Four Decades of Lies, Deceit, Corruption and Murder

By Patricia Bromley

Susan Aitken returns home looking forward to the Easter weekend to find her husband, Sir Gerald Aitken, with a bullet in his head. What appears to be a suicide is much more sinister. Four teenage friends, all now mature women, become reunited at his funeral. Thirty years have passed and none of them realise that their lives have been intertwined.

The months following the funeral open up a catalogue of lies and as Susan struggles to cope with the consequences, police investigate further and find links to blackmail, homosexuality and child abuse amongst all of them. The family and trusted friends are in total disbelief, but one of them is Gerald’s killer. How do these happenings, spanning over four decades, lead to a massive police cover-up and who is behind it all?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley
• Release date: Oct 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781787100381

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Funeral

Kim was relieved after the funeral. She hadn’t found it to be upsetting in the slightest, unlike the rest of the congregation. She had looked around during the service at the other women attending and was pleased with how she looked. However, the upset was soon to follow. She had chosen to wear a black Chanel boucle wool suit with a gold trim edging at the hem of the jacket and sleeves. Black Dior silk blouse and black leather gloves and boots. The final flourish of gold jewellery and the big earrings pulled everything together and this she concluded had been worth the 10 minutes of deliberation. The ensemble had been finished off with a brown sable ankle length fur. The only remnant left of Kim’s affair with David Fowler, all other gifts during their 8-year affair had gone to the charity shop or Sam the cleaner had riffled through the bags upon instruction from Kim to ‘get rid’. Kim was detached from emotion, hadn’t seen the deceased for over 10 years, had only ever met him once and that in itself was the briefest of encounters. She had decided to pay her respects out of boredom and curiosity. She had little in common now, with the others—the others being Susan Small, now Susan Aitken. Patricia Clarke, now Devonshire. Gillian Charnley. Gillian was now the high achiever who had worked her way up the career ladder, or in Kim’s opinion slept her way up, totally unfounded of course. But it suited Kim to think that any other female from the humble beginnings that the other 3 had shared, could be bright enough to be talented. Kim had been educated privately and expensively the others had gone through state schooling.

She was irked that her private and expensive education appeared not to have seen her achieve anymore rewards than that of the others who’d not had the benefit of private tutors and finishing school.

The nearest decorative rival to Kim, in Kim’s insecure opinion was Gillian. Still a size 10 with the same enviable figure that had always sat on her bones since their teenage years; dark hair, small green eyes and radiant skin. Kim had been envious from the first meeting more than 30 years ago and was still envious. Gillian for her part was fun to be around and despite a highly pressurised job she had risen through the ranks by her own merit in a job, back then considered to be male dominated in which few women even considered as a serious career. Gillian had persevered, stayed resolutely diligent and never shirked the hard work. The rewards for that dedication followed. She was well respected and in demand, socially and corporately.

Hi Kim, Gillian said quietly, walking over to Kim at the wake with a cigarette in one hand and glass of wine in the other. What a sad occasion, can you even believe it? We’re mortified! And why? she said in a whisper as she brushed a kiss on Kim’s cheekbone with her own cheek. Kim gave a shudder at the closeness that Gillian was displaying. It was a decade since their last encounter and that had been quite an event. Gillian did however have a point. Why had Gerald Aitken, the affluent, allegedly devoted husband of Susan, committed suicide? He was 54 years old and had everything to live for.

Gerald Aitken had been happily married to Susan for 27 years. They had an enviable lifestyle. Gerald was the senior partner in his law firm, having started with Fowler & Partners as an articled clerk straight from York University. The firm was now known as Fowler and Aitken. Gerald kept the name Fowler although no Fowler existed in the firm any longer. David Fowler had been instrumental in Gerald’s career.

David took early retirement at 57. Gerald kept his name on. The relationship was more like that of father and son. David fowler was still in deep shock. He had known Gerald for 30 odd years. They shared beers together, played cricket for the Potts Parish cricket team. He couldn’t believe that his friend, who he regarded closer than family, could have taken his own life.

As David pushed the wheelchair down the aisle of the church, he could smell her perfume before he saw her. He hadn’t expected and therefore wasn’t prepared for the pain that then followed. By the time he saw Kim, he knew immediately that he was still deeply in love with her. What on earth was she doing here, she was quietly talking to Gillian, a friend of Susan, his thoughts and emotions were running wild. He hadn’t seen her for over 2 years, since his plan to retire had been a disaster and had turned into a charade. Spending every day, day in and day out with Sadie had been a massive mistake. They had begun to despise each other. David thought Sadie was sour and unkind about everything and everyone. Sadie thought that David was weak, singular and only interested in his own agenda. He was meant to have retired to spend time with her, instead, he had spent more time on the golf course. Sadie had avoided any intimacy or closeness, she decided that David didn’t deserve it, he deserved nothing from her. She was, she knew herself a miserable woman. The life had been cruelly taken away from of her. She had been living a tormented existence and nothing that she tried to do made it bearable. They socialised with family and friends but it was all a front. The indifference that they displayed to each other behind closed door was palpable and slowly they were disintegrating as individuals.

Susan had looked at the black coffin, polished like a mirror throughout the service. Nick kept squeezing her hand to remind her where they were and that he was there, whilst at the same time with his left hand squeezing his sister’s hand for the same reason.

After helping Sadie into her seat David had waited calmly to take his place at the pulpit. Fighting his emotions, he began his eulogy. He started, and swallowed back the lump in his throat. The funeral was at St Roberts’s church, in Harrogate. The main street was full of cars and a police cordon had been wisely set up to divert the amount of traffic. The congregation was full of friends, family and acquaintances and the cold and depressing building was packed to the gunnels. What can I tell you about Sir Gerald Aiken that you don’t already know? He was one of the finest people I’ve ever had the privilege to meet or been associated with. He was generous, very funny and devoted to Susan, Nick and Daisy. One of my earliest recollections of Gerald was his kindness. I remember when he had just joined the company and had been involved with so many things that I wondered if he had the stamina to do his charity work and a paid job. I was so wrong, Gerald had the capacity to fulfil anything that excited and indeed challenged him. His kindness, loyalty and generosity put me to shame. His work with underprivileged children and any other cause that Gerald could get involved with was the pleasure and purpose he found most rewarding. I’m sure there’s a few of us here today who will remember being at his investiture in 2005. We were at a breakfast reception for Gerald that Susie had laid on at the Dorchester. Gerald wasn’t in the least bit fazed by his up and coming shoulder being tapped by the Queen, there was a quiet response of muffled laughter from the congregation. We had joked with him all morning calling him Sir and he was giving back as good as he got. When we arrived at The Ivy for yet another private function, late afternoon, this time Gerald’s treat we asked him what the Queen had said to him and he made no fuss, just said, ‘This and that’. He never allowed his peerage to change who he was and Sir Gerald was a thoroughly decent man. I will miss him more than I know just how much at this moment.

Kim was astonished when she saw David. She had made the effort to be at the funeral because the others were going. The night before, she had almost cancelled. Her schedule was tight and she would have had a valid reason to. She was really now wishing that she had done just that. Susan had around six months earlier made contact with the old friends through social media and between them they had made odd comment on each other’s pages. They had all agreed without speaking a word to each other that they would attend the funeral, upon learning of their friend’s dreadful news. It was the least they could do to show their respect. Kim was now remembering that the deceased had been a lawyer and it was more than possible that David and Susan’s husband had known each other through a work environment, but what a bloody coincidence she thought and mumbled, One that I could do without. After she heard David speak, she knew she was still in love with him. A tear escaped which she quickly dabbed away.

As David returned to his seat, he tried not to look across at Kim but he couldn’t help himself. He glanced. She was already looking at him in disbelief and instinctively held the gold heart shaped necklace around her neck. David’s face was a contortion of puzzlement infused with a smile of sorts. Kim couldn’t help but look at his wife in the wheelchair and think how plain she was. She had dark hair, poorly cut and kept and her clothes were budget clothes. During the affair with David she was never inquisitive about Sadie and now eventually and coincidently, seeing her was a shock. Kim had hardened since her relationship with David had finished. Kim thought, why had he stayed with someone who he purported not to love. She couldn’t be much fun, she didn’t look in the least bit interesting. They had no children to keep them together. Kim was angry deep inside when she thought about what they had lost. She half returned the smile.

After the funeral when the girls were talking about who was who, Patricia was the font of information. Gerald had been an equal partner with David in their firm before David had retired. David had spoken to Kim during the affair about a ‘Gerald’, but they had been so wrapped up in each other and their relationship that they rarely talked about work or other people. They had no mutual friends and didn’t need other people—that’s just the way it was. What a massive coincidence, thought Kim.

Chapter 2

When Susan walked to the house, everything seemed normal she was telling Detective Inspector Small. The questions came quickly but her brain wasn’t functioning. She had found her husband Gerald in the study. He was slumped on the floor and at first, she thought he had fallen and knocked his head until she got closer and saw the amount of blood. He never allowed anyone in there. The study where nobody was allowed, she mumbled.

Why was that? asked the detective chief inspector.

It was just for Gerald that’s all, he liked things in their place and that was his place.

And the time please Mrs Aitken if you can remember, it would be very helpful, replied DCI Small.

Susan was blank. Nick interrupted and said quietly, Can we do this later? You can see how difficult this is for my mother, she’s in shock.

The family GP tapped on the open door and walked through the house to the where the voices were coming from. Gerald was in the adjoining room being put into a black body bag.

What time was it, repeated the officer, when you found your husband?

Clifford Jones looked quickly at Nick and at the officer and began to explain that he was going to administer an injection that would help Susan feel calmer.

Nick was standing nervously and then sat at the side of his mum holding her hand. Clifford looked at Nick and asked, Are you alright there? The frustrated officer said he would return later. Oh, one last thing Mrs Aitken, did your husband have a mobile phone? Susan nodded.

When the news reached Daisy about her father, she was inconsolable. She sobbed hysterically, This can’t be true, it’s a mistake, it can’t be Dad.

Daisy, we will get to the bottom of this if it’s the last thing I ever do. Bill was doing his best but it was outside her husband’s ability. She, like her mother Susan, had needed to be sedated and when the police did finally conduct the interviews with the family members, there was nothing to incriminate any of them. Gillian Charnley was DCS at the London Met but had made a call to Stephen Page, he was in charge of the team up north. He knew of Gillian, a high-ranking officer and well thought of. It was effectively her patch that he’d joined some 10 years earlier before becoming DCS. The wife of the deceased was her friend from years back. A close friend from some 30 odd years to be exact. No problem, Gill, replied Stephen Page. I’ll keep you updated. Gillian was remembering just how close the four girls had been.

The forensic team had a new recruit, Guy McAllister. Guy was 38, a control freak, arrogant and had been drafted in from St Neots. He was standing in for Chief Pathologist James Lucas who was on sick leave recovering from cancer. No one in the team had warmed to Guy. He gave an opinion when one wasn’t necessary and his immediate superiority seemed to have rubbed a few people up the wrong way. He wasn’t bothered. Senita Pople had taken an instant dislike to him and commented to her side kick Race, How many suicides do you think there’s been recently at St Neots Race?

Go on then, he said.

She gave a broad smile, A big fat zero.

It doesn’t mean that he can’t do the job, replied Race.

We’ll see, answered Senita. The cross contamination at the scene was messy. The body had been there for some time. High velocity blood splatter with early signs of the body beginning to decay and a lot of pooled blood faced the team on their arrival. The SOC team had alongside CID created havoc. Everyone was frustrated, both teams blaming each other. Items had been moved and procedure was slack to say the very least. The gun was bagged along with other relevant items. Susan’s sedation was beginning to take effect and Nick managed to get her into his flat. He put her into his bed removing her shoes but leaving her fully clothed and pulled out the spare duvet from the airing cupboard. It smelt fusty. He was drained and wondered how we was going to cope with his mother, let alone his sister.

Gerald’s body was covered by the thin veil of plastic rubber on the forensic slab. It was now 9.17 pm. Senita uncovered the body and began verbalising the examination into the room microphone. I’m carrying out an autopsy on Gerald Thomas Aitken, 54-year old male. Found with a fatal gunshot wound to his head. One single entry wound to the centre side of his cranium, fired at point blank range. There are no other lacerations to the body. The angle of the entry to the head does not suggest the gun was fired by the deceased person. There is no residual powder shot from the gun to the hand. There is also no sign of a struggle. The major question I have is why would the victim fire centre side right of the cranium when we are informed by his wife that the deceased was left-handed. The stomach contents suggest that the deceased had eaten and partially digested a meal which puts the time of death between 7.15 pm and 8 pm.

The post mortem was completed and the coroners ruling was that Gerald had died in suspicious circumstances. The family doctor had given a picture of Gerald’s health during the post mortem inquiry. Gerald came to see me saying that he was having trouble sleeping and wanted me to prescribe sleeping tablets. During our patient/doctor conversation it became apparent that Gerald was showing signs of anxiety. I’ve known Gerald a good number of years and his usual demeanour is upbeat and positive. I had no reason whatsoever to suspect that Gerald was depressed or would take his own life. I asked the usual questions to define whether or not indicators of depression were present in my patient. I asked if there was anything that he was unduly worried about and his explanation to me, was that there were some work related issues but he didn’t elaborate and I didn’t push further questions. Gerald just said that he wanted to get a good night sleep. I concluded that it was moderate anxiety state and started the treatment plan of alprazolam 1mg twice a day. We made an appointment for his review 4 weeks later.

The police carried out their interviews and all relevant parties had given statements of where they had been between 7.15 pm and 9.30 pm on the 14th of April. Susan had been staying overnight on a lady’s golf away day with the Potts Parish Golf Club. Bill confirmed he’d been at home with Daisy all night. Nick said he’d been with Karen. Karen was the last to be interviewed and said that she had been with Nick. Other people including David, Gerald’s nephew and a few pointless others had given alibis. Every alibi stood up.

Bill had tried to manage his wives delicate state of mind but had failed. Daisy will need sedation for a few days said Clifford Jones. He had concerns for Daisy’s emotional well-being and said as much to Bill.

Susan had tried her best to keep going and attending to guests. Patricia Devonshire carried on talking about Susan and Gerald’s background. She had stayed in touch with Susan from time to time and had been involved with teaching one of the Aitken twins, Daisy who was now expecting her first child. She was 9 weeks from full term. Kim had noticed a pregnant young woman at the service who was very distraught and had to be held at one point but managed to get through the service.

Most of the guest had left St Roberts and were making their way to Millbank House. David walked to the car feeling disappointed that he had missed Kim and was feeling low. He was almost at his car, when he spotted her sitting in the white BMW, her arms hugging the steering wheel. Her head was slumped into her arms. He quickened his pace and walked over to the car tapped on the window and Kim looked up with damp eyes. Sadie had been waiting impatiently for David. She looked through the wing mirror and suddenly noticed David speaking to a woman and wondered who it was. She couldn’t see much of the woman but recognised her from the congregation. She was hard not to recognise; attractive, blonde, 40 something. David was now kneeling down, his arm on the door of the car steadying his balance, and speaking to her through the open window of the car. How’ve you been, Kim? Kim had been thrown by the sudden appearance of David at her car window and her first thought was of her appearance. She couldn’t answer David’s question, she was too upset and the words just didn’t make it from her mouth. David continued, I’d like to see you, Kim.

Kim managed a croaky, Why?

Because Kim, I’ve been a bloody fool, there’s not a single day since I last saw you at Butterfly that I’ve not thought about you.

Kim was a little bit more composed now and managed to say, David, I do not want to discuss our past in a churchyard, you made a choice over 2 years ago and I respected that.

David asked, Are you going back to Susan and Gerald’s house?

Not for very long, replied Kim.

David was feeling panicky and replied, Please Kim can I ring you, are you still on the same number? Kim started the ignition of her car and didn’t say anything. David walked with the car as she was reversing, still holding the car door and said, I’m begging you, please let me give you a call. We need to talk. Kim nodded.

David had been so wrapped up in trying to speak to Kim that he hadn’t realised his own car was just parked 20 yards away. It was only when David was walking back to the Daimler that he was brought back to reality and by the look on his wife’s face she had witnessed the scene he had just had. She was glaring at him. He got into the car and before he’d even sat down she asked, Who was that?

He hadn’t known why he said it, but replied, It’s a friend of Gerald’s.

In what capacity a friend? said Sadie.

What do you mean? David’s voice rose slightly.

It looked to me like a personal conversation.

What were you talking about? David’s head had become a whirlpool in the last hour and to buy a little time for himself he replied, I’ll tell you about it when we get home, let’s just concentrate on getting Susan through this afternoon, shall we? It was more of a command than a question.

There were over 100 mourners and Bill had tried to show constraint and dutifully looked after his pregnant wife ignoring the fact that his mistress was being all things to the Aitken family. She was attentive to Susan, caring to everyone and holding everything together. After the service was over, so many people arrived back at Millbank and they mingled together, talking in whispered voices about how tragic it all was. Nick had sent invites out to almost everyone in the address book and only recognised a handful of people. Daisy glanced around and thought it seemed wrong to be sitting in the sunshine. The weather had been hot over the last 4 days and for the time of year. The waiting staff had been efficient and people eventually started to leave. The only people left in the house were Susan and a few close friends and family.

Earlier in the day Kim talked briefly to Susan trying to find appropriate words to give condolences. I’m so sorry about your tragic news, Suze. She had reverted to the teenage name without realising and felt awkward, it seemed frivolous. Please know that if we can help in anyway, she was looking at and including Gillian. We’re here for you. Although we’ve not seen each other for years, it’s at these times that friends are important. Sadie’s wheelchair joined the group and she was showing an inquisitive interest in Kim. Kim picked up on this straightaway and excused herself saying that she really did have to leave now she had a long journey back home to London. Susan thanked her for making the journey and the two old friends embraced each other in a farewell.

Who was that? asked Sadie. Gillian was walking with Kim to her car.

It’s a friend from 30 odd years back, replied Susan.

Susan began saying goodbye to the last of the mourners and felt exhausted. David Fowler walked over and they embraced each other without any exchange of words. They were both feeling pain that was uninvited and not expected. For a long moment, they clung to each other. Thank you, David, your words were beautiful, and so true.

Will you be alright, Sue? I wish you’d change your mind and come and stay over for a few days.

I need some time on my own, David, I’ve had visitor after visitor and I know where you are if I need you. Susan gave David a final kiss.

The house was finally empty. Susan walked along the hallway and saw a picture of her mother in law on the rosewood table. Anne Aitken was still alive but living in a residential care home and sadly suffering with severe dementia, she was 87. Gerald had wanted to continue having his mother living with them, but Susan had said No. It’s not safe and we are not equipped emotionally or physically to take care of Anne anymore. Gerald knew Susan had been right and they took the advice of Katie, the Head of Wills and