[The Mechanic 01.0] Those That Remain by Rob Ashman

Author:Rob Ashman [Ashman, Rob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thriller, Mystery
Publisher: Rob Ashman
Published: 2016-10-08T04:00:00+00:00

25

While Lucas was negotiating a way forward with Harper, Bassano and Jo Sells had been trying to coax answers out of Lillian Lang. They’d decided that there was little point revisiting Julie Tate. It was early evening and Julie would have at least half a bottle of gin inside her.

Bassano had spent much of the afternoon in the car with Jo, trying hard to impress her. He talked about his home life, his messy divorce and his job. She said very little even though he asked her about her doctorate, her training and what she did for kicks. Despite the one-way conversation, Bassano was sure she was interested, it was just a matter of time.

Bassano wasn’t phased by her unresponsiveness, and instead was engrossed by the unruly button on her blouse which kept popping open. Even if she had been talkative, he probably wouldn’t have heard a word she said. His assessment of the afternoon was, ‘Not as chatty as she could be but great buttons.’ Her assessment was, ‘He’s a dick.’

While Jo battled to keep her blouse under control, Lillian Lang posed a challenge of a different kind. It was clear that she didn’t like Bassano and couldn’t understand why she had to talk to him. After all, she had spoken to the other, much nicer, police officers only hours earlier. Bassano tried to take the lead in the discussion but it was obvious he was going to get nowhere.

Jo took over and was very skilful. She ensured that any animosity Lang felt remained focused on Bassano, while she gently probed for the information they wanted. After a period of introductory chit chat Jo cultivated an effective rapport with Lillian, despite Bassano sitting there like a sulky schoolboy.

Lillian Lang confirmed that her marriage had been in trouble at the time of the murders and she was considering leaving, but this was information they already knew. Jo persisted with her line of questioning about whether Lillian had told any of her close friends about the difficulties. She was adamant that no one close to her knew how she felt. The more Jo persevered, the more Lang was resolute with her answers. But there was something nagging at Jo and Bassano. Lillian’s answers were far too precise, she was being very careful with what she said.

Both sensed she was holding back.

‘I find it difficult to understand that a woman in your position wouldn’t share her problems with any of her close friends,’ Jo said.

‘Well perhaps you can’t, but that’s the way it was. Not one of them knew,’ Lang replied.

‘You shared it with no one? I’m struggling to believe that, Mrs Lang.’

Lillian hesitated for a moment as if she was fighting with her conscience. ‘I didn’t say that,’ she said in a whisper.

‘What?’ replied Jo.

‘I didn’t share it with any of my close friends, but I did share it with a counsellor.’

Now the words came flooding out.

Lillian explained how she’d been ashamed of using a counsellor and had been reluctant to talk about it.

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