Frozen Grave (Willis/Carter #3)(75)

‘Is that what you believe?’ asked Carter.

‘That’s what happened. He was showing off in his car. He skidded taking a corner too fast and he hit a tree. Craig died two weeks later when the life-support machine was switched off.’

‘We are so sorry, Mrs Ellerman. I know it must still be very raw for you.’ Carter leant forward, to put his hand on her shoulder.

She bowed her head, composing herself. ‘Yes.’

‘It must be very difficult for you, especially when you’re alone here. Mr Ellerman is away from home a lot, isn’t he?’ Carter asked.

‘All the time. He comes home at weekends but he doesn’t always stay. This place reminds him too much of Craig. We remind each other of Craig.’

‘Yes, I understand; it must be so difficult. Would you like to speak to someone in our victim-support unit, Mrs Ellerman?’ Carter asked. ‘It’s always helped people in the past.’

‘No . . . thank you.’ She looked at the clock on the kitchen wall.

Carter glanced at Willis; she took out her notebook.

‘Okay, well, we’ll get on with some questions, then we’ll be out of your way,’ said Carter as he drank the rest of his coffee. Willis took out a copy of the letter and handed it to Carter. He took it from her and opened it up, turned it round to face Dee Ellerman.

‘When you got this letter, what did you think?’

She shrugged. ‘Not a lot. Nothing surprises me any more. I perhaps wondered at the amount of women on the list. That’s a lot of lies, even for my husband.’

‘Excuse me for asking, Mrs Ellerman, but why do you stay with him?’ asked Willis.

Dee Ellerman turned to her.

‘I don’t know. I stay because we have all this together, maybe.’ She looked around. ‘Maybe because he is my connection to Craig. I couldn’t bear to leave this place, to leave Craig.’

‘I understand,’ said Carter. ‘But, financially, it must be a struggle. Do you have a large mortgage?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t handle that side of things. JJ doesn’t want me to worry about that.’

‘So what do you know about his finances? Do you take an interest in his business at all?’ asked Willis.

‘I listen to his plans sometimes but I don’t know the ins and outs. I never look at his bank statements.’

‘Did you know that he was in financial difficulties?’

‘Yes. The bank keeps ringing.’

‘That must be difficult, stressful for you?’

‘JJ says to ignore them. He usually manages to find some money from somewhere every month.’

‘The women on the list seem to have parted with a lot of money,’ Carter said, glancing at the letter.

‘More fool them.’

‘Mr Ellerman never mentioned his fund-raising to you?’ asked Willis.

‘No.’

‘So what do you feel about the women on this list?’ asked Carter. ‘Do you feel anger? Shame? Sadness? Do you feel sorry for them in any way?’

She shook her head. ‘They knew what they were getting into. They knew he was married. They shouldn’t have done it . . . got involved with a married man.’

‘But he promised them he would leave you,’ Willis said, her eyes fixed on Dee.

‘Lies come naturally to him.’ Dee looked at Willis and glared. Her sadness had been replaced by anger. ‘He will promise anything to get what he wants,’ Dee continued. ‘He never had any intention of living with any of them.’ She rolled her eyes, as if she couldn’t care, but her hands were shaking.

‘What about you, Mrs Ellerman? Will you stay with him now?’ asked Carter.

She didn’t answer for a few seconds and then she shook her head sadly.

‘I don’t see how I can.’

‘Mrs Ellerman, what do you know about the Spanish properties?’

‘I don’t know much about them. He’s always talking about us living out there. It’s been his goal for several years now but the business always seems to keep us here; there’s always a crisis.’

‘Do you have any paperwork that we can see for these properties?’ Carter asked.

She hesitated and then stood. ‘Of course. It’s in his office.’

‘Would it be easier if I came with you, to help?’

‘Yes, perhaps it would.’

Carter looked back at Willis and smiled.

Lisa’s gym was packed with people – it always was in January. They’d all be gone by March. New Year’s good intentions were hard to sustain. She managed to get away and phone Megan during her lunchbreak.

‘I failed to keep calm about it all. I just couldn’t do it. I realized when I looked at him that I really fucking hated him for what he’s done. I couldn’t be that two-faced, even though I tried. Sorry.’

‘Not to worry. It will work out, I’m sure. I’ll phone Paula and Emily and tell them that it’s important they keep on his good side.’

‘The thing is, Megan. I’m really thinking that we should go to the police about it all.’

‘I appreciate that you’re angry but we need to stick to our plan. As soon as the police get involved and charges are brought against him, the money becomes ring-fenced. You stand a good chance of losing it.’