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

I know you both mean well.” She pointed at Patti and then Charlie. “But the quicker you realise I’m not about to give in to this the better. Back to the reason why we’re here, if you don’t mind?”

Patti pulled a face at her. “Pardon me for caring. I won’t bother in the future.”

“Patti! I didn’t mean to offend. You’d be the same if the tables were turned, and don’t try and tell me otherwise.”

“Okay, you might have a point there. Let’s call it a truce for now. What have we got here? Well, our victim was arriving home from his shift at a factory—he works nights, and no, he hasn’t been here all night before you leap on me for that.”

Katy smiled. “The thought hadn’t occurred to me to ask. Go on.”

“He parked the car, and a couple of the neighbours said a man emerged from the hedge and opened fire on him. Just gunned him down in broad daylight without a frigging care in the world.”

“Don’t tell me, the gunman was wearing a damn mask?”

“You’ve got it. His disguise is giving him untold bravery, that’s what I’m reading into it.”

“Yep, I’m inclined to agree with you. The witnesses, did they say anything else?”

“No, I called a halt to that. I’ve got enough on my plate with three victims to cut open and analyse. It’s your job to get to the nitty-gritty side of things.”

Katy stared at her. “Are you taking the piss? I’m well aware of what our job entails, I don’t need to be reminded by you or anyone else.”

Patti stared at Katy and then turned her attention to Charlie. “My advice would be to get your partner out of my face if she’s going to take that tone with me.”

Charlie shuffled her feet, seemingly uncomfortable to be stuck in the middle.

Patti and Katy burst out laughing.

“Had you worried there, Charlie,” Patti said. “You’ll get used to us sniping at each other, we’re the best of friends deep down.”

Charlie’s head swivelled between Katy and Patti. “Thanks, guys. I nearly shat myself back there, then.”

“On with the case,” Katy said. It felt good to feel normal again after a rough twelve hours or so. “Charlie, I need you to question the witnesses. Take down any relevant information from them but leave a statement for now, we haven’t got the time. I’ll ask uniform to sort that out later.”

Patti pointed at a cluster of people off to the left. “They’re over there. Good luck.”

“Thanks,” Charlie said and walked off.

Katy smiled at Patti. “We’re going to have to stop doing that, her face was a picture.”

“Yeah, we should. Right, professional heads on.” Patti took a few steps towards the body which had been covered with a white sheet.

Katy crouched down beside her, and her knee dropped to the ground.

“Are you all right?” Patti asked.

“I’m fine. Sudden movements tend to catch me off-guard, that’s all. How many times was he shot?”

“At least six. All to the chest. There was no way he could survive such an ambush.”

“What a shame. Do we know who he is?”

“His significant other is inside, you’ll need to speak to her. When we arrived, she wasn’t making much sense.”

“Bugger, poor woman. I’ll nip in and see her soon. Was the killer hanging around, aware of what time he got home? Or did he follow him home and make a concerted effort to kill him outside his house?”

“I can’t give you an answer to either of those, sorry, not in my remit.”

“I know. Just me thinking out loud. I’ll see what the wife has to say and speak to you later.”

Katy glanced over her shoulder at Charlie who was busy scribbling down some notes while the three men animatedly spoke to her. I’d still rather swap roles with her at the moment.

Sucking in a few calming breaths, she rang the bell and waited for the woman to answer. She didn’t have to wait long. “Hi, I’m the Senior Investigating Officer, DI Katy Foster. Can I come in and have a chat with you? Are you up to it?”

The young blonde wiped away the tears and dabbed a tissue under her nose. “Yes, come in.”

Katy followed her into a cosy lounge, a gas fire ablaze on high, obviously to combat the shock she was suffering. The woman sat and clenched her hands tightly in her lap.

Katy noticed them trembling.

“Why?” the woman whispered without looking up.

“I don’t know is the truthful answer. I was hoping you would be able to point us in the right direction.”

“Me? I know nothing. We were so happy, content and planning our wedding. Oh God, that’s never going to happen now, is it? Of course it isn’t, not if he’s dead.” She shook her head and swiped at the fresh tears falling.

“You have my sincere condolences. I can imagine how difficult this must be for you right now. Are you up to talking to me? Is there anyone I can call to come and be with you?”

“No. I can deal with this by myself—at least I think I can. Why him? He’s done nothing wrong. He gets on with everyone and enjoys his job. Who would do such a thing?”

“Have you known each other long?”

“Around three years.”

“Where did you meet?”

Her face lit up. “I was on a night out with my girlfriends. He asked me to slow dance with him at the end of the evening, and I lost my heart to him that night.” She sobbed and covered her face with her shaking hands.

“I’m so sorry, I know this is hard for you. Please, had your fiancé recently fallen out with anyone perhaps?”

“No, as I said, we were making plans to get married. He hasn’t seen his friends in months; we’ve been tied up every night, going through all the arrangements.”

“What about at work? Has he had a possible run-in with anyone there, perhaps?”

“No, they think the world of him there. He was the night manager on the shift. People came to him if