Tuesday 19 April 2016

Murder Most Foul! - P is for Provision - Cozy Mystery #AtoZChallenge 2016


Welcome to my contribution to the A to Z Challenge. My theme this year is Murder Most Foul, which, for you, my blog visitors, means that you will be sharing in The Case of the Cursed House, or rather the bare bones of it. 

Everyday, I will be revealing more about my developing Cozy Mystery: descriptions of scenes; character details; locations; clues to the mystery. And, at the end of each post, you will have the chance to vote on whodunnit. So, without further ado, on with the case...

Previous parts:


Story Notes Additional Details

Barnwell and Williams go to see Whethers' solicitor, H H Ramsdown, in Trenterden.

...

On site interview with Marcus Ramsdown:
Thank you for fitting us in at such short notice, Mr Ramsdown.
  MR: Marcus, please, my father was always Mr Ramsdown. Such terrible news about Bill.
Did you have many dealings with Mr Whethers?
  MR: Bill engaged the services of this firm when he bought Court House. I am happy to say that he was so satisfied with our service that he transferred most of his business to our office here. He had a specialist solicitor for his literary contracts, but anything local came through us. As of late, that has been quite a lot.
What would that be?
  MR: well he had us examining land deeds going back two centuries to see what the terms of his part ownership to the access road to Court Farm actually meant. It's archaic stuff, to do with the land all once being owned by the manor, but technically he did have the right to object to it being made into a public highway, which would have been necessary for the development work on Court Farm to go ahead.
And that's what he was doing?
  MR: Yes. He phoned only the other day to book an appointment to see me to discuss the objection.
Do you know what about it he wanted to discuss?
  MR: No, but he did say it was important and asked me not to do any more work on it before our meeting.
You also handle Mr Whethers' estate?
  MR: Yes, we hold his last will and testament such as it is.
Can you share the contents with us?
  MR: Since I have already informed the beneficiary, then I suppose so.
And who is that?
  MR: Bill left everything to Jon Lee.
And how much was that?
  MR: well, there's Court House and a property in London, plus the income from Bill's books and other related ventures, I believe he had sold the film rights on several of them. Without the full audit, which will happen in time, I would put the estimate at 15 to 20 million pounds.
Did Mr Lee know about this?
  MR: He did not seem surprised about the bequest when I told him, only asked if there had been any additions made to the will. I told him no, but that I was aware Bill was working on a new will.
You have seen this will?
  MR: No, but Bill mentioned it when he spoke to me about the appointment, said he'd have that for me in a few days as well.
Was Mr Lee upset, or surprised when you mentioned a new will?
  MR: Mr Lee sounded generally upset throughout our conversation, so I wouldn't be able to tell you, I'm afraid.
May we see the will?
  :: finds the document and hands it over::

The will is one piece of rather tatty note paper. On it in a scrawl is written: 'I Bill Whethers, being of sound mind and body, leave all my worldly goods to my best mate, Jonnie Lee.'

There are three signatures at the bottom, Bill's and 2 others, and a date of 16 years ago.

  MR: it may look dreadful, but it is all legal, I can assure you and up until he mentioned writing a new will, Bill refused to let me make any changes to it, insisted that it stay just as it is.


DCI Mags Barnwell
Age: 44
Gender: female
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: Detective Chief Inspector Kent Constabulary Serious Crime Office

DS Kevin Williams
Age: 27
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: Detective Sergeant Kent Constabulary Serious Crime Office
Other info: DCI Barnwell's bag man.

William (Bill) Whethers
Age: 36
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: W1
Job: horror author
Other info: he opposes a new housing development providing affordable housing to local people. As well as an environmental survey, was also using the private access road to Court Farm, which he part owned, as leverage in the issue of the affordable house. he's a drunk. Suspected of taking part in black masses by Alice Rigden and half the village.
He had a smoking pouch that he carried around with his refills and e-cigarette in it. He sometimes left it lying around, but mostly he kept it in his pocket.
Bill had a fight with Andrew Parthing about the environmental survey. But according to Andrew, Bill came to see him the day of his death and promised to withdraw all his objections and help the affordable housing project along. This was not confirmed by his solicitor, but Bill did want to talk to the solicitor about his objection to the access road being made into a public highway just before his death.
Bill left everything to Jon Lee in his will. However, he did say he was writing a new will.
Death: broken neck from falling down stairs, but was being poisoned by his e-cigarette with arsenic, and it was convulsions that caused him to fall down the stairs. He was dying of lung cancer.

Jonathan (Jon) Lee
Age: 36
Gender: male
Ethnicity Code: O1
Job: literary agent
Other info: best friend to Bill Whethers; found Bill's body; didn't tell the police he had a fight with Bill the night before Bill died. Was in love with Bill. He appears not to have known that Bill had cancer. Bill left his estate to Jon and Jon knew this.

Bill Whether's Will
The will is a ratty old piece of paper with a note on it, leaving everything to Jon Lee. It was written 16 years ago and is signed and witnessed.
Bill said he was making a new will.
Bill Whether's estate was worth 15 to 20 million pounds


And now it's time to vote again - just take a punt - who do you think killed Bill Whethers (and yes, every character is listed - you never know ;P)?


Who dunnit?

Aisha Kakkar
Debbie Fincher
Dave Fincher
Jonathan Lee
Janice Walker
Lorri Walker
Hal Walker
Fred Walker
Alice Rigden
DS Kevin Williams
DCI Mags Barnwell
Lord Michael, Earl of Oxen
Lady Emma, Countess of Oxen
Dr Elves
Rev Sally Tawks
Bethany Mortby
Lady Elizabeth Ryeman
Vic Walker
Andrew Parthing
None of the above, we haven't met them yet
Don't be silly, I don't know enough yet!
Poll Maker

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10 comments:

  1. Uh oh, Jonnie Lee's not looking good after this revelation, but is that too cliche for a murder mystery?

    ~Ninja Minion Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nothing's too cliche for a murder mystery!!! ;P

      Delete
  2. I love how this develops with each letter, you're packing so much into so few words!!

    Will we find the new partially completed will??

    Mars xx
    @TrollbeadBlog from
    Curling Stones for Lego People

    ReplyDelete
  3. You know, I'm sure something was going on between Bill and Lee. I'm just not sure it was something that would lead to a murder.

    I find it insteresting that from previous conversations appeared as if Bill didn't love Lee, and still he left everything he had to him 16 years ago.
    Mhm... But then he insisted the will remained the same until he handed a new one in, so, I wonder whether Lee's position would really be changed.
    This is quite an interesting developement :-)

    @JazzFeathers
    The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think it's fair to say that Bill and Jon's relationship is complicated :)

      Delete
    2. This is getting very complicated. I'm not sure which way I think it will go. Good work.

      @Kathleen01930
      Meet My Imaginary Friends
      #AtoZchallenge

      Delete
  4. What a cool theme! I now want to go back and read the ones I missed...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hmm... a very rich man, lots of enemies and loves. So many of them could have done it! Oh dear, I'm at a loss!

    ReplyDelete

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