Under a Silent Moon: A Novel Read Free Page B

younger,” Miranda said. “I helped out at some stables on weekends. Loved it.”
    Flora didn’t answer. Given a choice, she would much prefer to work with this woman over Connor Petrie. Nigel had phoned him twenty minutes ago and told him to get his arse down to the stables. He’d been somewhere else, clearly, even though he was supposed to be working.
    Petrie, leaning against the horsebox, gave them a wave as they approached. “Who’s this, then?”
    “This is one of the police officers,” Flora said quickly. “Miranda.”
    “You here about Polly?” he asked. “Boss told me. Lots of blood everywhere, right?”
    “Shut up!” Flora snapped at him. “Have some bloody respect. You’re here to work.”
    “I’m the family liaison officer,” Miranda said, her tone even. “Here to help, if I can.” She offered her hand, and after some shuffling and wiping, Connor gave it a brief shake.
    Oh God, this was no good. The ugly little bastard was going to have her crying in a minute. She had come out here to try and take her mind off the subject of Polly’s death, lose herself in mindless physical activity. She walked away from them to the hayloft. Connor could talk to the police all he wanted, she wouldn’t be there to listen. Didn’t care anymore, in any case.
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    MG11 WITNESS STATEMENT
    Section 1—Witness Details
    NAME: Felicity Jane Elizabeth MAITLAND
    DOB (if under 18; if over 18 state “Over 18”)    Over 18
    ADDRESS:      Hermitage Farm
                      Cemetery Lane
                      Morden
                      Briarstone
    OCCUPATION: Farm manager/housewife
    Section 2—Investigating Officer
    DATE: Thursday 1 November
    OIC: DS 10194 Samantha HOLLANDS
    Section 3—Text of Statement
    My name is Felicity Maitland and I own and run Hermitage Farm, together with my husband Nigel. My main role is running the stables. We have five horses, three of which are liveries, the remaining two belong to us.
    Polly Leuchars is a family friend and has been working with us since December last year, looking after the horses. As part of the arrangement we allowed Polly to live at Yonder Cottage, which is part of the farm estate. She was expected to be working with us for another few months, after which she was planning on going abroad. I do not know where to.
    On Wednesday 31 October Polly came to work as normal. She asked if she could go into town at lunchtime, and I agreed. She offered to do some shopping for me as well. She left in her car at about 12.30. I did not see her again until 3, when I saw her riding out in the top field.
    I saw her return a couple of hours later through my kitchen window and I went to the stables to talk to her. She said she had been unable to get the things I wanted. I was very disappointed, as I could have gone into town myself if she had told me sooner. We had a bit of an argument about it. She left without finishing off the work in the stables, claiming she had a headache. The last time I saw her alive was around 5.30.
    The next morning Polly was due to start work at 7 but at about 9 I noticed that the horses weren’t out in the back field, so I went down to see what was happening. Polly wasn’t there. The horses were quite agitated as they usually have breakfast by 8. I fed them and let them out into the field. After that I went to Yonder Cottage to see where she was. By the time I got there it was probably gone 9.30.
    I noticed Polly’s car was in its usual place and the back door to the cottage, which we use as the main entrance since it is nearer the road, was wide open. It opens into the kitchen and I could see blood there. I called out several times but there was no response. I was very frightened. I went to go through to the stairs. The door to the hallway was not completely shut, but I needed to push it open in order to go through.
    I could see a body on the floor, right by the door, and a lot of