by M A Comley
“Mind if we take a look?” Lorne strained her neck to see the corpse for herself from the passenger door.
Katy pulled her back. “We need to be suited and booted before we get near the victim, Lorne. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know, boss. I was just trying to take a sneaky peek.”
“You can do that after we get togged up.” Katy turned her back, and Lorne took the opportunity to pull a face at her partner.
She looked over at Patti, who’d spotted the insubordinate display and was suppressing a chuckle. Lorne’s cheeks warmed, and she shrugged at her good friend.
Once they were dressed in white paper suits and blue shoe covers, Lorne and Katy squeezed into the back of the van to assess the body, under Patti’s close supervision.
She lifted the corpse’s head and pointed out the wound she had referred to earlier. “Here, you see?”
“Okay. Could it have happened on something already in the van, on one of his tools, perhaps?” Lorne asked.
“I can’t really see anything lying around that would make a dent this size in his skull. Be my guest to look for yourselves,” Patti replied, her hand sweeping the area, inviting the search.
Lorne examined the immediate floor area of the van, only to be disappointed by the result. “Hmm… I see what you mean. I take it you’re suspecting some kind of foul play has gone on then, Patti?”
“At the present time, I’m not saying anything—you are. I’m not one for jumping to conclusions. You know that. Let’s see what we find once we get the corpse back to the examination room.”
Katy nodded. “I know where my line of thinking is heading on this one.”
“What’s that?” Lorne had a fair idea what Katy was going to say next.
“I think we’re looking at a murder crime scene and not a suicide. Don’t hold me to that, though.”
“Interesting. So you reckon all of this has been staged. For what reason, I wonder?” Lorne nodded thoughtfully.
“That, dear ladies, is for you to find out,” Patti stated unnecessarily.
Chapter Two
Armed with the victim’s ID, Lorne and Katy drove back to the station. Silence filled the car during their return journey. That was unusual for them.
When they arrived, Katy called for the team’s attention, and Lorne took up her position by the board, ready to write down any clues they’d uncovered at the scene. Lorne wrote a name on the clean board: Paul Lee.
“Okay, gents and lady, here’s what we have so far,” Katy addressed the team. “Paul Lee was found dead in Morrison’s car park this morning, with the engine to his work vehicle still running. A hosepipe attached to the exhaust had been pushed through a small gap in the window on the driver’s side of the van.”
“So it’s a successful suicide?” AJ asked. The frown he wore showed it was more a dubious question than a statement.
“At first glance, the pathologist thought that we’d been called out to a mere suicide, but after studying the victim more closely, she’s inclined to believe that we’re looking at a murder. That is yet to be confirmed by Patti. It’s the route we’ll be taking from here, though,” Katy said.
Lorne wrote the words murder enquiry at the very top of the board, and using a marker pen, underlined it with three heavy lines.
“So, this is what the plan of action is going to be today. First, I need an in-depth background check on the victim. Karen, I’ll leave that in your capable hands, okay?”
Karen Titchard smiled in agreement and jotted the victim’s name down in her notebook. “Yes, boss.”
“Stephen, can you get me Paul Lee’s employer’s details? The firm is County Electrics. Lorne and I will visit the firm as soon as this meeting is over.”
“Consider it done.” Stephen swivelled in his chair and started up his computer.
“AJ, I’d like you to obtain and search all the relevant CCTV footage in that area. See if we can pinpoint a time Mr. Lee parked his vehicle and, more importantly, if anyone or another car was seen in the vicinity around that time. My betting is that you’ll come up trumps on that one.”
“I’m on it now,” AJ said, tapping at the computer and studying his screen.
“All righty, that just leaves you, Graham. I’d like you to search the database for any similar crimes which may have occurred in, what? The past couple of years, I guess? Plus, can you also see if anything dodgy comes up in our records relating to County Electrics? It’s a long shot. However, I’d rather discount them early on than waste our time on it later.”
Graham gave a brief nod. “Yep, I’ll hopefully get back to you with the info soon, boss.”
“So, that leaves you and me, Lorne. I’ll need to do my usual daily chore of trawling through the post first thing, but then I think you and I should visit the electrical firm once Stephen has completed his fact-finding mission. You could always tie up the loose ends on that burglary case we just finished. That would be a big help to me.”
“Whatever you want me to do is fine. Leave it with me.” Lorne disguised how upset she was not to be directly involved in the case from the outset. She didn’t think Katy was intentionally keeping her out of the initial loop, but the fact that her partner had set her a task not related to the new case struck her in the chest with a ten-inch blade. As Katy turned on her heel and headed for her office, Lorne called after her, “Not trying to tell you your job or anything, but don’t you think the man’s relatives should be informed? His wife, for instance?”
“Damn, you’re right. Okay, leave the other case. Can you sort out the details? We should pay his wife a visit—if he has one—first, before we go and see his boss.”
“Yep, that’s what I’d do.”
Katy shook her head, then she turned and headed for her office again, leaving Lorne wondering if everything was well with her partner and dear friend. As Katy disappeared from view, Lorne made a quick detour to her desk via AJ’s. “Everything all right with Katy, AJ?”
“As far as I know. She rang her parents last night and has been a little quiet ever since. I tried to find out what was wrong, but she clammed up, said it was personal.”
Lorne cringed. If Katy ever said that to her, she knew how hurt she would have been to think Katy didn’t trust her enough to confide in her. Maybe something is wrong with her parents or even Katy herself. Lorne knew how AJ must have felt, being her boyfriend. She patted him on the shoulder and winked. “Leave it with me. I’ll get it out of her. Don’t take it personally, okay?”
“I won’t. I’ll try not to anyway. Thanks, Lorne.”
For the next half an hour, the office was filled with people either tapping their computer keys or contacting people on the phone. By the time Katy reappeared, Lorne had collated what information the team’s combined efforts had produced. She presented Katy with the facts.
“Excellent work, team, very efficient. Let’s hope the rest of the case goes as well. Lorne, can you quickly note down the details on the board, and then we’ll shoot off. First stop will be to inform the wife.”
“Okay. This will just take me a second to complete, and then I’ll be ready for the off.”
Katy headed back towards her office but stopped at the vending machine to buy a coffee. Lorne issued her a cheeky smile. Katy tutted and placed another coin in the machine. Lorne jotted down the rest of the information relating to the case then followed Katy into the office, closing the door behind her.
“Is everything all right? You seem a little distracted, and AJ mentioned you rang your parents last night.”
“Take a seat. AJ’s got a big mouth. Sorry, have I been snappy this morning? I hadn’t noticed.”
“Not particularly. Like I said, a little distracted. Should I be concerned? Want to share what’s troubling you?”
“Something and nothing really. I rang Mum last night to see how they both
are, and she was a little distant. Not sure if they’ve fallen out with me because I haven’t visited them in a while or what.”
“You’re probably being overly sensitive about things and misread the signals. I’m sure your mum is all right really. It was probably your guilty conscience pricking you, that’s all.”
Katy took a sip of coffee. “It was more than that. I wish I could get time off to go and see them. You know how hectic it’s been around here lately.”
“I know. I’m sure they realise how difficult it is for you to take time off to visit them, too. Do you have any holidays left?”
“Left? I haven’t used any of my entitlement for this year yet. I can’t seem to plan anything.”
“You’ve got to use them up, Katy. Use them or lose them, as the saying goes.”
“I know. Time goes so bloody quickly around here. I didn’t even use my quota for last year.”
“You’re kidding! Don’t start treating the job as a crutch, Katy. You need your time off. Recharging the batteries is a no-brainer in our line of work.”
“Hark at you! Of course, you’ve always taken your entitled holidays, haven’t you?”
Lorne could feel the colour rise in her cheeks. “Umm… okay, you’ve got me by the short and curlies on that one. Hey, do as I say and not as I’ve done in the past. There’s no way I’d go without my holidays nowadays.”
“Why? Because you’re older and wiser? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“No. It’s because I have a life now. Tony wouldn’t let me neglect him anyway. Hey, you’re in the same boat with AJ. You’d be foolish to neglect him, hon. He’s head over heels in love with you. He’s also concerned about you, so don’t go taking it out on him.”
Katy stared down at the desk and fidgeted in her seat for a second or two before she finally glanced up at Lorne with misty eyes. Lorne was immediately alarmed by her partner’s demeanour. She reached across the table in search of Katy’s hand.
“What’s wrong, Katy? This isn’t like you. What aren’t you telling me, hon?”
Katy inhaled the deepest of breaths and exhaled slowly. “Maybe another time. We should get out on the road.” Katy left her chair and walked past Lorne.
Lorne gently touched her friend’s forearm. “I’m always available if you need a shoulder to cry on. You know that, right?”
“I know. I appreciate the offer. I need to come to term with the news myself first before I start spreading it around.”
“Whoa! You can’t leave me dangling like that?”
Katy shrugged. “I can, and I am. Come on. We have work to do. Give me time, Lorne. I’ll tell you when I’m good and ready. Don’t push me, okay?”
Lorne’s mouth twisted, and she held her hands up in front of her. “Hey, pushy is one thing I ain’t.”
Katy laughed. “Crap, have you heard yourself?”
Incensed, Lorne grabbed her handbag off the back of the chair and ran after Katy. She caught up with her partner at the top of the stairs. “Are you saying I am? Pushy, I mean?”
Katy covered her chest with her hand. “No. I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Lorne’s mouth gaped open, and she froze on the stairs mid-flight.
“It was a joke, Lorne. Stop being so sensitive. Time’s getting on.”
Lorne rushed to catch up with Katy again, and once she’d entered the address into the car’s sat nav, she revisited the conversation in her mind during the course of the journey. How dare she think that? I’m not pushy! Not in the slightest. Am I?
“Here we are. I’ll lead. You back me up if I give you the nod, all right?”
“As usual. Right, there’s no need to treat me like a junior, Katy.”
“Oh, have I hit a nerve? Is that what’s with the snappy retort?”
“No. Not at all.” Lorne raised her chin to dismiss any further challenges.
“Have you got the woman’s name?” Katy leaned over the steering wheel and surveyed the semi-detached house in front of them.
“Yeah, Mrs. Lee.”
“Ha, bloody, ha.”
Lorne stifled a grin and got out of the car. “Yeah, Jessica. Looks a nice area.”
“It does. I hope she’s at home and not at work.” Katy rang the doorbell.
A woman in her early thirties opened the door, balancing a toddler on her hip. She had the tell-tale signs that she’d been disturbed while cooking smeared across each cheek. “Hello? Can I help you?”
“Mrs. Jessica Lee? I’m DI Katy Foster, and this is my partner, DS Lorne Warner. Do you mind if we come in for a chat?” Katy showed the confused woman her warrant card.
“What’s this about? I’ve done nothing wrong. Oh no… it’s not Paul, is it?”
“Please, it would be better if we came inside to discuss this in private.”
The woman left the support of the door and staggered backwards into the open-plan living room. There was another child around the age of three or four playing with coloured blocks on the rug.
Mrs. Lee hugged the little girl she was holding and called her other child to her. “Cara, come to Mummy.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Lee, maybe it would be better if the children went with my partner?” Wide-eyed, Katy glanced at Lorne, obviously needing backup.
The woman hugged her children tighter. “Anything you have to say can be said in front of them. What is it?”
Katy motioned for Mrs. Lee to sit on the sofa. The woman did as instructed; one child on her lap. The other child settled on the floor, grasping her mother’s leg as if she knew what was about to happen. “Mummy, who is this?”
“Hush, Cara. Let’s listen, darling.”
Katy heaved a deep sigh. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that your husband is dead.”
The woman stared, lost for words. As the realisation set in, she kissed both the children on the head, then tears began to trickle down her colourless cheeks. “No. He can’t be. Not Paul. He was fine when he left here yesterday. He can’t be d…”
“Mummy, why are you crying?” little Cara asked quietly.
“It’s all right, sweetheart. Mummy’s had some bad news.”
Lorne got down on the floor and started to build a house with the blocks.
Cara kissed her mummy’s cheek and crawled across the floor to join Lorne.
The girl, snatched a red brick, then a blue one, from Lorne’s hand. “These are my toys. No one touches my toys. You upset my mummy!”
“I’m sorry, Cara. Why don’t you show me what you can do with these bricks, eh? I’m eager to build a house of my own. Maybe I’ll be able to pick up some valuable tips from you if I watch carefully enough.”
“Well, you put this one here…”
Lorne had been successful in her mission to distract the girl. She heard Katy let out a relieved sigh and lower her voice as she continued to speak to Jessica Lee.
“Again, I’m very sorry for your loss. Can you tell me when you last saw Paul?”
“Yesterday, about eight o’clock in the morning.”
“And he hasn’t been home since?” Katy asked. She withdrew her notebook from her pocket and took down her own notes since Lorne was preoccupied with the woman’s daughter.
“No. He rang me last night, told me not to wait up for him as he had the chance to earn some extra money.”
“On the side?”
The woman looked horrified by Katy’s suggestion. “No, definitely not. Paul’s an honest man… was… where did it happen? Was it a road accident? I’ve told him to be careful driving after working such long hours.” She pulled a tissue from the box on the small table next to her, blew her nose, then using her other hand, swept her little daughter’s hair back off her forehead.
“He was found in his van in a car park in town.”
Jessica’s brow furrowed. “I don’t under
stand. What car park?” Her eyes widened as it appeared something had dawned on her. “Was Paul alone?”
Katy nodded. “Yes. I understand what you’re implying, but in this case, we’re not looking along those lines. Not unless you’re saying we should be.”
Jessica shook her head vigorously. “No. Paul loved me. Loved our children. In fact, when he wasn’t at work, he spent all his spare time with the family. He’d never ch…” She paused briefly then covered her daughter’s ears. “Get involved with another woman.”
“I’m sorry to have to ask.” Katy smiled at the woman. “Okay, I’m sorry this is very awkward, but the initial signs are, until a full post-mortem has been carried out, that your husband’s death resembled a suicide.” Katy lowered her voice to say the final word.
Jessica gasped. “No. Never. Paul would never do that—not to me, to us. Never.”
“Like I say, that was only the initial findings. We’ll know more in the next day or two. If we can rule the first option out, then I have to ask if you know of anyone who might have a possible grudge against your husband.”
Jessica thought for a moment or two before she replied, “No. He’s never been in debt. He certainly doesn’t gamble or anything like that.” She ran a hand over her face. “My God, I can’t believe I’ll never see him again.” Tears she’d struggled to hold back for the sake of her kids sprang from her eyes.
Lorne glanced up at Katy. Her heart went out to the woman having to deal with such traumatic news in front of her children. If Lorne had been in Katy’s shoes, she would have insisted that she share the news about the woman’s husband’s death alone, out of earshot of the children. Over the years, she’d very rarely witnessed this kind of situation going smoothly. Why would it? Hearing about the passing of a loved one is one of the hardest things to deal with in this life. No one can tell how a person will react when hearing such devastating words. Lorne left Cara and approached Jessica. She extracted the child the woman was cradling from her grasp and took both the children out of the room. Not long after, once she’d settled the confused girls into chairs around the kitchen table, she heard Jessica sobbing and saying her husband’s name over and over again.
