A Painted Doom (Wesley Peterson) by Ellis Kate

Author:Ellis, Kate [Ellis, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780748126712
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2011-01-06T00:00:00+00:00

‘Where’s the chief inspector?’ Wesley asked as he made for his desk. The lunch had been good and he felt pleasantly full. It was a pity he had to return to the station instead of enjoying a leisurely Sunday in the bosom of his family.

It was Rachel who answered. ‘He’s down in the interview room questioning Alec Treadly, and he’s left us to phone everyone in Jonny Shellmer’s address book. Did you enjoy your lunch?’

‘Yes, thank you. It was lovely.’

‘How’s your mum enjoying Morbay?’

‘She’s spent most of her time at the conference, so she hasn’t had much time for sightseeing.’

‘She’s not missing much,’ Rachel answered with a smile. ‘The boss took Steve down with him to interview Treadly,’ she went on, suddenly solemn. ‘Do you fancy relieving one of them? Fresh face, fresh approach?’

Wesley shook his head. If possible he wanted to avoid spending any time cooped up with a paedophile. ‘I’m sure Steve and the boss are managing okay,’ he said quickly. ‘I’ll give you a hand with the phone calls. Have you come across anything interesting yet?’

‘Angela Simms’s number’s in the book.’ She looked at him expectantly but Wesley made no comment. He was thinking.

‘I know. Anything else?’

‘Most of the numbers are in London. Everyone seemed quite shocked and eager to help and there was nothing that rung any warning bells. The Met are going to have a word with the people who claimed to know him well.’

‘What about the ex-member of Rock Boat who lives in Gloucestershire?’

‘No reply. I’ve a feeling that one might be worth following up.’ She opened Shellmer’s address book. ‘Then there’s a number written in the front of the book with no name by it. I rang it and guess who answered. Jack Cromer – the TV presenter. It’s his number.’

Wesley raised his eyebrows. Jack Cromer was a household name. He had started his TV career by presenting popular consumer watchdog programmes, but now he was famed for his aggressive interviewing technique. His rise in the BBC had been fairly meteoric. He habitually made mincemeat of the victims on his programme – it was rumoured that he had reduced some unfortunate spokes-woman for a holiday company to tears with interrogation techniques more brutal than anything permitted by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. And now, along with several of his fellow celebrities, he had a second home in Derenham.

‘Will you interview him or shall I?’ Wesley asked nervously.

‘Rather you than me. I said someone’d be round to have a word this afternoon. He’s travelling back to London tonight. We can both go if you like. Moral support.’

‘We’ll need it. I’ve seen grown men turned into quivering jellies by Jack Cromer.’

Rachel smiled. ‘But don’t forget, it’s us who’ll be asking the questions this time. Shall we go over to Derenham and get it over with?’

As they were about to leave the office a young uniformed constable handed Wesley a sheet of paper.

‘What is it?’ asked Rachel, hoping it was nothing that would take Wesley away and oblige her to face Jack Cromer alone.

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