The Girls in the Lake: An addictive and gripping crime thriller (Beth Adams Book 2) by Helen Phifer

Author:Helen Phifer [Phifer, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786819253
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2019-12-08T18:30:00+00:00

Thirty-Eight

Josh walked into the station, knowing he should really go to see Beth. He owed her an explanation. Her voice had been strained when he’d spoken to her, but Paton had phoned to say they’d had a definite match from the prints that Beth had taken from the body. It didn’t matter that it was Saturday; the station was still full of officers, PCSOs and staff.

He didn’t blame the PCSOs for hanging around: the weather was dire, the sky was full of big, grey rainclouds; he wouldn’t want to be out on foot patrol either. He took the steps up to the first-floor office two at a time, eager to get the second girl’s identity confirmed. Then he would phone the mortuary and let whoever was on call know so they could release her body for burial. He thought about what Beth had said, that she wasn’t happy but couldn’t find anything that looked suspicious apart from the trace evidence under both victims’ nails.

Paton and Sykes were already in the office when he entered.

‘Morning, you two. Good news on the ID; at least we can inform her family.’

Sykes nodded. ‘Yeah, it is. Though it’s not the knock on the door you expect. It must be worrying enough that your daughter is leaving to go and live in another country. It’s every parent’s worst fear.’

‘What is?’

‘That they’ll never come home.’

He stared at her; she was right. He didn’t have kids, so he never really thought about the other side of it. To him it was a job that needed to be done. He very rarely let himself get emotional. The last murders he’d dealt with had definitely got to him, but he wouldn’t let that happen again. He turned the kettle on and spooned coffee into three mugs. Carrying the drinks over, he sat opposite Paton and Sykes. ‘Dr Adams isn’t happy with the circumstances.’

Paton sipped his coffee. ‘I can understand that, it does seem a bit odd.’

‘Odd, but not uncommon. I guess the fact that neither of them is local is a bit strange.’

Sykes shrugged. ‘Then investigate some more. We’re not exactly rushed off our feet here.’

He thought about it; on the surface it should be straightforward, but the fact that it was ringing alarm bells with almost everyone he talked to unsettled him.

‘You’re right, I think we should. We can inform the next of kin, but I don’t want the bodies released until I’m completely satisfied both deaths were accidental.’

Sykes clapped her hands. ‘See, that wasn’t hard.’

‘I would have made that decision anyway.’

‘You just needed a shove in the right direction.’

Josh decided that yes, it was his duty to follow through and make sure that every line of enquiry had been followed up.

‘Paton, can you do me some intelligence checks? I want to know if there are any previous reports by either Burton or Bach. One of Bach’s co-workers said she knew the girl was fed up of her employer making advances towards her.’ He looked down as he flipped through his pocket notebook.

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