HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (classic literature books .txt) 📗

where every item would first be logged on a computerized system and then distributed to forensic analysts. This was painstaking work. It took time, and although Vega was always frustrated as he waited for those important results, he knew it was vital to every investigation that nobody deviated from procedure.

Cutting corners now might allow a perpetrator to go free. Vega had seen how a clever defence lawyer could call into question the integrity of an entire investigation over the slightest administrative error.

Vega ran a hand through his hair. Lee Dagg had to be informed of his wife’s death. It was the worst part of Vega’s job — any officer’s job — and made even more difficult because Lee Dagg needed to be questioned. Why was Nadine out here alone? Where had Lee Dagg been when his wife was killed? Until those questions and many others were answered, Lee Dagg was firmly on top of the list as the perpetrator of this heinous crime.

But Andi had to be questioned first. She’d found the body. She was also in the bar all night, so probably had vital information. He needed Andi to be on her game. He hadn’t expected her to be in this state of shock.

He sighed. Andi was a talented journalist. She coaxed information from people who would never talk as freely in a police interview. She was observant and intelligent, and many of her theories proved correct. But often, she worked with her intuition and gut feeling. He, on the other hand, was trained to work with evidence first. His cases were driven by facts, and he rarely allowed his mind to be clouded with theories based on nothing but “bad feelings”. And he was still really pissed about her article.

This wasn’t a game. Andi’s work was important, but if Vega made a wrong call, it could mean life or death for some poor soul. Like Nadine Dagg.

But now Andi had seen for herself the horrors of Vega’s job. He didn’t wish the experience on anyone, but maybe now Andi would understand he wasn’t trying to thwart her search for the truth — he was trying to save lives and seek justice for victims. It was more than a story, more than an article for people to gossip over. It was the end of a human life, and a tragic life-altering experience for those left behind. These were the people Vega served.

Now wasn’t the time for a lecture, Vega knew.

Andi was in shock, and Vega needed information. So as much as he felt a disconcerting urge to scoop Andi into his arms and at the same time blast her for the article, he needed to focus.

“Andi, I know you’ve had a terrible shock. But right now, I need you to think back to last night. You were at the belly dancing event, correct?”

Andi nodded, and for the next few minutes, Vega established a timeline for Nadine’s movements before she met her killer.

“So you left the bar at eleven?” Vega asked. “Who was left in the bar?”

 “Yes. The performance was over and the other dancers had gone, I’m certain. Harry left just after. The bar was empty. Cheryl was wiping the tables, so she’d be able to tell you more. But Nadine was sat on a bar stool, and I thought she was texting for a ride or she’d got a text. She was definitely looking at her phone. And then I left and came straight here.”

“OK. And did you go to bed straight away? Or go out again?”

“No. I made some tea and made a few notes on my laptop about the belly dancing for my article, and then I spent a bit of time looking at some photos I got for my story . . .” She stopped. “I’m sorry about the article,” she blurted out. “I didn’t mean . . . well it didn’t come out . . . I, well, Harry told me about Charlie Rollins’ wife. I had no idea.”

Andi looked stricken, and Vega took her hand. “Don’t worry about that now,” he said, thinking he didn’t know about Charlie’s wife either. “I need you to help me now, Andi. So let’s focus on the timeline. Did you save your work on the laptop?”

“What?” Andi looked confused.

“There will be a time stamp,” Vega explained.

“Oh, I know what time it was,” Andi said. “It was twenty past midnight. I heard some voices outside, and I thought it was late for anyone to be leaving the pub.”

“You didn’t look outside?” Vega asked.

“No. Oh God, if I had I might have . . .” Andi clapped her hand to her mouth. “I could have helped or scared him off or something.”

Vega shook his head. “You don’t know who it was, Andi. Let’s go back to earlier in the evening. Was there anyone in the bar who was taking particular notice of Nadine? Or behaving oddly?”

Andi regained her composure. “Well, everyone was taking notice of Nadine. It was quite the show.” She managed an eye roll. “I didn’t notice anyone in particular, but you should talk to Hephzibah. She pointed out some guy who’s been hanging around the last few days. She thought he might be interested in real estate. I didn’t get a look at him because I was more focused on Nadine. But I thought it was more significant who wasn’t there.”

“Oh?” Vega looked up from his notebook. “What do you mean?”

“Well, Lee Dagg wasn’t there. I didn’t see him at all.” Andi hesitated. “I know this is just gossip, but it wasn’t much of a secret that Nadine and Dennis Havers were having an affair. They did kind of . . . flaunt it, I suppose. Even since Ricky went missing.”

“Was Dennis there?” Vega said, interested. “And did Lee see him?” He wondered if this was a case of a jealous husband tired of being humiliated. It had happened before.

“No,” Andi said, “he didn’t show