The Cairn (Cumbria Crime Book 3) by Rachel McLean & Joel Hames

Author:Rachel McLean & Joel Hames [McLean, Rachel & Hames, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing
Published: 2024-05-16T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Again, there was no sign of Fiona’s assistant; Luke would have left by now, and Zoe found herself missing his quiet presence, his guarded but helpful expressions. She could hear Alan Markin’s voice inside, and decided to wait.

When the door opened, Markin walked straight past her, then stopped a few feet away and turned to stare at her.

“Sorry,” he said. “Didn’t see you there.”

Before she could reply, he’d walked away, but she’d seen what two days on the Roddy Chen case had done to him. Alan Markin had never been the healthiest-looking specimen, but he’d aged a decade, his face drawn, his eyes bloodshot.

Zoe shook her head, knocked on Fiona’s door, and entered when instructed.

The super was sitting back with her eyes closed. She didn’t open them until Zoe had sat down and waited for a couple of seconds. Whatever she’d been discussing with Markin, it hadn’t gone well.

“Fiona,” Zoe said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Fiona sat forward, frowning. “What do you mean?”

Zoe pointed out towards the corridor. “Alan. The case. I know we’ve got enough to be getting on with ourselves, but I’m sure you’ll be getting a lot of pressure about Roddy, and Alan will be, too, and…”

Fiona stared at her, expressionless.

“I just wanted to say that if there’s anything we can do, me, my team, whatever it is, just let me know.”

Fiona’s face remained blank, then relaxed into a smile, accompanied by the sort of deep breath that suggested Zoe had said the right thing.

“Thanks,” she said. “You’re right, you’ve got too much going on yourself, and I can’t think of anything you can do to help. But the offer is noted and appreciated. I’ll call it in if I need to. In the meantime, the best you can do is give me some good news about your fell runner.”

“In that case, I’m going to have to disappoint you,” Zoe replied, and went on to outline the progress, or lack of it, in the Laurence Eversholt case.

Fiona cocked her head. “So you’ve got a missing bookie, a woman with a grudge and an able-bodied son, neither of whom has a solid alibi, and a lover and a businessman, both of whom lied about knowing the victim. Sounds like you’ve got too many leads.”

“Dean Somerville and Harry Patel are suspicious,” Zoe replied, “but I don’t think either of them is involved. I’ll want to talk to Susan and Marcus Masters, though. And we’re following up on Laurence’s clients. Quite a few of them seem to have involved William Freeburn McNeil Todd, which isn’t ideal, because Alexis Todd’s on sick leave, and⁠—”

“Alistair Freeburn being as cooperative as usual, is he?” interrupted Fiona.

Zoe looked up, surprised. Fiona was shaking her head, but smiling.

“Leave it with me, Zoe. Is there anything else?”

Zoe shook her head, standing up. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She hesitated, then sat down again. “There is one other matter.”

“Yes?”

“Kay Holinshed. She’s a civilian, usually works in Records. I had her seconded to my team, but she seems to have disappeared.

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