Free A Question of Motive by Roderic Jeffries

a dish of sugar and placed everything in front of him. ‘Is there anything more you would like?’
    â€˜No, thanks.’
    She absent-mindedly picked up a biscuit and ate. ‘I said it was unfortunate she believed you had been entertaining when you were so kindly helping a niece who had just lost her uncle. I added how sad it was that some people cannot stop jumping to nasty conclusions because their minds live in shadows.’ The coffee machine hissed. She turned it off, poured coffee into a mug, carried this over to the table. ‘Was I not right to criticize her?’
    â€˜Absolutely.’
    â€˜She will not phone me again in order to speak poisonous nonsense.’
    He added milk to the coffee. Were he a brave man, he would have reminded her of how often she jumped to wrong conclusions, but there were times when a sensible man was a coward.
    The phone rang as Alvarez stepped into the office. He needed to sit down and recover his breath, but instinct said the caller was Salas. He lifted the receiver as he stood at the side of the desk. ‘Inspector Alvarez speaking.’
    â€˜What have you to report?’ Salas asked.
    â€˜I am making enquiries, señor.’
    â€˜That is not what I asked.’
    â€˜I have spoken to Señorita Farren at length. She is convinced her uncle would never have committed suicide.’
    â€˜Her grounds for that?’
    â€˜I did not press her because she was in so distressed a state. In addition, I was going to have to explain that there was the possibility her uncle had been murdered.’
    â€˜As so often, you judged it would be best to do nothing.’
    â€˜There are benefits from taking an investigation slowly, señor.’
    â€˜A proposition to which you hold firmly. How wealthy was Señor Gill at the time of his death?’
    â€˜I haven’t yet been able to find out.’
    â€˜Because of the fact that motive can identify murder and the murderer has escaped you?’
    â€˜I have said as much to you, señor.’
    â€˜No doubt, incoherently. Put simply, if Señor Gill remained rich at the time of his death – despite the heavy losses others have sustained – there is motive for his murder. Who will inherit his estate?’
    â€˜I don’t yet know.’
    â€˜The importance of knowing has also escaped you?’
    â€˜I am intending to return to Aquila to speak to Señorita Farren again. I will ask her about the details of her uncle’s will, if she knows them.’
    â€˜It will be of little use to ask, if she doesn’t. Whom do you expect to be the main beneficiary?’
    â€˜She is the obvious person, but the señor might well have other relatives and friends about whom we know nothing; one or more of them may inherit.’
    â€˜Do you understand the importance of what you have just said?’
    â€˜I . . . With particular reference to what?’
    â€˜Rule out suicide and accident and the niece becomes the prime suspect for his murder.’
    â€˜That’s ridiculous!’
    Salas spoke sharply. ‘I do not expect an inspector to address me in such terms.’
    â€˜But she is incapable of such a crime. She was extremely fond of him. He was the one person who provided the protection she needed. If you’d seen her distress when I asked her if she thought her uncle might have committed suicide . . . Her tears!’
    â€˜Women use tears as a smokescreen.’
    â€˜I am certain she could have had no part in his death.’
    â€˜You wish to deny motive is the key and money provides the strongest of motives?’
    â€˜That’s true, but . . .’
    â€˜You find difficulty in acknowledging truth.’
    â€˜Señor, there is a motive as strong, or even stronger, than money. The jealousy of a betrayed husband.’
    â€˜When you enjoyed informing me about the adultery, you said you would question the wife when her husband was not present so that he