considerably more than we do. She was in the car when it apparently lost control at the top of a hill.’
Fratfield projected a couple of colour stills of the crash site on the wall.
‘For some reason, Holley had exited the car and started to walk down the hill.’
‘Probably a bloody argument,’ said Sir Robin. ‘The pair of them were always taking potshots at one another.’
‘I doubt he would have got so cross he decided to walk home,’ commented Fratfield. ‘They were still thirty miles away.
‘Holley leaves the car,’ he continued, ‘and walks down the hill, at which point the car’s brakes fail and it rolls after him. Holley is lying on the road by the time the car hits him otherwise he might have survived.’
‘He was lying down?’ asked Shining.
‘Best guess is that he turned to see the car, lost his footing in the wet—’
‘Ah … the
wet
…’
‘Indeed, and then the car ran over him. It eventually collided with a tree, hence Mrs Holley is still in intensive care. She was thrown from the vehicle on impact and has suffered severe cranial injury.’
‘Do we know for a fact that the brakes failed?’ asked Toby. ‘Is it possible she did it on purpose?’
‘That had occurred to the investigation team, though given the effect the accident had on her they’re inclined to dismiss her involvement. There is no actual evidence of damage to the brakes.’
‘Just because she was hurt doesn’t mean she wasn’t the instigator,’ said Shining. ‘She may have taken what seemed a golden opportunity to dispose of her husband, not realising the trap she was springing would close on them both.’
Fratfield shrugged. ‘It’s a possibility, certainly. But the damaged mobile and the rain would suggest it’s linked to the other two deaths rather than just a spontaneous act of murder.’
‘Ah yes,’ said Shining, ‘the rain. You said the ground was wet.’
‘Absolutely. Obviously, it’s harder to be so precise given the accident happened in the open but there was no rain reported in the area last night. That specific area appears … what was the word you used?’ He looked to Shining. ‘“Saturated”, exactly that.’
‘It’s all most bizarre,’ said King.
Sir Robin remained silent.
Shining looked at the photo for a few seconds longer then nodded. ‘Bizarre indeed. So what’s the plan moving forward?’
‘I’m taking over from Sir James,’ said King. ‘Though talks have been delayed for today, the Secretary of State is determined to get back on schedule. We are due to meet with the South Korean contingent tomorrow. In an attempt to increase security, both delegations have agreed to relocate discussions to a place called Lufford Hall, a stately pile in Warwickshire that we like to fall back on occasionally. The hope is that, with all of us under the same roof, security can be more easily handled.’
Shining nodded. ‘Though an expression involving eggs and baskets also springs to mind.’
‘If that’s the case,’ said Fratfield, ‘then we’ll be jumping into the basket too. As well as the trade delegation, there will be a number of security officers in attendance. Details are on the memory stick.’
Shining patted at his pocket. ‘I shall review them with interest. The first obvious suggestion would be to ban all mobile phones.’
‘Naturally,’ said King, ‘though I can’t tell you how much GCHQ kicked up a fuss at that.’
‘Of course they did,’ said Fratfield. ‘They’ll have been gleefully bugging them all.’
‘Other than that,’ said Shining, ‘I’d have to look into it a little more before offering any suggestions.’
‘There’s a surprise,’ said Sir Robin. ‘Told you it would be a waste of time.’
‘Tell me, Sir Robin,’ asked Shining with an innocent smile, ‘will you be attending the summit at Lufford Hall?’
‘Of course not,’ Sir Robin replied. ‘I have more than enough to contend with.’
‘What a shame,’ Shining
Fratfield projected a couple of colour stills of the crash site on the wall.
‘For some reason, Holley had exited the car and started to walk down the hill.’
‘Probably a bloody argument,’ said Sir Robin. ‘The pair of them were always taking potshots at one another.’
‘I doubt he would have got so cross he decided to walk home,’ commented Fratfield. ‘They were still thirty miles away.
‘Holley leaves the car,’ he continued, ‘and walks down the hill, at which point the car’s brakes fail and it rolls after him. Holley is lying on the road by the time the car hits him otherwise he might have survived.’
‘He was lying down?’ asked Shining.
‘Best guess is that he turned to see the car, lost his footing in the wet—’
‘Ah … the
wet
…’
‘Indeed, and then the car ran over him. It eventually collided with a tree, hence Mrs Holley is still in intensive care. She was thrown from the vehicle on impact and has suffered severe cranial injury.’
‘Do we know for a fact that the brakes failed?’ asked Toby. ‘Is it possible she did it on purpose?’
‘That had occurred to the investigation team, though given the effect the accident had on her they’re inclined to dismiss her involvement. There is no actual evidence of damage to the brakes.’
‘Just because she was hurt doesn’t mean she wasn’t the instigator,’ said Shining. ‘She may have taken what seemed a golden opportunity to dispose of her husband, not realising the trap she was springing would close on them both.’
Fratfield shrugged. ‘It’s a possibility, certainly. But the damaged mobile and the rain would suggest it’s linked to the other two deaths rather than just a spontaneous act of murder.’
‘Ah yes,’ said Shining, ‘the rain. You said the ground was wet.’
‘Absolutely. Obviously, it’s harder to be so precise given the accident happened in the open but there was no rain reported in the area last night. That specific area appears … what was the word you used?’ He looked to Shining. ‘“Saturated”, exactly that.’
‘It’s all most bizarre,’ said King.
Sir Robin remained silent.
Shining looked at the photo for a few seconds longer then nodded. ‘Bizarre indeed. So what’s the plan moving forward?’
‘I’m taking over from Sir James,’ said King. ‘Though talks have been delayed for today, the Secretary of State is determined to get back on schedule. We are due to meet with the South Korean contingent tomorrow. In an attempt to increase security, both delegations have agreed to relocate discussions to a place called Lufford Hall, a stately pile in Warwickshire that we like to fall back on occasionally. The hope is that, with all of us under the same roof, security can be more easily handled.’
Shining nodded. ‘Though an expression involving eggs and baskets also springs to mind.’
‘If that’s the case,’ said Fratfield, ‘then we’ll be jumping into the basket too. As well as the trade delegation, there will be a number of security officers in attendance. Details are on the memory stick.’
Shining patted at his pocket. ‘I shall review them with interest. The first obvious suggestion would be to ban all mobile phones.’
‘Naturally,’ said King, ‘though I can’t tell you how much GCHQ kicked up a fuss at that.’
‘Of course they did,’ said Fratfield. ‘They’ll have been gleefully bugging them all.’
‘Other than that,’ said Shining, ‘I’d have to look into it a little more before offering any suggestions.’
‘There’s a surprise,’ said Sir Robin. ‘Told you it would be a waste of time.’
‘Tell me, Sir Robin,’ asked Shining with an innocent smile, ‘will you be attending the summit at Lufford Hall?’
‘Of course not,’ Sir Robin replied. ‘I have more than enough to contend with.’
‘What a shame,’ Shining
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