Shot of Silence (Justice Again Book 3)

by M A Comley

  She left the kitchen and returned wearing a frown. “Where’s madam?”

  “I asked a question first, Katy, stop avoiding the bloody huge elephant in the room.”

  “Don’t have a go at me, AJ. Do that, and you won’t get anything out of me.”

  He marched towards her and gripped the tops of her arms. His voice softened. “It’s only because I care.”

  “I know you do, but there are ways of talking to your wife if you want an honest response.”

  He kissed her on the lips and then gently touched the bruised skin around the large swelling. “Who hurt my baby?”

  “A madman. You’re lucky I’m still alive.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted saying them. Her eyes closed, and she braced herself for the barrage she feared was on the way.

  Instead, AJ reached for her hand and led her to the kitchen table. He pulled out two chairs, and they both sank into them.

  “I’m angry because I care. I’m not apportioning blame, love, you should know that by now.”

  “I do and I love you even more for being the kind and supportive husband you are. Honestly, I’m fine. A little concussion, that’s all.”

  “What? Don’t tell me you drove yourself home?”

  “Okay, I won’t.” She smiled and touched his cheek. “Don’t have a go, please. It’s been an exceptionally hard day. Two murders, and me being within an inch of the killer…” She squeezed her eyes shut, sensing he was about to explode.

  He stood and tipped his chair on the floor. “What? Don’t tell me that and expect me not to be concerned or angry, Katy. What were you thinking? Putting your life in danger like that when you have a family…”

  Katy smiled and tugged on his arm. “Sit down, stop mouthing off and listen to me.”

  He righted his chair and sat again. She reached for both of his hands and held them tight as she relayed the events of the day.

  “Jesus. Why? Why put yourself in danger like that? Why not call for the armed response guys right away? I can’t figure out if you’re brave or stupid.”

  “Thanks, I’m gravitating more towards being brave myself.”

  “Why didn’t you come straight home from the hospital? I’ll be having words with Charlie about this.”

  “Oh no you won’t. She insisted I come home, but I was determined to work on. My head got clearer by the hour. Yes, it’s a bit muzzy now, but that’s to be expected.”

  “Because I’m having a go at you, that’s what you’re saying, right?”

  She grinned. “Possibly. AJ, look at it this way, I’m still here. Living and breathing and sitting right here with my gorgeous, caring fella. Now, answer my question, where’s Georgie?”

  “She’s staying at a friend’s house, it was a last-minute decision. I was kind of put on the spot when Samir asked me at the school gate in front of Georgie. I didn’t have the heart to say no, her eyes were silently pleading with me.”

  “Aw…I know how persuasive she can be. She’s got us both wrapped around her little finger, hasn’t she? Hey, all turned out good in the end, saved you dragging her to the party, didn’t it?”

  “That’s not why I did it. But yes, it worked out well for both of us.”

  “And how did your first gig go down?”

  “Brilliantly.” His face lit up, all the worry lines dispersing in an instant.

  Katy’s heart warmed. “I’m so pleased. Tell me all about it. I’m dying to know all the details.”

  He glanced over at the stove. “Let me finish off the dinner first. I need to put the pasta on.”

  “Have I got time to get changed?”

  “Sure. Do you need me to help you get up the stairs?”

  Katy tutted and shook her head. “Nope, but thanks for caring.”

  They shared a kiss, and both smiled when they parted.

  “I wouldn’t be the same if ever I lost you, Katy.”

  “Ditto, sweet cheeks.” She rose from her chair and clutched the side of the table to keep herself upright for an instant. Luckily, AJ was none the wiser because he was already pouring the pasta into the pot and filling it with water from the kettle. “I won’t be long.”

  AJ was too busy concentrating on his creation to notice her leave. She held on tight to the bannister and made it up the stairs without further incident. After entering the bedroom, she sank onto the comfy mattress, removed her jacket and undid her blouse. Hitching it off her shoulders produced a sharp pain that pulled at her chest. She stood and surveyed the damage the butt of the killer’s gun had caused. Above her breasts lay an angry bruise the size of a clenched boxing glove. She winced and traced the bruise with her fingertips. Fucker, you really did a number on me. One way or another, I’m going to make you pay for hurting me, mark my words!

  After having a quick wash, instead of changing into her leisure suit, she decided to slip into a pair of heavyweight tartan pyjamas, ones that had a zipper at the neck which she knew would hide the damage from AJ.

  She eased her way back down the stairs and into the kitchen.

  AJ turned her way. “That’s unusual for you to get ready for bed so early. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine. Being lazy and cutting out a chore for later, that’s all. Is dinner ready yet? Want me to lay the table?”

  “Nope, it’s all in hand. I thought we’d be slouches tonight and have it on our laps in front of the TV, if that’s okay with you?”

  She smiled. “What you’re really saying is you intend to make the most of not running around after a five-year-old.”

  “That as well. Go through, I’m going to dish up. There’s a list of films I’ve noted down on the pad in there. Take your pick, and we can start watching it as soon as I bring the dinner in.”

  “I wouldn’t know where to begin, the choice is yours tonight.”

  “I’ll sort it out then. Fancy a glass of wine? Will your head take it?”

  “I’m not sure. I think I’ll stick with an orange juice, if that’s all right?”

  “Of course it is.”

  Dinner turned out to be the satisfaction her body was craving to ease her pain and discomfort. Engrossed in the film, AJ cuddled her, and she drifted off to sleep not long after she’d devoured her spaghetti bolognaise. She woke up a few hours later when AJ tried to lift her from the couch. “Leave me here, I’ll be fine,” she mumbled sleepily.

  So he did.

  5

  Katy drove into work, her head still groggy from the decent night’s sleep she’d had. AJ fussed around, fixing her a cooked breakfast which she gobbled down after her morning shower. She’d studied the bruising to her forehead and chest in the steamed-up mirror. They were both far more prominent than the night before. She’d ensured she got changed in the bathroom that morning, in case AJ noticed the discolouration to her chest.

  Arriving at the station, she was delighted to find the rest of the team already seated at their desks. She smiled, trying to convince them she felt perkier than she actually did, knowing that a couple of coffees would brighten her mood within the first hour.

  Katy carried her first caffeine fix into the office. The phone rang within seconds of her taking a seat. Coffee in hand, she answered the call and then took a welcoming sip.

  “Sorry to trouble you, ma’am…”

  “Go on, Mick, it’s always ominous when you ring me.”

  “I’ve heard something along the lines that there’s been a shooting, ma’am, and thought I’d give you the heads-up first, before anyone else.”

  “Shit! What type of shooting?”

  “One involving bullets. Sorry, I couldn’t resist it. I’m not sure if it’s connected to what went on yesterday, but I’d rather highlight it from the outset. Wouldn’t want you coming down heavily on me if it turns out I screwed up.”

  “You’re a very wise man. I’ll make the team aware and be with you in a few minutes. Have the details ready for me.”

  “Will do, ma’am.”

  Katy sl
urped at her drink, annoyed it wasn’t cool enough for her to finish it. She detested taking drinks in the car with her. The idea always turned out to be a bad one when it went cold before she remembered to drink it.

  She entered the incident room. “Charlie, sup up, we’re on the move. I’ve had word of another shooting. Unsure if it’s connected to the investigation as yet. We’ll know more once we’ve attended the scene. I need you guys to make a start on obtaining all the CCTV footage and sifting through the backgrounds of the victims, in our absence, and don’t forget to seek help from your contacts on the street.”

  She and Charlie made their way out of the station.

  She threw Charlie the keys to her car. “You can drive, I’m still not a hundred percent, and that’s between you and me. I don’t want it going any further, you hear me?”

  “I do. I’ll bite down on the lecture that’s sitting on the tip of my tongue then. It wouldn’t do any good airing it anyway, would it?”

  Katy smiled over the top of her car. “You’re learning quickly, partner.”

  Charlie shook her head and got in. The journey was easier with the aid of the siren. Fifteen minutes later, Charlie brought the car to a halt outside a three-storey townhouse, the render of which had been painted in a deep pink.

  “Yuck, who would want to do that to their house?”

  “Maybe they inherited the colour. Either that or their intent was to make a statement, and they’ve definitely succeeded there.”

  There was a huge police presence. SOCO and Patti were in attendance and in the process of setting up.

  “I have a couple of spare suits in the boot. I’ll get them,” Katy announced. She hung on to the door and eased herself out.

  “Shit, boss. You can’t work in that state,” Charlie reprimanded her through a hissed exchange.

  “Hush now. I’ll be fine in a moment. It passes within seconds, once I’m upright.”

  “There’s no point in me saying anything, is there?” Charlie joined her at the rear of the car, and the boot sprang open.

  “Nope. Give it a rest, partner. I’m fine. The more you go on about it the more I’ll dig my heels in.”

  “You don’t say.” Charlie extracted a suit and stepped into it.

  Katy could tell Charlie was narked. Neither of them spoke again until they reached Patti.

  “Hello, you two. Hard to tell if this is connected or not. I thought I’d jump in early before you got around to asking the inevitable question. How’s your head? It looks nasty.”

  Katy inhaled a breath. “It’s getting better by the hour, stop fussing. I can’t catch a bloody killer sitting on my sofa at home, can I? Now, I know you both mean well.” She pointed at Patti and then Charlie. “But the quicker you realise I’m not about to give in to this the better. Back to the reason why we’re here, if you don’t mind?”

  Patti pulled a face at her. “Pardon me for caring. I won’t bother in the future.”

  “Patti! I didn’t mean to offend. You’d be the same if the tables were turned, and don’t try and tell me otherwise.”

  “Okay, you might have a point there. Let’s call it a truce for now. What have we got here? Well, our victim was arriving home from his shift at a factory—he works nights, and no, he hasn’t been here all night before you leap on me for that.”

  Katy smiled. “The thought hadn’t occurred to me to ask. Go on.”

  “He parked the car, and a couple of the neighbours said a man emerged from the hedge and opened fire on him. Just gunned him down in broad daylight without a frigging care in the world.”

  “Don’t tell me, the gunman was wearing a damn mask?”

  “You’ve got it. His disguise is giving him untold bravery, that’s what I’m reading into it.”

  “Yep, I’m inclined to agree with you. The witnesses, did they say anything else?”

  “No, I called a halt to that. I’ve got enough on my plate with three victims to cut open and analyse. It’s your job to get to the nitty-gritty side of things.”

  Katy stared at her. “Are you taking the piss? I’m well aware of what our job entails, I don’t need to be reminded by you or anyone else.”

  Patti stared at Katy and then turned her attention to Charlie. “My advice would be to get your partner out of my face if she’s going to take that tone with me.”

  Charlie shuffled her feet, seemingly uncomfortable to be stuck in the middle.

  Patti and Katy burst out laughing.

  “Had you worried there, Charlie,” Patti said. “You’ll get used to us sniping at each other, we’re the best of friends deep down.”

  Charlie’s head swivelled between Katy and Patti. “Thanks, guys. I nearly shat myself back there, then.”

  “On with the case,” Katy said. It felt good to feel normal again after a rough twelve hours or so. “Charlie, I need you to question the witnesses. Take down any relevant information from them but leave a statement for now, we haven’t got the time. I’ll ask uniform to sort that out later.”

  Patti pointed at a cluster of people off to the left. “They’re over there. Good luck.”

  “Thanks,” Charlie said and walked off.

  Katy smiled at Patti. “We’re going to have to stop doing that, her face was a picture.”

  “Yeah, we should. Right, professional heads on.” Patti took a few steps towards the body which had been covered with a white sheet.

  Katy crouched down beside her, and her knee dropped to the ground.

  “Are you all right?” Patti asked.

  “I’m fine. Sudden movements tend to catch me off-guard, that’s all. How many times was he shot?”

  “At least six. All to the chest. There was no way he could survive such an ambush.”

  “What a shame. Do we know who he is?”

  “His significant other is inside, you’ll need to speak to her. When we arrived, she wasn’t making much sense.”

  “Bugger, poor woman. I’ll nip in and see her soon. Was the killer hanging around, aware of what time he got home? Or did he follow him home and make a concerted effort to kill him outside his house?”

  “I can’t give you an answer to either of those, sorry, not in my remit.”

  “I know. Just me thinking out loud. I’ll see what the wife has to say and speak to you later.”

  Katy glanced over her shoulder at Charlie who was busy scribbling down some notes while the three men animatedly spoke to her. I’d still rather swap roles with her at the moment.

  Sucking in a few calming breaths, she rang the bell and waited for the woman to answer. She didn’t have to wait long. “Hi, I’m the Senior Investigating Officer, DI Katy Foster. Can I come in and have a chat with you? Are you up to it?”

  The young blonde wiped away the tears and dabbed a tissue under her nose. “Yes, come in.”

  Katy followed her into a cosy lounge, a gas fire ablaze on high, obviously to combat the shock she was suffering. The woman sat and clenched her hands tightly in her lap.

  Katy noticed them trembling.

  “Why?” the woman whispered without looking up.

  “I don’t know is the truthful answer. I was hoping you would be able to point us in the right direction.”

  “Me? I know nothing. We were so happy, content and planning our wedding. Oh God, that’s never going to happen now, is it? Of course it isn’t, not if he’s dead.” She shook her head and swiped at the fresh tears falling.

  “You have my sincere condolences. I can imagine how difficult this must be for you right now. Are you up to talking to me? Is there anyone I can call to come and be with you?”

  “No. I can deal with this by myself—at least I think I can. Why him? He’s done nothing wrong. He gets on with everyone and enjoys his job. Who would do such a thing?”

  “Have you known each other long?”

  “Around three years.”

  “Where did you meet?”

  Her face lit up. “I was on a night out with my girlfriends. He asked me to slow
dance with him at the end of the evening, and I lost my heart to him that night.” She sobbed and covered her face with her shaking hands.

  “I’m so sorry, I know this is hard for you. Please, had your fiancé recently fallen out with anyone perhaps?”

  “No, as I said, we were making plans to get married. He hasn’t seen his friends in months; we’ve been tied up every night, going through all the arrangements.”

  “What about at work? Has he had a possible run-in with anyone there, perhaps?”

  “No, they think the world of him there. He was the night manager on the shift. People came to him if they had any problems or were in trouble of any kind. Oh God…” She glanced at the door and shook her head. “I can’t believe he’s never going to walk through that door again, ever. How will I cope without him? We had become inseparable since we announced our wedding a few months ago. Everyone was so happy for us.” She motioned at the cards decorating the pieces of furniture as well as the two windowsills.

  “It would help if you could give me some background information on your fiancé, sorry, what was his name? I should have asked.”

  “Rufus Wright.”

  “And yours is?”

  “Camilla Boyd.”

  “May I call you Camilla?”

  “Of course. I can’t give you anything else, my mind is in turmoil at the moment. I can’t think beyond seeing him lying there out on the pavement. Am I ever going to be able to rid myself of the images? If so, when? Every time I close my eyes, I see him. His eyes wide open, staring at me but unable to see me. He’ll never know how much I loved him. How much I will grieve for him. I will never meet someone as caring as he was, ever.”

  “What about past girlfriends, did he have many of those?”

  She swallowed and nodded. “Back in the day he had an eye for the ladies, but when we met, everything changed. That night we fell in love and…”

  “I understand. Over the last few months, do you recall Rufus having any dealings with any of his exes?”

  “No, nothing. He would have told me. We had no secrets.”

  “What about you? Have you had many previous boyfriends?”