The Circle

24

www.ChichesterMurderDetectives.com

Latest Developments on the Chichester Arson Case from Naomi Green

It's all over the papers and television, so you'll know. The arson attacks in Chichester continue. Yesterday another of the circle, Jessie Warmington-Smith, died in a house fire deliberately started in the same way as the others. It was a shock to us all. Jessie was not an easy person to get on with, but who am I to talk? Whatever one thinks about her, she didn't deserve this.

For me, it was a hugely frustrating night. Having decided the conditions were ideal for another arson attack (dry, warm, new moon), I put on dark clothes and trainers and left the house about twenty to two and drove to North Street to keep watch on the Welshman. Took up position in a shop doorway opposite and was encouraged to see the light still on in his flat over the building society. He was still my number one suspect. So I was ultra-cautious. I waited nearly an hour and then the light went out. Expecting him to come out immediately, I watched the door to the street. Nothing. There's no back door. He had to come out that way. I kept watch for another hour and twenty minutes. Finally, around four thirty, with the sky already getting lighter, I decided this wasn't to be the night. Stiff-legged from standing for so long, I returned to the car and drove away.

I discovered later what had happened. The fire was in Vicars Close, up by the cathedral, while I was keeping watch in North Street — so I'm forced to conclude that the Welshman was not responsible. He was at home in his flat while I was watching.

Everyone is asking why the arsonist should have chosen Jessie this time. Is it because she was a soft target? She lived alone in a quiet terrace and unlike some of the others she hadn't taken any precautions against someone pouring petrol through her letterbox.

Later, we were all questioned about our movements. Guessing how the police would react, I was going to say nothing about my night's adventure, but Greenfingers, stupid oaf, blurted it out. I should have realised he'd throw me to the wolves. In the end I managed to convince them what I was doing was research for this book, but it took some while.

And so the focus has to shift again. If Welshman is off the list, and so are The Chair, Nitpicker, Zach and Blondie, who is left? I can forget Greenfingers. Only the Schoolmistress, Passionella and the new man, Parcel Force. Two strong-minded women and one man who reveals very little about himself. But what motive could any of them have?

The police have a new theory: two perpetrators working together. Interesting. There are several partnerships within the circle of suspects. By this I don't mean man and wife. You might think of Basil and me as a team — unless you know our situation. Mostly these are twinnings of another sort. I thought I'd found an ally in Zach, but he has disappointed me. Ever since he went to the Fantasy Convention with the dumb Blondie he seems to have lost interest in the e-book. If you visit this website regularly you'll know he promised to collaborate with me, and he had some promising ideas, but he has produced nothing. It's his loss. I've registered over a thousand hits since I installed the hit counter.

Partnerships? Well, we have The Chair and his lady.

Parcel Force, the new man, and his friend Schoolmistress (wanting to see him after lessons, I suspect).

Romantic novelist Passionella and Schoolmistress (yes, her again, they're old chums).

And Zach and Blondie.

The point about two killers working together is that they can cover for each other. Some of the alibis the police have checked out would be worthless. It would throw everything back into the melting pot.

I am going back to my list to see who ought to be suspect number one. I'll keep you informed of everything that happens.

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