Chapter 54
Fifty-Four
‘Trust me, Bryant, this is going to be worth your time,’ Kim said as they approached the farmhouse.
‘Sorry, guv, I’m still kicking my own ass for whatever it was I said that prompted you to do the exact opposite of what I was advising.’
‘You’ll see,’ Kim said as the door opened to reveal Lena Hubbard.
‘What do you want?’ she asked, folding her arms.
Normally, Kim realised, in a fight there was good and evil, right and wrong, likeable and unlikeable. In this case, both matriarchs were equally hateful. It was just that this one smelled better.
‘Just another couple of questions.’
‘I’m due at the funeral director’s in—’
‘We won’t keep you long,’ Kim said, edging past her.
Kim strode back into the open-plan kitchen and diner that she’d admired that morning. Now she saw it completely differently.
‘Like I said, we talked to Eric yesterday. He misses his dad very much. Did the two of you miss Eric?’
‘Of course we did, but I could never forgive him for the betrayal. While he’s with that slut, I’ll never be able to speak to him again.’
‘No, you wouldn’t, would you? But maybe your husband could. Maybe he was prepared to forgive Eric.’
‘I doubt it,’ she said.
Kim looked out of the window and then turned towards her. ‘Why did George walk past the oak tree, Mrs Hubbard?’
‘I… have no idea. He must have made a mistake.’
‘He’s never made that mistake before. What could have possessed him to go beyond the bounds of safety on that day? He knew the Stouts would see him approach.’
‘I’ve told you I don’t know.’
‘Is it possible that George had decided to try to make peace with the Stouts?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous.’
‘I don’t think it is ridiculous, Mrs Hubbard.
Apparently George was the more forgiving of the two of you, and maybe he didn’t feel as strongly about the feud as you do.
You made a promise to a woman on her deathbed to keep it going.
That’s quite a commitment. Perhaps, George didn’t agree.
I think he wanted to try and end it so the kids could live in peace, and he could have his son back. ’
‘That’s utter rubbish, and even if it was true, does it matter? They still shot him.’
Kim pictured the wound on George Hubbard’s left temple.
‘Not unless they can shoot around corners. The shot came from here.’
‘She shot him. She confessed.’
‘And that’s what kept the investigation minimal. Martha admitted it, but she didn’t do it. You did. So, Lena Hubbard, I’m arresting you for the murder of George Hubbard. You do not have to say anything…’