‘And why would that have been a problem?’

‘Because I visit Felicity in order to have sex with her,’ he said bluntly. ‘It’s an arrangement we’ve had for the past year and we didn’t want anyone to know about it. And before you judge either of us you should take into account that Felicity is a widow and doesn’t have a partner. And although I love my wife dearly she can no longer satisfy my needs because of her condition. What Felicity and I do makes life more bearable for the both of us.’

‘How have you managed to get away with it for so long?’ Abbott asked. ‘Doesn’t your wife suspect anything when you disappear in the evening?’

‘Maeve can’t sleep without pills and after she takes them a nuclear explosion wouldn’t wake her up. And I take the view that what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.’

CHAPTER FIFTY

What began as a promising lead had quickly fizzled out.

James left DC Abbott with Peter King in the store and went to see if Felicity Bower would corroborate his story. She did, and she also confirmed that he was with her from 9 p.m. until just before midnight.

‘That’s usually how long he stays when he comes over,’ she said. ‘We have a chat, a few drinks and then spend some time in bed. But it’s not an affair, as such. It’s an arrangement. And it’s helped us both get through a difficult time in our lives.’

She was in her fifties with short brown hair, a slim figure and an attractive face.

When she’d opened the door to James and the officer, she had been understandably alarmed. And when he’d asked her to verify King’s alibi her face had turned white. But she’d relaxed as soon as he explained that they needed to know because King was seen walking through the village late at night.

‘I can assure you that Peter is not the maniac who killed Charlie and Lorna,’ she said now. ‘He’s a good man. A gentle man. And everyone who knows him will tell you that.’

She then told James something else that would, if confirmed, rule King out as a suspect.

‘On Saturday night, when Charlie was murdered, Peter and Maeve were at a party at Craig and Barbara Wilson’s house,’ she said. ‘I was there too, along with ten other people, and none of us left until about two in the morning. Peter then had to push Maeve home in her wheelchair.’

‘So you and Peter’s wife are acquainted,’ James said, surprised.

She nodded. ‘I’ve known her since before she had her stroke. And Peter too. That’s why it’s so important that we keep our arrangement secret.’

Back at the store, where DC Abbott had been joined by two more officers, James told King what Felicity Bower had said.

‘She also told me that you were at a Christmas party on Saturday night,’ he said. ‘Is that true?’

‘Yes it is,’ King replied. ‘You can check with Craig Wilson. He invited Maeve and I.’