Moonflower Murders: A Novel

Susan has a drink with Aiden MacNeil in the hotel bar. She describes how Alan Conway despised his own books as he aspired to be a literary novelist. Aiden reveals that he met Alan twice during his stay and disliked him. He claims that Cecily did not talk to him about Atticus Pünd Takes the Case or reveal that she had sent it to her parents. The couple’s nanny, Eloise, was caring for Roxana when his wife disappeared; he says Eloise tragically lost her husband as he died of AIDS after receiving contaminated blood during a transfusion. Aiden states that he last saw Cecily when she drove off to walk Bear. Half an hour later, he traveled to Framlingham for an appointment with his solicitor, Sajid Khan. While there, he dropped a bag of clothes off at a charity shop. When Susan asks what time Aiden met the solicitor, Aiden becomes angry and defensive. Accusing Susan of causing his wife’s disappearance by publishing Alan Conway’s book, he storms out.

Susan drives to the charity shop in Framlingham. A volunteer confirms that Aiden came in with a donation on the day of Cecily’s disappearance.