Dead Of Winter (Willis/Carter #1)(32)

‘Is the case being reopened? Did Chief Superintendent Davidson send you?’

‘No, sir. Chief Superintendent Davidson didn’t send us. I am in charge of re-examining the facts surrounding the case but we are not reopening it at this time. He believes we will get the best results from solving the current case. I just wanted to make sure you were kept informed from the beginning.’

‘Okay . . . well . . . thank you. Tell Davidson I will be only too pleased to help.’

‘That’s very kind. I just want to go over a few things with you. Did you then or in the last thirteen years ever think that you might have stumbled on a reason why Chrissie was murdered?’

‘No. I will never understand it. She was a young woman beginning a career that she’d studied hard for. She had a new baby; she’d just started on life’s journey. I could not and I cannot think of a reason why someone would kill her.’

‘What about her baby son Adam – he survived Rose Cottage and the attack. Do you ever see your grandson?’

‘Unfortunately not. I would have loved to have him live with me but my daughter and I were not on the best of terms at the time of her death.’

‘Where is Adam now?’

While Carter asked the questions Ebony looked out of the window. She watched a taxi turn into the car park and head round to the back of the hospital out of view.

‘I can’t help you there, I’m sorry. I don’t know.’

‘But you must have some contact of some kind.’

‘I am sent an update every year and I pay into a fund for his schooling and his welfare. He will always be well provided for. I hope that one day he will ask to see me and get to know me.’

‘How did that happen?’ Ebony asked, speaking for the first time. ‘Did Christine make a will saying he wasn’t to live with you?’

‘Not quite.’ Martingale allowed a little frost to creep into his voice. ‘She named Louise Carmichael as her first choice of guardian in the event of her death. Failing that, Adam was to be put up for adoption.’ Martingale eased his strained expression slightly. ‘I cannot tell you how much it has troubled me that my daughter and I did not have the best of relations when she died. I thought we would have time to make up for all those lost years. I left it too late. I threw myself into my work after her mother left and, as she made it so difficult for me to see Chrissie, I gave up too easily. Her mother Maria was a troubled soul. She kept my daughter from me all those years.’

‘What was Chrissie like?’ asked Ebony.

‘She was a steady girl. She wasn’t beautiful like Maria. But Maria’s looks never brought her happiness. Looks are overrated.’ His eyes stayed on Ebony.

‘When you attended Louise and Sophie Carmichael’s funeral, Mr Martingale, did you meet Callum Carmichael then?’ asked Carter.

‘I think so. The police officer? Yes . . . I did, briefly: tall, military type. I went there to pay my respects. I didn’t stay long. I felt for him . . . such a tragedy. I remember he stood silent. No emotions. No feelings. In shock, I suppose.’

‘Must have been a very difficult time for you all,’ said Carter.

‘The most stressful time in my life . . . terrible.’

‘Mr Martingale, did you ever think that with all your success you might have made enemies?’ Carter asked. Ebony had gone quiet.

‘It would be impossible for me to say categorically no. But I can’t see why I would have . . . but people sometimes don’t understand what you’re trying to do, trying to achieve.’

‘You’ve built an empire, haven’t you? Hospitals all over the world?’

Martingale smiled, embarrassed. ‘I feel proud of what my team and I have achieved but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an empire.’

‘Do you have any other businesses apart from the Mansfield group?’

‘All my other business enterprises are connected with the hospitals.’

‘Would that be research, that kind of thing?’

Martingale was half watching Ebony as Carter asked the questions. He could see her eyes taking in every detail of the room.

‘Research? Yes.’ Martingale answered. ‘That is exactly the kind of thing.’ He smiled at Carter. ‘Sometimes it’s easier to set up a company and manage supplies and sourcing machinery, transporting goods et cetera oneself. Sometimes it’s necessary to run the whole show from start to finish to get the job done properly, wouldn’t you agree, Sergeant?’

Ebony switched her attention back to Martingale. ‘Totally.’ Carter nodded enthusiastically. ‘Is it possible to have a list of those companies you’re involved in then, sir?’ Martingale looked a little surprised at the request. ‘It’s just that we have to consider the possibility that these murderers have followed you here. We want to keep you safe.’

‘Of course. I’ll get my accountant, Justin, to prepare that for you. It will take a few days.’

‘Just a profile, an overall picture . . . if you wouldn’t mind.’

His PA knocked and entered as Carter asked: ‘One last thing, sir; I appreciate you’re a very busy man. Have you ever heard of a person going by the name of Chichester?’

Martingale shook his head. ‘Sorry.’

‘What about Digger Cain or Sonny Ferguson?’