Death in Cold Waters by Tannis Laidlaw

Author:Tannis Laidlaw [Laidlaw, Tannis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: female sleuths, mystery ebooks, murder mystery series, london murder mystery, london mystery, mysteries murders, women sleuths mysteries, british mystery novels, ebooks mystery and crime, murder mystery cat
Publisher: Tannis Laidlaw
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The next morning, once Jade and Wayne had left, Maddie rang the Mayor’s Office again. This time, she allowed the call to be put through. The voice of another young woman said, “Geneva Hopworth here. How may I help?”

“Hi Geneva,” Maddie said. “Mrs Brooks here, Jade’s mother. I’m on my way up to London and Jade said you now work at that wonderful modern City Hall.”

“Yes, I do.” She paused. “Jade Brooks?”

“You two went to the same primary school although Jade was younger. But you both took ballet lessons together.” She rushed on. Jade had only lasted a couple of weeks. “Any chance I could treat you to a coffee this morning? Is there a coffee shop there?”

“Ah, yes,” the young woman said. “Okay. Ten is when I have my break. But I’ll only have fifteen minutes.”

“Great,” Maddie gushed. “How do I get there?”

Geneva proceeded to tell her to go through security at City Hall then descend the spiral staircase. She’d be waiting at the bottom at precisely ten.

Maddie’s grin faded when she realised what her next steps would involve. She’d developed interviewing skills over the years she’d been a Probation Officer and she figured she’d have to be very careful which techniques she could use when meeting up with young Geneva.

Maddie headed for her clothes closet. First, dress the part. She pulled one of her navy blue corporate suits out of the wardrobe and a crisp white blouse and put them on. Low heeled office shoes with a matching shoulder bag completed her costume. For costume it was, albeit playing a familiar role.

She hesitated once dressed and ready to leave. She was well aware she’d rushed into meeting up with Geneva as if the young woman could solve all Henry’s problems. No, this visit with her would just be to initiate contact. No pushing. No direct questioning. Friendly and sympathetic. And to watch the kind of language Geneva used. Including body language. Was it a wild goose chase? Maybe. Even, probably. But still worth it.

She headed for the train station. Taking one of the more direct trains, she soon was in Waterloo Station with only a ten minute walk to City Hall. The building was an architectural wonder, looking something like a gigantic glass helmet, slightly canted to one side. A sight to behold and one that made her smile. She’d never been inside before and felt like a tourist as she approached the entrance.

Once in, she found herself gaping at the magnificent spiral staircase that wound its way up ten or more stories in the grand atrium of the building. But she stopped gawking; she was on a mission. Soon she was through security and heading down into what she expected to be a basement. Instead she found herself in a large curved room overlooking an outdoor amphitheatre. Long tables with gaily coloured chairs were placed end-on to the floor to ceiling windows. She was pleased to have arrived before Geneva so she could orient herself.

Two minutes to ten, Geneva walked down the curved ramp.

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