Emma: The complication was that Dad was named as a suspect in Alan’s death. The legal system is different on the island and there was a process the police had to go through, which enabled them to interview Dad. I think the closest equivalent in the UK is being cautioned.
Because of that, people instantly thought that meant he was guilty. In the couple of days between the fall and the naming of Dad as a suspect, there had been no issue with Scott. Then, from nowhere, he was convinced Dad had killed his father.
We were due to fly home the day after Dad was named but ended up delaying everything for a couple of days. I don’t know the official term, but, essentially, Dad was unnamed as a suspect. The police ended up concluding that Alan fell, but the damage was done by then. A few papers had picked it up back at home and were trying to turn it into a big story of a business rivalry. Once that was out, it was difficult to stop it.
The stupid thing is, Dad was only named as a suspect because he wasn’t in his room at the time Alan went over the cliffs. He said he’d gone out for a walk, but there were no witnesses to that. It was all supposition and circumstantial. If it hadn’t been for that, things might have been a lot more amicable with Scott.
Paul: I knew what had happened to Emma’s father in a legal sense, but it was interesting to hear her side of things. The simple fact is that her father left his room and said he went for a walk, even though there were no witnesses. He really could have been on the cliffs with Alan – but nobody knows except him.
Emma: They wanted to know what happened to the business after that. I don’t think they realised that I was working for Dad at the time of Alan’s death, so I knew more than they thought.
After Dad was named as a suspect in Alan’s death, it was understandable that Alan’s wife and Scott wanted nothing to do with the business. Dad needed someone to buy out Alan’s half and he was already friends with Daniel, who ended up buying in. Dad bought one per cent of Alan’s share – taking him to fifty-one – and Daniel took on the other forty-nine. That’s how things had gone for the nine years up until the holiday.
Paul: I remember glancing sideways to the cameraman when Emma said that. We hadn’t known any of it. It didn’t necessarily change anything – but the fact he went from fifty to fifty-one per cent ownership was something that piqued our interest. It was a motive that we hadn’t previously known about.
Emma: When I said it, I think I knew that I’d told them something they didn’t know. That didn’t mean it counted for anything. They’d have discovered that sooner or later anyway.
Things were winding down after that. Everyone thanked me for giving them my time and then started to pack away. I found a couple of minutes to talk with Paul away from the others and he told me they were all flying home that night.
Paul: I probably should’ve told her before then, but plans were fluid and… we’d had a couple of good evenings together. I didn’t want to spoil things.
Emma: I was disappointed, not annoyed. He said they were going back to the hotel to check out – and then they’d be heading to the airport. He asked if he could take my number so they could come back to me if there was anything to check. I gave him my email address – and then we went our separate ways.
Paul: I didn’t think I’d see Emma again.
Then again, I didn’t think her holiday would end with an attempted murder… or two, depending on who you believe.
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE NO PLAN B
Emma: I was about to let myself into my cottage when I heard Daniel’s voice coming from next door. Mum’s front door was open and I let myself in. It was turning into this weird form of déjà vu in that Daniel constantly seemed to be hanging around those cottages, even though he had no reason to be there.
Daniel was standing by the alcove, going through the big suitcase on the table. Mum was watching him with her arms crossed, not saying anything as he said: ‘There should be an envelope.’ He was taking out Dad’s clothes and dropping them on the table as he searched underneath.
He spotted me but didn’t pay any attention as he kept hunting. It was after he’d emptied everything that he looked back to Mum and asked if she’d moved anything. She said her chargers had been in Dad’s case, along with some shoes – but that she hadn’t opened it since they’d been moved to the cottage.
That’s when she turned to me and asked if I’d seen an envelope when I’d been in the room.
The way Daniel turned to me is something I’ll never forget. People talk about the penny dropping and I think that was the first time I ever actually saw it. Imagine teaching a toddler that two plus two is four and then – one day – you see that dawning realisation in their eyes that they finally get it.
That’s how Daniel looked at me that day.
I told him I’d not seen an envelope, but it was obvious he didn’t believe me and, to be honest, I couldn’t care less what he thought.
That’s when Mum said that she needed to get ready to go to visit Dad – and she asked Daniel how Dad had seemed that morning.
I think I knew then.
I’d suspected before, but that was the confirmation. Daniel had visited Dad at the hospital – who’d told him to get the envelope from his case.
Daniel: Nonsense. Geoff was ill in hospital. Do you really think we were discussing such trivial things as packing issues? He is one of my oldest friends and I was concerned for his welfare.
Emma: I left after that, partly because Mum wanted us to go, but mainly because I knew it would annoy Daniel.
He was as predictable as you’d expect and followed me outside. Before I could get there, he stood in front of the door to my cottage, stopping me from going inside.
Daniel: That didn’t happen.
Emma: He said: ‘Did you take something from your parents’ room?’ I shrugged and replied: ‘Like what?’
I was enjoying watching his face turn redder. Then he replied: ‘I think you know.’
It took everything I had not to laugh in his face because we both knew we were playing a game. He knew I had that envelope and I knew why he wanted it.
I thought quite carefully about how to reply, more so than usual. I told him that, if I did have something from my parents’ room, perhaps I’d be better talking to the police about what I’d found.
Daniel: I told her some home truths that day. Some things that she was long overdue hearing.
Emma: I don’t remember exactly what he said.
Daniel: I told her she was a disappointment to her parents and that she should be ashamed of herself. Her father worked hard to give her the best life he could – and look what she did with it. She killed her own son and disgraced her parents’ good name in the process. Even when she was released, her dad offered her a way back by returning to the business – but what did she do? She ended up wasting her life in some clothes shop.
Emma: I think he might have said something about the clothes shop, but Daniel doesn’t understand anything artistic. He sees value only in money and things that can make him money.