Smoke Alarm Read Online Free Page B

Barton’s room. We’re assuming this is Mrs Christie Barton. Another body was found, again behind a locked door, underneath the bedclothes. It appears that both died from smoke inhalation. Of course we’ll have to wait for the post-mortem but we can be fairly sure that these are the bodies of Christie and Adelaide.’
    Martha felt a shiver. ‘Why were there locks on the bedroom doors?’
    â€˜According to Jude his family were very security conscious. All the internal doors had locks and when the house was empty the rooms were locked in case anyone broke in through a bedroom window.’ He leaned forward. ‘The two main downstairs rooms both had bay windows which did not extend to the first floor. That meant that there were small balconies outside the bedroom windows, though with flames shooting up from below this might not have been a possible escape route.’
    Martha needed a few seconds to digest this information. ‘Just a minute, Alex,’ she said, ‘are you telling me not only that this fire was
deliberately
started but also that three people were locked in their rooms to prevent their escape?’
    Randall looked miserable. ‘Two. The old man’s body was found on the landing,’ he said heavily, not meeting her eyes.
    Again Martha did not quite digest the information. When she did she looked at him.
    He read her gaze. ‘We don’t know yet.’
    â€˜But it’s a murder enquiry.’
    â€˜It will be a major police investigation,’ he finished. ‘But . . .’
    â€˜But what? Do the family have any enemies?’
    â€˜Not that we know of yet.’
    â€˜There’s something more that you don’t like to say, Alex, even to me, isn’t there?’
    At last he met her eyes. ‘Six months ago,’ he said slowly, ‘according to June Morrison, there was a fire at the Barton’s house. It apparently started in the old man’s room. He was confused, Martha. He said he’d been cold and set fire to some newspapers to get some warmth. Mrs Barton smelt the smoke and raised the alarm. On that occasion there wasn’t a great deal of damage and the insurance company paid up. But the family were careful not to let him have lighters or matches. It is possible,’ he continued, ‘that he started this fire and possibly accidentally locked the doors. He may have thought he was helping. Who knows? He was very confused.’
    â€˜There’s a great deal of difference between a confused old man starting a fire in his bedroom and deliberately igniting petrol and locking your daughter-in-law and granddaughter in their bedrooms to make sure they can’t get out.’
    â€˜I know,’ he said shortly. ‘Mrs Morrison also said that on a couple of occasions Mr William Barton was violent towards his daughter-in-law.’
    â€˜And yet Nigel Barton not only continues to allow his father to live there but also goes away on a business trip, leaving his father with his wife and two children.’
    â€˜Mrs Morrison said William Barton “didn’t mean it”. It was all a “misunderstanding”.’
    â€˜Does Mr Barton know yet what’s happened?’
    â€˜He was contacted an hour ago. He’s probably on his way back as we speak.’
    Martha tapped her fingers on her desk as she thought. ‘Don’t let any of this leak out to the press, Alex. Not yet.’ They were interrupted by Martha’s phone ringing. «Simon» flashed up. She answered it. ‘Hi, Simon. Can I call you back in . . .’ Her eyes met Alex Randall’s. ‘Fifteen minutes. Yes.’
    Randall couldn’t pretend he hadn’t heard the girlish, breathy tone in her voice. Who was this Simon? he wondered, before telling himself off. Whoever he was it was none of his business.
    She was giving him a wide smile, almost as though she could read his thoughts and they amused her.