Hidden Agenda (DI Kayli Bright Trilogy Book 3)

by M A Comley

  “Okay, I hear you. The offer still stands, though.”

  “Thanks, Giles. Give Anabelle and Bobby a hug from me. I hope the morning sickness has subsided for Annabelle.”

  “She says it’s bearable. She still has to watch what she eats regarding any greasy meals. I’ll give them a hug. Sis, take care of yourself. Have faith in our guys rescuing Mark, all right?”

  “I’ll try. I better go now. Love to all.”

  She ended the call, and hearing a knock on her door, she called out, “Come in.”

  Donna poked her head around the door, her eyes sparkling with what looked like excitement. “Good news, boss, well, sort of.”

  “Hit me with it, Donna. I could definitely use some of that right now.”

  “I managed to speak to Gary Young’s commanding officer. He told me that Gary had been given compassionate leave on the grounds of his mother dying of cancer.”

  “And that’s good news?” Kayli replied, miffed by the constable’s logic.

  “Sorry, yes, in a roundabout way, boss. His mother lives in Bristol, so that would place him in this area, not in Plymouth.”

  Kayli nodded firmly. “Now you’re making sense. We need to trace his vehicle ASAP and his address and that of his mother, or is she in hospital due to her illness?”

  “I asked the commanding officer, and he wasn’t sure where the mother is, but he gave me the address that Gary calls home when he’s on leave. He believes it’s his mother’s address.”

  “Good, we need to get someone round there. See if uniform can do a drive-by for us to make sure the car is there first.”

  Donna nodded. “I’ll ring them right away.”

  “Before you go, Donna, has Graeme managed to locate the CCTV footage yet?”

  “Yes, it’s just come through.”

  “Okay. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Kayli finished the rest of her lukewarm coffee and followed Donna out of the office. Her stomach churned, as it always did when she felt a suspect was in her grasp.

  They waited patiently for the call to come in from the officers on the street. When it did, the news wasn’t good. There was no sign of Young’s car at his mother’s address. Kayli was tempted to go round there, but her conscience warned her not to cause a dying woman extra stress. They had no firm evidence yet that Young was the perpetrator. Just because he was in Bristol at the time of his ex-girlfriend’s death meant nothing.

  “Come on, guys. We need something. Dave, anything on either the phone or the financials yet?”

  Dave shook his head. “Nothing showing up on either that could be deemed as suspicious.”

  Kayli punched her thigh. “Damn. It’s down to you to find something on the footage then. Graeme, anything so far?”

  “Nothing near her flat. I’m widening the search to the adjoining main roads, boss. I’m sure that if anything is there, I’ll find it soon.”

  Kayli glanced up at the clock on the wall. At just past eight o’clock, the golden hour had passed, and they were nowhere near solving the heinous crime.

  Another hour dragged by before Graeme shouted for Kayli to look at something on his screen. She rushed over to his desk and leaned close to the image. “That’s the victim. She’s getting into a vehicle. We need to get a registration on that car if we can, Graeme.”

  “Leave it with me, boss.”

  “Do we know what car Young drives?”

  “A blue Ford Focus, boss,” Donna called back.

  Kayli shook her head and looked at Graeme. “That isn’t a Focus, is it?”

  “No, boss. Looks like a Beemer to me.”

  “Yep, I was thinking along those lines too. It’s imperative we get a registration on that car, Graeme.” She watched him manipulate the image without success. “Wait, what’s that?” Kayli pointed to the bottom of the screen. “Can you zoom in on that? It looks like a reflection of the car in the shop window opposite.”

  “I think I can. Bear with me a second.”

  He tinkered with the keys until the plate came into focus.

  “That’s it. Well done, Graeme. Get me a name for that driver.”

  Within minutes, they had located the name and address of the driver.

  “Donna, can you try and track down a number for me? Wait, never mind. Dave, we need to visit the driver ASAP.”

  Dave shrugged. “Fine by me. All right if you drive? My leg’s a bit sore.”

  Guilt wrapped around her shoulders. “Damn, sorry, matey. Why don’t you go home? We can handle things around here.”

  “Why? I’ve never run out on you before when you needed me, and I’m not about to start now. I’ll be fine. I’ll pop a couple of painkillers before we leave.”

  Kayli crossed the room to fetch him a cup of water and waited for him to swallow the tablets. “Ready?”

  He chased the pills with another sip of water. “As I’ll ever be.”

  “Right, Mr. Danny Talbot, let’s see what you have to say for yourself? Graeme, while we’re gone, keep trying to locate Young’s vehicle.”

  Graeme raised his thumb in the air in confirmation.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Kayli exited the car at the address in Clifton that Donna had supplied them with. Waiting for Dave to get out of the car, she surveyed the neighbourhood around the terraced house. This road had always suffered from a bad reputation, until the regeneration project had started a few months ago. Now that the council had shipped out the riffraff they had identified as the biggest trouble-makers, the residents seemed to be taking more pride in their homes, judging by the cut hedges and the number of hanging baskets on show. Once Dave was ready, she walked up the short path and rang the bell.

  “How’s the leg now?” she asked as they waited for the door to be answered.

  Dave tilted his head from side to side. “So-so. It’ll be fine soon. I’ll plod on regardless.”

  “You’re a good man, Dave.”

  A good-looking man in his thirties opened the door. He wore a thick grey jumper and jeans. “Hello? Can I help?”

  “Are you Danny Talbot?”

  He frowned. “That’s right. Look, if this is some kind of survey, I’m not interested.”

  “It’s not.” Kayli produced her ID. “DI Kayli Bright, and this is my partner, DS Dave Chaplin. All right if we come in for a chat?”

  “About what, may I ask?”

  Kayli smiled. “Inside would be better, sir.”

  He stood behind the door and motioned for them to enter the hallway, the frown never shifting from his face. “First door on the right is the lounge. Excuse the mess, I’ve not long got in from work.”

  Kayli and Dave followed his directions and walked into the room, where an empty fish and chip carton lay on the coffee table.

  “Please take a seat. May I ask what this is about, Inspector?” He sat down on the sofa closest to the TV and invited Dave and Kayli to sit opposite him on a two-seater leather sofa in a contrasting colour.

  “We’re investigating a crime that took place this evening, sir. During our investigation, your vehicle was highlighted at the scene. We’d like to ask you some questions about the incident, if that’s okay?”

  “I’m confused. Are you saying that you think my vehicle was used in a crime? I can assure you the car hasn’t been out of my possession today, and I have no knowledge of me being involved in any car crime,” he replied defensively.

  Kayli exhaled a breath. “I’m sorry. It’s been a very long day. Maybe I didn’t make myself clear enough. Do you know a Sarah Abel?”

  His frown deepened. “Of course I know her. She’s a work colleague of mine.”

  “Thank you. May I ask why she was seen getting into your vehicle at approximately five fifteen this evening?”

  He shrugged and held his hands up in front of him. “Because I was giving her a lift home from work. Her car is in the workshop. What are you insinuating here, Inspector?”

  Kayli’s lips parted slightly. “What time did you drop her off, sir?”


  He paused to think for a second. “Gosh, hang on. I think it was around five thirty. Why? What has she said?” he asked, his voice rising a few octaves.

  “She hasn’t said anything, Mr. Talbot, because Miss Abel was found dead earlier this evening.”

  He jumped out of his chair, his hand running through his hair in frantic strokes. “She what? I don’t believe it. Dead? How? Was she killed in some kind of accident?”

  “Please take a seat, sir. No, unfortunately she was murdered in her flat. Her flatmate found her less than an hour after you dropped her off.”

  He fell onto the sofa again, looking shocked. “My God! I can’t quite believe what I’m hearing. Who would do such a thing? Was it a burglary? Was there an intruder in her house when I dropped her off? Crap! I should have walked her to her door at least.”

  “We’re not really sure what happened yet, as we’re still trying to piece things together. During the journey, how was Sarah?”

  “How was she? I don’t understand what you’re getting at? She was alive!”

  “Sorry, let me try that again. Was Sarah apprehensive at all?”

  He shook his head. “No. We chatted, like we always do.”

  “Is it a regular occurrence for you to give her a lift home?”

  “Not really. I overheard her telling one of our colleagues that her car was in the workshop for repairs. I volunteered to give her a lift home as we usually leave around the same time.” His head dropped onto his chest. “Why didn’t I go into the flat with her?”

  “Hindsight is a wonderful thing in cases such as this. Please, there’s no point blaming yourself. Did you see anyone near her flat when she left your vehicle?”

  He looked up and met her gaze. “There were a few people leaving their cars, coming home from work—a typical suburban setting, I suppose you could say. No one that struck me as being a killer.” The final word, he said quieter than the rest of his statement.

  “Did you watch Sarah enter her flat, or did you drive away before she reached her front door?”

  “No, I drove off as soon as she left my car. Had I known she was in danger, I would have stuck around, obviously.”

  Kayli smiled. “You mustn’t blame yourself.”

  “That’s going to be mighty hard, Inspector. I was probably the last person to ever see her alive... that’s tough to take.”

  “I can understand that. We need to try and find a motive for someone killing her. Do you have any ideas? During your chats, did she hint at anyone she was concerned about?”

  He remained silent for a few moments as he mulled over her question. “I know she split up with her boyfriend a few months back. Of course, I’m not aware of the ins and outs of the break-up.”

  “Have you ever met the ex-boyfriend, Gary Young? Perhaps at a work’s function?”

  “No, I don’t believe I have.”

  “What about at work? Was everything okay on that front for Sarah?”

  “As far as I know. No one at work would be capable of killing her.”

  “That statement can be attributed to a lot of killers, sir. Unfortunately, murderers don’t have the word tattooed across their forehead. The fact is, something triggers the anger gene in most of them, turning them into killers.”

  “I’m at a loss what to say to that, Inspector. I don’t profess to know what goes on in the mind of a killer.” He shuddered at the thought.

  “Okay. If there’s nothing else you can add to our enquiry, we better get on with our investigation. Thank you for speaking to us. My condolences.”

  “Good luck with your investigation,” he said, standing up.

  He showed Kayli and Dave to the front door. She handed him a business card, which he tucked into the pocket of his jeans. Then he shook her hand. Kayli noticed his hand was clammy, pointing to how much the news must have shocked him.

  They were settled back in the car, en route to the station, before Dave spoke. “Poor sod is riddled with guilt.”

  Kayli sighed. “I think I would be too, if I had given Sarah a lift home and she’d wound up dead less than an hour later.”

  “I suppose. It’s looking more and more like the boyfriend, right?”

  “It is, but I’d rather have some evidence to back up that suspicion. At the moment, all we have is that Young is in the area.”

  “Why don’t we pay him a visit? Ruffle his feathers a little.”

  Kayli stared at the brake lights of the car in front of her as they came to a standstill at the traffic lights. “Ring Donna for me. See if uniform have located Young’s car at his mother’s address.”

  Dave rang the station and put the phone on speaker. “Donna, it’s Dave. Any news on Young?”

  “Uniform just got back to me to say that his car drew up at the address a few minutes ago as they were leaving.”

  “Good news. Donna, we’re going over there to speak to him. Has Graeme managed to pick Young’s car up on the footage?”

  “He’s managed to place him a couple of roads from the victim’s flat at around the time she got home from work.”

  “Brilliant. Can you tell the patrol car to turn around and meet us at the address? We might need some backup, what with Dave hobbling around on crutches at the mo,” Kayli asked.

  “I’ll do it now, boss.”

  “Give me the address again, if you would?”

  “Seventeen Forsythia Drive, boss,”

  “Thanks, Donna.” Dave ended the call.

  “I know the road. My friend used to live there. We should be there in under ten minutes. You stay in the car, let me and the uniformed lads deal with the situation. Got that?”

  Dave tutted. “Damn leg. I would have revelled in the chance to give him a good slapping for resisting arrest, if it comes to that.”

  Kayli laughed. “Good job you’re incapacitated in that case.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Kayli’s heart was beating faster than normal when she knocked on the front door of the mid-terraced house. Two thick-set uniformed officers stood alongside her as they waited for the door to open. “Let me do the talking before you guys pounce.”

  The officers nodded. Kayli saw a light go on in the hallway through the paned glass at the top of the door. A clean-shaven young man wearing jeans and a T-shirt opened the door.

  “What’s all this?” he asked, staring at them.

  “Gary Young?” Kayli asked in an authoritative tone.

  “That’s right. What’s going on?” He eased the door shut a little.

  “We’d like you to accompany us to the station for questioning.”

  “Who is it, dear?” a frail voice called out from a room off the hallway.

  “It’s all right, Mum... it’s the police. I won’t be long. Stay in the lounge, where it’s warm.”

  Kayli couldn’t tell if his compassion was genuine or whether it was all an act for their benefit.

  He shook his head in disbelief. “Have I done something wrong?”

  “Sarah Abel was found murdered in her flat earlier this evening. Do you need to call someone to look after your mother? She has cancer, doesn’t she?”

  He stumbled backwards, clutching a hand to his chest. “What? Sarah is dead? I don’t believe it... Damn, and you think I have something to do with it? Are you crazy?”

  “Yes. Can you answer my question about your mother?”

  “I can get my neighbour to sit with her while I help you with your enquiries,” he replied sarcastically.

  “Do that. You have five minutes,” Kayli told him sharply.

  Kayli raised her eyebrows, gesturing for one of the officers to accompany Young, just in case he decided to make a run for it. He brushed past them and walked across the small front lawn to knock on his neighbour’s door, with the officer close on his tail.

  A few minutes later, a woman with grey hair and wearing slippers, followed Young back across the garden and into the house.

  Gary glared at Kayli. “Stay here. I don’t want my mo
ther upset any more than is necessary. I’ll just get my coat and put on some shoes.”

  Kayli nodded and waited for Young to reappear. She heard his mother asking questions through her sobs. Kayli’s heart went out to the woman, but she had a job to do, and at the moment, Gary Young was their prime suspect.

  Young reappeared, shrugging on a denim jacket. “Okay. Do you want to slap on the handcuffs, or are you going to trust me? Seeing that I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “As a precaution, we’re going to handcuff you.” Kayli read him his rights as his mouth dropped open.

  “You said you were taking me in for questioning, and now you’re arresting me? For Sarah’s murder? But I haven’t seen her in weeks.”

  “Yes. We’ll discuss the complexities of the situation back at the station. Are you ready?” She extracted a roll of plastic food bags from her pocket, tore off two of the bags, and placed one on each of his hands before one of the officers slapped the cuffs on him.

  “No, but that’s not going to stop you from hauling me in. Can I just say that you’re making a huge mistake, and if Sarah has been murdered, you’re allowing the real killer to get away? I’m innocent, Inspector—I promise you that.”

  “We’ll see. Do you want to ring your solicitor, or shall we appoint a duty solicitor for you?”

  “I want my solicitor by my side if you’re going to fit me up with something I haven’t done.”

  “You can place the call when we get to the station.”

  The officers escorted Young from the garden and placed him in the back of their car.

  “See you back at the station, guys,” Kayli said, getting in her own vehicle.

  “Well, looks like he’s none too happy,” Dave noted.

  “He’s denying it. I have to admit, his reaction was quite disconcerting.”

  “Now don’t go getting soft on me. Once you present the evidence of his car being in the vicinity of her address around the time of her murder, you watch, I bet his attitude changes pretty damn quick.”

  “We’ll see. He’s put in a request for his own solicitor to attend the interview. So any questions I have to ask will have to be delayed. You know how these solicitors like to drag their feet.”