Trying Not To Love You

Part Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two

Martha had never been more grateful to get to the restaurant than that morning. Her father had obviously smelt a rat; after all he discovered the spilt tea a couple of hours before she emerged from the utility room. He didn’t ask where she’d been, and she didn’t offer, instead she started on breakfast for everyone. Sonny didn’t appear from the same direction as her, and she had never been more relieved to escape and take a long very hot shower, washing the remaining signs of him from her body.

There was another party booked for the following night so Martha had been grateful for the excuse to rush to the restaurant and meet Tom the chef to discuss the menu and organise the orders. She’d been there half an hour when two police officers walked in.

                “Miss Sullivan?”

When she nodded, stopping her recce of the bar fridges, she only had an hour before she needed to call the wholesaler for a delivery that day, they moved closer.

                “I’m DI Chandler; this is my partner Detective Smith.” When she smiled politely the older man Chandler added, “we’ve had the fire inspectors around this morning. Seems your barn fire was started by an accelerant, in the far corner.”

                “Arson?” Martha asked. Though she wasn’t surprised.

The man studied her, “you’re not shocked?”

She shook her head, “we’ve had rather a lot of random ‘accidents’ on the farm the last few months, damage, vandalism.”

                “You’ve not reported it?”

Martha sighed, “what could I prove? There was no real evidence.”

                “Well there could be now...”

Martha thought back to Sonny, he’d tell her never to grass Scott. If the police turned up at his and questioned him he’d start an even greater vengeance against them. Did she still trust Sonny to deal with this?

                “I am inundated by requests to buy my land from property developers. I presume one of them is trying to labour a point.”

Chandler raised his eyebrows, “there’s a big difference in bullying tactics and arson...someone could have been killed.” He studied her for a moment, “your lodger has a record...”

                “GBH!” She snapped, hating that yet again someone was quick to judge and even quicker to accuse Sonny of wrong doing, “that’s hardly arson or the attempted murder you talk about. After all why would he try and burn his own home? For an investigator you seem to be barking up lots of wrong trees.”

That caused him to pause, he studied her again for a moment, “we’ll be looking into this.”

She nodded, “I would hope that you did. If I think of anything be sure I’ll call.”

Angry at her presumption he nodded to his partner then they both made for the door. As he opened it to leave the building, she added, “please don’t pester my father. He’s been unwell. He doesn’t need the stress.”

Once they left Tom appeared at the office door, “can we check the menus now?”

                “Give me two minutes as I’ve got to work out what to order for the bar, otherwise there’ll be no party at all.”

Half an hour later they were engrossed in menu options opposite each other at the desk in the office, Martha was typing away at the computer trying to price the things he requested, and order them.