Page 220 of Murder in the Family

MITCHELL CLARKE

That’s it. Like I said, I had nothing to do with it. By the time I got there he was already dead. That’s the God’s honest truth.

JJ NORTON

(under his breath)

That’s what you said the first time. Word for word.

There’s a brief silence.

ALAN CANNING

So what about Maura?

They stare at him. Guy turns from the window and stands there, his eyes fixed on Alan.

LAILA FURNESS

What do you mean – what about Maura?

ALAN CANNING

The police were told the girls got home at 10.30, and no one’s ever questioned that. It’s right there on our timeline.

But if Mitch is telling the truth, Maura could have got back as early as just afterten, assuming she went straight home and didn’t bother waiting for Amelie. And that would have been slap-bang in the middle of the window during which we know Luke was killed.

And if that butt-call really was at 10.35, it’s a good ten minutes before Maura claimed to have found the body.

Andthere’s something else too:she has brown hair.

People start to look uneasy: it’s obvious where this is going. Alan sits back and looks round.

So.

What if it was Maura? What ifshekilled him?

Silence. At the window, Guy has gone very pale, his fists are clenched so hard the knuckles are white.

BILL SERAFINI

(shifting slightly in his seat)

Well, uncomfortable though it undoubtedly is to talk about this – for all of us – we do have to try to look at this whole thing objectively—

LAILA FURNESS

(glancing uneasily at Guy)

That’s easy to say when it’s not one of your own family in the frame—

BILL SERAFINI

I know, believe me, I know – but what’s the point of doing this at all if we aren’t going to look atallthe possible suspects?

ALAN CANNING

Exactly.