Benedict and Bear by Lisa Oliver

Author:Lisa Oliver [Oliver, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-19T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Dixon hated the detective on sight. The man jumped out of his seat, leaning across his desk, holding his hand out to Benedict. “Hi there. I'm Detective Crampton. You can call me Rob. You must be...”

“I'm Benedict Dule,” Benedict said crisply shaking the hand barely before dropping it and moving over to the nearest seat. “This is Mr. Cottle, who you wanted to speak with.”

“I must say I'm surprised,” Rob said, shaking Dixon's hand, quickly sizing him up. Dixon’s bear could feel the challenge from the man, and he wondered why Rob had instinctively disliked him, too. Was it because of Benedict?

Rob wasn’t giving any sense he was paranormal, but that didn’t stop Dixon from feeling on edge almost immediately. Realizing it was possibly because he never picked up anything “other” about Paul either, Dixon was still not happy as he took the seat next to Benedict. Rob had sized him up and found him lacking, which was not something Dixon was used to.

“I didn't realize that you’d be bringing along a support person,” Rob said and again, Dixon could hear the implied insult. “I would’ve expected to talk to you privately as this is such a delicate matter.”

“I'm a family friend,” Benedict said quietly. “I’m sure you’ve done your homework, and you’ll appreciate Dixon has been under a great deal of stress this past week with the untimely murder of his sister.

“Indeed, we were both surprised to get a call relating to something we consider to be of minimal importance when the police investigating Miss. Cottle’s murder haven’t been in touch barely at all. They’ve given no indication they have any persons of interest they’re pursuing in relation to that matter…?” Benedict trailed off, letting the information hang there, and Dixon watched as Rob’s face and neck flushed.

“The last thing Dixon needs to be concerned with,” Benedict carried on as though they were having a conversation in a bar when Rob didn’t say anything, “Is the whereabouts of a missing employee who is a grown man and who I’m sure is more than competent in handling his own affairs. I’m sure you understand our position.”

“I see.” Rob sat down. “Well, seeing as Dixon is not a person of interest at this time.” There was that unnecessary emphasis again. If Dixon was meant to be worried about what the detective was saying, Rob was about to be disappointed. Dixon was just getting pissed off.

“This was just meant to be a casual chat,” Rob added.

“That’s understandable, Rob.” Benedict had picked up on the detective’s emphasis, too, and was using it against him. “However, it’s always a good idea, when dealing with law officials, to have witnesses to a conversation. I’m sure you can appreciate that as well. Dixon is more than capable of speaking for himself, but moral support is always a comfort during a difficult time when someone is grieving, as we all are about Emma, especially in the case of a random police interview arising out of no apparent cause.

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