 |
|||
|
|
Cuckoo
Prologue: The Scene of The Crime
It was already dark and starting to rain when the police car turned into the long gravel drive at the edge of the village. The Inspector turned round quickly to see how his passenger was taking the journey. The pretty blonde was obviously nervous and WPC Julia Sanderson squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"Do I have to do this?" the young woman asked.
"It's essential", the Inspector said flatly. "If the story you've told me is true, Sir Peter must be confronted now. I need to see his reaction before he has time to concoct any spurious explanations."
"I… I suppose so", she agreed miserably.
They pulled up outside the stone portico that flanked the doorway to Sir Peter Killingworth's mansion. According to the long and somewhat confused account, which the witness had related in the police station it was here that she'd been held captive for nearly three years. And not just a captive, she had been a slave girl in all but name. It was a story that the tabloid newspapers would splash in banner headlines across their front pages if they caught a sniff of it. Imagine the consequences of a respectable aristocrat found to be abusing an innocent former employee - physically, mentally and sexually. It would be a sensation. And the criminal trial would be national news.
"Let's go inside", the Inspector said as he considered this prospect. "The sooner this is dealt with the sooner you can concentrate on getting back to normal."
The housekeeper who answered the door must have been the woman the victim had identified as Mrs Tibbs. She delivered a venomous look in the direction of the young blonde who seemed to cringe inwardly. The Inspector noted her reaction but said nothing. They marched up the stairs after their scowling guide and came to an oak study door where they were admitted to the presence of the owner of the house. Sir Peter Killingworth was a distinguished looking gentleman in his early fifties with receding black hair and a handlebar moustache. His eyes widened when he saw the two police officers and the blonde. For her part, the young woman seemed to shrink even further into misery and fear. The WPC had to keep a firm arm on her elbow to prevent her from bolting altogether.
"I'm sorry to trouble you sir", the Inspector said, "but we've had a very disturbing report. This young lady has made some serious allegations against you. Some very serious allegations indeed! I rather think we need to talk…"
|
|
|