A Whisper Of Evil: A gripping British detective crime thriller (A DI CHILCOTT MYSTERY Book 3) by James D Mortain

Author:James D Mortain [Mortain, James D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Manvers Publishing
Published: 2022-05-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

It took them almost fifty minutes to arrive back at the incident room. Chilcott had stewed the whole way back, and Chowdhury knew better than to interrupt Chilcott when he was deep in thought.

‘Any update?’ Chilcott asked as they strode purposefully through the incident room. A team of five detectives had the sole purpose of fielding incoming calls resulting from the press release, like a mini Crimewatch call centre.

‘It’s been a pretty good response, boss,’ DC McEwan said. ‘A couple of drivers saying they think they saw him on the roadside but didn’t stop.’

‘Where exactly?’

‘The main B3110, boss.’

‘That doesn’t take us any further. We already know that.’

‘We’ve also had the usual nut-job calls, too; alien abductions, Elvis and the like.’

‘Is there anything worth following up tonight?’

McEwan rocked his head. ‘Not from me, boss. I don’t know about the others?’

A hand went up from DC Penny Chiba on the opposite side of the desk, and she beckoned Chilcott and Chowdhury over to her. She was talking on the phone.

‘Mrs Coates,’ she said, ‘would you mind if I just put you on hold for a second, please?’

DC Chiba pressed the mute button and turned to Chilcott and Chowdhury with lively, wide-eyed excitement.

‘I’ve got his ex-wife on the line,’ she whispered, even though the line was muted.

‘Where is she?’

‘She’s in St Albans, North of London, sir.’

‘What’s she saying?’

‘I’ve only been talking to her for about half a minute, sir. She saw the TV report and heard her husband’s name.’

‘Can I?’ Chilcott asked, holding out a hand to take the phone receiver.

DC Chiba vacated her chair, and Chilcott sat down. Mrs Coates? he mouthed to DC Chiba, who nodded.

‘Hello, Mrs Coates. My name is Detective Inspector Robbie Chilcott.’

‘Oh, hello,’ Mrs Coates answered, sounding anxious.

‘I don’t know if my colleague has already told you, but the investigation team are based in Bristol.’

‘Um, yes. Yes, she did say something about that.’

‘And is it right that you are in St Albans?’

‘Yes. Nearby. I’m with my parents.’

‘Visiting?’

‘No, I… I live here… now.’ Her voice trailed away.

‘Can I ask the reason for you calling the incident room tonight, please? I don’t want to make any assumptions.’

‘I heard my ex-husband’s name mentioned on the TV. Was it you? Were you the one on the TV?’

‘Yes, it was me. I’m very sorry you heard about your husband this way.’

‘Is it true? Has Travis been arrested?’

Chilcott glanced up at the others watching him keenly.

‘Yes. I’m afraid to say that Travis Yardley has been arrested. And he is helping us with our investigation.’

‘Investigation? What has he done?’ Mrs Coates’ voice was wavering as she spoke.

‘We… we don’t yet know, to be honest, Mrs Coates.’

‘Then why has he been arrested?’

‘Mrs Coates, your husb— sorry, ex-husband is fine. He’s in one of our police stations near Bath.’

Mrs Coates didn’t respond.

‘Has Travis had anything significant happen to him recently, perhaps, something that might have bothered him unduly – money worries, a difficult family bereavement…?’

Mrs Coates went quiet for half a minute as she thought about the question.

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