A Dark Shadow Falls Read Online Free Page B

so.’ Annie tilted her screen so that Dani could see the information she was referring to. ‘Forensics didn’t find a single trace of another individual in that house. We could only place the five family members and the neighbour who found them in that property on the day they died. Eric Fisher’s account is riddled with contradictions, particularly in relation to the order of the events. His version simply doesn’t match the post mortem and crime scene evidence we have. I intend to put that point very clearly to the court at his trial.’
                  ‘What about a motive , Annie? Don’t underestimate Sally Irving-Bryant, she’s a brilliant advocate. Sally will make it crystal clear to the courtroom that Fisher didn’t have any real motive to kill his family. The jury always wants to be able to understand why .’
                  The Detective Chief Inspector sat back in her seat and folded her arms across her chest. ‘Have you heard about the use of ‘psychological autopsies’?’
                  Dani shook her head.
                  ‘There’s an MP in England who’s demanding that they should be performed in every UK incidence of family annihilation. We had a lady from the NYPD, who’d trained at Quantico, over here on the team with us for a couple of weeks. She performed a psychological autopsy on Eric Fisher and his extended family. This involved questioning him and all his closest relatives and friends. A full history of the man was created.’ Annie reached for a paper file on a shelf behind her and dropped it on the desk between them. ‘This is it. I received it from the US on Monday. We’ve already disclosed it to Fisher’s defence team, but it would seem that Sally Irving-Bryant hasn’t shared the juiciest details with you.’
                  Bevan narrowed her eyes. ‘Can I read it?’
                  ‘Yes. But it remains strictly confidential. This evidence is crucial to the prosecution case.’
                  ‘Of course. If Eric Fisher is guilty of this crime, I’m as keen as you are to see him go down for it.’
     
     

Chapter 5
     
     
     
    T he Pentland Hotel was situated in Edinburgh’s Old Town and Dani’s room possessed a view of Holyrood Palace. The impressive baroque building, once the permanent residence of the Scottish monarchy, was not grabbing the detective’s attention. Instead, she was sitting cross-legged on the double bed, with the contents of Annie Carmichael’s file spread out across the quilt in front of her.
                  Eric John Fisher was born at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in April 1972. The family lived in Leith and Eric’s father worked at Henry Robb’s shipyard, losing his job when the yard closed in the early eighties. Leonard Fisher was never in full-time employment again until his death ten years ago. Eric left school at 16 to start earning money for the family. As a young lad, he’d taken an apprenticeship in joinery and worked for various building firms until starting up his own business at the age of 25.
                  Not long after this, Eric met Peggy Wheelan at a nightclub in Edinburgh. She was on a weekend away with a group of pals, but lived with her parents in Dalkeith. They began a relationship, finally setting up home together, near to Peggy’s family, in 2001.
                  Dani looked up from the notes, gazing around at the dark furnishings of her mock gothic bedroom. Peggy had only been 18 years old when she met Eric Fisher. They’d dated for over four years before moving in together as a couple. The detective thought this was unusual. She turned back to the file. Callum was born in 2002. The couple had married in 2009 and had the twins in 2011.
                  Peggy Fisher was 35 years old when she died, younger than Dani was. Bevan looked closely at a photograph from their wedding day.