HIDDEN SECRETS (18 page)

“You told me you were going to finish it with her,” Kate stared intently at him.

“I was, I didn’t know about the baby until later.”

“Oh shut up Ben, you disgust me. You’re just telling lie after lie.”

“If we can leave the domestics until later, there’s something else I need to tell you. The forensic examination of Emma Lewis’s body confirmed that she was raped before she was killed,” the Inspector revealed.

“Raped, what do you mean?” Ben was shocked.

“I think you know what I mean Sir,” Inspector Salt stared at Ben.

“So now you think I raped her, and then killed her?” Ben turned to meet his wife’s accusing glare.

“I didn’t say that,” Kate replied indignantly.

“You didn’t bloody have to it’s written all over your face. For god’s sake Kate what sort of person do you think I am? Do you really think I’m capable of doing theses thing?”

“I don’t know what you’re capable of; I don’t even know who you are anymore.”

“We’ll find out who was responsible for both crimes Mrs. Preston. There was D.N.A on the body which will reveal precise information about the murderer,” the Inspector assured her.

“If there are no more questions I have a lot of things to attend to.” Ben turned to leave.

“It would be advisable for you and your wife to stay in the vicinity of the hotel for the next few days,” Inspector Salt informed him.

“I can’t stay here indefinitely,” Ben argued.

“Just a few days Sir, I’m sure you’ve got a lot of explaining to do to your wife,” he turned away.

“There’s one more thing before I go Mr. Lawton, do you have any details on Joseph’s family? His landlady informed my sergeant that he moved out of his flat a few days ago.”

“My receptionist Mrs. Gilroy, can provide you with all the staff’s personal details.”

“I’ll speak to her on the way out. Thank you for your help, and please contact me if you think of anything else that might help with our enquiries,” Inspector Salt headed off in search of Mrs. Gilroy.

Alex left the room and almost collided with Sean Penn in the doorway.

“Can I have a word with you in private Mr. Lawton?” he asked nervously

“Will it wait until later Sean?”

“Not really, it’s important.”

“Come to my office,” Alex strode ahead with Sean trailing behind.

As soon as the door closed, Sean spoke.

“I’ll come straight to the point I’ve got a new job. I’ll be leaving at the end of the week if you’ve no objections.”

Alex was surprised, but not concerned about his impending departure; there was barely enough work for himself let alone an under manager.

“I’ve no objections just put it in writing. Is there any particular reason why?” he asked out of curiosity.

“I think you know why Mr. Lawton,” Sean didn’t elaborate.

Alex was unsure of what he was inferring to, but did not pursue the issue any further. There were only two possible reasons for his imminent departure; either his indiscretions with Kelly Barnes, or the unfortunate reputation the hotel was receiving. Either way it was irrelevant, Sean Hughes was definitely not managerial potential.

“Thank you for telling me and good luck for the future.” Alex shook his hand and walked away to re-join Kate and Ben, who sat in silent contemplation with his head down avoiding Kate’s intense stare, until she eventually walked out of the room. Ben had wrongly assumed that his wife had become friendly with Alex Lawton during his absence; noticing their use of Christian names during conversations. A feeling of anger and unexpected jealousy stirred in him, and he stood up with the intention of confronting her.

“Can we talk Ben, now we’re on our own?” Alex asked before he could get away.

“What about?” he asked sharply.

“I don’t believe you’re responsible for what’s happened to Emma Lewis,” he began.

“Am I supposed to feel grateful for your vote of confidence?”

“I can understand why you’re so angry Ben.”

“Angry; I’ve been accused of being a rapist and a murderer. My wife won’t speak to me, and Emma, who was carrying my child, is now dead. How do you expect me to feel? I wish to god I’d never set foot in this wretched hotel, or ever set eyes on Emma Lewis.”

***********************************

Sensing his journey had been a waste of time, Pat began the journey back to the hotel haunted by flash-backs of the collision with the motorcyclist. Desperately trying to focus on the road and rid his mind of how close he had been to killing a fellow human being, he turned on the radio and stared straight ahead.

He was totally unaware of the events that were beginning to unfold at the hotel. Totally unaware of the relevance of the accident with the motorcyclist, and the consequences it was to have on the rest of his life. Still deep in thought, his mobile rang out, and he pulled over to answer it without looking at the screen. Surprised to hear Lily Greensmith’s voice, he listened as she explained the purpose of her call.

“I can’t think why I didn’t tell you,” she began.

“Tell me what Lilly?” he asked.

Pat listened carefully with increasing interest as she revealed a very significant piece of information which he soon realised, could be the catalyst for solving the case.

“Thanks very much for that; you’re an angel Lilly Greensmith.”                    

Pat quickly punched in another number and was soon connected to Danny Wilder’s office.

“I’m heading back to Exeter to the Lotus. I’ll explain later,” Pat terminated the call and re-joined the road.

Pulling up at the first petrol station he found, Pat re-fuelled and picked up some sandwiches before setting off on his long and tedious journey. Eating his food at the wheel, he estimated it would be another four or five hours before he reached Exeter, plenty of time to think about what Lilly Greensmith had told him. 

CHAPTER
13.

WEDNESDAY EVENING

It was now 7.30, and Ben and Kate had still not engaged in any form of civil conversation. Charles Lewis had remained in his room taking solace from a bottle of single malt. Alex Lawton was alone in his office staring at a photograph of his absent partner Simon. Taking a bunch of keys from his desk, he unlocked his drinks cabinet and took out a bottle of brandy and a glass. Placing them ceremoniously before him on his desk, he unscrewed the bottle and poured a generous measure. He swirled the liquid around the glass for a few seconds before taking a sip, feeling the warmth flood his mouth and gullet, as he swallowed it down. Draining the glass in one mouthful, he contemplated another drink when he received an internal phone call from the Mrs. Gilroy.

“There’s a call for you on line five Mr. Lawton. It’s another policeman,” she informed him in a surprisingly despondent tone.

“Not another one. Tell him I’m not here will you,” he replied impatiently.

“He says it’s important,” she insisted.

“They always do; put him through then,” Alex sighed deeply at the unwanted intrusion.

“Good evening Mr. Lawton my name is Sergeant Topping. I’m sorry to disturb you but we believe you are acquainted with a gentleman by the name of Simon van de Feltz?”

Alex was instantly alert and slightly alarmed to hear Simon’s name.

“What’s happened to him?” Alex asked without answering the question.

“I’m afraid he’s been involved in a road traffic accident. He has sustained leg injuries and minor bruising, but nothing life-threatening.”

“Thank goodness for that,” Alex was expecting devastating news and sighed with relief.

“He’s being transferred to a hospital near to Taunton to receive specialist care. The hospital he was originally taken to is unable to offer him the treatment he requires,” he explained.

“What kind of treatment do you mean?” Alex sat upright in his seat.

“I don’t know the technical details, but I’m sure the hospital will explain it to you.”

“Can you tell me how the accident happened?”

“All I know is that his motorbike was involved in a collision with a car on a blind bend. We found your number in Mr. Van de Feltz wallet. I don’t know all the details, I was just asked to inform you of the news.”

“I understand. You said he’s been taken to Taunton, which hospital is he in?”

“Saint Mary’s Royal Infirmary in Cedar Park Avenue, it’s close to the city centre.”

“Do you have a contact number?”

“Not to hand, but they do have a general enquiry line, I can give you that,” he offered.

“No, it’s o.k. I’ll find it myself. I knew this would happen one day; he wouldn’t get rid of that damned bike, even though he knew how much I hated him riding it.”

“Perhaps he will do now Sir.”

“Where did the accident happen Sergeant?” Alex wondered whether Simon was on his way back to Exeter.

“A small village in Northamptonshire; I’m not sure of the name I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know why he would be in that part of the country; he’s never mentioned it before. Was anyone else hurt in the crash?”

“No, the car driver is fine, a bit shocked but unhurt. He did say he thought the biker was speeding.”

“He probably was. Thank you for informing me Sergeant. If there is any change in his condition will you contact me; I won’t be able to visit until the morning.”

“I will Sir, good night.”

The line went dead and Alex replaced the receiver into the cradle in a slow robotic manner. He was missing Simon dreadfully, and now he was lying in a hospital bed and Alex had no idea what injuries he had sustained. Deep feelings of guilt began to emerge once again as he relived the hostile atmosphere and bitter argument that followed, before Simon walked out. It now seemed so childish; but jealousy had driven him to deduce the wrong conclusion to an innocent situation. He should have controlled his emotions and listened to Simon, but no he couldn’t do that. He was Alex Lawton a powerful and proud man; and he had treated Simon like one of his minions. With hindsight, Alex now realised that Simon had tried to explain the situation, but he had refused to listen. 

           It was nearly two weeks previously that Alex had discovered Simon in The Silver bar with another man. They were sitting very close to one another smoking a joint, not even attempting to conceal their activity. Simon had looked up as he entered the room and smiled, but Alex snubbed him, grabbed the stranger by the arm and literally threw him out of the hotel.

“What’s wrong with you?” Simon reared up.

“What’s wrong with me? You’re sitting here smoking that shit again, with another man. I won’t tolerate it Simon. In case you’ve forgotten, it’s against the law in more ways than one; do you want to get me closed down?”

“Just let me explain,” Simon had pleaded.

“There’s nothing to explain, just get out.”

Alex could tell by the look on Simon’s face that he was deeply shocked by his harsh words. Without replying he stormed out of the room. Ten minutes later he walked out of the hotel with a suitcase in one hand and his bike helmet in the other. He knew now that he should have given him a chance to explain, but he had supposed too much and asked too little.

       Alex had assumed that Simon was seeing someone else; and the fact that he openly smoked drugs in the hotel had incensed him. How many times had they had the same discussion? Alex loathed drugs and Simon knew it, yet still he continued to do it despite the fact that Alex only allowed smoking in The Barn, an area allocated for smokers. In a way it wasn’t his fault. Simon had spent his childhood and teenage years in Holland, where it was commonplace to smoke marijuana in public cafes. He had been allowed the luxury of a care-free youth, and had consequently become a more relaxed and contented adult.

          His own childhood had been planned and controlled by his vitriolic father who allowed no time for playing childish games with his brother Sebastian; just studying and learning, and severe chastisement when perfection was not attained. Sebastian had managed to escape the domineering clutches of their father when he was offered a position with an I.T. company in New York; and Alex hadn’t seen him since. His own release came in the form of a University placement, and his father had been only too pleased to finance his son’s further education. It was while he was attending University that he encountered drugs for the first time. He had been very naive and innocent, but desperate to be accepted by his fellow students. Foolishly he had agreed to join a group of them in the student’s bar and after an evening of heavy drinking- paid for by his father's generous allowance- he had drunk so much he could barely walk back to the campus. What followed still remains vague to this day, but Alex recalled smoking cannabis until he passed out. He woke the next morning in the University grounds under a tree stark naked. The humiliation and ridicule he suffered made him determined never to touch drugs again. His father never got to hear of the incident thankfully, but the University Professor had reprimanded him severely and threatened to expel him if he repeated his behaviour. Simon didn’t share his attitude towards smoking cannabis, and it was now the cause of his leaving. It wasn’t until later that day after Mrs. Oliver made a casual remark about the similarity in appearance of Simon’s cousin, that Alex realised how rashly he had behaved; but it was too late by then. Simon had left and was rejecting Alex’s calls. There had been no contact between the two men and now he was in hospital and it was his fault.