Louise shook her head. "No. I mean, he didn't help at the charity but I would say he was close to Helen. Far closer than he should be, if you ask me."
Janssen found the overt accusation quite telling and he seized upon it.
"Could you elaborate?"
Ebling appeared none too impressed by his wife's intimation either, slowly shaking his head with disapproval. Louise exhaled in mock disgust at her husband's reaction.
"Honestly, Charles. You know what I am talking about. You've said as much yourself!"
"Yes, I have but… in private, my dear."
"Why would their relationship be… frowned upon?" Janssen asked.
"Well, she's married for one thing," Louise said.
This revelation sparked a strong interest in both detectives who exchanged a glance. Janssen wondered if Devon's fate could revolve around a scorned husband taking revenge. Clearly, Cassie was thinking similarly.
"And you believe they are more than just friends, this Devon and Helen Kemp?" Janssen asked.
"Idle gossip—" Ebling said.
"It is neither, Charles, as you well know." She dismissed her husband and turned to face Janssen. "Helen is a lovely young woman but… troubled. It's hard for her with her husband always away as he is. She started helping at the food bank partly to occupy some of her time. No children. No work of her own to speak of because her other half won't allow it. She was able to get permission for charity work. Is it any wonder why she might look elsewhere?"
"That's enough, Louise," Ebling said, placing a gentle hand on her forearm to restrain her from saying more. He addressed Janssen. "Despite my wife being far closer to Helen than I am, I must say this is speculation on my wife's part." Louise bristled but didn't offer a counter argument. "Now, it may turn out to be accurate but, at this time, it is purely conjecture and I beg you not to take Louise's opinion as gospel."
"Don't worry unduly, we never do," Janssen said. "Tell me, what do you know of Helen's husband? What is it that keeps him away?"
"He's a fisherman," Louise said.
"Based in Sheringham?"
"Yes," Louise nodded affirmatively. "Obviously, Shaun is out at sea a lot of the time."
"Shaun Kemp?" Janssen asked.
"Yes, that's him."
Janssen held his breath for a moment, noting Cassie watching him through the corner of his eye.
"Do you have any idea where Devon was living?" he asked.
"Charles is right. He wasn't local but I believe he had a place in the town. I guess he was renting somewhere. Helen will know."
"Thank you. We'll ask her."
Without anything further to ask, the two detectives thanked them for their time and rose to leave. Charles Ebling escorted them to the front door and it was closed before they reached their car.
Janssen shut his door and found himself drumming the steering wheel with his fingers, absently staring ahead at nothing in particular as Cassie got in and drew her seatbelt across her.
"Penny for them?" she asked, snapping him out of his reverie.
"Oh, nothing. Just the mention of Shaun Kemp threw me a little, that's all."
"You know him?" Cassie asked. He looked across to her. "It's written all over your face, then and now. Did you nick him once or something?"
"No, it's nothing like that."
"But you do know him?"
"Yes. I went to school with Shaun… and his brother, Jamie, come to mention it."
"Friends, like?"
Janssen drew breath, looking away from her and exhaling loudly. "No. No, I wouldn't say that at all."
Chapter Five
Charles Ebling closed the door as the officers walked towards their car. As the latch clicked into place, he left the palm of his hand resting against the frame of the door and lowered his head. With his eyes closed, he took a deep breath and slowly released it in a controlled manner before returning to join his wife in the sitting room.
He found Louise knelt in front of the fire, adding another log to the grate.
"Did you see them out okay?" she asked over her shoulder without turning to look at him.
"Hmm…"
"Well… did you?" she asked pointedly, turning to face him.
"Sorry. What did you say?"
He found himself distracted, preoccupied with the conversation they'd just had, the details turning over in his mind. His gaze drifted towards the window overlooking the drive. The detectives' car was waiting at the gates, indicating left. Moments later, the car moved off again, soon disappearing from view behind the conifers lining the boundary wall of the rectory.
"Did they say anything else as they left?"
"What about?"
"Oh, Charles! You really should pay more attention—"
Louise was exasperated with him. That was a common occurrence.
"Perhaps you are right," he said, smiling weakly in her direction as she stood. The action was slow. Her left leg was clearly still causing her discomfort. "Do you think it was wise to say what you did?"
She looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"I didn't say anything that isn't widely known in the community."
She was defensive; a trait that he'd never admired in her for the fifty years of their married life.
"Widely suspected is not the same as known, Louise," he said, tilting his head to one side as he spoke. "And we both know what Shaun can be like."
"Helen has made her bed and she must lie in it."
"That is… a little harsh. I fear the police arriving at her door will only cause more problems than it solves. I do hope you thought that through before raising it."
Louise didn't respond to the question directly. Her expression was set as she headed for the hallway. If he had to label her look, then it would be one of defiance. Louise saw every given situation as a matter of black or white with no leeway in between the two for any shade of grey. No space for nuance. Over their many years together, he often saw this as advantageous in life; a stance that served her well. In hindsight, it was this strong belief system that he thought underpinned her unquestioning faith. At other times, however, he found the narrowness of her approach restrictive.
"Did you consider it?"
"I'll make a pot of tea," she said lightly, reaching the doorway.
"Not for me, love. I think I'll pop out for a bit."
He glanced in her direction as she turned to face him, her eyes narrowing.
"Where on earth do you need to go this morning?"
"I thought I would go for a walk. Maybe along the seafront."
She looked beyond him and out of the window. Grey clouds were rolling in from the direction of the coast, shrouding the early promise of the day in darkness.
"It looks like the weather might be about to change," she said. "You don't want to be caught outside if it does."
He held her gaze for a moment. There was something unsaid behind her comment, evident in her eyes. He was sure it was unrelated to him heading out. Fear, perhaps. Uncertainty. He forced a smile but it didn't seem to allay her anxiety.