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

“You mentioned your brother. I heard a rumour that it was your husband who got murdered. Daft things rumours, they always get twisted, don’t they?”

Sara cleared her throat as unexpected tears surfaced. She glanced out of the window to look for Carla. All the time trying to think of a suitable response. “Ah, no, they’re right. Losing my husband was one of the worst times in my life, but it’s not going to help to compare notes, believe me.”

“I get that. Thank you for being here, speaking to me like this. I appreciate it more than you realise.”

She placed a hand on his arm and offered a weak smile. “We’re work colleagues at the end of the day. I swear, you will get through this, with the love of your family. That’s going to be paramount over the next few weeks. You should arrange time off from work. Would you like me to see to that for you? It’ll ease your burden and allow you time to deal with your mother’s funeral arrangements.”

He ran a shaking hand through his hair. “Oh God. I can’t do that. I’d break down every five minutes. Sandra will have to cover that side of things for me. She’s more organised than me. More compassionate as well.”

“Most women step up to the plate when things like this need to be dealt with. My door is always open should you need any advice, having gone through it myself in the past few months.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you, Inspector, but you haven’t met my wife. She’s regimented in everything she does. Methodical and an expert in many fields. She dealt with my father’s funeral last year. I was thankful that she took over, it was too much for me and Mum to cope with at the time. Now we’ve got to do it all over again with Mum. Life is so cruel when you least expect it to be. I know death is inevitable, but to be bloody murdered…”

Sara patted the back of his hand again. “I know it’s tough. You’ll get through it. We’re made of stern stuff, we police officers, right?”

“Sometimes,” he muttered. Fresh tears tumbled onto his cheeks.

“Would you like me to drive you home?”

“No. I just want to sit here for a moment or two. Contemplate how I’m going to tell my family she’s gone.”

Sara let out a deep sigh. “I know you don’t want to hear this right now, but you mentioned previously that your daughter dropped in to see your mother earlier. I’m going to need to speak with her, ask her if she saw anything. Do you think she’ll be up to that?”

“Sonia is going to be distraught, but she’ll realise the need to speak to you. She’ll want this bastard caught ASAP before he or she can do it to anyone else.”

“Good, you have her well trained by the sounds of it. I’ll be in touch soon, give you a day or so to get your head around what’s happened. Should Sonia want to speak to me sooner, here’s my card. Just get in touch.”

“Thanks. Speaking to you has dispersed the anger tearing me up inside.”

“It gets easier. I know everyone spouts the same, but it’s true. I’m going to get out there now and see what the neighbours have to say. Sit here a while and then go home. Wishing you well for what lies ahead. You’ve got this, you’re stronger than you realise, we all are when our backs are against the wall.”

He sniffed and wiped his nose on the sleeve of his jacket. “Again, I can’t thank you enough for speaking to me. Laying things on the line for what lies ahead of us all has really helped. I’ll stick around for five minutes longer, then make a move.” He held his hand out in front of him, and it trembled a little. “I still need to calm down a bit first.”

“Take all the time you need and for goodness’ sake, ring me if you need any advice or want to run anything past me.”

“Will you keep me informed about how the investigation is going?”

“If that’s what you want, then yes. I want to assure you, you have Hereford’s best team working your mother’s case.”

He smiled. “So I’ve heard.”

Sara left the car and crossed the road to catch up with Carla who had just finished speaking to one of the neighbours. “Anything of use?”

“Nope. I’ve spoken to four people now. All of them have insisted they saw nothing.”

“Damn. I find it incredibly hard to believe that no one on the street saw anything.”

“In their defence, everyone I spoke to is a pensioner.”

“Oh for a nosy beaked one in our midst,” Sara said, her tone laced with sarcasm.

“I know. It is what it is, I suppose. Do you want me to keep at it?”

“No, let’s leave it to uniform to carry out.” She peeked over her shoulder at Val’s bungalow. “I need to get back in there, see what SOCO have discovered, if anything. If nothing turns up, then I hate to say it, but I think we should call it a night and start afresh in the morning. I’ve already informed the next of kin.”

“I agree. No point flogging a dead horse. Ouch! Sorry, not appropriate in the circumstances. How did the son take it? Or is that a stupid question?”

“He was in shock to begin with, but once it had sunk in, he was more concerned about how his wife and daughter would take the news. Apparently, either his wife or daughter visited his mother most days. His sister chipped in as well now and again. They obviously cared about her. His daughter was here earlier this evening.”

“Bugger, glad she wasn’t involved. Maybe whoever killed her grandmother was staking out the place and waited until the granddaughter left before they attempted to get in the house.”

“Good point. If that’s the case, then it’s even more frustrating that no one