Murder Most Foul! - O is for Opposite - 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

As she is leaving the pub, Aisha gets a call from Williams telling her about the fight between Parthing and Whethers. She shares her information with them as well. She is told to head on over to see Parthing while Williams and Barnwell head to Trenterden. Aisha walks down the private road next to Court House towards Court Farm. It is no more than a dirt track. It takes her past the old farm yard, which is just a set of old buildings with grass and weeds coming up through the old cobbled yard. Aisha carries on, past the farm house, up the hill towards the new yard, where she can hear a tractor running. Andrew is moving roller bales. He stops the tractor when Aisha waves and walks over. ... On site interview with Andrew Parthing:   AP: Morning, Aisha. Good Morning, Andrew. May I speak with you about Bill Whethers?   AP: I didn't like the man. Because of his objection to the development?   AP: Because he was an all-round bastard. He had no respect for anyone round here, thought we were all dumb yokels to be patronised, or laughed at. And he also made life difficult for you over the development.   AP: that he did. Was afraid we were going to get brick dust in his swimming pool - selfish b- What did his objection mean to you?   AP: The last few years have been hard. Low price for milk, low price for lamb, and the supermarkets are squeezing on the price of veg as well. I need to sell that old yard to pay my mortgage. The bank is ready to foreclose on my land. I've been holding them off for years now, ever since Whethers and his team started making rumblings about their bloody investigation, but they won't wait forever. If I can't sell to the developer before the end of the year, I'll lose my farm. Did Mr Whethers know why you were selling the land. Whole village knows. But him and that bloody Lord over there in his fancy house, that's water off a duck's back to them. I wouldn't put it past Michael to be waiting in the wings to buy back the farm for his manor. Even as a kid he hated the fact that my father bought the place off his father - gambling debts - family habit. So is it fair to say that Mr Whethers dying may have helped you?   AP: Hell no! Well not unless he managed to do all he said he was going to in one day before he had his accident. I have to tell you that it wasn't an accident, Andrew. This is now a murder enquiry.    AP: There you go then, someone wanted to stop him. Stop him doing what?   AP: Changing his mind. He came and saw me that day. Shook my hand, apologised for everything he'd done and said he was withdrawing all his objections. He said he'd get that bloody survey sorted in quick order too, so we could get on with the whole project. Only someone killed the bugger before he could do it. I still didn't like the man, but I had no reason to kill him, not now.

Aisha Kakkar Age: 23 Gender: female Ethnicity Code: M3 Job: Police Constable - Weald & Marsh Liaison Officer - an officer working with local communities, especially villages, in the Weald of Kent and Romney Marsh areas. Her mum and step mum knew Lady Emma when she was an art student. 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. 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. Andrew Parthing Age: 43 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: farmer Other info: owns Court Farm and is unhappy about the delay of the sale of his land for building the affordable housing. Had a fight with Bill Whethers about the environmental survey. However, Andrew said that Bill came to him the day of the murder and told him he was withdrawing all his objections to the development and that he'd help get the project underway. Lord Michael, Earl of Oxen Age: 48 Gender: male Ethnicity Code: W1 Job: Lord of the Manor Other info: He has been friends with Bill Whethers since Bill moved into the village, but they had a fight the night before Bill's death. Plays golf with Bill Whethers. According to Andrew Parthing, Michael wanted to buy back Court Farm for the manor. Court Farm Proposed location for the development of the affordable housing. The yard backs onto Court House, Bill Whether's property. The environmental study is suggesting the farm yard may be a site of scientific interest, which would mean no building could be done.

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!

made here

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