort it, but . . .’
Anna sat on a stool at the table, as Fiona began to put away the groceries.
‘Is your husband here, Mrs Myers?’
‘No, but he will be. He’s taken Sadie to the dentist. She must have wiggled her baby teeth with grubby fingers and now she’s got a gum infection. It’s all because her twin brother’s lost more than she has so he’s had the tooth fairy visit more than she has. Do you want a coffee?’
‘Yes, if you’re having one, thank you.’
Fiona moved like a dancer around the kitchen, fetching mugs and coffee and occasionally kicking the dishwasher. She chattered on, excusing the fact it was instant coffee, but one of the kids had broken the percolator. At last she brought over the coffee, but instead of sitting down, immediately jumped up to fetch a biscuit tin, banging it down on the table.
‘They’re rather kiddies’ selections of gingerbread men and Oreos, but do help yourself.’
‘Thank you.’
There was a pause as Fiona spooned in sugar and then got up again to fetch a jug of milk. Anna said nothing, waiting for her to calm down.
‘I know why you’re here,’ Fiona said suddenly. She got up yet again and went over to a stack of newspapers; she picked up a Daily Mail and held it out. There was a picture of Amanda on the front page.
‘I was reading this earlier. It’s two days’ old. Have you read it?’
‘Yes, I have,’ Anna said quietly.
‘Yes, I suppose you would have. Terrible, very sad. Do you know when her funeral is going to be?’
‘No, I’m sorry I don’t.’
‘I wouldn’t go and I don’t think Scott will either. We’ve had enough stinko press and she’d
‘Not yet, she wasn’t in her office. Seems they don’t start work until ten so I’ll call her later. Did you get the lists of the last calls Amanda made? We’ve taken them off her mobile.’
‘No, I didn’t.’
He opened his briefcase. ‘Here you go. I’ve got copies. We’ll also need to get DNA swabs from the actors associated with her as well as fingerprints from everyone you’ve lined up to see today, so we can eliminate them.’
Anna hesitated, about to mention the book, but decided against it until she had spoken to Andrea Lesser personally. Her competitive nature was surfacing – a bad trait, she knew. She wanted to be the one who cracked open the case, not Simon Dunn.
Scott Myers lived in a substantial property backing onto Hampstead Heath. It was well-maintained with a small front garden and stone steps leading up to an imposing front door with stained glass panels. A Volvo hatchback pulled up and parked, and the driver tooted the horn. Anna turned and waited as a slim, dark-haired woman got out carrying two large, eco-friendly grocery bags.
‘Are you from the police?’ she called out.
‘Yes, I am DI Anna Travis. You must be Fiona Myers. Do you need a hand?’
‘Good God no, this is a very light load. Could you just get the front-door key out of my pocket and open the front door though?’
Fiona had a heart-shaped face with big, dark brown eyes. Her hair was cut in a fringe and just above her ears, giving her an elfin look. She was very slender and as Anna opened the front door she hopped over the mat into the hall.
‘Be careful, that brass thingy on the door is a bit loose. I keep meaning to get it fixed but haven’t got round to it. Come on in.’
She headed down a wide hallway, cluttered with scooters and roller skates.
‘You mind coming into the kitchen? Then I can unload.’
Anna followed her into a huge kitchen, lined with pine cabinets and with a big stripped-pine kitchen table in the middle. The fridge was covered in spelling magnets and there was a bright red Aga.
Fiona dumped the bags down. She crossed to open a dishwasher and muttered, ‘Bloody thing, it has a mind of its own. You switch it on and then it does nothing, then about an hour later it springs into life. I’ve asked the bloke to come out and sort it, but . . .’
Anna sat on a stool at the table, as Fiona began to put away the groceries.
‘Is your husband here, Mrs Myers?’
‘No, but he will be. He’s taken Sadie to the dentist. She must have wiggled her baby teeth with grubby fingers and now she’s got a gum infection. It’s all because her twin brother’s lost more than she has so he’s had the tooth fairy visit more than she has. Do you want a coffee?’
‘Yes, if you’re having one, thank you.’
Fiona moved like a dancer around the kitchen, fetching mugs and coffee and occasionally kicking the dishwasher. She chattered on, excusing the fact it was instant coffee, but one of the kids had broken the percolator. At last she brought over the coffee, but instead of sitting down, immediately jumped up to fetch a biscuit tin, banging it down on the table.
‘They’re rather kiddies’ selections of gingerbread men and Oreos, but do help yourself.’
‘Thank you.’
There was a pause as Fiona spooned in sugar and then got up again to fetch a jug of milk. Anna said nothing, waiting for her to calm down.
‘I know why you’re here,’ Fiona said suddenly. She got up yet again and went over to a stack of newspapers; she picked up a Daily Mail and held it out. There was a picture of Amanda on the front page.
‘I was reading this earlier. It’s two days’ old. Have you read it?’
‘Yes, I have,’ Anna said quietly.
‘Yes, I suppose you would have. Terrible, very sad. Do you know when her funeral is going to be?’
‘No, I’m sorry I don’t.’
‘I wouldn’t go and I don’t think Scott will either. We’ve had enough stinko press and she’d
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