The Stone Chamber: Book 25 in the DI Wesley Peterson crime series by Kate Ellis

Author:Kate Ellis [Ellis, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
Published: 2021-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

33

Tel seemed nervous, which wasn’t surprising. Being inside a mortuary had that effect on people. Wesley had become used to it over the years, but he couldn’t forget how he’d felt on his first visit. He’d been sick after watching the procedure, something he’d never shared with his parents or his sister.

Tel’s only role on this occasion was to conduct the identification from behind glass with the body respectfully covered until the sheet was folded back to reveal the face. Even so, when he saw the small, neat bullet hole in the dead man’s forehead, he turned ash pale and looked as though he was on the point of fainting.

The post-mortem itself held few surprises. Nathan had been an occasional drug user and his diet had been atrocious. A sad life, Colin said matter-of-factly. The bullet wound he’d sustained was very similar to those of the Gerdners, and the body showed no signs of having been moved, so he’d probably died where he was found. He had been shot at fairly close range – again just like the Gerdners – and when Wesley pressed Colin about the likelihood of the same weapon having been used, all the pathologist would say was that he couldn’t rule it out. The bullet had been found in the alley, so they’d have to wait for the ballistics report to see whether it was a match.

When Wesley and Gerry emerged from the hospital, they found Tel at the entrance, smoking a cigarette. He wasn’t the only one indulging in this particular vice. Patients in hospital gowns and pyjamas, some hooked up to drips, were also puffing away against medical advice, in spite of the chill in the air.

Tel stubbed his cigarette out on the ground when he saw them walking towards him.

‘Thanks for waiting, Tel,’ said Wesley.

‘Saves us coming to look for you,’ Gerry chipped in, giving the lad a threatening stare.

‘You OK?’ Wesley asked, wishing Gerry would abandon the role of nasty cop. They needed Tel’s co-operation.

‘Suppose so.’ His manner told Wesley that his recent experience at the mortuary had left him shaken.

‘Want a coffee? There’s a café nearby. Or maybe you could do with something stronger.’

‘Cup of tea’d be good,’ said Tel, casting a cautious look in Gerry’s direction.

‘I expect you have to get back to the incident room, Chief Inspector,’ said Wesley, hoping Gerry would take the hint. He knew he’d get more information out of Tel if they spoke alone, good cop to potential witness. And he couldn’t trust Gerry not to ruin any atmosphere of trust with one of his sharp remarks.

To his relief, Gerry said he had to update Noreen Fitton on the latest development so he’d get a patrol car to take him back to Tradmouth.

Wesley and Tel walked in silence to the café, which stood round the corner from the hospital. It was an unpretentious place, one up from a greasy spoon. The tea was strong and the tannin stung the roof of Wesley’s mouth. But Tel was looking more relaxed and that had been his intention.

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