by M A Comley
“I can understand that, especially after what happened with your wife.” Katy glanced up and removed her hand from his as Claire joined them again.
“I’ve got an address for you.” She handed Katy the piece of paper.
“That’s very kind. I’ll go and break the news to her family and then come back. My partner and I will need to question the staff, see if they have any ideas about what’s gone on today.”
“I’ll let the boss know.” Claire returned to her desk again.
“Will you be okay?” Katy couldn’t help but be concerned for the man sitting next to her. He still appeared to be in shock.
“I think so. I don’t want to hold you up. You should get over to see Toby. Once you’ve told him, will you send him my regards and an apology for not being able to do more to help Grace?”
“You mustn’t think like that, Frank. You’re not to blame. You did all you could to help her in her moment of need. I’m sure if she was looking down on us she would be gutted to hear you speaking like that.”
He gulped and asked, “You think?”
“I know. I’m going to make tracks now, I think you should do the same. You’re not fit to be at work. Do you need a lift?”
“No. I have my car here today. Maybe I’ll call for a taxi instead.”
“Good idea. Claire, can you call a taxi to pick Frank up?”
“Sure, I’ll do it right away.”
Katy patted Frank’s knee, her heart going out to the man.
“I’m sorry I was useless. Will you need a statement from me?”
“Yes, in a few days. Why don’t you contact your brother? You said he used to be in the force, didn’t you?”
“He did. He’s dying of lung cancer, I’d rather not burden him with this, if it’s all the same.”
“Damn, sorry to hear that.”
“It is what it is. Damn fool smoked over forty fags a day due to the pressure of his job back in the day, and now he’s suffering for that assumed enjoyment.” He shuddered. “Whoever invented cigarettes should be strung up for killing millions of people over the years. Not right, is it?”
“Don’t get me started on that one. I detest smoking. I totally agree with you. Okay, if you’re sure you’re going to be all right, I’d better go and see Toby. Take care of yourself. I’ll be in touch in a few days with regard to taking a statement.”
“I look forward to seeing you again. Please, promise me you’ll do your best to get this bastard.”
“You have my word on that.” Katy patted his hand again and rose from her seat. “Stay there until your taxi arrives.”
Claire smiled. “I’ll make sure he stays put.”
Katy smiled and nodded. “We’ll return later, if you could let your boss know.”
“I’ll do that,” Claire replied.
Katy and Charlie left the car and walked up the long path to the semi-detached house. The garden was looking sorry for itself now that December was here and the cold weather had arrived, but Katy could tell it had been well cared for. Had that been Grace’s job? “Are you ready for this?”
“Does it get easier, the more you do?”
“Not really. I was relieved when the task used to fall on your mother’s shoulders. I’ve never relished telling a relative the inevitable.” Katy rang the bell and inhaled and exhaled a few steady breaths.
“You’ll be fine,” Charlie whispered.
The door opened, and a man in his early forties frowned at them. “Hello, can I help?”
Katy and Charlie flashed their IDs, and Katy announced, “DI Katy Foster, and this is my partner, DC Charlie Simpkins. Would you be Toby Hunt?”
“I am. What’s this about?” Toby’s frown deepened.
“It would be better if we spoke inside, sir.”
“Can you give me a clue? How do I know those IDs are real? You hear of so many scammers these days.”
“You can check by all means. Ring the station if you wish. Whatever makes you happy.”
He relented and stood behind the door. “Come in. You’ll have to excuse the mess, leading up to Christmas.”
“No problem.”
They followed him through the house to a large lounge at the rear.
“Take a seat. Now, why are you here?”
The three of them sat down. A large thump sounded overhead.
Toby raised a finger. “I’m warning you, I’m going to shout. Kids, pack it in. I have guests.”
The noise ceased. Katy nodded her appreciation and then said, “I’m sorry to have to tell you your wife was involved in an incident today.”
“What sort of incident? I was with her only a short while ago. Is she all right?” His voice rose the more he spoke.
Katy sighed. “I’m sorry, no. Unfortunately, your wife died at the scene.”
His neck extended forward, and he blinked continuously as the words sank in. “What? Is this some kind of joke? She can’t be dead. I don’t believe it. I refuse to believe it. Did she have an accident? What happened? I need to know. Please, don’t keep me waiting…how did she…?”
“I know this is hard to hear, Toby. I’m afraid your wife was shot.”
He shook his head and launched himself out of his seat. He paced in front of the gas fire and shook his head in disbelief. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. How? We met her less than two hours ago and spent her lunch hour sorting out Christmas presents. No, I don’t believe you, she can’t be dead, she just can’t be.”
“Take a seat, Toby.”
He flopped into his seat again and stared at Katy. “I’m waiting. What happened? How does someone get shot when guns are illegal?”
“That’s what we need to investigate. The doorman was with your wife when she died, if that’s any consolation. He’s in shock right now.”
“Was he hurt? Where did this occur?”
“Outside her place of work. No, Frank wasn’t hurt in the incident. He was with her come the end. What I’m trying to say is that she didn’t die alone.”
He placed his hands against his cheeks. “God, I…I can’t take this in. She was so happy. Shot, you say? How?”
“I need to ask you some questions. Do you think you’re up to answering them?”
“I don’t know. All I can think about is her lying there with a stranger, or the doorman from work by her side instead of me. God, what the hell? How does something like this happen in London? Was it gang related?”
“At the moment, we can’t tell you much. We’re interviewing possible witnesses but haven’t come up with anything substantial as yet.”
“Someone shoots a person, that 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 ha
s 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 jumped in with another question to get her out of trouble. “Did your wife mention that she’d felt uncomfortable lately? Perhaps she thought someone was watching her.”
He thought the question over for a second or two and shook his head. “No. If that had cropped up, I wouldn’t have let her out of my sight. What am I saying? I couldn’t be with her twenty-four-seven, we both had separate jobs to do. Are you saying someone might have been following her around and we didn’t realise it?”
“Perhaps.” Katy replied, grateful for Charlie stepping in. “As I said, at the moment, all we can do is ask the questions, hoping they’ll give us some insight into what’s gone on in the lead-up to what happened to your wife today. If we can’t find anything along those lines then we’ll be forced to believe that your wife was obviously in the wrong place at the wrong time and someone took a pot shot or two just for the sake of it.”
“Hard to fathom,” he whispered. “Disgusting if that turns out to be the truth. What a waste of a life…” His voice trailed off.
“Indeed. If you have nothing for us, we’re going to go back to her place of work, see if there’s anything there, unless you know of any problems she’d had recently there.”
“No, she loved her work. She got on really well with her colleagues. They’re very supportive of one another, even though their environment can be fraught at times.”
“High pressured, you mean?”
“Yes, the stock market is up and down, as you probably know. Dips and rises, but she never brought any of that angst home with her. She left it at the door. Not sure I would’ve been able to do that if I was in her position. That shows you the type of character she was. Placid in her home life, eager to make all our lives better and less of a challenge when things went wrong at work. Am I making any sense? It sounded jumbled even to my ears.”
“I understand what you’re saying, Toby, don’t worry. I hate to repeat myself, but do you think you’re going to be all right when we leave?”
“Yes, I have a lot to consider. I need to find the right words to break it to the kids. What should I tell them?”
Katy shrugged. “The truth, that their mother won’t be coming home again and leave it at that for now.”
He stared at her. “My kids are very astute, they won’t be satisfied with that statement, Inspector.” He waved a hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll figure it out. You have enough on your plate trying to find a reason, and the killer.” He rose from his seat and walked over to the door.
Katy and Charlie followed him back into the hallway.
He shook their hands at the front door. “Promise me you’ll do your best for my wife.”
“You have my guarantee on that. Sorry for your loss. Here’s my card. If you need to speak to me, please reach out, don’t bottle things up.”
He smiled at that. “Is that a man thing, do you think?”
“Probably. Take care of yourself and your children, Toby. I’ll be in touch with any developments soon.”
“Thank you. Good luck.” He bowed his head and closed the door gently behind them.
“Jesus,” Charlie said, heaving out a large breath. “I don’t envy him having to tell a couple of teenagers, or thereabouts. What a dreadful situation.”
“Yep, life’s a bundle of laughs at times and a pile of shit at others. This situation definitely belongs in the latter category. That was tough.”
“Too right. And we’ve gleaned nothing from the visit at all.”
“Unfortunately. Let’s hope her workmates will be able to point us in the right direction, otherwise it’s going to be yet another albatross around our necks.”
They got back in the car, and Charlie chuckled.
“Sorry, not appropriate in the circumstances, but you do come out with some strange sayings.”
“Glad I amuse you. It makes the day go quicker, right?”
“It does.”
2
The young receptionist greeted them with a warm smile the moment they walked into the building.
“Hello again, back so soon?”
“Yes, we need to interview Grace’s work colleagues.”
“I get that. I’ve been sitting here trying to think of anything that might have happened over the last week or so and I keep drawing a blank. I wish that wasn’t the case. Poor Grace, I can’t stop thinking of her, lying on the pavement, her eyes wide open.”
“You’re going to have to stop punishing yourself like that, otherwise it’ll make you ill. Did Frank get off okay?”
“Yep, bless him. He was super cut up about it. He really, really liked her. Used to tell me she was one of his favourites. Never looked down her nose at anyone even though she was a high-flyer upstairs, at least I think she was.”
“That’s good to hear. Would it be all right if we went up?”
“Sure. I’ll ring ahead and let Jake, the security bloke up there, know you’re on your way.” She pointed to the lift in the corner and picked up the phone. “You want the top floor.”
Katy and Charlie waited for the doors to open and then jumped in.
Katy punched in floor six and blew out a breath. “Can’t say I’m looking forward to asking the same bloody questions over and over in the hope that someone has a tiny snippet of information we can follow up on.”
“I hear you. What else can we do without any other clues to go on?”
“Not a lot. Let’s hope Forensics come up trumps with something soon. I have an ominous feeling about this one.”
“Shrug it off. It’ll only get in the way,” Charlie advised.
Katy smiled at her. “That’s something your mum would say. How is she?”
“Fine. She asks how you’re doing all the time.”
“Checking up on me, eh?”
“No, I didn’t get that impression. More out of concern. I told her I love working alongside you and that we make a good team.”
“Ouch! How did that go down?”