Paper Crafts Club Mystery Box Set Book 1-3

by Emily Selby

  Jack sent her a look that could splinter wood, which she ignored.

  'I think the Marinos are involved. They should be interviewed,' she added and immediately regretted it.

  'Yes, madam,' Jack replied in that frosty voice again. 'This is an avenue we're exploring, but for me to continue with the investigation, I need an impartial team,' Jack turned to face Chris. They looked like two dogs getting ready to fight. Katie's stomach clenched again.

  'That's why I have to ask you, Sergeant Fox, to remain impartial or step back from this investigation until it's over, or Michael is cleared off suspicions.'

  Heat flashed in Chris' eyes. His jaw dropped. Katie gulped.

  Jack walked out. Chris stared blankly at the wall.

  'Chris,' Katie said carefully, her throat parchment dry. 'I understand you want the best for your friend. Inspector Heaton’s right. You need to stop defending Michael.'

  'He's overreacting. I can be impartial,' Chris croaked and waved his hand at her. 'He doesn't have to remove me from the case. I think he's wrong, and I want justice for Michael!'

  'And you'll get it. Just let him handle it.'

  Chris glared at the wall in silence again.

  'It's been a very stressful, week for us all,' she added, soothingly.

  'It has...' he drawled through his teeth.

  'It's hard to support your friend and deal with the doubt he might be the killer.'

  'Michael is no killer. Stop it!'

  'Neither is Kevin,' Katie said, looking straight into Chris' eyes.

  Chris looked as though he’d been working the graveyard shift for a week. Sunken cheeks, uneven shave and his strawberry blond hair stuck out in tufts in all directions.

  'I felt like it took forever to get all the evidence through,' Katie continued. 'It's awful when you’re in the middle of it, but you're actually powerless. All you can do is to watch your friend melt in front of you. Getting angry doesn't help. '

  'What does help, then?'

  Katie shrugged to shift the heavy weight that landed on her shoulders. She hadn't quite thought this pep talk through.

  'Wait. Do whatever you can do and wait.'

  'Just wait? Thank you, lass. So, that’s the message you have for me, what about him?' Chris pointed at Jack who just walked through the door again. 'What have you got for him?'

  'And for you, DI Heaton, I have the same message I had before.'

  'Which is what?' he asked, his voice more relaxed now. Did he know what was coming?

  'To listen to people's hunches. The fact you don't have your own intuitions doesn't mean other people don't get any. And if you're able to hear them out and understand what they're telling you, you may get a lot of useful information.'

  Jack cocked his head.

  'All right, Miss Hunch. What do you have for us, then?'

  Katie exhaled, feeling the tension dissolving slowly. At least, she had this part prepared. Well, a little.

  'You need to take into consideration what Chris is telling you, because... because it's called...' she stuttered, scrambling for words. Shoots! What was it called? She really should have not quitted the university law course. 'Character evidence. Chris knows Michael, and this is what he's telling you.'

  'Good point, lass,' Chris said.

  'I'll take it as such,' Jack said. 'But if you want to remain involved in the case, you can't take sides.'

  'And I can prove you all I'm capable of being an impartial cop,' Chris said, now with less tension.

  'Katie,' Jack turned towards her. 'What hunches did you want to share?'

  Put on the spot, Katie stumbled.

  'Let me just check where you all are with your knowledge of the local gossip.' She glanced at Jack. She had to somehow get him to admit how much he knew about the deals over the Marino's house and land.

  'Jack, you talked to Harold Bower yesterday. What did he tell you?'

  Jack's eyebrows shot up. 'Are you fishing for information?'

  'Yes and no. I have my own sources. We can compare notes. I just don't want to repeat something you've already heard.'

  'Good one,' Jack said quietly. 'Ok. Here’s the gist. Stanley contacted Harold Bower a couple of weeks ago, no exact date. It was about that old house on the plot behind the Dunbar property. Apparently, he has a claim to the house and was trying to get a sense how much he could sell it to Bower senior for. From my understanding, he was simply fishing for information. He didn't know much about the situation on the house. Harold also talked about Michael being only a minority shareholder, and an employee rather than a full-on owner.'

  'Yeah,' Chris cut in.' It's been an issue between Michael and his old man. But Michael has to dance to his father's tune. Harold has made some bad decisions lately. Michael’s been working really hard to fix things. Honestly, the old man is losing it and he won't admit it, not even to himself.'

  'I hear he's quite stubborn,' Katie said, remembering a chat with the health care assistant. 'Rumours suggest the company is not in a good way.'

  Chris nodded. 'The worst thing is, Harold can still fool people that he's alright. He is not. Michael is worried his father's insisting on making all the decisions.'

  'I've heard they won't be paying shareholder dividends this year,' Jack cut in casually.

  So, Harold wasn't as shrewd a businessman as he considered himself. Maybe Michael's actions were really justified?

  'On top of everything else, houses on the new estate aren’t selling too well. No one wants to live with a view over an eyesore,' Jack added.

  Chris sent Jack another dagger-filled glance, but he didn't say anything. Jack pursed his lips.

  Katie chewed on her cheek. How far was Michael Bower capable of going to save the company? Would he kill to buy out the eyesore?

  'Now, tell us what you know, Katie,' Jack said after a brief pause.

  Katie told them about the gossip around debts and the legend of the hidden treasure.

  'I think the result is what we saw on that document. The ring may be part of the treasure trove. The house has not been sold because no one wants to let go of it without searching it properly. And it's too dangerous to search. So, each is trying to eliminate the other party,' she added her own suspicions.

  Jack folded his arms.

  'There is absolutely no indication of the existence of a treasure trove. What's your evidence? The ring you found in the workshop?'

  Katie felt her scalp burning right to the tip of her copper-colour hair.

  'My workshop used to belong to the Marinos as well.'

  'How long ago?'

  'No idea. But I'm sure you can find old deeds if you look hard enough.'

  'Yeah, bring on some more deeds writing in spiking curly hand writing with dip pens,' Jack said and waved his hand.

  An image of her dip pen pushed into Zac Greenberg's jugular flashed through Katie's mind. A wave of nausea hit her stomach. She swallowed hard, trying to contain it.

  'I'll bring you more info if I find any, but this is all I've got for now.'

  Jack inhaled loudly. 'That's a load of... useful info to process,' he said, drawing out some of the words.

  'Thank you, Inspector.' Katie said, caustically. 'Now, how are you going to check the evidence for it?'

  Clearly, Jack did not see it coming, and he flinched.

  'You normally say that guesses should be supported with evidence,' Katie pushed on. 'Here is something for you. As I said, I think you should interview the Marino women. Get them to tell you their real reasons for returning to town after all these years despite the bad memories.'

  Jack's head jerked back.

  'Ah,' Katie carried on, feeling giddy. Where was all this coming from? 'Sorry, I forgot. They both live under the name Parker.'

  Katie delivered her message, turned on her heel and walked back into her office. Still light-headed like a teenage girl on the first date.

  20

  Half an hour later there was a light knock on her office door.

 
'Yes?' Katie called out from her desk. Today's tasks, apart from calming the stormy waters in the office, included learning to set up the new video conferencing system. The system arrived earlier in the week and it was Katie's job to set it up. The boss, Andy Lumley, was very keen not only on building closer relationships with his colleagues in the region, but also with other agencies in town.

  The door open and Katie turned to face it.

  'Just me. Can I come in?' Chris said ruffling his hair.

  'Sure.'

  'Sorry about the outbursts earlier. It's been hard.'

  Katie nodded. 'I thought so. I'm sorry if what I've said upset you even more.'

  Chris leant on the wall next to the door.

  'Heaton’s right, though. I need to keep my mind open and unbiased. I can do it. I'm a cop. A good one.'

  'I have no doubts about your ability to do any of these,' Katie said and paused. She sensed Chris wanted to say something else.

  Chris rubbed his forehead. 'I think you've got a point about him'—he made a quick move with his head back, showing the door-'he needs to learn how to talk to local people. We're not a load of blooming computers.'

  'Thank you, Chris.'

  'You're really good. It's a shame you didn't get to finish law school. Are you thinking of going back?'

  Katie stifled the urge to join in with 'poor me'. It hurt.

  'Maybe one day, when Julia is bigger, and have enough savings. But first, I'd have to find a better place to live.'

  'You don't like your flat?'

  Katie chewed on her lower lip. It wasn't an easy question to answer.

  'I like having my own place, without old memories to face. It's affordable and large enough for the two of us, but it really needs an upgrade.'

  'Have you got anything else in mind?'

  'A nice modern house with a little garden and a view over the stream and the fields and hills behind.'

  'Michael's estate. Good choice! When you’re ready, let me know, I'll talk to Michael to find you a nice deal.'

  Katie thanked him with a smile.

  'Thanks for your support, lass.'

  'No prob. Any time. As you have done it for me many times.'

  Chris pushed himself off the wall and grabbed the handle. 'One more thing,' he said. 'You may like it. DI Heaton rang the Marino women. They're coming for an interview this afternoon.'

  Katie heart flipped in a bounce of joy, and then froze again. How was she going to learn what happened?

  'And I have a special surprise for you.'

  'What is it?'

  'At our strategy meeting last Monday, we talked about using our resources better, remember?'

  'Yeah,' Katie glanced at the teleconferencing set, which was part of what happened.

  'One of the things we suggested was to make better use of your skills and time.'

  'That, I do know very well.' Katie said, pointing at the large cardboard box on her desk.

  Chris gave a sharp laugh. 'But I bet you gonna love this one! I suggested to Inspector Heaton that instead of using a junior officer to help out with the interview, he can simply record it and get you to transcribe it.' Chris's face brightened with a grin. 'You're very welcome!' he added and walked out.

  Katie gasped.

  'What? She was going to get more work still? Transcribing?! She hated transcribing. It was tedious. Honestly, they should have just got one of those voices to text software. There was a lot of really good stuff out there, and cheap too.

  Why on earth should she be happy about it? Transcribing an interview with Chiara and Sofia! Christ must have lost his mind!

  Katie blew out a breath. Suddenly, she realised what it meant. She was going to know what they had to say!

  She jumped to her feet and pushed the door handle.

  'Chris!' she called out. But he must have already gone. The staff room was empty.

  Katie retreated back to her office.

  'Thank you, Chris,' she whispered to herself. Returning to the video conferencing equipment wasn't such a daunting thought.

  A series of short, sharp sounds interrupted Katie's workflow. Someone was pushing the buzzer in the reception. She forced herself to refocus, but the sounds attacked her again, angrily. Whoever was on duty this morning must have had more important things to do than man the desk.

  Katie got up, irritation growing in her with every push of the bell button.

  The staff room and the duty rooms were empty, but there were two people in the reception area.

  The Marino women.

  Sofia was pacing back and forth within the limited space. Her heels clicked on the stone floor. Click, click, click, click, click, click. Exactly six steps to go from one end to the other, and then six more clicks to return. Chiara was sitting in her wheelchair apparently asleep.

  The moment Sofia spotted Katie in the reception area, she trotted towards the counter.

  'How long is this going to take? We've been waiting here for twenty minutes!' She waved the hand holding a mobile phone in front of Katie. 'They need me in hospital, I've got a job to go to. I can't spend the whole day waiting here.'

  'Good morning, ladies,' Katie said carefully, her heart beating fast. 'Are you here to see inspector Heaton?'

  'Yes, and I want to see him right now,' Sofia replied, her eyes piercing Katie. 'Otherwise,' she lifted the rhinestone-studded mobile phone and waved it right in Katie's face. 'I am calling my lawyer,' she pronounced the last two words louder.

  Katie stepped back, staring at the phone. The last thing she wanted was to end up with all these sharp rhinestones scratching her face. 'I'll tell him you're here right away.'

  Katie sneaked back to the staff room, but it was empty. She dialled Jack's number. Luckily, he answered straightaway.

  'Chiara and Sofia Parker are here for you. Sofia's in a bad mood and threatening to call her lawyer. I'd rather avoid another row,' Katie said controlling her voice to come across calm, but firm. 'Where are you now?'

  'Just across the hallway. In the boss' office. I'll be with them in a minute.'

  'Thanks, Jack, and,' she hesitated, 'just one thing. It's a hunch though.'

  She could hear him sucking in his breath. 'What is it?' he asked.

  'Her phone. She has a different phone today. It's the same one she had that night I met her for the first time. But she had a different phone when she was in the crafts room. Remember that day?'

  'Yeah, vaguely. What's that all about?' A hint of impatience coloured his voice.

  'She has a fancy phone in a fancy case, all glittery and shiny. You may see it when you interview her. And she's also got a completely plain one.'

  There was a pause. Katie wondered what he was thinking.

  'Katie,' Jack said in a way that made her wonder if he was trying not to grind his teeth. 'Lots of people these days have more than one phone. For example, one personal and one for work. Hospitals often issue their senior staff a mobile phone.'

  Katie felt like a deflated balloon. Embarrassment spread in a hot, sticky wave from the top of her head, down. What a fool she’d made of herself!

  She retreated back to her office and buried herself in her work.

  Katie was getting ready to leave, when someone knocked on her door again.

  'Come in!' she called.

  The door opened, and Jack walked in. His face was difficult to read.

  'I see you're about to leave, I'll only take a few minutes. I have a couple of questions.'

  An odd way to ask if she had time, but hey-this was a double murder investigation. She nodded.

  'The pen we found stuck in Zac's neck, when did you last use it?'

  'As I said before, I last used it to make Easter cards. And I did it last minute, so it must have been early April.'

  Jack nodded.

  'Could anyone use it afterwards?'

  'I didn't see anyone use it, but any member of our club could have taken it from my storage box.'

  'I've had a report that a person was seen
using your pen sometime in May.'

  'In May? Who was it? How come? What for?' Katie's rattled off, her head spinning.

  'Apparently Chiara and Sofia Parker saw a young woman using it to make a card.'

  'Ah, that!' She remembered the scene from the last Club meeting. 'Yes, they told me about it. But this must have happened in March. Before I used it.'

  'Are you sure?'

  Katie blinked. Was she sure?

  'The person was making a Mother’s Day card. Mothering Sunday this year was a few weeks before Easter. I remember that because I had to make cards for both occasions, which is why I was late with my Easter cards.'

  'That's strange,' Jack said, his blue eyes piercing through her.

  Katie wriggled. 'Why?'

  'Because we found a set of fingerprints over yours. Not under.'

  Blood drained from Katie's face. 'Was the killer a member of our Club, you think?'

  Jack ruffled his hair. 'It's complicated. We only found those two sets of prints on your pen. Having said that, the pen was not quite the murder weapon. According to the forensic team, Zac was stunned, and when he collapsed, a large needle was inserted into his jugular, very likely delivering the first dose of the poison. Your pen, containing added poison was inserted afterwards. Zac died before he regained consciousness. We haven't found the needle or the syringe yet, and the pen is the only object with clear prints.'

  'What about the vials?'

  'Still unclear.'

  Katie's hand wandered to the rogue strand of hair. As usual, she tucked it behind her ear and started twirling. Somehow, it helped her think.

  'Did Chiara or Sofia tell you who they saw with my pen?'

  'Yes. I quote "that pretty Polish girl". Do you know who they meant?'

  Katie inhaled sharply.

  'The only person I can think who fits this description is Zuza, but I'm sure it was completely innocent,' she babbled on, a hot wave creeping onto her face.

  Zuza?

  'Ah, Zac’s girlfriend. I remember her. There was nothing suspicious in her accounts. Apparently, the relationship was good, no major arguments. Probably not going entirely the way she would want to progress, but she denied having major issues with Zac or their relationship. From what I understand, neither Zac, nor Zuza were particularly committed to the relationship. She spent that weekend with a friend, who confirmed her alibi.'