Rollover by James Raven

that.’
    ‘Vince showed me the letters,’ she said. ‘All the hate mail.’
    ‘As I remember they were anonymous,’ Temple said.
    ‘Yeah, right. We both know who sent them.’
    There was an awkward silence. After a few seconds Priest cleared his throat and said, ‘Look, Jen, I know you’re upset and felt the need to make a point. Well, you’ve made it. Will you now please answer the inspector’s questions?’
    She blew her nose and rubbed her eyes. Then said, ‘Can you tell me what happened to Vince?’
    Temple sat up straight and took a breath. ‘He was attacked in his home and suffered two fatal blows to his head.’
    Jennifer swallowed and wiped her face with her sleeve.
    ‘Where was he found?’ she asked.
    ‘In the kitchen. That’s almost certainly where the attack took place. His body was discovered by his neighbour, Mr Nadelson.’
    Jennifer closed her eyes briefly.
    ‘Do you mind if I ask what car you drive, Miss Priest?’
    She opened her eyes, but other than that there was no emotional reaction to the question.
    ‘It’s a Peugeot 207.’
    ‘And the colour?’
    ‘White. Why do you want to know?’
    ‘Mr Nadelson saw a car driving away from Mr Mayo’s cottage about ten o’clock last evening. A dark vehicle, perhaps an Audi or BMW. Does that description mean anything to you?’
    ‘No, it doesn’t. And besides, I was nowhere near the cottage last night. I thought my father told you that.’
    ‘He did, Miss Priest. It’s just that I have to ask certain questions anyway, even though I might already know the answers.’
    Jennifer looked at him doubtfully and lowered her eyes.
    Temple could see that she was on the verge of losing it. A single tear slipped out of her right eye and trickled down her cheek.
    ‘Do you know of anyone who might have wanted to see Mr Mayo dead?’ Temple asked.
    She raised her eyes. ‘But I assumed it was robbery. That he was killed by burglars.’
    ‘That’s a possibility, Miss Priest. But there were no signs of a break-in. It could be that he knew his killer.’
    This shocked her. She looked at her father and started sobbing.
    Priest stood behind her, placing both hands on her shoulders. It looked to Temple as though he too might be about to break down.
    ‘I know this is difficult for you, Miss Priest,’ Temple said. ‘But I have to ask you more questions.’
    Jennifer blew her nose again and cleared her throat.
    ‘I know,’ she said. ‘I’m all right.’
    He allowed her time to compose herself, then went on, ‘I gather you stayed at Mr Mayo’s cottage on Friday evening?’
    She nodded. ‘Yes. We watched a film, Mama Mia. ’
    ‘Mr Nadelson said he saw you briefly this morning.’
    ‘He popped over with Vince’s lottery tickets. Vince invited him in for a cup of coffee but he was in a hurry so he didn’t come in.’
    ‘So what did you and Mr Mayo do during the rest of the day?’
    ‘Not much really. By the time we’d had breakfast and got ready itwas almost lunchtime. Vince did some work and I read a book and watched television. Then in the afternoon I went to my dad’s house for dinner.’
    ‘And Mr Mayo stayed at home?’
    ‘That’s right, but that wasn’t unusual. Vince liked my father but he always felt a little awkward spending time with him. On this occasion he had a proper excuse, though. He said he had to wait in because a man he owed money to was coming to the cottage to collect some of it. It was part of his gambling debt.’
    ‘Was Mr Mayo a serious gambler, then?’
    ‘Very serious,’ she said. ‘Trouble was he wasn’t very good at it. That’s why he was in so much debt.’
    ‘Do you know how much he owed?’
    ‘Not exactly, but it was well over twenty thousand pounds.’
    Temple and Priest looked at each other. Priest shrugged his shoulders , as if to say that it was news to him.
    ‘So who was the man who was coming to collect the money?’
    ‘His name is Dessler,’ she said. ‘Joe Dessler. I know because Vince