Web of Lies by Sally Rigby (classic novels for teens txt) 📗

did you receive your dividend payments from him?’ Seb asked, interrupting Birdie.

Why? What was wrong with her line of questioning?

‘Quarterly. I only received the first quarter because he’d died before the second was due.’

‘There was no record of that. How much did you receive?’

‘I don’t remember.’

‘What was your reaction when you learnt of his death and that you’d lost your money?’

‘What do you think? I was furious. It was a lot of money to lose.’

‘Where were you on Saturday 10 April?’

‘I’d have to look in my diary.’ She reached for her phone, which was on the table, and unlocked it. ‘I was doing a personal appearance in Bath and decided to make a weekend of it. I went there on Friday night and returned to my flat in London on the Sunday afternoon.’

‘Can anyone vouch for you?’ Birdie asked.

Andrea frowned. ‘What’s this? A police interview? I’m talking to you as a favour. I wasn’t alone, and that’s all I’m going to say on the matter.’

The door opened and Andrea’s assistant entered the room. Andrea made a show of looking at her watch. ‘Time’s up. I’ve been up since two and want to go home to get some rest. Yvette, see these people out.’

She turned away and the assistant who’d let them in showed them to the door and out into the corridor.

Birdie glanced at Seb.

‘What the fuck …’ She mouthed.

Chapter 20

14 May

They left the studio in silence and once they were in the street Birdie turned to Seb.

‘Well?’ She hadn’t liked to say anything until they were well out of the way in case they were overheard. ‘A bit up herself if you ask me. But I suppose that’s what famous people are like. You know plenty of prominent people. Is that how they all act?’

‘I don’t frequent red-carpet events, nor do I have celebrity friends, contrary to what you believe.’

He said that, but surely he must know some of the rich and famous. She’d get it out of him. Perhaps after a few drinks he might spill the beans.

‘If you say so.’ She waved a dismissive hand. ‘On the telly, Andrea Wood smiles all the time, but apart from when she first saw you, she didn’t smile once. Especially after we told her why we were there. Did you notice that? I suppose we weren’t important enough to have the special treatment.’

‘How would you feel if you were hoodwinked into an interview about something you thought was a secret?’

‘True. If I’d lost a hundred grand I’d be crying non-stop for the rest of my life.’ She pulled a face.

‘We weren’t there to be liked, or to like her. What we wanted was information about Donald. What did you deduce from that perspective?’

‘She was certainly hiding something. All that business about keeping everything on the down-low so her ex didn’t find out and also not wanting to involve her business manager. Why not? She was fobbing us off.’

‘My sentiments, exactly. She said she’d only met Donald once before deciding to invest with him on the side. That doesn’t ring true, not when there’s so much money involved. The question we have to ask is, why?’

‘Do you think she was having an affair with Witherspoon and he persuaded her to invest because he needed the money? That would give her a reason to be so secretive.’

‘It’s one avenue of thought, but are we making a big leap? And even if she was, then why would that lead to his death? As we’ve discussed before, why would anyone who invested with him want to see him dead? It would mean they’d lost their money forever.’ Seb’s brow furrowed.

‘We should still look deeper into Andrea. Actually, we need to investigate all of his investors. There’s got to be something that will help us.’

‘Agreed,’ Seb said nodding. ‘We’ll split the research. Can you check criminal records for all of Donald’s investors? Say no if it might get you into trouble. I don’t want that to happen.’

‘As I’m the only one in the office most of the time, it won’t be hard. I’m a dab hand at closing a screen if anyone gets too close.’

She’d had a lot of practice.

‘Unless the IT department track what you do.’

She laughed. ‘This is Market Harborough, not the Met. It will be fine.’ She didn’t bother to mention that she knew more than the IT person assigned to work with them and was well able to cover her tracks.

‘I’ll do more research into Donald, and identify which of his other investors were friends, and then take a look at them. Can you get your bit done by Friday?’

‘Yes, boss,’ she said, saluting. ‘By the way, who’s this guy we’re meeting for lunch?’

‘A friend of mine from the Met.’

‘Not another aristocrat.’ She smirked, and he rolled his eyes. ‘I suppose that was a bit stupid. I mean, how many of your lot are going to be in the police?’

‘He’s a friend and ex-colleague. We trained together.’

‘Was he in the disbanded squad with you?’

‘No, he’s a DI in the Homicide and Serious Crime Command Unit.’ They headed into the pub. ‘There he is, at the bar.’ They walked over to him. ‘Rob.’

The guy turned around and gave Seb a bear hug.

She stared at the pair of them, open-mouthed. She thought Seb was large, but his friend was even larger. Was that even possible? She’d need to stand on a box to even be heard.

‘Drinks are on you, mate.’ He glanced down at her. ‘I’m DI Rob Lawson and you must be DC Bird. I’ve heard all about you.’

‘Yes, that’s me.’ She held out her hand, and he clasped it so tight she had to fight the urge not to scream. ‘Call me Birdie. Anything else and I won’t answer.’ Crap. He was a DI. Maybe she should change her tone. ‘I’m off duty at the moment,’ she added as if to excuse herself.

‘It’s okay, Birdie. I’m not going to pull rank,’ he said, as if reading her mind.

‘What would you