On the trail of a tiger: what has Matt been up to?

It has been slow progress so far on the Matt hit-and-run whodunnit and now there is another puzzle to solve. What exactly has Matt been up to these last few months? Lilian believes, whatever it is, Matt is in it up to the hilt.

So, what do we know?

There are a good few people in Ambridge who don’t like Matt. And quite a lot of these people were at the Hunt Ball on the night Matt was hit by a car. Plus, there are all those who are keeping a low profile to consider.

Once returned to full consciousness since being seriously injured, Matt has been acting strangely. He asked Lilian to book him an inconspicuous room at Grey Gables in her name and get him a new mobile phone, even though his own made it through the hit and run completely undamaged.

THE HUNT BALL

• After learning there is CCTV of him punching Matt, Adam handed himself into the police
• On the night of the Hunt Ball, according to Lilian, Justin returned home alone before her.
• Shula became defensive at Harrison’s enquiries (“I can’t speak for everyone who attended, that’s an impossible task!”) and remained so with Alistair after Harrison had left (“there was so much to keep on top of, you know that Alistair!”)
• The police are treating the incident as attempted murder.

THE INVESTMENT COMPANY

• Melling Equestrian Investments’ address is a scruffy building containing a row of PO boxes.
• When Lilian called pretending to be a potential investor she found the Costa Rican racecourse scheme had closed but they had another investment opportunity in Amazonian eco-lodges.
• Melling Equestrian Investments employee she spoke to was intrigued when Lilian mentioned she knew their agent in Borsetshire.

THE RACE HORSES

• After some divulgence from Alistair and Lilian’s horse racing pal Mena Woodruffe, it appears that Matt - while saying he was only after the very best equine stock - selected lower grade horses for purchase.

THE RACE COURSE

• Its location in Costa Rica as specified in the glossy brochure is actually a national park, no one would ever be allowed to build there.
• Operating race courses in Costa Rica haven’t heard of Hugo Melling or Matt Crawford.

Here’s hoping that Lilian doesn’t hang up her detective’s trenchcoat just yet, it appears she has only just started to scratch the surface.