Aftermath Read Free Page B

said.
    â€˜Sir?’
    â€˜The way the chain is embedded into the concrete . . . it seems that the chain was covered with concrete powder when it was in a large plastic bucket and the concrete moistened and allowed to harden, but that amount of concrete would take weeks to harden . . . or “cure” as I believe is the correct term.’
    â€˜I see what you mean, sir, and it would seem like that was done here . . .’
    â€˜Yes, that’s what I was thinking. It would be much easier to transport two plastic buckets, some bags of cement, a length of chain and an amount of water and assemble the thing here . . . bring a little at a time and take a few days over the operation. That is premeditation.’
    â€˜It is, isn’t it, sir?’ Webster looked at the length of chain to where it disappeared into undergrowth, by then being probed by the three constables. ‘So the chain and the blocks of concrete were in place before the first victim was brought here?’
    â€˜It seems likely . . . and the skeletons are of different ages, you say?’ Hennessey considered the crime scene.
    â€˜It appears so, sir. As you see it’s badly run down. The owner . . . the last owner . . . died recently.’
    â€˜I see. Well, dead or not he is going to be our number one suspect.’
    â€˜It would seem likely, sir, but frankly I doubt that will be the case, not after what Mr Seers told me.’
    â€˜Mr Seers? Who is he?’
    â€˜The member of the public who found the skeletons . . . he saw three . . . and raised the alarm. We subsequently discovered two further skeletons and at which point you arrived, sir.’
    â€˜Very well,’ Hennessey brushed another fly away from his face. ‘Is he still here?’
    â€˜Yes, sir, he is the owner of the red Vauxhall parked in front of the house.’
    â€˜Yes, I noticed it. I’ll go and talk to him. If you would carry on here, please?’
    â€˜Yes, sir.’
    George Hennessey walked slowly from the kitchen garden to the front of the house where the motor vehicles were parked and where, as the day had matured, some element of shade was by then afforded. He identified the red Vauxhall and approached it calmly, smiling gently at the composed looking man who sat in the driver’s seat. ‘Mr Seers?’
    â€˜Yes, that’s me,’ Seers opened the car door and stepped out of the vehicle, ‘John Seers of Seers, Seers and Noble.’
    â€˜A solicitor?’
    â€˜Yes, for my sins,’ Seers shrugged, ‘but it pays the bills.’
    â€˜I haven’t heard of your firm, I regret to say.’
    â€˜We hardly do any criminal work which probably explains it . . . not a great deal of money to be made defending murderers. Our firm is principally concerned with commercial law and property . . . if the property is large and valuable enough.’
    Hennessey indicated Bromyards, ‘This sort of large and valuable?’
    â€˜Yes, this sort of large and valuable. This particular case is quite rare and I pulled rank to get it . . . I am a senior partner . . . it’s a job that we could give to a junior but I really wanted it, seemed it was going to get me out of our office for a few weeks.’
    â€˜I can understand that,’ Hennessey agreed, ‘I too dislike being desk-bound. So what exactly were you . . . your firm . . . engaged to do in respect of this property?’
    â€˜To make an inventory of the contents.’ Seers was tall, clean-shaven, a thin but balanced face. He spoke with received pronunciation so George Hennessey noticed and heard. ‘We act for the deceased and the family of the deceased, being one Nicholas Housecarl by name. He was a long-time client of our firm and he left a will in which he directed that his entire estate be