Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey Book 12), M Comley [world of reading TXT] 📗

That way you can track the bastard down if they decide to use it.” He raked a hand through his hair, mussing it up. “She kept her damn pin number written on a piece of paper beside her card.”

“Shit. Okay, let’s think of it as a positive and see if we can trap the bugger. I’ll get on to the bank, set up an alert for them to contact us if the card is used, how’s that?”

“Sounds like an exceptional plan to me. If I ever get my hands on that no-mark…”

“I understand how you feel, but please, let’s catch the bastard first and let the courts decide what happens to them.”

“Ha, that’s a laugh. I did a study on court cases a few years ago, started with the immediate area and then widened the search to national, and the results were mind-numbing. Without saying it, the number of judges who give a lesser sentence for crimes against the elderly is disgusting. I wasn’t aware until a colleague pointed it out to me with a case she was working on. She was right, too. What is it with our bloody society? She did a study herself and found that crimes against youngsters and the elderly are treated poorly in the eyes of the law.”

“That’s appalling to hear. I’ve never really studied the statistics before, not in depth anyway. All I can do is my best, heap the evidence on the culprit, if that’s what it takes to get a heavier sentence for them.”

“If it works. I have my doubts, after seeing the facts myself. Sorry, I’m veering off track here. I think it’s important that my colleagues should know about this, though, don’t you?”

Sara studied the skyline outside the window for a moment and then said thoughtfully, “Absolutely. I suppose it’s within our grasp to try and change things.”

“We bust a gut to get the fuckers, excuse my language, to court and then the judges seem to do the dirty on us. Maybe someone should start a petition and present it to the House of Lords. Perhaps the powers that be might think twice about the sentences they hand down in the future.”

“I’d sign up for that, if you want to action something. Always willing to help a colleague when it comes to making changes to the justice system.”

“Deal. Sorry to go off course. Is there anything else you wanted to ask me?”

“Not really, except to say that once SOCO have finished at the house, it might be worth you searching for your mother’s hiding places and see what you can find.”

“I’ll do that. I know a few of them, I doubt if she would tell me where they all were, knowing Mum. No doubt we’ll come across some extra ones when it comes to stripping out the house and putting it up for sale.”

“I don’t envy you that task.”

“Thanks. My wife will help me out there, she’s great at organising things like that.”

“That’s a blessing. Dividing up a deceased’s estate can be traumatic at the best of times. Do you and your sister get on?” Sara reflected how difficult it had been for her parents to cope with when her grandparents had died.

“Thankfully, yes. We’ve always been supportive of each other. My wife had problems with her family when her own mother died. Getting back to Mum, do you think that’s why the intruder killed her? You know, because she refused to tell him or her where she’d stashed the cash?”

“Possibly. I suppose we’ll never really find that out unless the culprit is caught and decides to spill the beans.”

He finished his coffee and nodded. “Anything else I can help you with?”

“I think that’s all. I know I’ve said it before, but I want to reaffirm that you have my word; we’ll do our very best to find your mother’s killer.”

“After coming here today, I have no doubt about it. Thank you, Inspector Ramsey.”

She wagged a finger. “It’s Sara. Thanks for coming in. Take care of yourself. If grief descends, promise me you’ll call it a day and go home.”

“I promise.”

He left the room. Sara stared out of the window, lost in thought as she finished her own drink. Then she left the office and brought the team up to date with what Roger had told her. “So, let’s crack on with things. I want this one wrapped up ASAP, can’t bear the thought of other pensioners being targeted by this person, presuming they’re not going to stop at just one murder, especially if it turned out to be profitable in the process.” Sara shuddered. “Why are some human beings so vile? It’s beyond me at times. The last case we dealt with in this vein turned out to be about fuelling the individual’s drug habit, let’s hope this one isn’t the same.”

“That was a particularly bad case, I seem to remember,” Carla added.

“One of the worst I’ve dealt with during my career. Saying that, none of them are ‘good cases’, are they?”

Carla rolled her eyes and nodded.

“Okay, so, Jill and Marissa, I want you guys to search the database, broaden the search you did earlier, see if there have been any attempted burglaries on pensioners in the area in the past six months. I wouldn’t bother looking for murders because I think if there had been, we would have been involved in the case.”

“Okay,” Jill replied, giving Marissa the thumbs-up. Marissa remained seated until the meeting was finished.

“Craig and Barry, why don’t you get busy with the CCTV footage, if there is any in the area?”

“Is it going to be worth it, boss? I mean, with no vehicle details to hand.”

Sara sighed. “You’ve got me on that one. Maybe source the footage anyway, just in case something comes to light during the day. Perhaps one of the neighbours might recall seeing a car during the morning or something.” She raised her crossed fingers. “You never know. I’m going to get on to the bank. Roger has agreed to