Page 110 of Murder in the Family

HUGO FRASER

I don’t disagree. Though there are a couple of important caveats.

Firstly we don’t know for certain whether theoriginalwill – the one that was changed in favour of Luke – had the same terms as the one in force at the time Florence Ryder died.

The one person who could tell us that would be Florence’s lawyer, but of course he’d be bound by client confidentiality.

LAILA FURNESS

Is he even still around?

HUGO FRASER

Yes. Long retired, but yes.

The second caveat – assuming the original willwasindeed the same – is whether Margaret Wilson and/or her son actuallyknewhow much they stood to gain from Florence’s death. And by extension how much they lost at the stroke of apen when the long-lost ‘grandson’ appeared on the scene.

LAILA FURNESS

That’s going to be hard to prove.

HUGO FRASER

Without the lawyer’s cooperation, yes. But there are some things we may be able to ascertain without needing his intervention.

One of those being whether or not Florence was in regular touch with the Wilsons while she was still alive, which would increase the likelihood of them knowing about the contents of the will.

And that’s where Sylvia Carroll comes in.

CUT TO: INTERVIEW. Sylvia Carroll is seated in the lounge area of a care home. There are chairs with plastic seat covers arranged around the edge of a large open space, and a TV on in the corner showing a cooking programme. Sylvia is a large middle-aged woman with dyed auburn hair in a ponytail and a turquoise overall. She has a nose ring and several piercings in both ears.

SYLVIA CARROLL

Flo was one of the nicest residents I’ve ever had to look after. Always easy to get on with, never made a fuss. Not like some of ’em.

HUGO FRASER – off

How long did you know her?

SYLVIA CARROLL

Must have been about seven years. Yeah, from when I started at Lakeside to when she died in 2006.

CUT TO: MONTAGE of photos of Florence Ryder taking part in activities at the care home. Bingo, seated keep-fit, a Christmas party with paper hats and crackers. There are several images of her with ayounger and thinner Sylvia. They’re both smiling, and Sylvia has her arm round her.

HUGO FRASER – off

She left you a very nice gift in her will. That jewellery? The brooches and bracelets?

SYLVIA CARROLL

Yeah, that’s what I mean – she was such a lovely lady. She wanted me to have them.

HUGO FRASER – off

Quite valuable, too. Diamonds – emeralds—

SYLVIA CARROLL

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