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

fully processed and you’ve got your new key, take the rest of the day off.’

Not seeing a scrap of colour in her face, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a packet of chocolate biscuits. ‘You don’t feel sick?’

She shook her head.

‘Eat these. You look as though you could do with something quick.’

She took them. ‘Everybody’s going to know about it,’ she whispered.

‘They’ll know about your stuff being stolen. That’s all.’

He watched her open the packet and bite off a small piece of the biscuit. ‘In case it’s slipped your mind, we’ve got a job to do. I want you back here tomorrow morning at ten.’

He still had questions but he knew he wouldn’t get any answers from Judd. No matter. He knew of another possible source of information which might provide them.

NINETEEN

Monday 17 December. 9.50 a.m.

Watts looked up as his office door opened. It was Adam. Like everybody else here, he looked tired. ‘All right?’

‘I’ve done a thorough check of Chloe’s car for prints. No hits.’ He sat on the edge of the table. ‘On the Lawrence investigation, remember I said I’d test the gun for prints?’

‘Yes, and?’

‘Not good news. Only one that’s incomplete and unclear, which doesn’t give us much to work with. I’ll ask Dr Chong if she thinks Supergluing it might help. I’ll also test the gun for DNA. Keep you posted.’

He walked to the door, passing Judd on the way inside.

Watts tracked her, thinking she looked better than she had the previous day. Not bad at all, in fact. He still felt the need for some testing of the waters.

‘How’s things?’

She tugged smartly at the bottom edge of her jacket. ‘Fine. A new day, and all that crap.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘Traffic’s bad. We need to get going.’

They were waiting in silence inside Molly Lawrence’s sitting room. They stood as she came in and closed the door, Judd’s silent appraisal echoing what Traynor had told them: she had lost weight. She sat opposite them, violet shadows beneath her eyes.

‘My mother is in the kitchen,’ she said quietly. ‘I don’t want her hearing what’s said. I don’t know what I’d do without her here, but we’re so busy looking after each other it’s exhausting both of us.’

Watts said, ‘You’ve already met PC Chloe Judd.’

Molly gave a faint smile. ‘Yes. I remember.’

‘I’m Detective Inspector Bernard Watts and I’m in charge of the investigation.’ She gazed at him in silence. ‘How are you feeling, generally?’

‘I’m getting there. You have some news?’

‘Yes. We’ve recovered the gun.’

She half-stood, her eyes starting to roll. On his feet, he took her by her upper arms and lowered her to the sofa, thinking how light she was. She took a couple of breaths.

‘I’m OK … really, I’m all right.’

‘Shall I get your mother?’ he asked.

‘No.’ She took a deep breath. ‘Where was it? The gun?’

‘That’s something I can’t divulge, just now.’

She hung her head, the heavy curtain of hair falling around her face. ‘I just can’t … it’s so senseless. I, Mike … we never hurt anybody.’

Watts waited, seeing anxiety on Judd’s face. He took a card from his jacket pocket, held it out. ‘Mrs Lawrence, I understand this is a difficult time but I want you to know that we really appreciate you talking to Dr Traynor, but if anything at all occurs to you in the meantime, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem, call me on one of those numbers.’

She looked at the card then up at Watts. ‘You’re hoping I’ll suddenly come up with something which explains the inexplicable?’ She shook her head. ‘I’ll never make sense of what’s happened.’ She took a breath. ‘And, if I did, what would change for me? I’d still be here, alone, frightened. The whole thing is just … senseless.’

Watts glanced at Judd. She sat forward. ‘Molly, everyone on this investigation is committed to finding whoever did this, but we need information to do it.’

‘I know, and I trust Dr Traynor. I want to see him again, although he seemed very disappointed after his last visit.’

Watts was surprised. In his experience, the Mona Lisa and the sphynx were an easier read than Traynor. ‘I’ll let him know you want to see him. If you’d prefer, you can meet at headquarters.’

She looked away. ‘I’m … Sorry, but I’m not up to going out.’

‘We’ll provide transportation if it makes it easier for you?’

He watched tears start to flow.

‘I can’t,’ she whispered.

Judd reached out, put her hand on her arm. ‘Can I get you something?’

She looked at Judd, as if remembering that she was there. ‘There’s some medication the hospital gave me … It’s upstairs in the bathroom. Second door on the right.’

Leaving the room, Judd went quickly upstairs, past the open door of the first room on the right. A quick glance inside the otherwise bare room halted her. A single item was standing in one corner covered by a delicately crocheted pink-and-blue blanket.

Continuing on to the bathroom, she located the medication, came downstairs and headed to the kitchen. It was warm. Smelled of baking. Molly Lawrence’s mother was at the sink. She turned as Judd came inside.

‘I’m sorry to disturb you, but Molly needs a glass of water.’

The woman quickly filled a glass, brought it to Judd. ‘Is she all right? Is she feeling unwell again?’

Judd held up the pack of pills. ‘She asked me to get these for her. We’re almost finished.’ Judd took the glass and returned to the sitting room, hearing Molly’s low voice.

‘The hospital has been wonderful. They’ve offered to hold a little service.’ She took the water and medication from Judd. ‘Mike and I hadn’t discussed names.’ She looked up, eyes huge in her pale face. ‘I don’t know what to do. If I agree to a service, I think I might have to provide a name but I can’t do that. I don’t even know if I could be part of any of it.’ She looked close to exhaustion.

Watts stood. ‘Molly, it’s