Once Upon a Lie (A Fitzjohn Mystery)
“Phillipa thought for a moment. ‘She did, as a matter of fact. You know, after all that’s happened, I’d almost forgotten about it. She told me she’d just had another row with Richard. He was her partner. They’d separated earlier in 2010, and had just got back together again. She was upset because she suspected that Richard was straying again. She said she thought she’d made a mistake to take him back. It was the last conversation we had.’ Phillipa fell silent as if reflecting on that co...nversation.
‘We understand she died from liver failure caused by ingesting a particular lethal type of mushroom,’ continued Fitzjohn, taking the conversation on to a different path. ‘A mushroom that isn’t found here in New South Wales. It is, however, found in Canberra, and we understand that Claudia spent some time there before she died. Do you know if Claudia was in a habit of picking wild mushrooms, Ms Braithwaite?’ ‘She did if she came across them when she was out walking in the mornings. I know because she'd done so when we'd walked together. But as you say, the variety that killed her doesn’t grow here in New South Wales. At the inquest it was thought she’d picked them while she’d been in Canberra during that week. But you probably know that already.’ Phillipa paused. ‘Can I ask why you’re enquiring about Claudia, Chief Inspector? I thought you were investigating Michael’s death?’ ‘We are, Ms Braithwaite, but in so doing, questions about his sister’ death have been raised.’ ‘Well, all that I can tell you is that Claudia and Michael were very close. He was devastated when she died. They were twins, of course, so perhaps the tie is greater. I don’t know.’ Phillipa sighed.MoreLess
‘We understand she died from liver failure caused by ingesting a particular lethal type of mushroom,’ continued Fitzjohn, taking the conversation on to a different path. ‘A mushroom that isn’t found here in New South Wales. It is, however, found in Canberra, and we understand that Claudia spent some time there before she died. Do you know if Claudia was in a habit of picking wild mushrooms, Ms Braithwaite?’ ‘She did if she came across them when she was out walking in the mornings. I know because she'd done so when we'd walked together. But as you say, the variety that killed her doesn’t grow here in New South Wales. At the inquest it was thought she’d picked them while she’d been in Canberra during that week. But you probably know that already.’ Phillipa paused. ‘Can I ask why you’re enquiring about Claudia, Chief Inspector? I thought you were investigating Michael’s death?’ ‘We are, Ms Braithwaite, but in so doing, questions about his sister’ death have been raised.’ ‘Well, all that I can tell you is that Claudia and Michael were very close. He was devastated when she died. They were twins, of course, so perhaps the tie is greater. I don’t know.’ Phillipa sighed.MoreLess
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