Free Close Call by J.M. Gregson

that. So instead she said, ‘I’m only trying to defend people who have become my friends.’ Then she turned back to Lambert and forced a smile. ‘All right, Superintendent. I can see the sense of what you’re telling me. Perhaps everyone in the close is still a little tense and shocked, after what happened.’
    She then proceeded to give an account of the Saturday night celebration which coincided so exactly with that they had had on the previous day from Alison Durkin that they were left wondering whether the two of them had got together on this. Lambert listened carefully; Hook asked her one or two small questions as he made his notes, then answered the queries she made of him. He explained that the body couldn’t be released yet, that a defence lawyer, when they eventually made an arrest and the case came to trial, had the right to a second, independent, post-mortem examination, in case he wanted to challenge the findings of the one already conducted.
    Carol Smart shuddered a little at the thought, then asked whether she and Philip would be required to give evidence in the Coroner’s Court. Lambert said, ‘Almost certainly not. The inquest will be formally opened, but then adjourned, under Section Twenty of the Coroners’ Act. When we have made an arrest, there will be a Crown Court trial; this replaces the inquest.’
    She nodded, digesting this. Then, unable to resist a little barb, she said, ‘You seem very certain you are going to make this arrest.’
    Lambert smiled. ‘I am, Mrs Smart.’ Then, without varying his even tone, he said, ‘Who do
you
think killed Mr Durkin?’
    â€˜That’s a preposterous question!’
    â€˜Direct, perhaps, but not preposterous. You must surely have given some thought to the matter since this startling death occurred. I’m assuming you did find it startling, of course. What about you, Mr Smart?’
    Philip Smart’s florid and revealing face registered his surprise at this sudden switch of police attention; Lambert registered the fact that he seemed to be a man who could not easily conceal his thoughts. ‘I can’t think that anyone at that party would have killed Robin Durkin. We all got on so well during the evening. We’ve already told you that.’
    â€˜Yes, you have. Let me put my question in another, rather more diplomatic way. Are you aware that anyone who was at your street party had any reason to dislike Robin Durkin?’
    Phil pretended to give the matter some thought; he was trying to show this lanky, intense superintendent that he wasn’t the only one who could be diplomatic. ‘No. Robin had got us most of the booze at discount rates.’ Phil spoke as if that clinched the dead man’s friendship with all of them.
    Lambert said impatiently, ‘That’s hardly a guarantee of safety, is it? Had he seduced anyone’s wife? Had he done the dirty on anyone in his business? Sold someone a dodgy car, for instance?’
    â€˜No. Not that I know of, anyway. Carol told you, we haven’t known the Durkins for long. Only since we all moved into the close.’ He could hear himself sounding defensive, so he said, ‘His wife’s quite a dish, you know. I wouldn’t put it past some man to have had a go at Ally. Might have set up a confrontation with Robin, that, mightn’t it? Perhaps Robin was going after him and the man fought back.’ He caught his wife’s movement beside him and said hastily. ‘That’s all just speculation, of course. I’m just trying to be helpful, the way you asked us to be.’ Phil Smart tried to dismiss the vision of Ally Durkin’s shapely rear which thrust itself embarrassingly into his mind’s eye.
    â€˜I see. And what about Mr Durkin? Was he in the habit of pursuing other women? Is it possible that a jealous husband or partner might have been looking to do him harm?’
    â€˜I don’t