The Cavendish & Walker Series: Books 4-6 by Sally Rigby

Author:Sally Rigby [Rigby, Sally]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Top Drawer Press
Published: 2021-05-31T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Whitney pulled up outside the large, red-brick Edwardian house, and slammed on the brakes. A third victim, Pamela Whitehouse, had been found in Woodford, a village on the outskirts of the city. She’d driven there with Matt immediately after getting the news. They walked up the circular drive to the front door where there stood a uniformed officer, and signed the log.

‘Where’s the body?’

‘In the bedroom,’ the officer replied.

‘Who found her?’

‘The son. He’s inside with PC Timms.’

‘Matt, go and find the son, and speak to him. I’m going upstairs to the crime scene. I’ll be down shortly.’

Whitney reached the top of the stairs and was greeted by Claire pulling on her white coveralls. She smiled to herself as she caught a glimpse of the pathologist’s bright purple trousers and turquoise shirt. One day she’d ask her where she shopped.

‘Good morning, Claire.’

‘I haven’t got in there yet, so you’ll have to stay here. I’ll call you when you can come in.’

‘No problem. I’m assuming it’s the same scenario as the others?’ she said.

‘We don’t assume anything,’ Claire said.

‘Okay, let’s say it’s most likely, based on what we’ve been told.’

‘Where’s your other half?’

‘Matt’s downstairs with the victim’s son.’

‘I meant George.’

Whitney frowned. ‘She’s not here. Why do you ask? We’re not always together.’

‘Is there something going on between you?’

‘Why?’ What the heck was going on? Claire rarely spoke about anything personal.

‘It was obvious by the tension between the two of you when you came to the morgue the other day.’

‘We have some issues that we’re trying to sort out. We’re getting there.’

‘What issues?’ Claire stared at her, hands on her hips.

‘Tiffany wants to drop out of university, to go travelling. She said she’ll go back to studying later on, but who knows. She went to see George instead of me to discuss it.’

‘Why wouldn’t she speak to George, as she works at the university? She’s the perfect person to ask.’

Whitney pursed her lips. ‘Don’t you start. I’m the perfect person to ask as I’m her mother. No one else. We’ve never had secrets in the past.’

‘But you can’t be objective in the same way as George,’ Claire said.

‘It doesn’t need objectivity.’

‘Now you’re being ridiculous.’ Claire rolled her eyes.

‘I don’t wish to discuss this further. Everyone is ganging up on me. Tiffany’s my daughter and she should have spoken to me first, and then we could have approached George together. End of story.’

‘How old are you?’ Claire said, shaking her head. ‘“Everyone’s ganging up on me”. You sound like a teenager. Pull yourself together. You’re a grown woman, with a responsible job, so I suggest you act like it.’

Whitney’s fists clenched by her side. She could swing for Claire. What the hell did she know? She didn’t have children. Then again…

She dragged in a long, calming, breath.

Was Claire speaking the truth? Did she sound childish?

‘Maybe you’re right. It’s just as far as Tiffany’s concerned, it’s hard for me to be objective,’ she admitted.

‘Glad you see it my way. Anyway, I can’t stand here talking all day.

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