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

family. Selfish fuckers, the lot of them. I barely have two pounds to my name and they couldn’t care less. Val used to see me right, cook meals for me when I couldn’t afford to feed myself. Now she’s gone, well, I imagine I won’t be long behind her.”

Tears pricked Sara’s eyes and a large lump formed in her throat. “That’s tough. Maybe Age Concern can be of some help, or some other charity in the area.”

Mrs Fellows batted the suggestion away with her hand. “I can’t be bothered. I have my pride, that keeps me going most days.”

“It needn’t be like that. Do you want me to have a word with someone? I’ll willingly do it for you. You shouldn’t go hungry.”

“You’re very kind. I sense you’re going to have enough on your plate trying to find the bastard who did that to Val.” She reached for a tissue from the packet on the coffee table. “I’m sorry, here I go again. I’ve done nothing but cry since I got back home. I’ll never get rid of the image of her lying there with her eyes open. It was such a shock.”

“I’m sure. Thank you for plucking up the courage to dial nine-nine-nine.”

“Of course.” She gasped. “Not sure how her family will take it. If I’d had Hazel’s number, I would have called her. I think she gave it to me years ago, but like everything around here, it soon got lost. I’m not one for putting things away safely. I usually write things on a scrap of paper and it tends to end up in the bin a few weeks later.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll be able to locate her soon. Any idea which area Hazel lives in?”

“In the city somewhere. I’m hopeless, can’t give you more than that, I’m afraid.”

“Her surname?”

“Val’s was Purcell, but Hazel is married to Ray. I can’t, for the life of me, think what their surname is. I feel such a failure. I should have been more careful and jotted their number down in a book somewhere. Mind you, I probably would have thrown that out sooner or later as well.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. I’ll get on to the station, see what they can tell me. I’ll be right back.” She moved from her seat and the monster dog ran out of his bed and nipped her heel before his owner could intervene. “Hey you. I’m friend, not foe.”

“Toby, get back. How dare you do that? Want to get put down for biting a police officer, do you?” Mrs Fellows shouted.

The dog ran back to its bed with its tail between its legs.

“It’s fine, no harm done.” Sara continued into the hallway and rang the station. “Jeff, it’s me. Do me a favour and try to find a next of kin for me for Val Purcell.”

“Ah, I was just about to ring you, ma’am.”

“You were? About what?”

“I have her next of kin standing in front of me.”

“That’s great news. Isn’t it?”

“Depends on how you look at it. Roger Purcell works at the station. He’s a DS, ma’am.”

“Holy crap. Does he know?”

“Yes, he’s in shock. I’ve arranged for a car to come and collect him. He’ll be on his way to you shortly.”

“Ugh… okay. Thanks for the heads-up, Jeff. How is he?”

“As well as can be expected.”

“Okay. I’ll wait at the house. I’ll make sure the pathologist finishes with his mum soon, before he arrives.”

“Thanks, I’m sure that will help, ma’am.”

Sara ended the call and returned to the living room. Mrs Fellows was holding her stick out to deter the devil dog from attacking her a second time.

“Hello, dear, how did you get on?”

“Very well. Mrs Purcell’s son is on his way here. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and inform the pathologist of his imminent arrival.”

“Of course. Will you be back?”

Sara smiled, trying to put the woman at ease. “I’m not sure. Rather than leaving you on tenterhooks, why don’t I send a uniformed officer in to take down your statement? Ordinarily I would do it, but it’s imperative I speak to Val’s son as soon as he gets here.”

“I understand completely. That poor lad. Does he know?”

She nodded. “Yes. Thank you again for putting in the call so quickly, it could have a massive effect on the investigation if we can get the word out on the street rapidly.”

“That’s a relief. I hope you find the person who robbed her of her life. Bang him up and throw the key in the bloody River Wye, that would be my advice.”

“It would be tempting, believe me.” Sara smiled and waved from the safe distance of the doorway. “Take care and please, in light of what’s happened next door, promise me you’ll stay vigilant at all times.”

“I will. I doubt if anyone will come near the place, not with Toby guarding me.”

“I can imagine. I’ll leave a card by the front door, slip it into your purse and ring me if you’re at all concerned about anything in the next few days, okay?”

“You’re very kind. I’ll do that, although I wouldn’t want to be the one to hamper the investigation.”

“I mean it. Anything at all. It was lovely meeting you, and Toby of course.”

As soon as its name was mentioned, the fearless dog growled at Sara.

She let herself out and met up with Carla at the victim’s front door. “Everything all right?”

“Yep, is there anything else you need me to do?”

“Get a uniformed officer to take down Marjorie Fellows’ statement next door. Bad news is that the victim’s son is on his way.”

Carla inclined her head. “That’s good news, surely.”

“It would be usually, except he’s one of us.”

“Oh fuck!” Carla pointed at the corpse lying in the hallway. “He can’t see her like that.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve already considered that. I’m going to ask Lorraine to get a wriggle on.”

“I’ll get the statement actioned and then start knocking on some doors, leave you to deal with the grieving son when he turns