Buried Secrets: The Freeman Files Series: Book 11 by Ted Tayler (highly recommended books txt) 📗

found no drag marks in the lane or the field. If Duncan’s phone fell from his hand or his pocket during a struggle in the lane, we didn’t think the killer would bother to pick it up and move it. If it had been a robbery, they would have taken it.”

“What do you think were the sequence of events, then, sir?” asked Gus.

“The killer sat in his car until Alan Duncan came into view. DS Tallentire drove our car thirty yards further along Ham Lane and parked. I stood by the gateway and walked backwards until I saw him flash his headlights.”

“How far were you from the gateway, sir?” asked Gus.

“Sixty yards. You’ve visited the crime scene, Gus, you know how that lane winds this way and that along its path. Connor signalled when I was perhaps two strides from disappearing from view. We calculated that the killer spotted Alan, got out of the car and walked along the lane on the left-hand side until he reached the apex of the bend.”

“He assumed that Alan Duncan was running on the right-hand side facing any oncoming traffic,” said Gus. “Then the killer switched sides at the apex, taking a calculated risk that Alan wouldn’t look up as he approached the gateway.”

“Exactly, Connor walked towards me, and I jogged along the lane. The next time I saw my DS, he was less than ten feet away. We were level with that gateway when we came face-to-face. I’d stopped jogging. We both agreed that Duncan didn’t try to escape. He had little opportunity. Where was there to run? A jogger said he saw Duncan near the village's centre while heading in the opposite direction. That meant they met as close to seven o’clock as made no difference. You already know what time someone made the emergency number call. So, there was no protracted argument. The killer confronted Alan Duncan and attacked him at once. That was not a motiveless killing, Gus. I was sure that Duncan knew who it was facing him and why he was there.”

“What about the money?” asked Gus.

“We didn’t know about that then,” said DCI Banks. “That only came out on Tuesday morning.”

“I know that, but why did Duncan withdraw a relatively small sum, stash it in his spare bedroom, and then go out without it on a run that he knew might be his last? The money had to be for something or someone.”

“We only concluded that he knew his killer after we found the hidden cash,” said Banks. “If I put myself in Duncan’s running shoes on Wednesday night, you’re right, if the man Wayne Phillips saw the previous Saturday was the killer, he might have been stalking Duncan for days. Duncan had the cash if that was what the man was after, why didn’t he carry it with him?”

“I think we’re back to my original question, sir,” said Gus. “What did you make of Alan Duncan?”

“Every person we interviewed had the same opinion,” said Banks. “Duncan was quiet, dependable, a good worker, a loving son and partner. Not one of them believed Duncan had an enemy in the world.”

“Why do you think the press hinted that Duncan was gay, sir?”

“I believe it was a local rag that adopted that line, Gus. I don’t recall the nationals taking much notice of the murder. We spoke to everyone we could connect to Duncan in the area without finding a suspect with motive and opportunity. That you’ve called me suggests you aren’t getting any further than we did.”

“Early days, sir,” said Gus. He would not risk getting cut off by telling Banks that they’d found the pocket diary. “Can I ask a big favour, sir?” said Gus, “Do you know a Kyle Ellison? He hails from Marsden and would be in his early forties now. He was the victim of an assault in 1993 by Darren Forsyth, who came from the same village. We would appreciate the chance to chat to Ellison.”

“I’ve made a note of his details, Gus,” said DCI Banks. “I’ll get someone to look him up and tell them to call you back.”

“Many thanks, sir,” said Gus.

Gus made a mental note to tell Geoff Mercer that Phil Banks was a decent chap provided you didn’t tread on his toes.

  CHAPTER 7

Gus wondered how the rest of the team were doing this morning. He didn’t have long to wait. Minutes later, Blessing Umeh arrived back in the office.

“I’ve got everything we need, guv,” she said.

“How were Bob and Elizabeth?” asked Gus.

“We got off to a sticky start,” sighed Blessing. “I rang the bell, and Mr Duncan answered. He wasn’t keen on letting me indoors and gripped the door, blocking my entry. I followed your lead, guv. I told him we could do it the easy way, or the hard way. He could let me in and help me find the photos we needed, or you would arrange for him to get taken to a police station for an interview under caution.”

“That might have been extreme, Blessing,” said Gus. “I’m not sure we have grounds.”

“It worked, guv,” said Blessing. “Mr Duncan said he couldn’t leave his wife alone in the house for any length of time, so he relented and let me in.”

“Well done, Blessing,” said Gus. “Did you see Elizabeth?”

“Bob went upstairs while I waited in the living room. Our conversation at the front door must have woken her. He came back to tell me his wife was ready for her breakfast and asked if I wanted a coffee. I carried on photographing the pictures we wanted, not forgetting those with writing on the back. When Bob returned with our coffees, he asked how it was going. I showed him what I’d done, and he pointed out two more photo frames in the hallway. While Bob took