How Friday Landed in Paradise

2

As said, Mateo returned to the shack to pick up Friday, honking the car horn from outside.

"Alright I'm coming!" yelled Friday at the front, though she was only a few metres away from the car.

"Took your time," Mateo said, as she climbed in.

"You're one to talk. You called me saying you'd pick me up in ten minutes," she checked her watch. "You're two minutes late."

Mateo snorted as he reversed.

They said nothing on the way there, and even if Friday found something that she thought might start a conversation, she stared out the window until she forgot about it.

She was only here for the case, not to socialise.

The road was shaded by palm trees and shrubbery, dark until they came to a clearing.

The scene of the crime was a pristine white villa, topped off with an outdoor pool next to the entrance and overlooking the beach.

Friday jumped out, still getting used to the height difference between the Land Rover and the ground, and looked up, spotting a CCTV camera tucked into the corner of the roof. "Surely with a house this big they had good security,"

"They do," replied Mateo, walking ahead.

They walked around the side of the villa, coming to a paved courtyard that could have been considered a backyard due to its size.

Elaine and Rajiv stood waiting on the dusty red tiles, talking to a lean man in a loose white shirt.

Elaine excused herself when she saw Friday.

"We were just gathering information," she gestured to the man. "That's Bill, he works for the Coopers. He was serving drinks on the night of the murder,"

"I see." Friday unbuttoned her cuffs and rolled up her sleeves. Why hadn't she worn something thinner than cotton?

"Would you like me to take you through the case?"

She eyed Bill. "I'd like to hear what he has to say first."

She strode over.

"Detective Inspector Friday Barnes," she held out her hand.

"Bill Du Pont," he replied, shaking her hand.

"Would you like to tell me what happened?"

"The Cooper couple had arranged a party that night with some friends." he gestured to the courtyard. "I was out here, serving drinks to the guests."

"Is there a list with the guests invited?"

"Oh yes. I've just given it to your officer,"

Rajiv smiled, tapping his notepad.

"It was just past eight. I remember checking my watch just before the gunshot."

"And everyone heard it?"

"Of course. If they didn't notice the shot then they definitely noticed the security alarm. I called the police and checked the panic room with Mr and Mrs Cooper. It was locked as expected."

Friday glanced around. "This alarm, would the gunshot have triggered it?"

"No. The alarm is only triggered when the panic room is locked."

"I see." she turned to Rajiv. "Let's take a look."

If the villa looked big on the outside, then it was positively massive on the inside.

Bill led them upstairs and through corridor after corridor until they reached the study, a sunlit room overlooking the courtyard.

"I've been to many fancy houses," Rajiv mumbled next to Friday. "But none like this."