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

the satnav and started the engine. While the machine calculated the route, she drove out of the car park in the direction of the crime scene.

“Just what we need at the end of a long day, eh?” Carla groaned.

“I was thinking the same. Inconsiderate bloody criminals. One of these days, we’ll get home at a decent hour.”

Carla laughed. “Umm… I think we do okay, compared to some of the officers working at other stations. Like I said, I’d feel peeved if I had a hot fella at home. I live in hope though.”

Sara patted her partner on the knee. “You’ll find someone special soon.”

“I thought Gary was special, at the time. I suppose he was… until the accident happened.”

Hearing his name caused Sara to revisit the last time she’d encountered the fireman. Her warning rattled the inside of her head.

“You okay?” Carla asked, interrupting her wayward thoughts.

“Yeah, sorry. In a world of my own there for a moment or two.”

“Thinking about your own loved-up relationship and making comparisons?”

“No, not at all. Speaking of which, I’d better ring Mark and tell him I’m going to be late home.” She punched in her husband’s mobile number and spoke to him on the hands-free. “I’m in the car, say hello to Carla.”

“Hi, Carla.”

“Hi, Mark. Hope you’re doing well?” Carla replied.

“Not bad. You?”

“Fine, thanks.”

Sara coughed a little and said, “Sorry to break up the pleasant catch-up. You’re going to hate me for what I’m about to say.”

“Don’t tell me, you’ve got to work later than anticipated.”

She didn’t detect any animosity in his tone, Mark wasn’t the type. He was as easy-going as they came. “Sorry, hon. Yep. To be fair, we were on our way home when we received the call. I’ve got to attend. I hope you understand.”

“Of course I do. As it happens, I’ve had an emergency call as well. A cat has been knocked down and is on the way to the surgery. I’m in the car now.”

“Brilliant. No, that came out wrong. I meant I’m glad I’m not the only one who is spoiling the evening we’d planned.”

He chuckled. “A take-away and a romcom on the box, it’ll keep for another day. I’m at the surgery now. Give me a ring in a couple of hours, let me know how you’re getting on and when to expect you home.”

“I will. Good luck fixing the cat. Love you.”

“Thanks. Love you too. Bye, Carla. Stay safe the pair of you.”

“We will.”

“Bye, Mark. Good luck with the pussy.” Carla sniggered.

Sara hung up and blew out a relieved breath. “I’m so pleased he’s going to be otherwise engaged. Hey, you haven’t mentioned it, have you seen Gary around lately?”

“Nope. The less I see of him, the better. Couldn’t cope with his mood swings a moment longer.”

“You need to get out there, socialise a bit more and find another willing partner.”

“Ain’t going to happen when we get call-outs like this to attend, is it?”

Sara turned to look at her and shrugged before flicking her gaze back to the road ahead. “You’re right. I did give you the option to back out.”

“I know. Maybe if I had something better on offer, I would have turned you down.”

Sara concentrated on her driving. Her eyes were tired, and she was having trouble adjusting to the dark now they were away from the city out on the country roads. She leaned forward, peering ahead over the steering wheel.

“Is something wrong?”

“I can’t see a damn thing. I’m being extra vigilant in case the local wildlife makes a sprint across the road.”

“Get to Specsavers. You’re turning me into a nervous passenger.”

“Crikey, they’re not that bad.”

“Aren’t they? How come I can see perfectly well then?”

Sara growled. “I’m beginning to wish you’d brought your own car.”

“You’re not alone,” Carla chuckled.

Five minutes later, they pulled into a street filled with a couple of patrol cars, a few SOCO vans and a crowd of onlookers to boot. “Jesus, haven’t these people got anything better to do? It’s at times like this I pray for it to piss down, they’d soon lose interest and trundle off home.”

“You’re off on one.” Carla shook her head. “It’s called human nature when people are curious.”

“Curious or nosy parkers tend to blight my life. I can’t stand them, there, I’ve said it.” Sara sighed. “Come on, let’s get suited up. Will you get the team organised? Ensure they shift these buggers back and push the cordon out further? I have a feeling the press will already be on their way.”

“Leave it to me.”

They left the car and grabbed a couple of white paper suits and a set of blue shoe coverings each then separated before they reached the house. Sara poked her head over the threshold and found Lorraine, the pathologist, crouched down, examining the victim.

“How’s it going? I don’t suppose you have any information for me yet, do you?”

Lorraine glanced up, her eyes watering. “I’m glad you’re here. This case needs to be handled sensitively.”

“All cases should be handled sensitively, in my opinion, Lorraine. What’s different about this one? Are you all right?” Lorraine stood up and walked away from the corpse. On the other side of the hallway, she withdrew a tissue from inside her suit and blew her nose. Sara moved closer to the woman who had become a good friend to her since her arrival in Hereford. “What’s wrong, matey?”

Lorraine stood there, staring at the victim for a while and then whispered, “She’s someone’s mother, grandmother even, and she looks… just like my grandmother.”

Sara rubbed Lorraine’s arm, rustling the paper suit. “I’m so very sorry. What else can I say?”

“Nothing. I need to buck my ideas up, pull myself together. Pronto. And usually, it’s not a problem, but this time, I have to admit, I’m struggling.”

“We all get times like that. Lord knows I’ve had a fair few over the years, with what happened to Philip.”

“Ouch, I never thought of that. I’m sorry, I feel stupid now.” Lorraine paced the area.

“Don’t be. We wouldn’t be human