Page 89 of The Impossible Fortune

‘He’s got tattoos of most of them,’ says Donna. ‘He’s a people-pleaser.’

‘Donna,’ says Joanna, ‘Paul is many things – a wonderful professor, a kind friend, a surprisingly imaginative lover – but he is not a murderer. His uncle Neil sells illegal Ozempic online, his cousin Ben is a car thief – all of that is true. But he has no experience with explosives, and he wasn’t out of my sight during the four days leading up to the wedding, as well as on the day of Holly’s death. There is not a single shred of evidence you will ever find, because he was nowhere near this murder, and you know it. I understand you have to interview everyone, but let’s all just admit that your suspicions rest entirely on a dodgy motive and an even dodgier uncle.’

Donna weighs this up. ‘But he still stands to inherit a controlling stake in the company?’

‘Only if Nick is dead too,’ says Paul. ‘What are your colleagues doing about that?’

‘They’re looking,’ says Donna.

‘Tell them to look harder,’ says Joanna.

‘I’ll pass that on,’ says Donna. ‘They won’t have thought of that.’

Donna’s phones buzzes. She reads the message, then reads it again. She punches the air in delight.

‘Good news?’ Paul asks.

‘The best news,’ says Donna. ‘Prince Edward’s got norovirus.’

‘Ahh,’ says Paul. ‘Well, I’m … very pleased for you.’

Donna smiles. Her day has opened up in front of her. Ironically, she might actually go to Nando’s. Bogdan getsvery excited when he can keep refilling his drink. A good day is turning into a great day.

‘While you’re here,’ says Joanna, ‘a little favour the police might be able to do us.’

‘A favour from the police, is it?’ Donna asks. ‘Like mother like daughter.’

‘They bully me too, you know,’ says Joanna. ‘Now, Paul is allowed access to The Compound CCTV. I wonder if you could make sure that he is granted that access? At the moment it’s all been impounded by your IT team. We’d love to have a little scoot through it, see how the business runs.’

‘Would you be looking for something specific?’ Donna asks.

‘I shouldn’t have thought so,’ says Joanna. ‘Would we be looking for something specific, Paul?’

‘I shouldn’t have thought so,’ says Paul.

‘There you have it,’ says Joanna. ‘Neither of us should have thought so.’

‘Just access for Paul?’ says Donna. ‘Not for your mum, not for Elizabeth?’

Joanna gives the slightest of shrugs. ‘Well, I suppose that’s up to Paul, isn’t it, Paul?’

‘Just for me,’ says Paul. ‘Joyce can beg but I won’t be broken.’

Joanna and Donna share a look.

‘In return for letting you know about the Bitcoin,’ says Joanna. ‘Only seems fair.’

‘I can’t,’ says Donna. ‘I –’

‘I’ll tell you what, then,’ says Joanna. ‘Why don’t I phoneFairhaven police station right now, let them know you’re here. I mean they already know, of course, but I’ll let them know we’ve been talking and –’

‘Okay,’ says Donna. ‘Your wish is my etcetera.’

‘I thought it might be,’ says Joanna.

Donna’s phone starts to ring and she looks at the number. She holds up her hand in apology and takes the call. After a few nods and a ‘yeah’ and a ‘gotcha’, she stands.

‘Jesus,’ she says. ‘Someone just tried to shoot Jason Ritchie. I need to get to work.’