“Let’s not rush down another rabbit hole,” interjected Inspector Evans. “What about the phone records?”

“I’d say her relationship with her mother was strained. And she’d recently told Ashley in no uncertain terms that she was not interested in a relationship with him and that her future was with Theo,” Keya replied.

Inspector Evan’s wrote Ashley Ricketts’ name on the board and under it, ‘hot sauce courier’ and a dotted line to Theo’s name with jealous written above it.

“Anything else?” enquired the inspector.

“What about Daisy’s father or sister?” Warren suggested nervously.

“Too lazy,” Ryan responded. “And since Daisy was giving him money, he probably thought it was only a matter of time until she came back. And I don’t think the sister has the presence of mind to concoct such a plan.”

“Conjecture,” called out Inspector Evans.

“I agree with Ryan,” Keya said.

“Evidence?” Inspector Evans retorted.

“We’ve hardly enough to prove who committed the crime, never mind who didn’t.”

Inspector Evans wrote on the board, ‘Dennis Bentham, Zoe Bentham, Aurora, Viv, Dr Reid, Dora?’

“Really, sir?” Keya questioned.

“As you’ve said, Sergeant, we don’t have sufficient evidence to rule them out.”

“You have missed off one name,” Inspector Sue observed. “That of Theo Watson.”

“Do you think he did it?” countered the Inspector.

“No, but we can’t rule him out. And he did avoid the hot sauce again when Keya cooked lunch. I admit, if he was guilty, you’d expect him to get rid of the evidence, unless he thought he was being clever hiding the bottle in plain sight.”

“Conjecture again, but I take your point,” Inspector Evans accepted.

He wrote ‘Theo Watson’ on the board. Then he asked, “Is that it?”

“Of those we know about. I don’t suppose you want to add Sir Anthony to the list,” Inspector Sue suggested.

“No. I don’t. Not without concrete evidence that he was involved. But I can’t see him having anything to do with a bottle of homemade hot sauce.” Inspector Evans capped his black marker pen and announced, “There you have it. As clear as mud. Or hot sauce.”

“So what now?” Keya asked, wondering if her temporary release from the hospital was over.

“There is only one resource we have left,” Inspector Evans declared.

They all turned to him.

Did he have a magic solution Keya hadn’t thought about?

“To get them all in a room and look them in the eye. For you to look them in the eye, Sergeant, since you are also a victim of this crime.”

CHAPTER FORTY

Inspector Sue volunteered to contact all the suspects and arrange a meeting for the afternoon. “I’ll start with Dr Reid and ask him if there is somewhere we can hold it in Lower Rollright,” she told Keya and Inspector Evans.

Ryan and Warren had left to buy the team an early lunch, much to Keya’s relief and appreciation for the inspector keeping his word. Sujin had said he needed to check something in his workroom, and Stan was seeing if anyone had requested files while he’d been in the morning meeting, since organising them was his official job.

Chief Inspector Greg poked his bald head round the door and, seeing the white board, asked cheerfully, “Are you close to resolving the case?”

“If we’re not, sir,” replied Inspector Evans, “then I doubt we’ll ever be. But we are speaking to all those who knew the deceased again this afternoon.”

“Very good.” The chief inspector nodded his head and left. Keya thought he looked like a man with more pressing issues on his mind.

Inspector Evans strode up and down the room a couple of times and then stopped beside Keya’s desk. “You should practise your physio exercises, or I’ll be in trouble.”

“I’ll start by trying to open these envelopes,” Keya replied.

“Do you have a paper knife?”

“No.”

“Then let me fetch mine.”

The inspector returned from his office with what looked like an old, possibly antique, silver paper knife with initials engraved on the handle.

“It was my mother’s,” he said. “Originally given to her by her mother. I keep it in the office to remember her by.”

“Does the pain of losing someone become any less, sir?”

The inspector drew his lips together and shook his head. “No, and I don’t think it ever will. I’ll probably always carry a dull ache around with me. I know she was my mother and not my wife, but we lived together for so long. She was my soulmate. And that’s why I feel a piece of me is missing.”

Keya glanced at the names on the board and wondered which of them felt they’d lost part of their soul when Daisy died.

Keya realised again that even simple tasks were going to be challenging with only one arm working correctly. But finally she worked out a system whereby she used her right arm to place her left hand on an envelope, which provided enough pressure to allow her to slit the envelope open.

The first card she slipped out of its envelope had a giant colourful cake on the front and inside Happy Birthday had been crossed out and her employees at the cafe had each written encouraging notes. She even recognised the names of several regular customers who’d added their get well wishes.

The Wimsey family, Dotty, and Aunt Beanie, with Norman and Uncle Cliff’s names inside, had also sent her upbeat cards with encouraging messages. She arranged them on her desk.

The rest of the team ate sandwiches for lunch while Keya and Inspector Sue shared a portion of asparagus and pea risotto served with a side salad.

“That do you?” asked Inspector Evans as Keya pierced the last pea in her brown cardboard takeaway container.

“Yes, sir. Delicious, and a welcome alternative to hospital food. But now I guess I’d better earn it.”

“Solve this case and I’ll buy everyone afternoon tea at your cafe.”

Ryan and Warren looked delighted by the prospect, but Sujin warned, “But don’t feel under pressure, Keya. You can’t force the truth, and none of us wants you to have a relapse.”