Web of Lies by Sally Rigby (best book club books of all time .txt) 📕

TV make-up.’ She glared at both Birdie and Weston in turn. ‘In case you didn’t realise, I don’t usually go around with my face this orange colour.’

A slight exaggeration although he had to admit the make-up was a lot different in colour from the last time he’d seen her.

‘We’ll get to that shortly,’ Weston said.

‘Not only that, the officers were in uniform, so everyone knows that the police have arrested me. Can you imagine the headlines in tomorrow’s papers? It’s probably already spread over the internet. The paparazzi won’t leave me alone after this.’

That was going to be the least of her worries when she discovered why she was there.

‘You weren’t arrested,’ Weston said. ‘You were brought in to help us with our investigation.’

‘Trying telling that to the public after they see photos of me with your PC Plods.’ She folded her arms tightly across her chest. ‘What am I meant to be helping you with? Do I need my solicitor?’

‘You’re welcome to call your solicitor, and you can remain here until they arrive, but as you’re only here to help us with some facts regarding the death of Donald Witherspoon you might decide it’s not necessary.’

‘If it’s only helping, and I’m not being accused of anything, then okay, as I don’t want to be here any longer than necessary.’ She stared directly at Birdie. ‘I know you. You came to see me at the studio with that other guy, really tall. Clifton.’

Was she pretending not to know his name as a way of distancing herself from the situation? She knew all about the investigation because he’d told her, but she might not realise the police were fully acquainted with all of the details.

‘Clifford,’ Birdie said.

‘When he was in my car he suddenly jumped out. It was it was all most strange.’

‘Back to the interview,’ Weston said. ‘You’re friends with Aaron Dunkley.’

‘I wouldn’t say it’s a friendship, he’s my employee and drives me around and does odd jobs for me.’

‘How long have you known him?’ Weston said.

‘He’s been working for me for two years now.’

‘That’s not what Sergeant Weston asked,’ Birdie said. ‘How long have you known him? We believe it goes back a lot longer than that.’

Wood flushed. ‘Um …’

‘To save time, I’ll tell you,’ Birdie continued. ‘You went to school with him in Coventry when you were known as Ann Smith and he was Ross Burns. Is that correct?’

The woman drew her lips into a thin line. ‘If you already knew that, why didn’t you say, instead of asking me? Are you trying to catch me out? Because if you are, you’re not succeeding.’

‘We want to establish the truth from your perspective,’ Weston said. ‘Tell us about your friendship with Dunkley.’

‘We knew each other at school, but after he left I didn’t see him again until I was in Coventry attending a funeral. I bumped into him in the city centre. I happened to mention that I was looking for someone to work for me and he asked if he could apply. I said yes. That’s all there is to it.’

He believed her. There was nothing in her body language to indicate otherwise.

‘When you were at school, would you say you were close friends?’ Weston asked.

‘No, we weren’t.’

‘He used to have a thing for you, didn’t he?’ Birdie said.

The woman shrugged. ‘He might have done. It was a long time ago and I can’t really remember.’

‘Would it be fair to say that because of his strength and violent nature you used him to sort out any kids at school who were bothering you?’ Birdie said.

Wood glanced down at her lap, clearly embarrassed. ‘I’m not sure what you mean.’

‘If boys were pestering you, or doing things that you didn’t like, you got him to beat them up. Is that clear enough?’

‘I admit he might have helped me out, the odd time.’

‘I’d say it was more than the odd time.’ Birdie made quote marks with her fingers. ‘I think you knew about his feelings for you and took advantage of them.’

‘Look, we were young and, yes, I might have been a bit of a queen bee at school, but so were lots of others. You know what girls can be like at that age. Aaron left school at sixteen and I didn’t see him after that, as I’ve already told you.’

‘Did you leave at the same time?’

‘I stayed on to take my A levels, and then went on to university and studied journalism. I got a job on a local paper and from there worked for a magazine in London. After that I got into TV work.’

‘And you didn’t have anything to do with Dunkley in all that time?’

‘How many times do I have to tell you? There was no contact between us. Not at all, I promise. I can’t make it any plainer.’

‘Did you take him on to work for you because of your history, and you knew he’d do whatever you asked of him?’

‘I was looking for someone to drive me and someone to do odd jobs and act as security if I ever needed it. It’s not often we get accosted, but occasionally someone might take it too far. I remembered how Aaron was at school and thought I could trust him because of our past.’

‘Did he turn out to be a good choice for the job?’ Weston asked.

‘He’s been an excellent employee and will do everything asked of him, and more.’

‘Mr Dunkley has been arrested for the murder of Donald Witherspoon,’ Birdie said.

Wood’s mouth dropped open. ‘I didn’t ask him to do it, if that’s what you’re thinking.’

‘Did you tell Dunkley that Donald Witherspoon was blackmailing you?’ Birdie asked.

Wood glanced away. ‘I—’ She hesitated.

‘He was blackmailing you, wasn’t he?’

‘Yes,’ she said, her voice a low whisper and her head bowed.

‘Over what?’ Birdie asked.

‘I can’t tell you. Just know that I had nothing to do with his murder, and I certainly didn’t tell Aaron about it. No one else knew.’

‘That’s not good enough,’ Weston said, leaning forward