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

that with my father’s case still wide open. I need your word that you’ll find whoever has done this to my father and Dale. Wasn’t he married?”

“Yes, to Adele. We’ve spoken to her before coming here. As you can imagine, she’s distraught by the untimely loss of her husband. She has five children to bring up on her own now.”

Nadia gasped. “Oh shit! I didn’t know.”

Sensing her words meant more than she was letting on, Katy asked, “Would it have made a difference if you’d known?” Katy felt Charlie’s gaze burning into her; Katy didn’t respond.

Nadia glanced up, her gaze latching on to Katy’s. “Meaning?”

“I just wondered. Whether a man is married with a family or not, if that made a difference to the level of sympathy you had for him and his family.”

“What a strange statement. That’s not how I interpreted what you said at all.”

Katy inclined her head and asked innocently, “Oh, I’m sorry, how did you take it?”

Nadia waved a hand in front of her. “It doesn’t matter. Will that be all now? It’s getting late, and I have an early shift starting at six in the morning.”

Katy and Charlie rose from their seats.

“That’s fine. I think we’re done here. You’ve got my card. If anything should come to mind regarding your childhood, you will ring me, won’t you?”

“I’ll be sure to do that. I’ll show you out and then go to bed. It’s been a very long day, or should I say a long week.”

“It’s good to keep busy, it must help to take your mind off your father’s death.”

“Sort of. Goodbye.” Nadia closed the front door behind them.

They made their way back to the car in silence.

It wasn’t until they’d pulled away from the house that Charlie tutted. “You were a bit close to the line back there, weren’t you?”

“Maybe I was, it was intentional. You know what? The more I spend time with that woman, the more I think she has something to hide.”

Charlie tutted again. “I’m sorry to go against you but I’m not feeling it. Perhaps that’s my inexperience coming through. I’ll reserve judgement for now. What’s next?”

“Maybe. Trust me, there’s something going on with her. We’ll go back to the station, see what the others have come up with, if anything, and then call it a day.”

“Really? You’re throwing in the towel early, aren’t you?”

Katy heaved out a sigh. “Not necessarily. If the guys back at base have news for us then it could likely be a long night. If they have nothing, then it’s pointless all of us sitting around, keeping our office chairs warm when we could be at home catching up on our sleep.”

“I get that. Ignore me then.”

Katy faced Charlie and smiled. “I intend to.”

“Charming. Hey, mind if I ask you a personal question while we’re alone?”

“Go on. If it’s too personal I can always refuse to answer. What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing to do with the case. I was wondering how things went with your parents the other week. You’ve never mentioned it in passing.”

“Ugh…AJ and me telling them about being married, you mean?”

“Yes, tell me to keep my nose out if you want.”

“No, it’s fine. There were a few tears from Mum. Dad was all for us doing it on the cheap, but he’s got a tight arse anyway. But yeah, Mum took it badly at first until I reminded her that it was our decision to make and we’d been effectively living as man and wife for over five years. She accepted we’d done the right thing after an hour or so. I think Georgie being there definitely helped to calm the choppy waters. Mum doesn’t tend to argue in front of her treasured granddaughter. Why do you ask?”

“It’s just you mentioned how distraught AJ’s parents were initially but hadn’t said anything about how your parents had reacted. I’m glad things worked out for you. It’s such a strain on a person’s well-being when family members fall out. I should know.”

Katy rubbed Charlie’s knee in support. “I know, love. You went through the mill with your mum and dad. How is your old man?”

“I haven’t spoken to him all week. Last time he rang he was pissed and I hung up on him. He always gets so maudlin when he has alcohol running through his system instead of blood.”

“That’s such a shame. You guys used to be so close, didn’t you?”

“We were, once upon a time. I still love him, nothing would ever change that; however, sometimes I find myself detesting him. That’s not natural, is it?”

“Of course it is. Don’t be so damn hard on yourself. My advice for you would be to do your best in this life, both professionally and personally, so Tom ends up feeling proud of his little princess.”

“Groan, I hate that name. I was never really one for playing with dolls as a child. Being called princess evokes images of a young girl happily playing with her Sindy or Barbie dolls. Cringe, that was never me growing up.”

“No, from what I remember your mother telling me, your teens involved causing trouble with the gang you hung around with.”

“Fuck, don’t remind me. Honestly, we were never that bad. We just used to sit around on the odd street corner drinking alcohol we’d badgered someone to buy for us from the offie.”

“You’re lucky it didn’t go against you during your assessment to join the force.”

“I would’ve been mortified if it had. Don’t tell me you breezed through your childhood without getting into trouble?”

Katy twisted her lips. “Sorry, that’s exactly what I’m going to say. I was a good girl, I still am, apart from having a child out of wedlock, that is.”

They both laughed.

“Do you think you were crying out for attention from your folks by falling pregnant?”

“No, I don’t think that was the case at all. They were pretty easy-going with me when I was younger, they still are to be fair. They could have ripped me and AJ