Lucy Young and Holly Jones were sitting in Holly’s car a few houses down from Kenny West’s home, killing time by playing Scrabble with each other on their phones, the screens the only light in the car. Lucy had scored ninety-four points with a seven-letter word on a triple word score, and Holly wasn’t amused.
‘Strictly speaking, I’m your boss,’ she grumbled, and tried to rearrange AAIOENJ into anything that would give her more than eleven points.
The letters disappeared as a call came through from Tom.
‘Yes, boss?’
‘Where are you?’
‘Watching Kenny West’s house. No activity at all. In fact, we’re so cheesed off I’ve let Lucy get away with scoring ninety-four points with one word in Scrabble.’
‘Okay, park the game. I need you to go to Kenny and tell him we want him and the boys in here for interview as soon as possible. I’d really like them in tomorrow, but I’m aware the boys have exams, so we have to be careful. But they’re not having exams all day every day, so at some point tomorrow I want them here, even if it’s late afternoon. In fact, thinking about it, if the lads have an exam in the afternoon, don’t get them in tomorrow morning. They’re probably going to be upset by what they hear, but I’ve got to do it. If they’ve no exams tomorrow, let’s get them in and get it over with.’
‘Will do, boss,’ Holly said, and disconnected.
Kenny was surprised to see the two police officers at nine o’clock at night, but he opened his door and let them in without saying a word. They followed him into the kitchen.
‘Are Jack and Isaac in?’ Holly asked.
‘Studying upstairs. They’ve a big exam in the morning. Do you need to see them?’
‘Not really. We can organise it with you. We need the three of you to come into the station. Some new information has come to light, and we’re going to need statements from all of you. Don’t let the lads be worried, because it really is nothing to worry about, it’s procedures we have to follow. Shall we say two o’clock?’
‘I’ll make sure we’re there. I’m going into the garage tomorrow morning to check everybody’s handling the work, so I’ll be back here before lunch. I’ll tell the boys to come straight home after the exam.’
Holly smiled at Kenny, but it wasn’t returned. He looked ill. His face had taken on a gaunt appearance and she suspected food was the last thing on his mind. For a brief second, she wanted to give him a hug and say it would be okay, and then she squashed the thought. It would never be okay for him again, and he was still a potential suspect.
‘That went well,’ Lucy remarked. ‘I can’t help but like him, but he’s not looking good, is he?’
‘Looks grey. He’s suddenly having to bring up two teenagers at the most stressful point in their lives so far, and hold it together for Lorraine. But never forget he’s still not in the clear for this, and won’t be until we have somebody in custody.’ Holly put the car into gear and headed towards the police station. ‘Let’s call it a night. We’ll do the same tomorrow night but outside Graham Andrews’ house.’
‘You don’t like him, do you?’
‘No,’ was the short sharp answer.
‘Any particular reason?’
‘I suppose it’s because of the picture we’ve built up about him – a control freak who tried to stop his wife living. Maybe he did it for real. I know he has a cast-iron alibi because he was looking after the kids from when Carla left for work, but even so…’
Holly pulled up and Lucy got out. ‘Maybe we should split up and sit outside both houses?’ she said, leaning through the open car door.
Holly shook her head. ‘We stay together. We have three dead women and no idea who killed them. We stay together.’
Lucy held up a thumb, walked across to her own car and headed home.
Holly guessed Tom would still be at work, so she walked up the stairs towards his office. His smile lit up his face.
‘Any problems?’
‘None at all. Neither of them seem to go out at night, and let’s face it, if they’re as innocent as they’re making out they are, they’ll both be grieving for their wives. Everything about me is treating them as suspects, yet we know they didn’t do it.’
‘We know Graham didn’t pull the trigger, he’s a lot chunkier than our masked man, but Kenny…’
She thought about what Tom was saying. ‘Surely not.’
He shrugged, then laughed. ‘No, I don’t think it’s him for one minute, but you must admit he’s about the right build, and dressed in black he would have looked slimmer. We’ll see what they have to say tomorrow when we tell them about Lorraine’s plans.’
Jack and Isaac looked uncomfortable as they entered the room, fidgety and unsmiling. Kenny was protective, although Holly couldn’t imagine why he would be unless he thought his boys were in trouble. The young PC asked them to sit down, and offered them a drink. All three refused, and sat quietly, waiting for whatever was to happen.
Tom and Holly were outside, watching them through the darkened window. They left them for five minutes, and then entered the room.
Holly pressed the recorder and registered the names of all attending, and Jack and Isaac looked at each other, unease written across their faces.
‘Why are you recording it?’ Jack asked.
‘Standard procedure, Jack. Try not to worry about it.’ Holly smiled at the young boy.
Tom coughed to clear his throat. ‘Some information has been passed to us that made us realise we needed to talk to you, hopefully to clarify things.’
‘Information?’ Kenny queried.
‘Yes, about Lorraine. Were you aware she was leaving Sheffield?’
There was a stunned silence.
‘And were you aware she had a new job in Leicester?’
Kenny stood. ‘Don’t be fucking stupid, man. Of course she wasn’t leaving. I don’t know who’s told you this, but it’s not true. She wouldn’t leave her lads, that’s for definite, and especially not at this time when they’re taking exams. She’s worked with them for five years to get them to this point in their lives, no way would she leave them. Us.’
‘Sit down, Mr West,’ Holly said. ‘Don’t shoot the messenger. We’re giving you information that has been given to us, and we hoped you would know who her new employer was to be. All we know is that it was a small accountancy firm in Leicester, and she was starting in six weeks. Did your wife have another man, Mr West?’
Kenny sat down with a thud and he looked from one police officer to another. ‘No she bloody didn’t. It’s unthinkable. We’ve always loved one another. She wouldn’t move away, wouldn’t leave Sheffield. She’s a Sheffield lass, born and bred here. Whoever’s given you this information has a screw loose, is inventing it for some reason I can’t even guess at.’
Tom swung his frame around to focus on Jack and Isaac. ‘Jack, Isaac, do you know anything about this. Chinese whispers at school?’