All Passion Spent by Bergotte (read more books .txt) 📖

sitting in his office with Gerrard, who was describing the progress, or lack of it that he and Sergeant Rossi were making. Tresillian listened carefully to Gerrard’s description of the crime scene, the evidence supplied by the few witnesses, namely Mrs Phelps and Sam Stone and the only real suspect Tommy Mattheson.
“You should have picked up this Mattheson lad earlier and then he wouldn’t have had any chance of running off… or driving off… pinched a car didn’t he, to Marlborough or wherever it was,” said Tresillian, firmly.
“We did our best, given the resources available,” replied Gerrard, guardedly.
“Did you? When did you hear about Mattheson?”
“On Wednesday evening, sir”
“And when did you know that Mrs Fellingham had been murdered, stabbed wasn’t it?”
“Officially, on Thursday morning, when we received the interim report from Dr Ray at the path. Lab.”
“And unofficially?” demanded Tresillian. “Didn’t Dr Ray go to some trouble on Wednesday night to phone you, despite his not feeling well?”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts… you should have had Mattheson picked up on Wednesday night and banged him up. Then he wouldn’t have buggered off to Berkshire, would he?”
“Wiltshire, sir.”
“What?”
“Wiltshire, sir. Marlborough is in Wiltshire.”
“That’s as maybe but Mattheson should have been in custody, here in Bath, in Somerset.”
“Yes sir,” intoned Gerrard, rather lamely. Tresillian was probably right. If Eve Terry hadn’t come round he would have probably done something about it on the Wednesday night. As it was, he was hoping she might have spread more pathological light on the case. But she hadn’t. Ray was sitting on the key piece of evidence. “I would have thought that Dr Ray would have found that stab wound at the crime scene, sir.”
“Don’t try and shovel the blame on to him. He did his job well as far as I am concerned. Now, this bloke Mattheson; have we got enough to charge him with murder yet?”
“I don’t think he did it.”
“Why not?”
“He had no motive, sir.”
“He had the means, the file in the victim’s bag. He had the opportunity, an unconscious woman lying at his feet and he had a motive in that he’d just stolen from the victim. What more do you want?” demanded Tresillian.

“The murder weapon would be a great help in this inquiry, sir,” replied Gerrard.
“What do you think has happened to it?”
“I don’t know, sir. If Tommy Mattheson ever had it, and I don’t believe he did, he’s thrown it away.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know, sir. SOCOs have searched the area. The most likely place to find it now is in the canal.”
“Let’s get it searched. We need that weapon.”
“If it is in the canal there won’t be any forensic on it, sir.”
“We’ll see. Let’s find the thing first and keep Mattheson in custody until we’re ready to charge him. If necessary get an extension.”

“He’s already gone back to Trowbridge sir,” said Gerrard.
“Has he? Why?” Gerrard explained the plan concerning his deal with the Wiltshire police. Tresillian begrudgingly accepted that it was a good idea, arising as it did from his own policy. “As long as Mattheson is under lock and key…” he said. “He is, sir,” said Gerrard, rising from his seat to leave.
“And another thing, Peter,” said Tresillian, “keep your eye on the ball, you know what I mean.” “I must say sir, that I disagree with you about Dr Ray. I think his work has been negligent in not telling us about the knife wound, or whatever it is, earlier. Before the forensic autopsy the known facts of the case are discussed by the investigating police and the forensic pathologist. The stab wound should have formed part of that discussion. Dr Ray said nothing about it when my sergeant went to visit him at the lab.” “Perhaps you should have gone,” suggested Tresillian, “anyway the man has retired. But maybe you’re right. Perhaps we shouldn’t use him any more. I’ll have a word with those who can take such decisions.” “Thank you, sir.” Gerrard left the room, feeling that he had been more than a little savaged.

He found Anna in the office. “The Chief Super wanted us to charge our friend Tommy with murder,” he announced, “but I don’t think he’s guilty. If we do charge him and then we have to let him go, we’ll look rather foolish. The press will have a field day with us. I don’t think we’ve enough evidence yet. The Chief Super also wants the murder weapon found… don’t we all? So, I think we’re going to have to send a diver down into the canal. It seems the most likely place… to throw it away. We’re not charging Mattheson yet, not while Wiltshire police have got him, but they can’t keep him in custody indefinitely.” Anna noticed the anger and frustration in Gerrard’s tone of voice as he paced up and down the room. She had also learned that Chief Superintendent John Tresillian could be tough when he felt the need to crack the whip. He obviously had not been impressed with Gerrard’s handling of the case.

Anna was keen to support and help her immediate superior. “Do you want me to organise the canal search, sir?” she asked. “No, I’ll do that myself,” replied Gerrard wearily. “There’s no need for you to get involved.” He sat down at his desk and picked up the phone. “Is there anything else you want me for, sir?” “No, I don’t think so.” “I’ll get off then, sir,” said Anna, “I’ve a lot of domestic chores to see to.” “Okay, I’ll see you later,” said Gerrard as he began to concentrate on making the important call to have the canal searched.

(TBC)
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Text: Bergotte
Images: Bergotte
Editing: Bergotte
Publication Date: 10-04-2012

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