Devil in the Detail by A.J. Cross (love letters to the dead .TXT) 📗

that since she joined the family our paths haven’t crossed that often.’

‘Anything else you’d like to tell us about your brother? His friends? Associates?’

‘I already told you, our lives were completely different. I never met any of his friends.’

‘And he never mentioned them?’

‘No.’

As Watts and then Judd stood, Lawrence went quickly to the door to show them out.

Back in the BMW, Watts asked, ‘What do you make of him?’

She looked across at the office. ‘He was happiest when we left.’

‘My take on what we just heard is that he and his brother didn’t get on and the relationship between them is unlikely to have improved when brother Mike wouldn’t stump up the money he needed.’ He started the engine. ‘And I’m not too satisfied as to how he was able to start up a company like this in the first place.’

Judd studied her notes. ‘Brendan Lawrence has a way of looking at a female without actually seeming to look, if you get my drift.’

He glanced across at her. ‘I get it,’ he said, thinking it was a pity her good judgement had let her down big-time a couple of nights back. ‘It’s time we got a different perspective on Brendan Lawrence and his brother Mike.’

A half hour’s drive brought them outside a large, white Georgian-style house behind decorative yet sturdy metal gates. Watts nodded towards it. ‘On the face of it, it looks like Mike Lawrence missed a good business opportunity.’

He got out his phone, tapped a number, waited. ‘Mrs Brendan Lawrence? This is Detective Inspector Bernard Watts. I’m outside. I need to talk to you.’

He ended the call, watched the gates drift slowly, quietly open. ‘It’s time you worked for your keep, Judd.’

The woman who opened the door after a short delay looked similar to the one in the photograph on Brendan Lawrence’s desk. Watts held up his ID. She scarcely looked at it.

‘I was just finishing a swim. Come on in.’

Watts and Judd exchanged swift glances as she adjusted the silky robe fully closed, turned and walked barefoot across the wide hall. They followed her into a huge sitting room overlooking a rear garden.

‘Have seats. How about a drink?’

She went to a low sideboard supporting enough bottles to host an impromptu party without disappointing anybody.

‘Not for us, Mrs Lawrence.’

She turned to look at them. ‘Of course. You’re on duty. Well, I’m not, so I’ll have one.’

She gave Judd a second glance. ‘Are you on work experience?’

Notebook in hand, voice firm, Judd said, ‘Your full name, please, Mrs Lawrence.’

‘Gemma Lawrence. That’s with a “G”.’

Watts said, ‘Mrs Lawrence, I’m in charge of the investigation into the murder of your brother-in-law and the attempted murder of his wife.’

She sat on the sofa next to him, the robe sliding open to show tanned, well-shaped legs. ‘We’re talking to all members of the family and—’

‘Poor Mike.’ She raised her glass, took a mouthful of brandy, swallowed. ‘He had everything to live for. Has anybody told you she was pregnant?’

‘We’re aware of that,’ said Judd. ‘Tell us what you know about Mike and Molly Lawrence.’

She shrugged. ‘We didn’t see them that often. Brendan and Mike didn’t have a lot in common and making small talk with an accountant and an interior decorator isn’t my idea of a good time.’ She gazed around the large, square room, at swag curtains, deep-buttoned chairs, pointed to a black leather and wood chair some distance away.

‘See that? It’s an Eames. You wouldn’t believe what I paid for it. Mike’s designs didn’t do it for me.’ She took another mouthful of brandy.

‘Why didn’t your husband and his brother get on?’ asked Judd.

‘What I actually said is that they didn’t have much in common.’ She shrugged. ‘Money is the answer. Isn’t it always, in families?’ She gave Watts an evaluative look. ‘I’m talking about my money. Whatever Brendan might have told you about his business, it’s my money which got him started. My money which bought all of this. My dad owned a very successful recycling business. When he died, I got everything. No sisters or brothers, you see.’ She grimaced. ‘Not like the Lawrence tribe.’

She looked up at Watts. ‘Brendan’s got a good head for business, I’ll give him that. He’s pushy, doesn’t give anybody a chance to take liberties but’ – she inclined her head towards Watts, her tone conspiratorial – ‘times change, situations change. Cashflow is what finishes off a lot of businesses like his, or to be exact, a lack of it. Recycling is the business to be in now. It’s how I keep Brendan afloat.’

‘What about Molly Lawrence?’ asked Judd. She watched the face opposite harden.

‘What about her? Has somebody been talking?’ They waited. She shrugged. ‘If I describe my husband as an “alpha male”, you’ll know where I’m coming from. When Mike first introduced Molly to the family, I could see Brendan was taken with her. I can always tell, you see.’

She turned to look at Watts, the robe sliding further. ‘Have you met her? She’s small and dark with these great, big, pansy eyes. I told him, “One more time, Brendan, just one more, and I phone Richard”. That’s all it takes, you see. Richard is my lawyer and whatever else Brendan is, he’s no fool, so that put an end to whatever he might have been up to. Or thinking of getting up to.’

Judd asked, ‘Mrs Lawrence, are you saying that there was a relationship between your husband and Molly Lawrence?’

Gemma Lawrence started laughing, tears flooding her eyes. Watts doubted the drink she was nursing was her first of the day. ‘That’s not what I’m saying! Molly was too into Mike to notice Brendan, and even if she had, she wouldn’t have been interested.’ She took more brandy on board. ‘He dresses well, my husband, but scratch the surface and he’s a yob and an idiot where women are concerned.’ She glanced at Judd. ‘Did he come on to you?’

Judd said nothing.

‘If that’s a “no”, he must be slipping.’

‘Mrs Lawrence, what’s your