Free ONCE UPON A LIE (A Fitzjohn Mystery) by Jill Paterson Page B

friend’s name?’  Fitzjohn waited for Prentice to reply.  ‘It could cause you problems if you don’t tell us, Mr Prentice, because we might assume you were not with a friend at all, but at your place of business during the time of Michael Rossi’s murder.’
    ‘ But that absurd.’
    ‘Then where were you, and who were you with?’ asked Fitzjohn again, his impatience growing.
    Prentice fidgeted with the crocheted doily on the arm of the sofa. ‘All right.  I was with Stella Rossi.  After the council meeting finished we met up and we went for a drive.  Up the north shore.  Colloroy way.  I hope this doesn’t have to go any further, Chief Inspector.  I’m sure you’ll understand.  My wife, you see…’
    ‘Oh, I understand only too well,’ said Fitzjohn.
     
    ‘I wonder if teaming up with Stella Rossi was a strategic move on Nigel Prentice’s part,’ said Betts, getting in to the car a few minutes later.  ‘I mean, he could see it as a way of gaining control of the company.’
    ‘You mean by persuading Mrs Rossi to let him run it ?’
    ‘Yes , sir.’
    ‘Sound s logical, but if he’s that devious, do you really believe he’d be satisfied with only owning half the shares?’
    ‘No.  Probably not ,’ replied Betts, ‘but one thing’s for sure. Nigel Prentice and Stella Rossi both had motive to murder Michael Rossi because between the two of them they now own Rossi & Prentice Yachting Electronics, outright.’
    ‘ They do, Betts.  But whether they had the means and opportunity to kill Michael Rossi, remains to be seen.’  Fitzjohn looked at his watch.  ‘And while we’re figuring that out let’s have another word with Charlotte Rossi.’
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 10
     
     
    Gone was the infectious smile on Charlotte Rossi’s face, so visible the previous day.  Instead, she appeared tense when she opened the door to her apartment.
    ‘Chief Inspector.’
    ‘Ms Rossi, our apologies for disturbing your Sunday, but we’d like to speak to you again if we may.’  Charlotte eyes darted from Fitzjohn to Betts and back to Fitzjohn.
    ‘By all means,’ she said, stepping back from the doorway.  ‘Come in.  Do you have news about my uncle?’
    ‘No, not yet, ’ answered Fitzjohn, ‘but there are a few unanswered questions we thought you might be able to help us with.’
    ‘I hope I can,’ she said as she led the way along a short hallway and in to a sun filled living room.  ‘What is it you want to ask?’
    ‘I seem to remember you said the last time you spoke to your uncle was on Friday morning,’ said Fitzjohn, sitting down.
    ‘ That’s right.  He came here to drop off his house keys so that I could take delivery of the fridge.’
    ‘ So you didn’t see him after that?  Miss Timmons seems to think he planned to call around after he’d left her place.’
    ‘ Mmm.  Esme mentioned that yesterday, but as I think I told you before, Chief Inspector, I worked late on Friday night.  I didn’t get home until after nine.  So, I don’t know whether he called around or not.’
    ‘ Did he try to contact you by phone?’
    ‘ There was a missed call on my mobile, but when I rang him back, there was no reply.’  Charlotte’s brow furrowed.  ‘By that time he was probably…  Oh God.’
    Fitzjohn waited for a moment before he continued his questioning.   ‘Can you think of anyone who would want to harm your uncle, Ms Rossi?’
    ‘H e wasn’t popular with a number of people, Chief Inspector, but I wouldn’t have thought that their grievances would go as far as murder.’
    ‘Can you tell us who these people were ?’  When Charlotte Rossi did not reply, Fitzjohn continued.  ‘For instance.  What do you know about a man called Percy Greene?’
    ‘ Percy?  He’s… He was an acquaintance of Michael’s.  An old school friend.  Percy handles the Old Boys network, but that’s all I know about him.’
    ‘What about Graeme Wyngard.’
    ‘Wyngard.  I believe he