Collide-O-Scope (Norfolk Coast Investigation Stories Book 1)

by Andrea Bramhall

“He’s got no one. He’s literally going to be living on the streets when she closes—I mean when she was going to close this place.”

  “Wow. He can’t find something else?”

  “He’s trying.” She shrugged. “He’s not had much luck.”

  “Sounds like it’ll be rough for him.”

  “Yeah.”

  “What’ll happen now?”

  She shrugged. “No idea. I guess it’s up to Leah.” She rolled her eyes. “She’ll probably keep it open. Leave Gina in charge of everything.”

  “How come?”

  She glanced from side to side and dropped her voice. “She didn’t want to sell in the first place, but Connie holds—held—the purse strings. Nothing Leah could do about it. She put up the money for them to buy this place in the beginning.”

  Kate frowned as the door opened and Georgina walked back in.

  “Shall we?”

  “Sure. Thanks for your help, Sarah.”

  “My pleasure. If you need anything else, you know where to find me.”

  She smiled and followed Georgina out of the door.

  CHAPTER 2

  Gina checked the road before leading Kate across the driveway.

  “What’s the story with Leah?” Kate asked.

  Gina glanced at her and pushed her hands deeper into her pockets. “You don’t waste any time.”

  “We both know I’m trying to find out how your friend died. Do you want me to waste time?”

  “No, I guess not.” Gina fought back the tears that threatened to fall again, instead focusing on the sticky subject that was Leah and Connie’s relationship. “Well, it wasn’t a good break-up.”

  “Is there such a thing as a good one?”

  She snorted a short laugh. “Good point.”

  “What was so bad?”

  “Connie didn’t tell me everything. She said she couldn’t deal with Leah’s crap any more. That she was sick of bailing her out.”

  “What did she mean by that?”

  Gina shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “You’ve worked with her as long as Connie, right?”

  “Yes.”

  “So give me your opinion.”

  She sighed and turned the corner. “Fine. Leah was always the more…rash of the two of them. Hot headed, quick tempered, you know?”

  Kate nodded.

  “She never seemed happy either. Always needed more. Bigger, better, more than everyone else.”

  “Sounds like a prize.”

  “She was also creative, generous, friendly, and much more of a people person than Connie ever was. They complemented each other in a lot of ways. Compensated for each other’s weaknesses.”

  “So what happened?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “I mean, you’re right, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but if they complemented each other, something had to change to split them up?”

  “I guess so.” Gina didn’t want to go into depth about her suspicions as to why Connie had finally thrown Leah out. Her suspicions were just that anyway, suspicions. Connie had never actually told her what had happened, what had finally been the end of the road. The detective would speak to Leah and be able to form her own opinion. It’s not like Leah can hide her problems anymore.

  Gina led her up the garden path and unlocked the door to the three-bedroom semi-detached house. Like many in the area, they had been built for farm workers more than a century before, and the flint and limestone walls of the traditional building style had always reminded her of the sandcastles she’d built as a child, decorating them with shells and pebbles. “This is…was…Connie’s house.”

  “Thank you, Miss Temple.”

  “Gina. Only my daughter’s teachers call my Miss Temple, and I’m sure that’s to remind everyone I’m not married.”

  Kate smiled and Gina was struck by how it changed her face. The deep frown line on her forehead smoothed out and a dimple creased her right cheek. Wisps of auburn hair curled gently around her jaw and green eyes shone with apparent mischief as she pulled her lower lip between her teeth.

  “Biting your lip, Detective?”

  “Better than my tongue.”

  “Really? And what is it you don’t want to say?”

  “If I was going to tell you, I wouldn’t be biting my lip. So, tell me about Connie.”

  Gina arched her eyebrow and waited. Kate mirrored her expression and cocked her head to one side.

  Christ, she looks damn sexy like that. And that’s not even counting the leather jacket. “Fine.” Gina caved. “Connie was fastidious, quite shy and quiet until you got to know her, and she was pretty difficult to get to know.” She took a picture off the mantle shelf and held it out to Kate, sucking in a quick breath when their fingertips brushed, and a jolt of electricity shot through her body. Again. “That’s her.” Her voice sounded breathless to her own ears, and she could hear her own heartbeat pounding inside her skull. Jesus, what’s going on with me?

  “Sarah said she was going to close it down and sell up?”

  “That was her plan.”

  “Why?”

  “During the winter, a business like this haemorrhages money. Between utility bills and wages, it loses thousands over the winter period. By closing, you minimise some of that. Since she wanted to sell it on, she saw no reason to suffer the loss. By closing, she’d cut wages and bills to practically nothing, she’d only have to cover rates and whatnot. By the time the new owners took it on, it’d be after Christmas and the place starts to earn its keep again.”

  “But surely it’s worth less when it’s closed.”

  “Grey area with a seasonal business. But it was more than worth any potential loss to her.”

  “Why?”

  “She said to maintain her sanity.”

  “Where was she planning to go?”

  “She wanted to go to the Lake District. Somewhere around Keswick, she said. Buy a little cottage, sell her pictures to make ends meet.”

  “Does she have family up there?”

  “No. Her gran passed away about six or seven months ago. She was the only family Connie ever talked about. I think her passing had a profound impact on Connie. She was never the same after that.”

  “How so?”

  Gina licked her lips as she thought of how her friend had changed all those months ago. Naturally reserved, Connie seemed to crawl inside herself even more. Getting her to talk was like trying to get blood from a stone, and she couldn’t remember once seeing her cry. She knew that Connie’s gran had raised her from being a young child. She was more mother than grandmother to her, but Gina couldn’t remember one occasion where she’d seen Connie grieving. It was like she was numb instead, or maybe there was just too much pain for her to process. “She shut down, really. I think it was then that her relationship with Leah really started to fall apart. I think she gave up on her.”

  “Depression? With the grief?”

  “I think so. But she’d never got to the doctor to get help. By the time she came out of it, or started to figure her own problems out,” Gina said with a shrug. “Leah was lost to her.”

  “In what way?”

  “She refused to say.” She kept her fingers crossed that Kate would move on to her next topic, because Leah and her newfound hobby was not something Gina wanted to talk about in any way.

  “How big an impact would the closure have on the village?”

  “Over the winter? Minimal. If it stayed closed, it would be huge. The village of Brandale Staithe has forty year-round residents.” She shook her head. “Thirty-nine now. It has two pubs, two clothes shops, a cafe, a grocery shop, garage, a post office, fish mongers, two chandleries, and a gift shop. With the best will in the world, thirty-nine people cannot sustain those businesses. During the season, the houses that sit empty fill up with tourists and the village population swells to four hundred.”

  Kate whistled. “That’s a huge difference.”

  “Yeah, but the cam
psite holds six hundred people per night. Without the income from the tourists, none of those businesses could sustain themselves throughout the winter. If the campsite were to be closed over one season, the impact would affect the whole village.”

  “What were the chances of the business being sold over the winter?”

  “Well, Connie had a buyer lined up already. But Leah managed to wreck that. Leah doesn’t want to sell, so I guess the chances weren’t great.” She could practically see the thoughts whirling around Kate’s head. Motive, motive, motive.

  “Sarah said that Connie held the purse strings and Leah didn’t have a say in the selling of the business.”

  Gina sighed. “That’s true. On paper, everything was in Connie’s name. Leah had some financial problems in the past. She didn’t go into details, but I think she’d been made bankrupt at some point. Connie had inherited money when her father died years ago. She used it to buy this place, but because of Leah’s history it was only ever Connie’s name on the paperwork. Leah couldn’t legally stop her selling, even though she wanted to.”

  “How did Leah wreck the deal then?”

  “She sent letters to the buyer telling them that she was suing for half the business and that it was going to be tied up in court until the matter was settled. She managed to make it sound as though she had a case, which she legally didn’t, and they’d get embroiled in it all if they bought.” She shrugged. “She made it unattractive enough to them to back out. Connie was livid.”

  “How many people knew Connie was selling?”

  Gina laughed. “Everyone did. Leah told everyone in the pub weeks ago. And I’m sure you know what it’s like in a small village.”

  “Yeah, she may as well have put an advert in the parish news or something.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Do you have another job lined up?”

  Gina shook her head. “No, Connie was keeping me on to keep things ticking over when she left and meet with prospective buyers. Show them round, the books, etc. Then hopefully stay on with the new owners.”

  “You live close by?”

  “Next door.” She pointed to the adjoining house.

  “Handy for work.”

  “Yeah. And for Sammy’s school.”

  “Your daughter?”

  “Yes. She’s nine. She goes to Brandale Primary School.”

  Kate nodded and glanced around the room. “You mind if I just have a look around?”

  “No, not at all.”

  “Thanks.” Kate left the room and Gina heard her talking, presumably on her phone, requesting people to come and secure and search the property.

  She looked around. The fire was laid, ready for Connie to light it when she got home later that evening. A habit Gina had often teased her about, but Connie had told her how much she loved curling up in front of the fire, Merlin settled against her side, head on her lap, while she read one of her books. The snap and crackle of the twigs soothing her after a day dealing with disgruntled locals, or tourists, sometimes both. She ran her finger over the spine of the book that was set open across the arm of the chair. The overstuffed, cream leather acting as book mark instead of a turned corner, or the scrap of paper that Gina usually used. It was the new one that she’d gotten in the post just yesterday. Marian Keyes. She’d promised Gina she would lend it when she’d finished it.

  “Oh, Connie.” Tears spilled over her eyelids and she quickly swiped them away. She sat down and stared about her, unable to take in the details of a room she knew almost as well as her own. She’d lost count of the number of nights she’d sat on the sofa, the two of them putting the world to rights with the aid of a nice bottle of Shiraz, or just a bottle if the nice one wasn’t on sale. Connie had been the first person Gina had confided in when she’d finally accepted she was gay. She smiled as she remembered how Connie had wrapped an arm around her shoulder, poured more wine in her glass, and told her women were fucking crazy and she’d best remain single. Made life simpler, she’d said. She already had the kid and a cat, what more did any rural lesbian really need?

  Gina chuckled through her tears.

  “Something funny?” Kate asked, as she wandered back into the room.

  “Just remembering a conversation with Connie from years ago.” She smiled sadly.

  “Care to share?”

  “She’d been here about eighteen months then. We were friends, but I was kind of holding her at arm’s length. Heck, I was holding everyone at arm’s length. Always did, I suppose. But I knew I could trust her, so I’d decided to tell her something that I haven’t told anyone before or since.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry into the happy memories of your friendship. It’s just that I have no idea right now what is pertinent and what isn’t.”

  For some reason Gina trusted her too. She waved away Kate’s concern. “It’s okay. I don’t think you’re going to go blabbing to all and sundry.”

  “No, I listen far more than I talk,” Kate said.

  “Well, I bit the bullet and came out to her.” Gina grinned. Saying it again after so many years felt…weird. Kinda naughty in a sexy sorta way. Gina, you make no fucking sense. “Anyway, we got drunk. Damn good bottle of Rioja, if memory serves, and I told her I was gay. She told me that women are crazy and it’s simpler to stay single.”

  Kate chuckled. “She might be right.”

  Gina laughed. “Well, well, well. Another gay in the village, what will the vicar say?”

  “More tea?” Kate sniggered.

  “Oh, my God. I refuse to be pulled into rehashing Monty Python sketches.”

  “But they’re classics. Besides, how do you know the vicar isn’t one of us?”

  “Because I know his wife. Scratch that. That would be enough to turn anyone homosexual.” She gasped and clasped her hand over her mouth, wishing she could pull back in the uncharitable words.

  Kate burst out laughing. “No, no, don’t hold back. Tell me what you really think, Miss Temple.”

  “Oh, that was awful. I’m so sorry.”

  Kate waved her hand. “Don’t be.” She tapped the side of her head. “Note to self, stay on Temple’s good side.”

  Gina giggled and found herself unable to stop. Every time she looked at Kate, the bubbles of laughter rippled up again and erupted from her lips. She knew it was a form of shock, some sort of hysteria, but try as she might, she couldn’t stop herself. She covered her eyes and rested her elbows on her knees, trying hard to quell the ridiculous urge. “I’m sorry. That’s so inappropriate, I don’t know what came over me.”

  “Miss Temple, I’ve seen people react in pretty much every way possible to the death of a loved one. Anger, denial, hatred, uncontrollable weeping, running away, screaming, you name it. Now I can add giggles to my list. And I’ve got to tell you, this is by far one of my favourites.” She held up two plastic bags, one with a hairbrush in, the other a toothbrush. “I need to get these over to Kings Lynn and I need to secure this house before I leave. Can I walk you home?”

  “I only live next door.”

  “I know. That’s why I offered. Not far to go.”

  “Thanks, but I’m sure I can manage.” Gina hauled herself to her feet and pulled open the front door.

  “Do you happen to know where I could find Leah Shaw?”

  “Of course. She’s staying with Ally the Cat.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Oh, sorry. Ally Robbins. We call her Ally the Cat for several reasons.”

  “Which are?”

  “One, she’s a tramp who’ll sleep with anything that doesn’t say no. You know, like a nasty, old tomcat?”

  “Right, got it. And?”

  “She doesn’t like cats. She shoots a pellet gun from her bedroom window at any that go in her garden, so they don’t kill the birds.”

  “You’re joking?”

  “I wish I was. Half the village had to stop letting their cats out.”

  “Where does she live?”

  “Oth
er end of the village, two down from the entrance to the harbour.”

  “Okay, thank you, you’ve been a great help.”

  “No problem. Anything I can do. Connie was my best friend.”

  “Can I get your number? I’m sure I’ll have lots more questions.”

  “Oh, sure.” Gina quickly recited the number, as Kate scribbled it down in her note pad. “Again, I’m really sorry about the giggles before. I’m sure it’s shock or something.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Kate glanced at her watch. “I’ve really got to go now. See you again, Miss Temple.”

  “You too, Detective.” Gina pulled open her front door and watched Kate turn up the collar on her jacket and head back to where she was no doubt parked. Head down, shoulders braced, she walked into the wind, her black jeans clinging to her tight arse, and tucked into a pair of soft leather boots. Damn sexy.

  CHAPTER 3

  Timmons was buckling his seatbelt when Kate arrived back at the entrance to the Coastal Path.

  “Anderson said you were getting DNA samples,” he said out of the window.

  “I’ve got them.” She held up the sealed bags.

  “Excellent work, Brannon.”

  “Thanks. Problem?”

  “Yes. I’ve got another crime scene.”

  “Related to this one?”

  He shook his head, frowning. “Unlikely, but I’ve got three dead girls in the middle of King’s Lynn, possibly drug related. I’ll know more when I get there.” He handed her a piece of paper with three names and telephone numbers on it. “This is the rest of the team that was going to work this case with us. Stella Goodwin is an experienced sergeant. I’m putting her as lead on this, but you’ll both report directly back to me. I’m still SIO, but I can’t be in two places at once.”

  She got it. Three dead bodies versus one. Town centre versus the middle of nowhere. Politics and money. If he wanted to keep his current level of funding for Kings Lynn’s Criminal Investigation Department, he needed to play the political game and keep the powers that be sweet.

  “Goodwin’s good.” He winked at her. “You’ll do all right.” He put the car in gear and pulled away from the kerb.

  “Right.” Kate glanced down at the page in her hand. It was a massive opportunity for her to show what she could do. Huge. Better not fuck it up, then. She ran her fingers through her wet hair and jumped back in her car. She turned west out of the cul-de-sac heading towards Kings Lynn and the mortuary.