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

person being my wife, and you don’t have a clue who’s done it?”

“That’s right. Whoever the culprit is we believe he took a risk; he’s bound to have made a mistake along the way.”

“Why? He successfully killed my wife, that’s a big mistake, but I take it that’s not what you meant.”

“No. Sorry. I need to ask if your wife had any enemies, Toby.”

“Enemies? You think someone she’s fallen out with would be capable of carrying out such a…a…vile act? I don’t know… Shit, my head hurts. Bloody hell, how am I going to tell the children? What with Christmas just being around the corner… Will we ever learn to deal with this…loss? Jesus… What about her mother? She’s not in good health after her father died, now I have to tell her that her daughter is dead as well!” He let out a sob and then sucked in a deep breath, trying to keep himself from breaking down.

“So, am I to understand that she hasn’t fallen out with anyone recently?”

“No. My wife wasn’t the sort. She’s…she was friends with anyone and everyone.”

“What about in the past? Is there something there that we should know about?”

He paused to ponder the question for a few moments. “Such as what?”

“Anything, anything at all?”

“I can’t think of anything. We’ve been together over fifteen years. Neither of us has any exes to contend with, not really. We dated a few people for a couple of weeks, nothing major in my eyes.”

“May I ask what work your wife did?”

“She worked as a stockbroker at Zedex.”

“I see. And what about you, Toby?”

“I drive a cab for a living. I’m taking a few days off. Grace was due to break up for the Christmas holidays soon, and then she was going to take care of the kids during the day. Damn, I’m due back to work in a few days, a heavy period ahead of me, how am I supposed to do that now, with no wife here?”

“Can you ask family members to help out? How old are your children?”

“Eleven and thirteen. I suppose I could ask my sister at a push, but she works full-time and has kids of her own to look after.”

“I’m sure someone will step up to the plate and help out soon.”

“And if they don’t? I can’t believe I’m thinking about the future, I need to live in the present, I need to know about my wife. Did she suffer?”

“I don’t think so. Frank was there, as I said. She was shot once, he rushed to assist her, and then the second shot came a few seconds later. Not enough time in between for her to figure out what had happened to her—that’s my take on it after listening to what Frank had to say about the incident.”

“That’s a relief, though it doesn’t excuse the fact that someone would want to do that to her. Are you telling me this was intentional? Why couldn’t she have been in the wrong place at the wrong time? Maybe there’s a madman on the loose, they have them all the time in the States, don’t they?”

“They do. At this moment, it would be remiss of us to rule out any possibilities. Tell me about your relationship. Were you and your wife happy, no marital problems at all?”

“Yes, very happy. We sat down most nights as a family to eat meals, I managed to work that in around my shifts. Popped home if necessary, between jobs, and then went straight back out again. It was important for us to keep up a united front in that way.” He paused and shook his head. “She’s gone, and I didn’t get the chance to tell her a final time how much I loved her. I’ll never feel whole again, ever. We were together at lunchtime, all of us, the kids included. Christmas shopping.” He pointed at the pile of carrier bags in the corner. “She told me to leave them alone until she got home, that she would see to putting the gifts away.”

Tears formed and slipped onto his cheeks. He wiped them away with the back of his hand. “Does it ever get any easier? The pain? I feel numb inside. I know I have to hold things together for the sake of the kids… Oh God, we were due to go out tonight.”

“May I ask why? Was it a special occasion?” Katy asked, swallowing down the huge lump in her throat.

“It’s our anniversary…fifteen wonderful years we’d been together. Now all that has gone. The flame of our love has flickered and died... I can’t imagine what our lives are going to be without her, now that Grace is gone.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that. You have my deepest sympathy.”

“Thank you, but it won’t bring her back, will it?”

Katy sighed. “Sadly not. I can see how upset you are. Would you rather we left our questions for another day?”

“No. I don’t think so. I need you to find this person and punish them to the best of your ability. Never let them walk the streets again after robbing me of my beautiful wife. How can such a perfect soul be snuffed out like that? We all have a life expectancy, we’re born with that, how do you comprehend losing a loved one at forty-two? Her whole life lay ahead of her. Our plans for the future disintegrating like that, only to remain as distant memories.”

“Toby, is there anyone we can call? Ask them to be with you?”

“Only my sister within the area. She’ll be at work. I don’t want to disturb her. She has her own life to lead, it wouldn’t be fair to drag her into this, not yet.”

“As you wish. What about a good friend?”

“My wife was my best friend. We rarely mingled with others, what with both of us working full-time and having two children to occupy the rest of our time.”

“I understand.” Katy was at a loss to know what to say next.

Charlie