Two Evils: A DI Charlotte Savage Novel. Mark Sennen

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СКАЧАТЬ the family. Except in this case, just a few months into their new life, it appeared as if things had gone very wrong for the Sleets. Would the developers be honouring their money-back guarantee if the dream soured?

      The woman who opened the door introduced herself as Catherine and she was even better looking in real life than in the Facebook shot Riley had seen. She smiled at Riley and ushered him in and through to the living room, the furnishings within almost exactly as he’d expected, right down to the white leather sofa with double recliners. One of the recliners had been tilted back, a fleece blanket thrown to one side, the TV flickering on the far side of the room with the volume muted. On the arm of the recliner sat a box of tissues.

      ‘Any news?’ Catherine asked as she walked across to the sofa and touched a button on the side. The recliner moved into an upright position and the woman sat. She gestured at Riley to do the same. ‘He’s usually so reliable and nothing’s been bothering him. I can’t think why he would have left the car and set off onto the moor.’

      Riley nodded. He hadn’t asked any questions yet, but Catherine Sleet seemed keen to give answers. He took one of the armchairs. This woman appeared at first sight so cool and in control that he wondered if the box of tissues was part of an act.

      ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Catherine continued. Riley still hadn’t said anything more than his name and rank but he nodded. ‘You’re thinking why isn’t she blubbing her eyes out. Well, I’m trying to hold it together for the sake of the kids.’

      ‘I’m not here to judge you,’ Riley said. ‘Your husband is missing and it’s our job to find him. Besides, people have varying reactions to stress. We all cope in different ways.’

      ‘Well, I’m struggling, if you must know. It’s been over twenty-four hours without a word. That’s not like him.’ Catherine shook her head. ‘Shit, what am I saying? He’s never done anything like this before. Not been missing for a minute, understand?’

      Riley nodded. ‘Perry was up Tavistock way on business, right?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘And he’s a rep. Animal health. Visits farms and the like?’

      ‘Uh-huh. He drives all over Devon and Cornwall selling drugs and supplements to farmers. Not that he carries the stuff around in his car, only samples. He gets the farmers to sign up to trials, that sort of thing.’

      ‘And you knew where he was going yesterday?’

      ‘Yes. I gave the schedule to one of your officers. Perry is very meticulous. If he makes an appointment for eleven o’clock then he’s there on the dot.’

      Riley looked down at his notebook. ‘It seems he kept his meeting at Lydford Gorge before lunch, but not his next over at a farm near Mary Tavy. The appointment wasn’t until three and it appears as if Perry drove onto the moor to wait. Would you say that was unusual?’

      ‘No. Perry always insists the client is the most important person in the loop. If he had to kill a couple of hours then he’d do it.’

      ‘Yes.’ Riley tried not to wince at the unfortunate expression. ‘You said when I came in nothing was bothering Perry. Are you sure?’

      ‘Yes.’ Catherine swung her eyes to the sideboard where there was a sequence of family photographs in multicoloured frames. Kids on slides, in the sea, at a birthday party. ‘We mean everything to him.’

      ‘So there’s no reason he might have run off? Nothing at all which could be worrying him? Nothing he’s keeping from you?’

      ‘I told you …’ Catherine paused and then stared hard at Riley. ‘What are you implying?’

      ‘Could he have gone up to the moor to meet somebody?’

      ‘Who? You mean a client? I can’t see why he’d …’ Catherine shook her head and then froze. She spoke flatly. ‘You mean a woman.’

      ‘We have reason to believe someone else was up there on the moor with Perry. Does the name “Sarah” mean anything to you?’

      ‘Sarah?’ Catherine’s mouth dropped open for a second. ‘No it doesn’t. Perry loves me, loves the children. He wouldn’t do anything to threaten our family.’

      ‘I’m sure he wouldn’t, but we need to explore all the possibilities. To your knowledge has Perry ever had an affair, Mrs Sleet?’

      ‘No he bloody well hasn’t!’ Catherine pushed herself up from the sofa. Her body language suggested the interview was over. ‘Why don’t you get out there and look for Perry instead of asking stupid questions?’

      ‘Thank you for your time.’ Riley stood too. He tried to sound conciliatory. He wanted to end the interview on a good note. ‘We’ll find him, don’t worry.’

      He strode out into the hallway and opened the front door, aware of the woman’s eyes at his back. He turned on the step, about to say something else, but Catherine Sleet slammed the door shut in his face.

       Chapter Eight

       Near Shaugh Prior, Devon. Wednesday 21st October. 6.48 p.m.

      ‘That John Layton’, as it turned out, had been delayed by an RTC which had blocked the Tavistock Road.

      ‘Nightmare,’ Layton said as he supervised the unloading of equipment from a van up in the lane. ‘You lot go blazing off at one hundred miles an hour but by the time I head out there’s an accident involving a bus and a car. Coincidence? I think not.’

      ‘Get on with it,’ Hardin said. ‘That poor lad’s probably been lying in a tunnel for the best part of twenty-four hours.’

      ‘Right you are.’ Layton shrugged. ‘Still, can’t do much until the pathologist gets here.’

      ‘Give me strength. If this farce continues much longer, the CC will have tags for the lot of us.’

      ‘Hey?’

      Layton didn’t get an answer because Hardin turned and walked away. The CSI looked at Savage for an explanation.

      ‘Let’s just say that since Maria Heldon took over, the DSupt has developed a castration complex. Now, shall we get down to the scene so we can at least be ready when Nesbit arrives?’

      Ten minutes later, suitably attired in her PPE kit, Savage returned to the tunnel. The darkness of earlier had now gone, banished by a number of halogen lights set atop a series of tripods. She found Layton a little way in, hunched over the bag of clothes, the whole area bleached with white light. Beyond, several more sets of lights led up to the body, while, even deeper in, shadowy figures wielded spotlights and head torches as they searched the rest of the tunnel.

      ‘What do you think?’ Layton said as Savage approached.

      ‘I think this is a dump site,’ Savage said. ‘Whatever went on, it happened somewhere else. Hence the bag containing the clothes.’

      ‘Bloody sicko.’ Layton СКАЧАТЬ