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

mean we have to like working under a microscope, though,” Katy batted back.

“I’m not asking you to. All I said was be mindful of how you spend the budget. Now, run me through what you’ve got. Let’s try and figure out whether there are alternative measures we can put in place that will make all our lives a lot easier to cope with.”

“We’re going to carry out the background checks on James Boyd. We’ve got his address. All we need now is to find out what he’s been up to lately. We’ve also got a partial plate on a blue Honda we can be looking into.”

“I’ll do that, boss,” Patrick volunteered.

“Thanks. Steven, will you stick with the CCTV and ANPRs around the area of today’s murder?”

“I will.”

“What about evidence found at the earlier scenes?” Roberts asked.

“I’ll be chasing up Forensics later today. I think it’s way too early for them to have anything for us just yet.”

“Try. That’s all we can do. How sure are you that James Boyd is our man?”

“Joining the dots, he has to be, although in the eyes of the CPS we haven’t got enough to nail him. I’m aiming to change that status during the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours, providing we can track the man down. Why?”

Roberts appeared thoughtful for a second or two. “I was wondering if it might be worth running a press conference.”

“Outing him? Before we’ve got anything else in place? Is that wise?”

Roberts shrugged. “It would be a means to an end.”

“Personally, I think it would have a negative effect without gathering the background information for him first.”

“Explain why,” Roberts challenged her.

“Let’s face it, although we have his address, I doubt he’ll be there, and if he’s not there we need to uncover other possible addresses where he’s likely to be hiding. As for his alternative employment, we’ve yet to establish that. Until we obtain the basics, our hands are tied.”

“In that case, I suggest you get on with things.” Roberts smiled and marched out of the room.

Katy shook her head in his wake. “Logical, right?” She rolled her eyes and motioned for the team to crack on with their tasks. “I’ll be in my office, eagerly anticipating your findings, guys.” She stepped into her office and rang Forensics. She knew what the answer would be long before the phone connected.

“Sorry, nothing yet. We’ve got teams attending several crimes today.”

“What you’re telling me is that you’re stretched too thinly as usual,” Katy muttered, her disappointment clearly showing.

“Sorry, in a nutshell, yes,” the woman technician replied. “Want me to have a word with Patti, maybe get your cases put on the priority list?”

“I think they’re probably up the top already, so let’s leave things as they are for now. The last thing I want to do is piss her off. Keep things as they are for now.”

“As if I’m likely to do that. We’ll get back to you soon, I promise.”

“I appreciate your help. Thanks.” She ended the call and rang home.

AJ answered within a few minutes. “Hey, is everything all right?”

“I’m fine, just needed to hear your voice. A pig of a day already, and I don’t foresee it getting any better in the short or long term.”

“Ugh…sounds ominous. Anything I can do to help?”

“Make me laugh, try to brighten my dull and dreary day.”

“Oh heck. Hang on, I heard a really dreadful joke the other day. What was it now…? Ah yes. Did you hear about the racing snail who got rid of his shell?”

“No, can’t say I have.”

“Wait for it…he thought it would make him faster, but it just made him sluggish.”

Katy held back a groan and laughed. “Oh my, I wish I hadn’t asked now, that was truly awful.”

“Awfully good, though, and dare I say it, it appeared to do what it was intended to do and made you laugh.”

“It did that. I’m super appreciative. How are things there?”

“I wasn’t sure if I should call you or not. I’ve rung the doctors about Georgie.”

“What? Is she all right? Oh God, I feel terrible and selfish now, you should have mentioned it as soon as I called. Oh heck…what if…?”

“Katy. Take a bloody breath. She’s fine. A slight temperature and a bit sniffly. Samir rang me this morning, concerned about her. I went to pick her up from her house and came straight home. The doctor told me to monitor Georgie and to take her up to the hospital if she gets any worse.”

“No medication? Nothing like that?”

“Nope, junior paracetamol, if I think it’s necessary. I don’t think it is, she’s up there at the moment, zonked out. I checked her a few minutes ago.”

Katy let out an exasperated breath. “We’ve had it too good with her lately. The specialist warned us she could have a relapse. We should have kept a closer eye on her, not allowed her to sleep over at another child’s house. No one can take care of her as well as we can.”

“Stop that. It’s a mild cold. Stop getting yourself all worked up.”

“What? I can’t help it. I should be there with her, comforting her like any normal mother.”

“Now you’re talking utter nonsense, and thanks for doubting my ability to cope in the process.”

“Bugger, I didn’t mean to do that. I would never cast aspersions about your ability to care for our daughter. You do an amazing job, but it’s natural for me to kick myself and throw a guilt-ridden analogy into the mix when things go wrong.”

“I know, but I wish you wouldn’t, it’s not doing anyone any good. She’ll be fine, I’m sure.”

“Go check on her now, while I’m on the phone.”

He tutted, and the phone hit the table. In the distance, AJ’s footsteps sounded on the stairs. She strained her ear, hoping to pick up on any other possible noises, and then his measured footsteps returned a few moments later.

“Well?” she asked impatiently.

“She’s fine. Snuggled up with Bear, not a care in the world. I told you not to