Hit and Run Maria Frankland (general ebook reader .txt) 📖

is correct. Both Mr Matherson and the car were travelling towards Ilkley. The garage is the closest to where the incident happened.”

“Does it have CCTV?”

A lot of Alan’s questions centre around CCTV. I guess it’s what is needed nowadays to nail someone. And forensics. Doesn’t he realise though, that he’s in the tail end of nowhere here, where half of the neighbourhood comprises sheep and cows?

“Unfortunately not. It’s a small, back-street garage. But we’re satisfied that the mechanic’s description of Fiona, and the fact that they took her registration number for the service receipt, are proof of her attendance there.”

“What about other CCTV? Around the garage, perhaps? Or in the vicinity of where the incident took place. Surely you have to prove her presence beyond all reasonable doubt.”

“Both areas are in the more rural locations – the accident site and the garage.” PC Robinson echoes my earlier thinking. “We were hoping for some dash-cam or farmhouse footage but so far, we have turned nothing up.”

The glee in my solicitor’s face heartens me. It is the first glimmer of hope I have felt all day. “And there are no eyewitnesses to the accident?”

“I’ve got two statements here, one from the farmer who stayed with Mr Matherson at his time of death, and the other is from the garage operative.”

“Is there any firm evidence in either of those statements to definitively place my client at each scene?”

DI Green appears to skim read the page. “The farmer reported seeing the roof of the car that drove away. He described a four-by-four vehicle, like the Jeep Fiona drives.”

“The garage operative has given the description of a woman, aged around forty, with long, light brown hair and medium build,” PC Robinson adds.

Alan laughs. “You’re going to have to do better than this to make the charge stick to my client. It sounds to me, that with nothing more concrete, you’re trying to make her a scapegoat.”

“Do you know about his ex-wife’s car,” I say, trying not to be perturbed that my age has been estimated to be four or so years older than it is. “I saw it this morning, and it’s damaged. Front left headlight. It’s got a dent in it too.” I feel a surge of satisfaction as PC Robinson writes this down. “Denise Matherson. It’s not a four-by-four that she drives, more of a people carrier, but it could easily be mistaken for a four-by-four if only the roof was seen.”

“You say you saw this damage today?” PC Robinson writes something else.

“Yes. She came to my house, carrying on about money. Making threats of what will happen if her daughter doesn’t get what she is entitled to.” I draw air quotes in the air, resisting the temptation to garner some sympathy for the financial mess I’m in.

“That may well be,” DI Green continues. “But it still doesn’t explain your own tyre replacement, only thirty minutes after your husband had been mown down, just a few miles along the road.”

“Especially when you haven’t got an alibi,” PC Robinson adds.

Are they even interested in what I’m saying? “You know about Denise contacting Rob about money on the morning he died as well, don’t you?”

“Isn’t that what’s behind this mess?” DI Green says. “Money? For the benefit of the tape, I am now showing Fiona Matherson and her representative copies of four documents. They are as follows:

A joint agreement signed by Robert and Fiona Matherson, in acceptance of a loan of fifty thousand pounds, dated 10th May.

Secondly, A joint agreement signed by Robert and Fiona Matherson, in acceptance of a re-mortgage agreement, dated 11th May.

Next, a statement for a joint account in the names of Robert and Fiona Matherson, showing a credit for one hundred and twenty-two thousand pounds from a subsidiary account of Bracken Furniture Limited.

And a transcript of text messages, taken in the month leading up to the death of Mr Matherson. There is a demonstration of volatility in their relationship, particularly a mistrust of her towards him. If I could draw your attention to three messages in particular. They are marked with a cross in the margin.

Alan and I bow our heads over the page:

15.5.21 Where the hell are you Rob? It’s the middle of the night. It’s no wonder I used to turn to drink.

18.5.21 You said you were working. So how come I’ve seen your car in the middle of town?

20.5.21 I need to talk to you. You’ve been seen.

“What do those messages relate to, Fiona?”

“Nothing. I just got insecure sometimes.”

“What did you mean by you’ve been seen.”

“He was in a coffee shop with Bryony. Look, no wife wants to put up with their husband meeting an ex for a cosy drink in a café.”

Alan raises his eyes from the page towards DI Green. “I hardly think this is what I’d call concrete evidence against my client.”

“I agree, to a point.” DI Green places another page on top of the first one. “It’s more about the accumulative effect of it all. These next messages prove you were in it up to your neck, by that I mean, financially, with your husband. Again, I’ve highlighted the messages of interest with a cross.”

13.5.21 Have you paid it in yet? This could change our lives.

23.5.21 So what about this money then???

24.5.21 You said it would all have come good by now. If I find out you’ve risked everything on a whim, I’ll make sure you’re left with nothing.

“So?” DI Green sits up straighter in her seat.

“I’ve already admitted to putting thirty grand into Rob’s investment opportunity. But I didn’t agree to him also emptying our ISA. Nor did I agree to him taking out a loan or re-mortgaging our home. He must have forged my signature. And I didn’t know a thing about him taking money from his employer’s business.”

“Phillip Bracken disagrees. Having worked closely with Rob for many years, he believes you would have been the driving force behind your husband’s embezzlement, particularly since the gains went into your