The Night Stalker (Detective Erika Foster 2)

‘Yes, please. And it’s Mrs Munro, if you don’t mind.’

‘Of course, Mrs Munro,’ said Moss, and she passed a small bottle of water dripping with condensation through the gap in the seats. Estelle managed to get the lid off and took a long drink. They drove through Ladywell, past the large park next to the hospital, where a group of young lads were playing football in the hot morning sunshine.

‘Thank goodness, that’s much better,’ said Estelle, sitting back as the cold air conditioning began to wash over them.

‘Could I please ask you a few questions?’ said Erika.

‘Can’t it wait?’

‘We’ll need you to make an official statement later, but as I said, I’d like to ask you a few things… Please, Mrs Munro, this is important.’

‘Go on, then.’

‘Gregory was due to be going on holiday?’

‘Yes, to France. He was going to make a speech for a conference of the BMA, the British Medical Association.’

‘He didn’t call to say he had arrived.’

‘Obviously not.’

‘Was that unusual?’

‘No. We weren’t in each other’s pockets. I knew he would phone me at some point during his trip.’

‘Gregory was separated from his wife?’

‘Yes, Penny,’ said Estelle, her lip curling nastily as she said the name.

‘Can I ask why?’

‘Can you ask why… You’re asking, aren’t you? Penny instigated it. She filed for divorce. If anyone was going to file for divorce, it should have been Gregory,’ said Estelle, shaking her head.

‘Why?’

‘She made his life a misery. And after all he did for her. He gave her a quality of life. Until they got married, Penny was still living with her awful mother, aged thirty-five. She had very few prospects. She was just a receptionist at Gregory’s surgery. No sooner had they started going out, she fell pregnant. She forced his hand and he had to marry her.’

‘Why did he have to marry her?’ asked Moss.

‘I know it’s the fashion these days to bring bastards into the world, but my grandson was not going to be a bastard!’

‘So you pushed them to marry?’ asked Moss.

Estelle turned to her. ‘No. It was Gregory. He did the honourable thing.’

‘Had he been married before?’ asked Erika.

‘Of course not.’

‘Penny and Gregory were married for four years. So he would have been forty-two when they got married?’ asked Moss.

‘Yes,’ said Estelle.

‘Did he have many girlfriends in the years leading up to his marriage?’ asked Peterson.

‘A few. No one I could have called serious. He was very driven, you see, with medical school and then the practice. There were some nice girls along the way. He could have had his pick, then he goes for that grasping receptionist…’

‘You didn’t like her?’ asked Peterson.

‘What do you think?’ said Estelle, eyeing him in the driver’s mirror. ‘She didn’t love him, she just wanted his money. I told him that at the beginning, but he wouldn’t listen. Then, one by one, things happened and I was proved right.’

‘What happened?’ asked Erika.

‘The ink was barely dry on the wedding certificate and she was pushing for Gregory to put things in her name. He has – had – several rental properties. He was self-made, you know, worked hard for it all. One of the properties was in my name, to give me a bit of security, and she wanted it changed to hers! Of course, he refused. She got her brother involved…’ Estelle shook her head in revulsion. ‘I tell you, the phrase “dragged up” is perfect for that family – Penny, her brother Gary. He’s a vile skinhead, always in trouble with the police. Yet Penny is devoted to him. I’m surprised you don’t know him. Gary Wilmslow.’

Erika exchanged a glance with Moss and Peterson.

Estelle went on: ‘Things came to a head last year when Gary threatened Gregory.’

‘How did he threaten him?’ asked Erika.

‘It was all about choosing a school for Peter. Gregory wanted him to board, which would have meant sending him away. Penny resorted to getting Gary round to intimidate Gregory, but Gregory stood up to him, and not many people stand up to Gary Wilmslow. Gregory gave him a good thrashing,’ said Estelle, proudly.

‘And then what happened?’

‘Then the rot set in. Gregory didn’t want anything to do with Gary, but Penny wouldn’t cut him out of her life. And Gary didn’t take kindly to losing a fight. Word got around, I’m sure. Penny and Gary had everything to gain if Gregory was no longer around. She’ll now inherit. I tell you, you’ll save yourself a lot of taxpayers’ money if you arrest her brother. Gary Wilmslow. He’s capable of murder, I’m sure of it. Only last week he was at it again, threatening Gregory. Barged into his office, in the surgery, no less – full of patients.’