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

a mission, is she likely to reveal his name if she has a score to settle?”

“Shitting hell. That is a terrible sodding dilemma for you to sort out.”

“Which is why I’m laying it at your door.”

Sean tipped his head back and laughed. “Right, so if you make the wrong call the onus lands on my desk, right?”

Katy grinned and then lifted her cup to take a sip of the richly roasted Colombian coffee she wished she was privy to more often than the vending machine shit she was forced to put up with. “I’m all ears.”

“I’m sure you’ll make the right decision come the end, Inspector.”

She replaced her cup on its saucer. “Is that it? That’s the only pearl of wisdom forthcoming from your direction?”

“Yes. I believe in you. I don’t know how many more times I have to drum that into you, Katy Foster. Do what you deem necessary, and I’ll back you all the way.” He leaned forward to retrieve his cup and winced.

“Are you okay or just seeking my sympathy?”

He pulled a face at her. “Had that been your former partner sitting there saying that, I would have expected to hear that. You’ve let me down, Katy.”

She laughed. “Maybe she’s still around poking me with a stick sometimes.”

He rolled his eyes. “Now that wouldn’t surprise me one iota. So, your next step is going to be what?”

“Well, we have Amy Bird in custody, but I’m inclined to let her stew in a cell for a few more hours. In the meantime, I think we need to pull Nadia in for an interview. I guess the reason I’m here is to ask your permission to do that.”

Sean Roberts shook his head, his face darkening. “Bollocks, you do not want my advice, Katy. Do the right thing and bring her in, if that’s what you think is needed. All I would advise is being cautious with her. Take a step back and assess all the evidence you’ve managed to gather so far, ask yourself if she’s really capable of killing all these men and why.”

“Okay. As long as you don’t come down heavy on me if things go tits up.”

“I won’t.”

Katy finished her coffee and left the room. She collected Charlie, who was just removing her jacket and placing it on the back of the chair, and they left the station.

They stopped off at Nadia’s house first, just in case she was on a day off. Receiving no answer from the address, they made their way over to the hospital. It wasn’t an ideal situation in Katy’s mind, to show up at the woman’s place of work, but what was the alternative?

Nadia was dealing with a male patient when they stepped foot on the ward.

She smiled and walked towards them carrying a bedpan. “Let me get rid of this and I’ll be with you. I’m presuming you’re here to see me.”

“We are. Take your time,” Katy replied, keeping things light, not wishing to alarm the woman in case she decided to bolt. She didn’t have the strength in her legs to run after her if the notion emerged.

Nadia returned a few minutes later. “How can I help? Do you have news about my father’s death?”

“In a way, yes. We’re going to have to ask you to come with us to the station for an interview.”

Nadia took a step back and threw a hand against her chest. “Me? Why?”

“Certain things have come to light during our investigation, and we’d like to know what your perception of them is.”

“But I can’t leave here. I’m working, and we’re short-staffed as it is.”

“It’s okay. I’ll have a word with your superior for you. Where am I likely to find her?”

“In the office around the corner.”

“I’ll be right back.” She threw Charlie a look, telling her to keep a close eye on Nadia. Charlie nodded her understanding.

Katy knocked on the office door and spoke to a plump lady in a uniform. She flashed her ID and introduced herself. “Sorry to interrupt. I know you’re short-staffed, but would it be okay if we borrowed Nadia for a few hours?”

“That’s fine. We’re actually fully staffed today, for a change.”

“Ah, okay. Thanks for your assistance. We’ll get her back soon.” Why had Nadia said they were short-staffed?

The car was filled with a mixture of tension and silence on the return trip to the station. Katy had a word with the desk sergeant, asked him to try to locate a duty solicitor to oversee the interview, putting every precaution in place to cover Katy’s back should her plan backfire.

The solicitor arrived fifteen minutes later. The four of them got acquainted in Interview Room One. Charlie started the tape and said the usual verbiage to get the proceedings underway.

“Thank you for agreeing to join us today, Nadia. We’re hoping this interview won’t take long so you’ll be able to return to work shortly.”

“Anything to help capture my father’s killer, Inspector. I have to ask, is this usually how things are done? You dragging a member of the deceased’s family in for questioning?”

“Sometimes it’s necessary to get to the nitty-gritty of a story.”

“I see. I have nothing to hide, so please, can we just get on with it?”

“Very well. First of all, I have a list of names I’d like you to look over.” She pulled a sheet of paper from the file in front of her and slid it across the desk.

“Okay, what about them?”

“Perhaps you wouldn’t mind telling me who these men are and how you know them?”

“They’re all friends of my late father. I can’t say I know them much. Although I met most of them recently when they attended my father’s funeral. You were there, I believe.”

“We were. I see. And when was the last time you saw any of these men?”

“Not since the funeral. Why? I don’t understand why you’re asking me this.”

Her gaze held Nadia’s as she said, “This week, all these men have lost their lives.”

Nadia slammed back in her seat. “What? This