Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death (The Grantchester Mysteries)

her for granted or been too preoccupied to see her.
    He resolved, then and there, and even as Jennifer was speaking, to spend more time with her, to cherish her presence and to be a better brother.
    ‘Do not think you have always to say the right thing,’ he began. ‘It does not have to be meaningful. It’s all right to be silent. All you can do is be alongside them.’
    ‘That’s what I am doing.’
    ‘Nothing can be hurried. Grief has to take its time.’
    For a moment Sidney worried that his sister was still on the line. Then she spoke. ‘There’s something else.’
    ‘And what is that?’
    ‘Claudie had a boyfriend.’
    ‘Did her father know?’
    ‘It was a secret. I don’t think that anyone knew. She was always her Daddy’s little girl. But the point is that they had broken it off.’
    ‘And so?’
    ‘Sam was in the club with some friends on the night of her death. Now he’s terrified of anyone finding out that he was ever her boyfriend.’
    ‘The police have questioned him?’
    ‘Of course.’
    ‘And he gave nothing away?’
    ‘He doesn’t think so, but it’s not only the police he’s worried about. It’s the Johnson family. I’m sure they wouldn’t do anything but his father does have some nasty friends. They might put two and two together and make five.’
    ‘You mean they might think that he killed her?’
    ‘Exactly. And then take the law into their own hands. They don’t trust the police. I know that much. Will you speak to him, Sidney?’
    ‘Me?’
    ‘Who else can he talk to? You are used to sharing confidences and you know how the police work.’
    Sidney knew that he should help his sister but he did not want to become personally involved any more than he was already. ‘I do have my work to do here.’
    ‘Sam is frightened. Please will you see him? He’s willing to come to Grantchester. He’ll tell you everything.’
    ‘It’s not the type of thing I do, Jenny. I’m not sure anything I say will be of any benefit.’
    ‘But he needs help. That’s what you offer, isn’t it? And he’s a good boy. I know they loved each other but Sam was scared of her family. I think something may have happened that caused it all to end but neither of them would tell me. And now it’s too late. Please will you see him, Sidney, as a favour to me?’
    ‘Very well,’ Sidney replied. He could hardly refuse his own sister. ‘But I can’t promise anything.’
    ‘All I ask is that you see him.’
     
    A few days later, a shy-looking boy in a dark suit and a college tie was waiting to speak to Sidney after the Sunday morning Communion service. He made a tentative approach, as if his shoes were too tight for him. ‘I’m Sam Morris,’ he said.
    A wood pigeon flew out of the trees. Sidney steeled himself for another difficult confrontation. ‘I’ve been expecting you, Sam. I normally take my dog for a walk after the service. Perhaps you would like to join us?’
    ‘If it’s not any trouble.’
    They returned to the vicarage, put Dickens on his lead and set off for the Meadows. On the way Sidney expressed his condolences and established that he had understood the facts his sister had conveyed. He also needed to make clear that anything Sam said was, of course, in confidence, but also that his influence in the current situation was extremely limited. There was only so much he could do; but if Sam wanted someone with whom he could share any anxiety and who would not rush to judge him, then Sidney hoped he could be of assistance.
    ‘Some friends were going to the club and asked if I wanted to come along. They didn’t know about Claudette and I wasn’t sure she’d be there. She doesn’t work every night and I hadn’t seen her since Christmas.’
    ‘And did you speak to her at all?’
    ‘I said “Hello” and she looked a bit embarrassed.’
    ‘Did any of your friends notice her discomfort?’
    ‘I don’t think so. My friend Max was quite keen on her. But she couldn’t stop at any table for long. She had her job to do.’
    ‘And were you hoping to see her alone?’
    ‘She said if I waited until the end then perhaps we could talk but I knew she didn’t want us to be seen together. Her father is very protective.’
    ‘I’ve noticed.’
    They had reached the Meadows, and Sidney set Dickens free to explore pastures both new and familiar. ‘How long were you together?’ he asked.
    ‘About six months. We used to walk by the Thames and hold hands. But then a strange thing