Free Blood Ties by Jane A. Adams Page B

and no one called for help. If they had, it’s possible Karen and Sara could have survived. As it was, a taxi driver called the police, but they reckon that was maybe an hour after it all happened. There seems to have been some speculation about them being run off the road; an unnamed source alleged there’d been a drunk driver picked up on suspicion later on, but there’s nothing very specific.’
    â€˜That makes it even worse,’ Naomi said. ‘And the picture?’
    â€˜Well, there’s a picture in the paper of all four of them, then this little Polaroid of Karen and Sara. And this key.’
    â€˜But the key to what? And why did Eddy hide it in the dressing gown pocket?’
    â€˜Well, the only conclusion I could reach is that no one would have gone into that room. Anyone opening the door would have seen what we did, just a lot of dust and memories. I doubt one in a hundred people would have looked any further. The other question is, who visited Eddy on the night he died? If Susan’s right, then he’d never have gone up to bed before washing up the mugs and rinsing the teapot out, but he did neither, which leads me to believe that he didn’t get the chance. Either his visitor was there when he died, in which case, why not report it, call an ambulance? Or . . .’
    â€˜You think he may have been pushed down the stairs?’
    â€˜I’ve got nothing to support that theory except for two mugs and a teapot. But I might just have a word with the attending officer, you never know.’
    â€˜There’ll have to be a post-mortem, won’t there?’
    â€˜Well, in theory, yes. It’s technically an unexplained death, and Eddy hadn’t seen the doctor in years, Susan said. But most likely it’ll be a fairly cursory exam. Cause of death is self evident. Eddy broke his neck in the fall. There’s a patch of frayed carpet at the head of the stairs and the coroner will just bring a verdict of accidental death and that will be that.’
    â€˜Unless you stir things up.’
    â€˜Maybe, if I stir things up. Problem is, we’re not going to be here for long and it isn’t my jurisdiction and—’
    â€˜And this is bothering you more than you thought it would. Alec, phone work. Tell them you’re taking your TOIL time and adding it to your holiday.’
    â€˜Oh, they’ll just love that.’
    â€˜You’re entitled. What are they going to do? Sack you?’
    Alec laughed, thinking that his boss would have a good go at that. ‘OK,’ he agreed. ‘We’ll stay on for a bit longer, see what comes up, but it’ll probably be a waste of time. I’m probably just looking for trouble where there isn’t any.’
    â€˜Occupational hazard,’ Naomi agreed. ‘But anyway, we’re still only on page two of your list. I haven’t driven the tank yet. Or been to that abbey that brews its own mead, or whatever it is.’
    â€˜Remind me not to let you do both on the same day. Right, I’m going to make a couple of phone calls. Get ready to duck.’
    â€˜A couple?’
    â€˜Yes. One to tell work I’m not coming back when they thought I was and another to the attending officer. Susan had his card. Let’s see if we can get a bit of professional courtesy extended.’
    From Roads to Ruin by E Thame
    We know from Catherine Kirkwood’s account that Elmer managed to get into the trial of her father and witnessed the proceedings. That was a brave act. Had he been recognized he might have lost his own life, and I think we can allow ourselves to speculate here, just a little, as to his motivation. By this time, he and Catherine had been travelling together for about twelve days – they had fled north to Bristol, then turned east, but we can’t be sure what circumstance finally brought them south again, to Dorchester, to see the infamous Judge Jeffries in session