Devil in the Detail by A.J. Cross

Author:A.J. Cross [Cross, A.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2021-01-10T22:00:00+00:00

NINETEEN

Monday 17 December. 9.50 a.m.

Watts looked up as his office door opened. It was Adam. Like everybody else here, he looked tired. ‘All right?’

‘I’ve done a thorough check of Chloe’s car for prints. No hits.’ He sat on the edge of the table. ‘On the Lawrence investigation, remember I said I’d test the gun for prints?’

‘Yes, and?’

‘Not good news. Only one that’s incomplete and unclear, which doesn’t give us much to work with. I’ll ask Dr Chong if she thinks Supergluing it might help. I’ll also test the gun for DNA. Keep you posted.’

He walked to the door, passing Judd on the way inside.

Watts tracked her, thinking she looked better than she had the previous day. Not bad at all, in fact. He still felt the need for some testing of the waters.

‘How’s things?’

She tugged smartly at the bottom edge of her jacket. ‘Fine. A new day, and all that crap.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Traffic’s bad. We need to get going.’

They were waiting in silence inside Molly Lawrence’s sitting room. They stood as she came in and closed the door, Judd’s silent appraisal echoing what Traynor had told them: she had lost weight. She sat opposite them, violet shadows beneath her eyes.

‘My mother is in the kitchen,’ she said quietly. ‘I don’t want her hearing what’s said. I don’t know what I’d do without her here, but we’re so busy looking after each other it’s exhausting both of us.’

Watts said, ‘You’ve already met PC Chloe Judd.’

Molly gave a faint smile. ‘Yes. I remember.’

‘I’m Detective Inspector Bernard Watts and I’m in charge of the investigation.’ She gazed at him in silence. ‘How are you feeling, generally?’

‘I’m getting there. You have some news?’

‘Yes. We’ve recovered the gun.’

She half-stood, her eyes starting to roll. On his feet, he took her by her upper arms and lowered her to the sofa, thinking how light she was. She took a couple of breaths.

‘I’m OK … really, I’m all right.’

‘Shall I get your mother?’ he asked.

‘No.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Where was it? The gun?’

‘That’s something I can’t divulge, just now.’

She hung her head, the heavy curtain of hair falling around her face. ‘I just can’t … it’s so senseless. I, Mike … we never hurt anybody.’

Watts waited, seeing anxiety on Judd’s face. He took a card from his jacket pocket, held it out. ‘Mrs Lawrence, I understand this is a difficult time but I want you to know that we really appreciate you talking to Dr Traynor, but if anything at all occurs to you in the meantime, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem, call me on one of those numbers.’

She looked at the card then up at Watts. ‘You’re hoping I’ll suddenly come up with something which explains the inexplicable?’ She shook her head. ‘I’ll never make sense of what’s happened.’ She took a breath. ‘And, if I did, what would change for me? I’d still be here, alone, frightened. The whole thing is just … senseless.’

Watts glanced at Judd.

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