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

“I was a tad sneaky there. I rang her home number and pretended to be someone from the gas board. I told her there’d been a leak reported a few doors down and asked if she’d been present in the house all week and had she noticed any strange smells lately. She said she’d been at home all that time, mourning the loss of her father.”

“Good thinking, Karen. Well, that appears to rule her out of the equation. I won’t be long.” She drifted into her office. The post had already been dealt with when it had arrived earlier, so she didn’t have that mindless chore to deal with.

She called AJ on her mobile. He answered after a few rings. “Hello, sweetheart, just checking in on my favourite two people.”

“Hey, you. We’re fine, how are you holding up?”

“Ditto. I can’t talk for long, I have someone I need to interview, she’ll be well stewed by now. What are you guys up to today?”

“You’re not missing out on much. Playschool this morning, and then I thought I’d take the little minx to the park for a picnic, if the weather stays fine.”

“That’ll be wonderful for her. You’re such a thoughtful dad, AJ.”

“Am not. It’s what any father would do, given the chance, I’m sure.”

“I doubt it. Do you have enough food in? Don’t go giving her all carbs. Bung in some fresh fruit and raw veggies like celery and carrot sticks. Damn, what am I saying? You know all this.”

“I do. I don’t blame you for checking, though. Thanks for that. Are you tired?”

“No, not at the moment. I’ve just had a welcome Colombian coffee with the boss that’ll keep me satisfied and functioning properly for a while.”

“I bet it’ll hit you around lunchtime. If you’re in the area, drop by the park, we’ll be there from around one, if I get my act together. I’ll make up an extra serving for you and Charlie just in case. Georgie and I can always have it for lunch tomorrow if you’re a no-show.”

“We’ll do our best. The park at the end of the street?”

“That’s the one. I don’t want you getting jealous, though. I’ve arranged to meet up with a few of the other mothers down there.”

“No fear of that, love. I haven’t got time to get jealous. Anyway, I trust you implicitly.”

“The same here.”

“I have to shoot off now, AJ. I love you, don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t. I love you, too, Katy. I think you’re a wonderful mother and DI to boot.”

“Why thank you, kind sir.” She ended the call and dabbed her eyes with a tissue. “Silly woman, turning to mush like that.”

Charlie appeared in the doorway. “Oh God, is everything all right?”

“Yep, just hubby and I getting all sentimental with each other.”

“You’re entitled to do that after working all night. Is he okay about you not going home last night?”

“Yeah, he was fine. He understands it only happens now and then. Did you manage to contact Nadia?”

“Yeah, she’s agreed to the appointment.”

“Great stuff. I forgot to ask you to mention to the doctor why we needed the appointment.”

“All in hand. I filled him in. Can I speak freely?”

“Of course, always, you know that, Charlie. Come in, take a seat.”

Charlie closed the door behind her and sat.

“What’s on your mind?”

“It’s a bit of an out-of-the-box idea, and I swear I haven’t been speaking to Mum about any of this, just in case you aim that one at me.”

“Go on, I trust you.”

“You know what we’re up against, a missing body of the victim from twenty-four years ago…well, I wondered if it would be worth having a chat with—”

Katy held her hand up. “Stop right there, I know what you’re going to say. You want me to get Carol involved, right?”

“Trust me, I’m in two minds whether to contact her myself, but surely, it would make sense, wouldn’t it?”

Katy contemplated, for a good few minutes, her partner’s suggestion of bringing the psychic in to help before she found the voice to answer her, “Okay, I think you have a point. Why not? Will you call her, or shall I?”

Charlie’s teeth showed through her parting lips. “I think it would make her day if you rang her.”

“Get me the damn number then. Do you think she’ll do it over the phone? Or will she need to come here?”

“Not sure, ask her. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what she can do, and she’ll be thrilled to know that you thought of her.”

“Correction, I didn’t think of her, you did. This is between you and me, right? If Roberts hears about this…he’ll strike me off as being a loon and for taking after your mother.”

“You reckon? I’ll get my phone.” Charlie nipped out of the office and returned within seconds. “Here you go. Want me to hang around while you make the call?”

“Go on then, I’ll put it on speaker, in case I miss anything. Wish me luck.” Katy punched in the number and waited for Carol to pick up.

“Hello. Who is this?” Carol asked suspiciously as Katy’s phone would have come up with a ‘number withheld’ status.

“Carol, it’s DI Katy Foster. I’m not sure if you’ll remember me or not, we worked on the Noelle Holten case together.”

“Of course, I remember you, dear. Lorne’s sceptical partner.”

“That’s the one. Although in all fairness, by the end of that case I was a true believer in your abilities, if you recall correctly.”

“Hmm…I suppose I remember the outcome differently to you. Anyway, this is a surprise. What can I do for you?”

“First of all, Charlie’s here listening in, she was the one who suggested I should call you.”

“Aww…hi, Charlie, long time no hear, love. How are you?”

“Sorry, Carol. I’ll remedy that soon. We’re in the middle of working a hectic case.”

“I know all about it, dear. I’ve been sitting here twiddling my thumbs, waiting for you to get in touch to ask for my help.”

“Oh my. Dare I ask what