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Lily did the same, noticing the quiet gasp from Mrs Miller and the way Alanna bit down on her lip as she wrung her hands.
“What on earth are you suggesting?” Mr Miller asked.
“I don’t like to suggest anything,” PC Grainger replied. “I’m informing you that we’re launching an investigation into Mr Roth’s death. We’re no longer satisfied it was an accident.”
“You think someone killed him?” Mr Miller asked.
“Oh, my god,” Alanna whispered, clutching at Marc’s arm.
“Murder?” Flora’s voice came out high-pitched. “You can’t be serious?”
Deadly,Lily thought and stifled a laugh at her inappropriate sense of humour. Then she kept her gaze firmly on PC Grainger since focusing on his fierce demeanour seemed the best way to ward off an extremely inappropriate fit of the giggles.
“We’ve already been gathering evidence,” PC Grainger informed those in front of him. “Once the forensic team is involved, it shouldn’t take long to build a clear picture of the exact nature of Mr Roth’s death.”
“Why did you stop the boat?” Oscar asked, a protective arm around Katie, who’d lost all the colour from her cheeks.
“Given that you were all in contact with the deceased in the days leading up to his death, we will need to interview you all more thoroughly.”
“So we’re stuck here?” Alanna asked. “You’re saying we’re not allowed to leave?”
“I don’t think he’s saying that.” Marc slipped an arm around Alanna’s waist while his eyes went to PC Grainger. “Are you?”
“I won’t be forcing anyone to stay,” PC Grainger replied levelly. “But given the gravity of the situation, I’m asking you all to stay on the island voluntarily while we carry out our investigation.”
Good move,Lily thought. As inconvenient as it was, anyone who was innocent shouldn’t put up too much of a fuss about staying.
“I just want to see my daughter,” Mrs Miller said through a sob. “And my grandchildren. Is that too much to ask?”
“You can,” Rodney told her. “He said it was voluntary. That means we can still go if we want.”
“You are absolutely at liberty to leave if you choose,” PC Grainger said, still sounding utterly calm and in control. “However, we would be extremely grateful for your cooperation with our investigation. And, as I mentioned, once the forensic team is involved, we expect to get answers quickly. If any of you have failed to mention anything which would contribute to the investigation, it would be in your own interests to amend that now.”
“Oh, my goodness!” Mrs Miller covered her face with her hands momentarily. Then removed them to glare at her husband. “You have to tell him everything.”
Rodney stared back at her.
“Just tell him the truth and we’ll figure it out together.”
“The truth?” Mr Miller said, doing a fantastic impression of a man who had no clue what his wife was talking about.
“About where you were when Vinny died,” Mrs Miller said. “You lied to the police. But all lies come out, eventually.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
It all felta bit too easy.
That was Lily’s thought as she watched Mr and Mrs Miller stare at each other contemptuously. She was supposed to give PC Grainger an indication of who he should put pressure on, but apparently that might not even be necessary. Maybe Mrs Miller was about to incriminate her own husband.
“What the heck are you talking about?” Mr Miller asked with a pinched expression.
Mrs Miller propped her hands on her hips. “You told the officer you were with me when Vinny died, but you weren’t. I can’t see why you’d lie about that… unless.” She swallowed hard. “If the two of you got into an argument and something happened… an accident… you just need to explain it. Everything will be all right in the end.”
Rodney’s eyes showed no emotion whatsoever. His face was a picture of confusion. “I was with you when he died,” he said slowly. “I saw Vinny leave the house and then I came into the kitchen…”
“But then you left again!” Flora’s voice rose in both volume and pitch. “You said you helped me with breakfast, but youdidn’t. Not straightaway. You came in and then you left for a while before coming back to help.”
“To have a shower,” he said, speaking to her as though she were stupid. “I had a shower and then I came back into the kitchen. I must have been away from you for ten minutes at the most.”