Their Lost Daughters (DI Jackman & DS Evans #2)(85)

Marie watched him closely. Benedict’s face remained impassive until Jackman mentioned his father by name. She saw a nerve jump beneath his right eye.

There followed a long silence. Marie wondered what thoughts were going through Benedict’s mind. His memories must be the stuff of nightmares.

Finally he spoke, and his voice was steady. ‘Yes, I was Benedict Mulberry. But I’d appreciate your being so kind as to continue to refer to me as Benedict Broome.’

Jackman nodded. ‘I can do that.’

‘You know about the others?’ asked Benedict.

‘Yes, sir,’ said Jackman. ‘But we felt it only right to discuss it with you first.’

‘That’s good, that’s good.’ Benedict sounded infinitely weary. He seemed to have aged since they entered the room. ‘You can talk to Philip, and probably Asher, about this. Tell them that you know about us, and I have said it’s alright to be honest. They will understand that we have no choice, but if there is any way you can avoid it, please don’t confront Micah or our sister, not yet. Elizabeth couldn’t cope, and Micah, well, Micah is volatile. As I’m sure you already realise.’

They nodded.

‘And Toby. Although he may appear to be tough as old boots, he is as fragile as a butterfly. I would ask you to be especially compassionate when you talk to Toby, Inspector. He may look like a sturdy farmer, but beneath that weathered skin he is still a frightened child.’

Jackman gave Marie a swift look. He had no choice but to tell Benedict what had happened to his brother.

‘Benedict, I’m afraid I have some bad news. A man’s body was found today, out at the old mill close to your old home at Alderfield. I’m very sorry, but we have reason to believe that the man is your brother, Toby.’

Benedict closed his eyes and clasped his hands together as if in prayer. His voice was soft. ‘Oh no. Poor Toby. I always thought he would be the first to go, unless of course Micah lost his temper once too often and got himself killed in a fight.’ He sighed. ‘Can I see him?’

‘Not just yet, sir,’ said Jackman. ‘I’m sure you’ll appreciate that there are procedures to follow. And he will need to be formally identified.’

‘How did he kill himself? A shotgun, I suppose. He had two at the farm.’

‘He hanged himself.’

‘Oh. I’d have thought he would have used the gun.’

Like his father did, thought Marie.

‘I’m glad he chose the mill,’ said Benedict. ‘It was our quiet place. Somewhere we went when things got bad. If I were going to kill myself, I’d go to the mill too.’

‘I’m afraid it was Asher who found him. We wondered how he knew where to go.’

Benedict sighed again. ‘Poor child.’

Marie thought of the man who slipped away from his pretty fiancé and into the arms of a prostitute.

‘What happened to Fleur?’

Jackman’s question took even Marie by surprise.

Benedict just sat, white faced, and said, ‘She died. She got sick, and died. Why on earth do you want to know about Fleur?’

‘Because we found her body in the chamber below Windrush.’

‘What? Our father told us she had been cremated!’ Benedict Broome pushed back his chair and stared at them.

‘Fleur was one of the thirteen young women found there, Benedict,’ said Jackman.

Benedict put his hands to his mouth. ‘That’s impossible!’

‘I think you should tell us about Windrush.’ Jackman was unrelenting. ‘It wasn’t really going to be some swanky retreat, was it?’

‘Oh, but it was, although not for everyone. It was for us.’ Benedict’s voice was low and husky. ‘Our retreat! Our home. Somewhere we could be together again, where we belonged.’

‘And the bodies? All those dead girls, Benedict? Where did they fit in?’

‘I know nothing about them, I swear.’

‘Your brother Philip has been arrested for their murder. Did he forget to mention what he was up to beneath your precious retreat?’

‘Philip? Oh come now. Forgive me, but you are very wrong there.’ Benedict began to laugh. ‘DI Jackman, Philip is the gentlest man I’ve ever known.’

‘He has confessed.’

Benedict shook his head. ‘I think you need to speak to him again. I can’t tell you why he’s done such a stupid thing, but believe me, Philip is not your killer.’

*

‘We are going to have to move our suspects to different stations, now we know they are related.’ Jackman rubbed at an aching shoulder. ‘But from past experience, and knowing what we know unofficially, I’m loathe to let them out of my sight for five minutes.’ He frowned. ‘We will have to let Asher go. We have nothing to hold him on now we know he had the key to Toby Tanner’s place legitimately.’

He and Marie were waiting for Philip Groves to be brought to an interview room.

Marie kept her voice low. ‘No one other than the team and the professor knows anything yet. Let’s hang fire until we’ve spoken to Philip again.’

‘Ah good, I’m in time.’ Professor O’Byrne hurried towards them along the corridor.

‘May I still sit in? We have permission from Mr Groves, I mean Mulberry.’