Deadly Investment (A Fitzjohn Mystery Book 5) Read Free

could have been a robbery that went wrong. The victim might have put up such a fight that he scared his attacker off.’
    Conroy smiled. ‘I’ll leave that conundrum to you, Alistair. I’m not good at puzzles. What I can say is that he died somewhere between eight o’clock last night and mid-night. I’ll be able to be more precise after the post mortem.’
     
    As Conroy disappeared back into the forensic tent, Fitzjohn went in search of Betts. With his mind already in investigative mode, and a growing sense of disappointment that this was not to be his case, he found his tall, ginger-haired, sergeant climbing out of one of the police cars alongside the curb.
    ‘How did you get on?’ he asked.
    ‘There’s no unaccompanied car in the vicinity, sir, so the victim could be a local. Having said that, however, I just spoke to the young couple who found the body while they were out walking their dog at around six this morning. They live in the area but they don’t know the victim. Does he have ID?’
    ‘No, but I doubt the motive for the attack was robbery because he was still wearing his watch. A Rolex. Hopefully its serial number will show us who he is. If you’re right and he is a local then he probably left his wallet at home when he went for a walk. No doubt his wallet will surface when we discover his identity and are able to speak to his next-of-kin.’
    ‘There is one other thing, sir,’ continued Betts. ‘The SOCOs found an envelope a couple of feet away from the body. It’s addressed to an accountant in Northbridge. The name of the addressee is smudged, however, and there’s no return address and nothing inside the envelope.’
    ‘Well, it’s something to look into,’ replied Fitzjohn. ‘The accountant shouldn’t be too difficult to chase down. See what you can find out, but get through to Rolex first. I’d like to identify the victim before we hand the case over to DCI Roberts. Also, arrange a door knock of the area, Betts. See if anyone knows a man matching the victim’s description. Oh, and check with the Missing Persons Unit. Is there anything else?’
    ‘Yes, sir. The SOCOs also found a series of footprints around the body. One in particular left a clear indented pattern of the sole of the shoe in the soft ground. Also, they’ll be doing an analysis of the dust on the victim’s clothing at the lab. It’s time-consuming but could be helpful in the investigation.’
    ‘Excellent.’ Fitzjohn looked around and sighed. ‘Very well. I think that’s all we can do here for now. Let’s get back to the station.’

 
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER 3
     
     
    Rattled to the core by the thought that Beatrice’s demise may not have been an accident, Esme made her way out of Waverton Station and into the blazing hot sun. As she did so, she spied the red letter box at the curb side and after a moment’s hesitation, rummaged in her handbag and brought out the letter. This may not be the wisest thing I’ve done in my life, she said to herself, but I’ve decided to honour your wish, Beatrice. With a last look at Charles Stratton’s name on the front of the envelope, she pushed it through the slit and into the letter box. There, it’s done. With a sigh, she continued on, taking her usual route along Crows Nest Road, oblivious to the scent of roses in the gardens that she passed. The parakeets that pranced in the branches of the trees above her head also missed her notice. Instead she walked as if in a trance, doubt hovering at the edge of her thinking. ‘I must be mistaken,’ she muttered. ‘After all, who would want to harm Beatrice? What reason could there be?’ When she reached her own front garden she paused, thankful to be home at last. Pushing the low wrought iron gate open with her walking cane, she made her way along the path to the house. It stood amongst mature trees and shrubs, exuding an elegant charm of a by-gone era, its grace and character holding Esme’s many memories.
    A rush of