Ten Guilty Men (A DCI Morton Crime Novel Book 3) Read Online Free

privacy.’
    ‘Have you ever had cause to argue with Miss DeLange?’
    Vladivoben’s nostrils flared. He drew himself up to his full height and puffed out his chest. ‘You dare to come into my home and imply I had something to do with her death? I find your insinuations insulting, Mr Morton. I bid you good day. Maria will show you out.’ And with that, he swept from the room without another word.
    ‘Well, that was sudden,’ Ayala said. ‘What spooked him?’
    Morton was saved from answering by the maid shuffling in. She stared at the floor as she entered, being careful to avoid eye contact. She was about to lead them back out when Morton tapped her lightly on the shoulder.
    ‘It’s Maria, isn’t it?’ Morton asked in his gentlest tone.
    ‘ Si . I mean, yes, sir.’
    ‘Maria, did you know Miss DeLange?’
    She shook her head slowly, a quizzical expression appearing briefly on her weathered face.
    Acting on a hunch, Morton tried again. ‘But there is something you know, isn’t there? Did you hear or see something?’
    ‘I am... not sure. The lighting. It was not so good.’
    ‘When was this?’
    ‘ El Sábado ,’ Maria said.
    ‘Saturday,’ Ayala translated, though he needn’t have bothered.
    ‘And what did you see?’ Morton asked.
    ‘Out of my window, up in the attic. I hear noises. Someone is knocking dustbins. I look out. And I see a naked man climbing over the fence at the bottom of Miss Ellis’ garden.’
    ‘A naked man! Did you see who it was?’
    ‘No sir. All I know. Is a man, sir.’
    ‘Was he tall, short, black, white?’
    Maria blushed furiously, but shook her head. ‘I no know, sir. It too dark and I only see from behind.’
    ‘Did he have any memorable features?’
    The maid bit her lip, cast her gaze downwards at the floor and mumbled something.
    ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t quite catch that, Maria.’
    ‘He was... a small man.’
    ‘How short?’
    ‘No. Not short. Small .’
    Morton furrowed his brows. Maria saw his confusion and pointed between her legs.
    Ayala smirked. ‘¿ Lo pequeño ?’ he asked.
    Maria held her thumb and forefinger aloft approximately half an inch apart.
    This time, it was Morton’s turn to bite his lip to stop himself laughing. He just about kept a straight face as he said: ‘And how did you see this?’
    ‘ Que ?’
    ‘If he had his back to you, how did you see his... size?’
    ‘He like this at top of fence,’ Maria replied. She mimed putting one leg over a fence. ‘I see everything.’ Maria shuddered, as if she’d rather forget.
    ‘Very well. Thank you, Maria. You’d best see us out.’
    Ayala leapt from his seat on the sofa, snatched up a handful of the biscuits for the road, and followed Morton out.
    Safely back outside, Ayala burst out laughing. ‘What in God’s name was that all about?’
    ‘I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.’

Chapter 3: Too Much Information
    With several hours to go before the autopsy would be complete, and uniformed officers dispatched to carry out a general canvass, Morton decided to explore the rest of Edgecombe Lodge while Ayala dealt with the chain-of-custody paperwork.
    There was one bedroom on the ground floor, a double right off the main hallway. From the lack of personal items, Morton assumed it was reserved for guests. A bay window opened out onto the front driveway, but the curtains were still drawn when Morton entered.
    The bed was unmade and a half empty bottle of triple distilled vodka lay on its side atop the bedside cabinet. Plastic markers had been placed by forensics techs to mark where evidence had been collected, making it look like a confetti of rainbow-coloured plastic had been thrown in the air. Each disc was numbered with a colour corresponding to the type of evidence collected. So far, Morton had spotted discs up to the high three figures but it wouldn’t surprise him if Purcell’s team passed the one thousand mark by the time they were through processing the house.
    With four