Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again Book 2) by M Comley (best books under 200 pages txt) 📕

her direction shows up. If we’re going along the lines of a simple burglary, we need to find out how the bastard got in.”

“Maybe Bruce Crawford let the intruder in,” Charlie said with a shrug.

“As in, the person walked up to the front door and knocked on it?”

Charlie chuckled. “Now you’ve said it out loud, perhaps that was a daft suggestion. Proves I’m struggling as much as you are.”

Katy stretched her arms up over her head and yawned. “It’s draining the shit out of me. I’m going to give the hotel where Nadia is staying a call. Her sister should have arrived by now, right?”

Charlie nodded. “I think so. Want me to do it for you?”

“Go on then. I could do with emptying my bladder. I’ll be right back.”

“TMI,” Charlie grumbled and turned her back.

Katy rushed past her, in a hurry to go to the loo now she’d mentioned it. She tidied up her hair while she was in the ladies’ and, after spending a penny and washing her hands, returned to the incident room. She was greeted by a smiling Charlie, her puzzling frown a thing of the past. “I take it you’ve got some good news for a change.”

“Yep, she’s not long arrived. I asked the receptionist to put me through to her room. She’s willing to meet up with us. I told her to expect us within half an hour. She’ll be waiting for us in the bar.”

“What are we waiting for then? Let’s get going. We’ll pick up a sandwich on the way. Anyone else want one?”

“I could do with a cheese and pickle on white, boss, and a sneaky doughnut on the side.” Graham dug into his pocket and withdrew his wallet.

Katy held up a hand. “I’ll get them, I’m feeling generous.”

“I won’t argue with you then.” Graham grinned.

“Karen?”

“Thanks all the same, boss, but I knocked up a salad before I came to work. It’s sitting in the fridge.”

Katy winked. “Rather you than me. I don’t know how you find the time to prepare anything first thing.”

“Where there’s a will… I’ve got a wedding coming up at the end of the month, I need to fit into my dress, otherwise I’ll have to buy another one, and funds are tight right now.”

“Great incentive. Charlie, are you ready?”

“Ready when you are.”

They left the station and stopped off at the baker’s a few streets away. “What do you fancy?” Katy asked, ready to dart into the shop.

“Tuna and mayo on a brown roll, if you don’t mind. I’ll skip the afters, though.”

“I think I’ll have the same. I won’t be a jiffy.”

After eating their lunch and swilling it down with the water Katy had bought, taking a leaf out of Charlie’s well-intention book, they made their way inside the hotel to the bar area. Charlie was the first to spot Penny. She was sitting at the table in front of the bay window staring at the passersby in the street.

“Hi, would you be Penny?” Katy asked.

“Sorry, I was miles away. Wishing I was back up in Scotland with my hubby. Yes. Are you the detective I spoke to earlier?”

Katy and Charlie flashed their warrant cards.

“My partner did. DI Katy Foster and DC Charlie Simpkins. Thank you for agreeing to see us, we’re so sorry for your loss.”

Tears sparkled in the young woman’s eyes. She motioned for them to take a seat and then sipped at her coffee. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thank you, we’ve not long had one. Did you have a good trip down?”

“Long and boring. I hate train journeys at the best of times. Sitting there contemplating what I’ve been told about my father’s death…well, it made the journey a thousand times worse.”

“I can imagine. Will you be here long?”

“I’ll be around however long my sister needs me. I can’t believe she’s decided to continue to work. If I’d known she wouldn’t be around, I think I would’ve stayed at home and travelled down just to attend the funeral. Do you know when that’s likely to be?”

Katy shook her head. “I don’t think the pathologist will delay releasing your father’s body. It’ll be up to you and Nadia to make the arrangements then. Could be a few weeks or months, depending how busy the funeral home is.”

“I can’t face it. I think Nadia has it all in hand, at least, that’s what she told me.”

“I see. She seems a very level-headed person to me.”

“You’re not wrong. She was always more practical than me. I have a tendency to fall apart at the seams when faced with adverse circumstances such as this.”

“Are you up to speaking to us today? The last thing I want to do is cause you any further distress, especially after your long journey.”

“Of course. Don’t worry about me. I must warn you I’m still a bit tearful and I might break down and cry now and again, so you’ll have to forgive me if that happens.”

“Don’t worry about it. You do what you have to do to cope with your grief. Were you close to your father?”

“Sort of. Not as close as my sister has been over the years. We…how can I put this? I suppose tolerated each other, would be the truth.”

“I see. Any specific reason for the relationship being strained?”

“I couldn’t tell you. I think Nadia has always been more of a daddy’s girl than me.”

“I have to ask you something and I’m not sure how you’re going to react.”

Her cornflower-blue eyes widened in anticipation. “Sounds ominous. Go for it.”

“Were you aware that your father only had a few weeks or months to live?”

She gasped. Fresh tears seeped into her eyes, and she shook her head. “No. Bloody hell, did my sister know?”

“According to your father’s doctor, no. Although we intend chasing that up, when we get the chance.”

“What was it?”

“Stomach cancer. Why do you think your father chose to keep it a secret from you and Nadia?”

“I don’t know. How awful. You’d think he would tell us