The Garden in July

Monique, a recent retiree, is found dead in the garden of her southern Tasmanian home on a Tuesday evening in July. A neighbour, noticing the front gate left swinging open, discovers the body just before 7pm.

Police speak to Gerald, Monique’s closest friend. He admits he called in that afternoon, but insists Monique was perfectly well when he left. She had walked him out through the garden, excited about the new plants she had put in along the side fence beside the path.

Gerald glanced back as he started his car and saw Monique fussing over one of the new plants. She had pulled the pot tag that came with the plant out of the ground and had put her reading glasses on. Gerald saw Monique frown, clearly unhappy about something, then started digging, possibly to reposition the plant.

Monique looked up and waved as Gerald pulled away, and he saw she had put on her gardening gloves.

Gerald said his departure time was around 6:30pm.

The detective listens without interrupting. Then she quietly tells her constable to bring Gerald in for formal questioning.