Blood on Snow by Rachel Amphlett

Author:Rachel Amphlett [Amphlett, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Saxon Publishing

Chapter Five

Kay opened the car door before Christie had applied the handbrake, her jaw set as she stalked around the front of the car and waited for him to climb out.

Fine snowflakes stuck to her hair and clung to her wool coat, obscuring the arc lights that shone over the warehouse car park and six articulated trucks parked outside loading bays.

A peacefulness enveloped the industrial park, the snow muting the sounds emanating from the low-slung brick building that housed the food distribution company.

‘I’ll lead this one,’ Christie said, aiming the key fob over his shoulder as they hurried towards a set of open roller doors. ‘Give me a signal if you notice something I don’t, or if you want to jump in with a question. We’ll keep this formal, but I don’t want to make him nervous. According to Sharp, Andrew Carter is still a suspect, too.’

‘Will do. Are you going to the post mortem in the morning?’

‘Yes. Want to come?’

She grimaced. ‘Only if you need me.’

‘I’ll let you continue going through the statements. We’ll catch up when I get back if you like?’

‘Sounds good, thanks.’

‘Here we go.’ He held up his warrant card to a man in an orange high visibility vest who emerged from a small office to the left of the doors and walked towards them. ‘We’re looking for Ryan West.’

‘Can’t he talk to you later? He’s working.’

‘And we’re investigating a murder so it won’t wait.’ Christie cocked his head to one side. ‘I’m sure you understand.’

The man swallowed, then pointed to where a forklift was moving back and forth between floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked with crates of tomatoes and lettuces. ‘He’s over there. You’ll need to complete a health and safety assessment first, though – I can’t have you wandering around here without it.’

‘Tell you what,’ said Christie, nodding towards the open office door. ‘Why don’t we wait in there, and you tell Ryan to join us? It’ll be safer that way, and save us some time as well.’

The man exhaled before turning away.

‘What if West makes a run for it?’ said Kay, glancing over her shoulder as she followed Christie into the office.

‘He won’t get far.’ Christie leaned against a wall and ran his gaze over the paperwork pinned to a corkboard beside him. ‘Anyway, we know where he lives, right?’

Moments later, Ryan West entered the room wiping his hands on a rag and wearing a sullen expression.

‘Mr West, take a seat.’ Christie spun around the single chair in the office, the castors rattling as if about to fall off, and patted his hand on the back of it. ‘Hopefully this won’t take a minute.’

‘I’ll stand, thanks.’ West flipped the rag over his shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest. ‘What do you want?’

‘Very well.’ Christie recited the formal caution, his voice level. ‘We’d like you to explain where you were last night.’

Kay heard West swallow, then stepped towards the doorway as the man’s gaze shifted. ‘Just tell us the truth, Ryan.’

He emitted a strangled groan, then shook his head.

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