Taste of Fury by M Comley (dark academia books to read txt) 📗

It’s not like I have a tasty fella sitting at home, waiting to be ravished, is it? Unlike some I could mention.”

“I know. It’s a killer at times. I hate being so dedicated to my work. I’m lucky AJ understands.”

“It’s true, you’ve got one in a million there. Make sure you hang on to him and don’t neglect him too much, eh?”

“I won’t, I promise. Speak soon. Get the results back to me ASAP, I don’t have to tell you that, do I?”

“No, you’re right, you don’t.”

“See you soon, not too soon though.”

Katy joined Charlie at her car and slipped off her protective suit. “Any luck?”

“We’ve got an address for the parents of the male, Fiona and Donald Ody.”

“Where? Is it far?”

“About half a mile away.”

“Okay, let’s get changed and shoot over there. We’d better take both cars.”

They jumped into their respective cars. Charlie led the way.

Ten minutes later, they had located a property on the edge of a large estate. They joined up again and approached the well-lit house. “Can’t say I’m looking forward to what lies ahead. Have I told you lately how much I hate my job?” Katy grumbled.

“Only certain parts, I hope. You like it on the whole, right?”

“Debatable at times.” Katy grinned. She straightened her face and rang the bell. “Here we go!”

A bespectacled man in his late sixties opened the door. “Hello, can I help?”

Katy and Charlie produced their IDs. “Hello, sir. I’m DI Katy Foster and this is my partner, DS Charlie Simpkins. I wondered if it would be possible for us to step inside and talk to you and your wife for a moment.”

“May I ask why?” Mr Ody frowned and glanced over his shoulder as his wife appeared.

“Who is it, love?” his wife asked, her voice faltering slightly.

“It’s the police. They haven’t told me why they’re here yet, so be patient.”

Mrs Ody yanked her husband’s arm. “Let them in. It must be cold outside for them.”

He stood back and gestured for them to enter the warm hallway. “Thank you, it’s a little chilly this evening. Still, it’ll soon be spring.”

“I can’t wait, I love getting out in the garden in the evenings to have a tinker with the beds.”

Katy warmed to the woman’s friendly disposition, and her heart lurched when she thought about the task that lay ahead of her.

“Bungalows have larger gardens overall, don’t they?” Katy asked.

The woman led them through to a cosy lounge, which was filled with tasteful oak furniture and autumnal colours decorating the windows in the form of blinds and curtains. Scatter cushions in matching fabrics completed the warming theme.

Mrs Ody sat on one of the single chairs, her husband sat in the other, and Katy and Charlie took a seat on the sofa opposite the couple.

“Now, perhaps you’ll tell us why you’re here on a Saturday evening?” Mr Ody asked, tilting his head to one side.

Katy gulped down the saliva filling her mouth. “We’re here regarding your son, Christopher and his wife.”

The couple shot each other a concerned look. Mr Ody faced Katy again, his brow furrowed and asked, “What about them? Are they in some sort of trouble?”

Katy rested her forearms on her thighs and clenched her hands together until her knuckles turned white. “This is so hard for me to say. Unfortunately, my partner and I were called out to attend a crime scene tonight.” She paused to swallow again. “We received a call from your son earlier this evening to say he had found a body in the woods.”

“Okay, so what aren’t you telling us?” Mr Ody demanded.

Katy inhaled a steady breath. “We arrived at the scene to find your son and daughter-in-law both dead.”

“What?” Mr Ody leapt out of his chair as his wife screamed. He sat on the arm of her chair to comfort her.

“I’m sorry, there’s never an easy way to tell a relative about a loved one’s passing.”

“But how? How did they die?” Mr Ody raked a hand through his grey hair and shook his head in disbelief, all the while still comforting his wife who was swaying back and forth, sobbing her heart out.

“We believe, although it’s pure speculation at this stage, that they discovered a murdered victim in the woods and possibly confronted the killer, who, rather than leave the scene, she decided that she would kill any possible witnesses.”

“She! A woman did this?” he asked.

“Why? My beautiful son, why him? Why Jackie? They were such a wonderful couple, they did everything together. Put their family first, every day of their lives, and now… we’ll never hear their laughter or feel their hugs ever again,” Mrs Ody said between sniffles.

Her husband handed her a tissue. “Oh, Jesus, I can’t get my head around this,” he whispered. “What about Jackie’s parents, have they been told yet?”

“Not yet. We came here first. Do you know them well?”

“Of course we do. They’re an important part of our extended family. They live on the estate. Bought a bungalow a few doors down because we get on so well together. I’m going to give them a call, they should be here, listening to what you have to say.”

Katy wasn’t too sure that was a good idea at first, but after a few seconds’ deliberation, she nodded, “I agree. Would you mind ringing them, Mr Ody?”

He squeezed his wife’s shoulder. “Will you be all right, love, for a moment? They have a right to know.”

“Yes, go. Don’t ring them, go and get them.”

“Would that be okay?” Mr Ody asked.

“I think it would probably work out better. Do you want my partner to go with you?”

He stood and walked over to the door. “I don’t need babysitting. I won’t be long.”

“Donald, don’t take your foul mood out on the inspector.” Mrs Ody wagged her finger at her husband.

“I’m not. I’m allowed to be upset. I apologise if I came across abrupt, I’ve just heard my son has been killed. I’m not sure what the correct protocol is in such circumstances.”

“You don’t have to