Chapter 33
THIRTY-THREE
The gift shop sold all manner of sheep trinkets much to Cain’s amusement.
He picked up a mug shaped like a sheep’s head and turned to Morgan miming drinking from it with a glint of mischief in his eyes, and mouthed ‘Why?’ She ignored him, turning away so she didn’t start to laugh out loud, he was such a bad influence.
Finally, a teenage girl appeared from somewhere out the back of the shop with a huge Stanley cup in hand. She jumped to see the pair of them.
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know there was anyone here, the bell didn’t go off. Can I help you?’
Morgan nodded. ‘That’s okay, but someone could have stolen half of your stock in the time it took for you to come out and see.’ She smiled at her.
The girl had green hair and even thicker black winged eyeliner than Morgan, and she scrunched her eyes at her in confusion.
‘Did someone steal something? I’m going to be in so much trouble, but the water here tastes rank so you have to like run the tap for ages and I began scrolling on Instagram. Before I knew it, you’re here waiting to tell me bad news.’
Morgan, who had been leaning on the counter, straightened up. ‘Nobody stole anything, I was just saying they could have.’
‘Oh, right. Yeah, they could. Thanks, what are you, police officers? Although you don’t look like one; he does though.’ She was pointing at Cain who shrugged.
‘What makes you say that, just out of interest?’ he asked her.
She looked at Morgan. ‘Just the whole attitude and the way you dominate the entire space. I’m good at reading people too. If you’d come in on your own, I’d have never said you were a copper, hairdresser, tattooist possibly, nail tech.’
Morgan looked down at her chewed nails; the gel polish she’d had for New York was almost bitten off with the stress of the last few days.
‘We’re looking for Felicity Brown, is she in or is she you by any chance?’
The girl took a long sip through the straw of her pink cup.
‘Yeah, you found me. What do you want me for? I haven’t done anything I shouldn’t except for maybe not pay for parking at the Ro Hotel where I leave my car most days, but they wouldn’t send two plain clothes coppers out to arrest me for that, would they? ’
Morgan smiled, she liked Felicity, she was just the right side of sassy, and she would bet a hundred quid that she loved true crime, had a Bookstagram account, enjoyed iced lattes and reading.
‘You’re absolutely right, we’re not here because you don’t pay for parking. We’re investigating a series of murders.’
Felicity’s eyes almost popped out of her head. ‘For real? Who’s dead, is it someone I know?’
‘Well, that’s what we’re here to find out. How well do you know the Williams sisters?’
Her face was blank, and she shook her head. ‘I know them but not like best friends kind of know them. Who told you I did?’
‘But you’re friendly with them, chat to them, that kind of stuff?’
‘Hang on, are you on about the vlogger Lydia Williams?’
Morgan nodded.
‘Oh right, yes, I know her sister Lauren more, but I followed Lydia on Instagram and YouTube, I loved her stuff, those little vlogs with her cute dog Barney. They were so sweet. It’s horrible what happened to her, I can’t believe she was murdered so horribly and has anyone found the dog yet?
I’d look after him if they have and he needs a home. ’
‘No, sadly nobody has seen Barney since the night she died.’
Felicity pulled a sad face. ‘That’s so sad, poor doggy didn’t deserve whatever has happened to him.’
‘What about Lynsey Williams?’
‘You mean Crystal Yolanda?’
Morgan nodded.
‘Oh, yes, I follow her too. I didn’t realise she was Lydia’s sister though. I bet she’s heartbroken about the murder, it was so shocking.’
Morgan didn’t divulge that she was also dead. ‘How well do you know their other sister Lauren?’
‘More than the others. Why are you asking me this, you can’t be asking everyone who has liked or commented on their posts.’
‘It’s because you have commented on their Instagram accounts. And you follow them on your Facebook accounts.’
‘Eh? Why? It’s not a crime, is it?’
‘You tell me?’ Cain asked her. He’d stopped picking up every sheep-shaped object and was now standing next to Morgan.
‘No, it’s not. We’re just struggling to find any family or close friends for the sisters, so we’re talking to anyone who could help.’
‘Oh, I see. Well, I know Lauren more because she works for my sister’s husband at the security firm and I’ve met her a couple of times at get-togethers. I don’t know the other two personally, I just like their stuff.’
‘Did you know Lauren was found murdered yesterday evening?’
Felicity gasped so loud it echoed around the shop. ‘No, way. No, oh my God, I didn’t. I haven’t spoken to my sister all week. She’s on a girl’s holiday that I wasn’t invited to, but I won’t get into that. Poor Lauren, I can’t believe that, how, why, have you caught whoever did it?’
‘Not yet, it’s a matter of time before we do. Is there anything you can tell me about them that could help our investigation?’
‘Not really, I mean Lauren didn’t have much time for the other two. They fell out after their parents were killed in a car crash, think it was over their will and property. You know, family stuff, or so my sister told me.’
‘What happened, do you know if they managed to resolve it?’
‘I don’t know much. As far as I know it got shared between them which was how Lydia bought her purple Land Rover and that roof tent. Lauren said it was a waste of money, but I get why she would, I mean she was trying to build a following, wasn’t she? Are you sure Lauren is dead?’
Cain looked at Felicity. ‘We’re sure, her colleague identified her. Did she get on okay with everyone at work, any issues with colleagues that she mentioned?’
‘No, her boyfriend Joey works with her, and there was nothing like that. Everyone seems to get on okay.’
‘What about her boyfriend, Joey, do you know him?’
‘Yes, and he’s the nicest guy ever, he wouldn’t have done this to her, they were so happy together. At least I got the impression they were, you never heard her talking bad about him or anything like that.’
‘Did Lauren get on with your brother-in-law?’
‘Yes, she did. He’s so laid-back he’s a terrible boss; he never picks anyone up on being late or lazy. He drives my sister mad, but he says as long as the job gets done, he’s happy. I can tell you now he’s too lazy to have done this.’
Morgan felt like smashing her own head against the counter, she was getting nowhere, nothing Felicity had told her was any use. ‘What about family, do you know if they had any cousins, aunts, stepbrothers or sisters?’
Felicity tapped her glittery gold stiletto nails against the glass countertop and nodded. ‘I heard that there may have been a brother that wasn’t their brother if you know what I mean.’
Morgan felt a cool chill settle across the back of her neck as the fine hairs that had escaped her messy bun prickled, and her skin broke out in goosebumps.
‘What do you mean?’
‘Lauren was bitching about him to someone on the phone at the last BBQ we were at back in the summer.’
‘Do you know his name?’
‘Sorry, I was just being nosey catching snatches of the conversation. I didn’t mean to but she was talking really loudly, and we were sitting next to each other.’
‘Can you remember exactly what she said, please. It could be vitally important.’
‘This isn’t very nice, and it wasn’t like her, but she said something like, “they should have left him to drown instead of bringing him in and causing nothing but trouble.”’
Morgan glanced at Cain, resisting the urge to high five him in front of Felicity. It wouldn’t look very professional. ‘Do you know his name?’
She shook her head. ‘No, she started talking about something else and I didn’t think much of it because it was nothing to do with me.
The only reason I remember it was because it was so cold and unlike her.
I was shocked to hear her say it but then I had another glass of wine and forgot about it until now that is. ’
‘Thank you, you’ve been very helpful.’
‘I have?’ She looked downcast. ‘I still can’t believe it though.’
‘I know, it is very sad. You take care, Felicity.’
They left her staring after them, hurrying up the street.
‘We need to speak to Lauren’s boyfriend and ask him about the brother.’
‘Stan the man is on with that task. Do you want me to phone him and ask him to do it?’
Morgan groaned. ‘I suppose so, come on then let’s nip inside here and get a coffee and some cakes, we’ve earned it.’ She was pointing to a café; Cain blew her a kiss.
‘I knew coming with you was the best idea. You got the break we need and sustenance thrown in as well. The boss is going to be so impressed.’
‘See, that’s what you get working with such a professional.’ She grinned, and he linked his arm through hers, practically dragging her towards the door of the café.