Page 39 of Murder in the Family

BILL SERAFINI

(interrupting)

Whoa, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Go back to when you first went up the drive. The police didn’t realize you were following them?

MITCHELL CLARKE

I guess not. It was pretty dark. And pissing down. Their windows had probably steamed up as much as mine had.

BILL SERAFINI

What happened next?

MITCHELL CLARKE

Well, why don’t I show you?

CAMERA PANS to show the gates. They start to open, and the team follow Bill and Mitch up a gravel drive lined with tall hedges. It bends to the right, and after a few moments the house becomes visible. Even though we’ve seen numerous pictures of it before, it’s still impressive.

MITCHELL CLARKE

(stopping and pointing)

The cops parked up over there, on the left, then went up to the door and rang the bell. I waited about here, where they couldn’t see me. I knew there was no way anyone was going to let me in, but I figured I might still be able to see something through the windows—

BILL SERAFINI

So the curtains were open?

MITCHELL CLARKE

Right. So after they went in, I started off round the back.

They start moving again, crossing the drive to a path round the right side of the house and emerging onto the terrace at the rear. Someone can be heard to say ‘wow’. The gardens stretch away before them; the old stable block and the steps where Luke’s body was found are clearly visible. There’s no sign of life, however, apart from two pigeons squabbling on the lawn.

LAILA FURNESS

Is there anyone living here at the moment?

BILL SERAFINI

Caroline was, until her third husband died last year. She’s living in Somerset now. Maura moved back into her old room a couple of months ago, to keep an eye on the house. But otherwise, no. There’s no one here.

(he turns to Mitch)

So back to 2003. What happened when you got here?

MITCHELL CLARKE

Well, it was pretty dark – the only light was from the windows and it was pouring with rain. But I could definitely see something at the foot of thesteps over there. But I couldn’t see what, just a dark shadow. Like a pile of old clothes.

BILL SERAFINI

Which is pretty much what Maura saw, too. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?

THE CAMERA FOLLOWS as they walk across the lawn to the stone steps. The PoV is low, catching the crunch of their feet as they leave a trail of footprints in the frosty grass.

BILL SERAFINI

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