Devil in the Detail A.J. Cross (read full novel .TXT) 📖

‘That’s Molly’s perception of the situation,’ said Traynor. ‘It may not be a full or even an accurate explanation although, as you can see, she was very accurate in her description of the items stolen from them.’

‘She didn’t give any detail of the actual attack on her and her husband,’ said Julian.

‘No.’ Traynor paused again. ‘But you need to know that I noted a hesitant quality within her recall which makes me think she is purposefully avoiding certain aspects of the attack.’

Watts looked at him. ‘Meaning what, exactly?’

‘My impression is that she was relatively willing to talk about parts of it, but not others. All I can say right now is that what happened to them that night was as terrifying as it was tragic. To have their safe space invaded in that place, in darkness, would have been shocking and intimidating.’

‘Where does that leave you? Us?’

‘Offering her more opportunity to talk about it.’

Judd frowned at her notes. ‘What she’s said confirms that they did what they were told. They handed over their stuff.’

‘Mike Lawrence’s watch, yes, but Molly didn’t give hers to their attacker. She slipped it off into the pocket of her coat, along with her phone – the phone she used to make the emergency call. She hasn’t seen the watch since.’

Judd raised her fist into the air. ‘Atta-girl. Let’s hear it for strong females.’ She turned to Julian. ‘You haven’t seen Molly Lawrence but she’s really small.’

He looked at her. ‘Small doesn’t preclude strong, Chloe.’

‘She said she hid it because she was angry as well as frightened,’ said Traynor. ‘People can react unexpectedly and with spirit in such situations.’

‘In my experience, usually the ones who wind up dead,’ said Watts. ‘By doing what she did, she increased the danger to herself and her husband in an already high-risk situation.’

Traynor looked at the remainder of his notes. ‘We still have no details about the actual shootings.’

‘Did she say anything else about the shooter?’

‘Nothing beyond what I’ve already reported. I’ll arrange to see her again.’

‘Was she very reluctant to give what she did?’ asked Julian.

‘Not particularly, beyond the reticence I mentioned, although she still hasn’t referred directly to her husband’s death or the ending of the pregnancy.’

Watts frowned across the table. ‘What shall I say to Brophy when he starts complaining about delay?’

‘That he has to live with it if he wants detailed information without jeopardizing Molly Lawrence’s well-being.’

Julian stood. ‘In your position, I’d be taking the same approach.’ He reached down for his backpack and opened it. ‘Chloe? I’ve brought some textbooks in. I thought you might find one or two of them useful.’

She gazed at the books, then up at him. ‘For me?’

‘If you want them. Dr Traynor knows his theory, Bernard has his years of experience … I thought you might get something from these. They focus on different kinds of crime and the theories relating to them.’ His brow creased. ‘I hope you’re not offended by my offering them?’

She quickly reached for the books. ‘No way. Thanks.’

He lifted his backpack, then looked across at Watts. ‘I’ve got a couple of late lectures to give so I’ll see you tomorrow.’ And to Judd: ‘A few of us from upstairs are having a Christmas night out on Saturday. Come with us, Chloe. Jonesy has the details.’

She watched him leave, giving her a friendly wave.

Traynor stood. ‘I have post-grad tutorials in an hour.’ He gathered his notes together. ‘When I see Molly again, I’ll aim to clarify if her reticence is an indication that she’s holding something back.’

‘You’ve got no ideas on what it might be?’ asked Watts.

‘None.’

‘I need to see Molly Lawrence in the next few days. I still haven’t introduced myself to her as SIO.’

Having given the indexes of Julian’s textbooks a thorough check, Judd slipped them into her bag, then looked up. ‘Julian’s left his jacket.’

Watts glanced at her, then at the leather jacket hanging on the back of a chair. He shook his head. ‘He probably won’t miss it. Far as I can see, everybody under thirty goes around with next to nothing on. I’ll drop it off—’

‘No, I’ll take it on my way home.’

He watched her grab her bag and coat, plus the jacket and head for the door and out. He shook his head. Since when was Judd’s bedsit between here and Edgbaston?

Peering through darkness, Judd turned into the wide entrance and drove inside. She stopped the car and gazed at the building ahead. Clearly, it had once been some kind of country house, back when Edgbaston was countryside. Her gaze dropped to the wide entrance. All she had was this address. No way of getting inside. She shoved the car into gear, ready to go home. She would take the jacket back to headquarters in the morning and …

She turned at sudden headlights, watched the car come into the parking area, recognizing Julian’s small Fiat. Getting out of her car, his jacket in her arms, she walked slowly towards him.

‘Chloe, hi!’ He grinned. He pointed at the jacket she was holding. ‘Oh, thanks for bringing it, but you shouldn’t have. I’ve got another.’

She nodded. Of course, he had.

‘That’s OK. I didn’t know where to leave it.’

‘Come on.’

She hesitated, followed him to the entrance and inside the wide hallway. He turned to her. ‘As and when you come again, Charlie here takes deliveries, buzzes visitors upstairs.’ She looked at Charlie smiling behind his desk, then followed Julian to the shiny metal doors of the lift. As and when.

The doors opened on the second floor. Everything she had seen so far breathed money. Julian unlocked his door. She followed him inside. What she saw was further evidence of it, the layout, the furnishing of the apartment, like nothing she had ever seen outside of a magazine.

‘Coffee, tea or something to take the edge off?’ Julian grinned at her. ‘Seriously, how about some tea?’

She walked across to the wide windows, looked out at an expanse of trees. ‘Your