Shot of Silence (Justice Again Book 3) by M Comley (best contemporary novels txt) 📗

all. You should see everyone in that room, they’re all devastated, and rightly so. There’s no way on earth a cross word with her by someone would lead to her murder. Are you sure someone she knew did this disgusting thing?”

“No, but until we have formed a picture of her and her life, then this is all we have to begin our investigation.”

“Okay, I think I comprehend that. It really hasn’t sunk in yet. She was floating around the office this morning, so happy. It was her wedding anniversary, did you know?”

“Yes, we’d heard. So she had every reason to be happy if she loved her husband as much as we’ve been led to believe. What about the clients you deal with, anything there?”

He appeared momentarily puzzled by the question. “No, I wouldn’t think so anyway. We’re just a voice over the phone, how can anyone take umbrage with any of us?”

“It’s something we need to investigate. You say she had a happy working and family life, but people don’t get murdered just for the fun of it. Or maybe this is one such incident,” Katy corrected herself, recollecting her own train of thought about this incident being a possible one-off.

“Shit! The thought of a madman walking the streets carrying a gun and taking pot shots at people just to get his kicks seems scary to me.”

“Let’s hope that isn’t the case. However, so far, we haven’t got any other clues to go on that would lead us to believe otherwise.”

“I can’t tell you anything else. She was a lovely person with no known enemies as far as I know.”

“That’s great. Okay, then we won’t hold you up any longer. Would you like to send the next person in, please?”

“Sorry I couldn’t be much help. I hope you find the person responsible and deal with the bastard appropriately.”

“That’s the plan. Nice to meet you, Steve.”

He left the room.

Charlie stared down at her notes, or lack of them. “We’re getting nowhere fast. Everyone seems to think she was a nice woman; she must have been to have paid Ben’s rent for him when he was in dire straits. Not sure I know many people who would have volunteered to have done the same.”

“Nope, me neither. Hopefully, the others will be able to throw a different light on things. If not, then we’ve got a fucking mammoth task ahead of us.”

“Don’t lose hope. We’ve got the forensic results to come back yet.”

Katy smiled. “Thanks for the nudge, Charlie. You’re right, we shouldn’t give up hope just yet.”

As it happened, Ben Thompson was the next work colleague to enter the room. “I’m Ben Thompson.”

Katy nodded and introduced herself and Charlie. “You’re only too aware of why we’re here today, I presume?”

“Yes, to ask questions about what sort of person Grace was, am I right?” His green eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

“What can you tell us about Grace?”

“She was one of the kindest people I know. She bailed me out big time lately. Got me out of a financial hole and ended up keeping the roof over my head.”

“Can you tell us about that?” Katy asked, already aware of what he was referring to, but she needed to ensure both his and Steve’s stories matched up.

“My car broke down and needed a new engine. I didn’t have the funds to cope with that and to meet my usual expenses. Grace saw I was down one day and called me into her office. I explained the situation and she…right there and then…offered to bail me out with enough money to keep my landlord off my back.”

“That was kind of her.”

“She was that type of lady. I was gobsmacked to be honest, she had a family of her own after all, and yet she didn’t hesitate about coming to my aid.”

“There aren’t many people around like that, are there?”

“No, I guess there aren’t. I paid her back, though. As soon as my bonus hit my bank account mid-month, it was the first thing I did. I couldn’t stand the thought of having that debt over my head.”

“Glad to hear it. I think I would be inclined to think along the same lines as you if it came down to it. Okay, we’ve already established she was a nice lady; did she get along with everyone here?”

“Oh yes, I believe so. If she didn’t then she hid it well. Don’t get me wrong, she wasn’t a pushover to work for. She had very high standards and expected us to adhere to them or there would be trouble.”

“Trouble? In what form would that present itself?”

“She wasn’t afraid to issue a warning here and there if necessary. We took it from her, she used to be one of us and recently got promoted. Had an outsider come in and ordered us around like she had…well, they wouldn’t have had the same impact, let’s say that.”

“I see. So no one took umbrage to her dishing out disciplinaries and the like then?”

“No. It was down to them to do their jobs properly in the first place, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed. Did Grace ever have any problems with the punters—sorry, clients—she dealt with?”

“Not really. It was all phone-based, so it’s easy to hang up on people if they start mouthing off, right?” He chuckled and straightened his face almost immediately.

“What about at home time? Did most of the staff leave together?”

“Yes, she rarely stayed behind because of getting home for the kids. If she had a long day ahead of her it usually began early as opposed to finishing late.”

“And where do you tend to park?”

“There’s an underground car park we use. I can’t believe she’s gone. She rarely goes out at lunchtime.”

“We weren’t aware of that. Such a shame she met her family today.”

“A travesty, that’s what it is. An absolute travesty for her to lose her life in such an evil way. My heart goes out to Toby and the kids. And just before Christmas, too. How sickening is that?”

“I agree. All