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Jenks: My name is Jenks. Detective Inspector Frederick Jenks. And I’ve been assigned to a last-minute investigation into the death of Kate Vine, a PhD student found drowned at midnight last Friday in a lake in the woods on the outskirts of the tiny village of Edenton. I have until first thing tomorrow morning to decide whether her death was a simple accident… or whether this was murder.
Kate Vine appeared to the world to be a bright, confident, fun-loving PhD student, with everything to live for. However, a history of depression and alcoholism revealed in her mental records, suggests that in reality, she had become adept at hiding behind a mask.
A lab report, indicating a high level of alcohol in her blood, along with the late hour of her death, and a lack of witnesses, makes a strong case that this was suicide. But the verdict overlooked some serious details. Why was her driving licence found on the opposite side of the lake in which she drowned? Also, there were traces of morphine in Kate’s system – where did she get it?
Kate was known to be a free spirit, with a nihilistic love of danger which may in part have something to do with a business course called Atlas, which Kate had joined, and which she had been attending on the night of her death.
Based in a large stately home on the outskirts of the village, the exclusive Atlas is run by father and son team, Paul and Ryan Rand. Both were interviewed following Kate’s death, but neither claimed to have seen Kate after the meeting, and both were understandably eager to distance themselves and Atlas from the tragedy.
This isn’t the first time that Atlas have been investigated; Atlas and their questionable methods which many have suggested border on mind control.
Ryan is married to Rebecca, landlady of Edenton’s village pub, the George and Dragon. As yet she hasn’t been interviewed, though it’s likely Kate visited the pub on more than one occasion.
One of Kate’s friends was Emma, who lives at Eden Lodge on the road leading out of Edenton Village. Emma was also doing a PhD at the same university, but didn’t attend Atlas. Interviewed after her death, Emma seemed shocked and upset, insisting she hadn’t seen Kate that night. However, it turned out her boyfriend had.
Simon Thompson met Emma at university. After completing his degree around 18 months ago, he went to work at a shop in the neighbouring village. Simon started on the Atlas course a few months ago. He insisted that he didn’t see Kate after the meeting, but the sergeant interviewing him noted he seemed oddly unmoved by her death.
Which makes him the first person I want to see tonight.
It’s time for some answers!