Child's Play (D.I. Kim Stone #11)(25)

A couple of heads raised and looked in her direction but her attention was on one single lady right at the back. She stood out from the others for a few reasons. First she was a good twenty years older than everyone else in the office. Secondly, her plum ruffled blouse and full face of make-up contrasted heavily with the jeans and tee shirts worn by the rest of the staff, and thirdly she was the only one wearing headphones.

Old school, Kim realised. The practice of audiotyping was dying due to voice recognition software, and the skill of shorthand was almost extinct.

But that wasn’t the main reason the lady had caught Kim’s attention. It was because despite staring at the screen and having her fingers poised above the keyboard, her foot hadn’t touched the foot pedal controls once.

‘Guv, what the?…’

‘Shush, I’m in stalker mode.’

‘In front of a clear glass window?’

Kim approached the clear glass window and knocked on it. The woman nearest almost jumped out of her skin and then offered Kim a terse expression.

Kim ignored her and pointed to the woman at the back of the room.

Eventually the older woman looked her way and Kim motioned for her to come forward. She removed her headphones and walked towards the glass. Kim pointed towards the door.

‘Guv, what the hell are you doing?’ Bryant asked as the woman negotiated the last couple of desks to get out of the door.

Kim held up her ID as she looked at her questioningly. She introduced herself and her colleague.

‘Ida Lincoln,’ she said, moving from one foot to the other.

‘Ms Lincoln, we’re investigating the murder of Belinda Evans. Did you know her well?’ Kim asked.

She had been the only person in the office who seemed unable to concentrate on her work.

Tears gathered in her eyes. ‘We were all called in last night and told the news. It still hasn’t sunk in yet. I know she didn’t work here any more but knowing that she’s gone, I mean, really gone, is just…’

Her words trailed away as she reached into her sleeve and retrieved a handkerchief. Kim gave her a few seconds.

‘Were the two of you close?’

‘I wouldn’t say close but we had a lot in common,’ she said, glancing behind her. ‘Both started to feel like old farts amongst all this youth.’

Kim hadn’t expected that word to come out of this lady’s mouth.

‘There were times in the staff room when the conversations just went over our heads. I’m not into all the new technology and she wasn’t either. We didn’t get all that social media stuff they chat about in there. If I wanted to see cute kittens I’d buy one. We talked about books a lot. I don’t know if you’re aware but she was a very intelligent woman. You wouldn’t have wanted to get into an argument with her.’

‘Why’s that?’ Kim asked, wondering if the woman had been known to show aggression or temper.

‘Because she always had a fact to prove a point at her fingertips. Very clever.’

‘Did the two of you mix out of work?’ Kim asked, noting the absence of wedding rings on Ida’s fingers. These two women could have been good company for each other.

‘We met up for an evening drink, non-alcoholic of course as Belinda didn’t drink. We started chatting about a recent documentary on African burial rites but it was cut short.’

‘Why’s that?’ Kim asked.

‘Her sister must have called a dozen times during the short time we were there. Belinda was clearly annoyed at the intrusion but wouldn’t switch the phone off. Eventually I left realising I’d get a more focussed conversation from my cat. I don’t actually have a cat but you know what I mean. Strangest thing, though,’ she said, looking up and to the left.

‘Strange?’ Kim asked. She liked strange. Strange lived in the same house as unusual and anything out of the ordinary could produce a lead.

‘Could have swore I saw her sister on the car park outside but that wouldn’t make any sense, would it?’

‘Did you mention that to Belinda?’ Kim asked.

‘No, not at all. By the morning I was sure I’d been mistaken.’

Right now Kim wasn’t so sure.

‘And that was the extent of the friendship?’ Kim asked.

Ida shook her head. ‘A week or so later Belinda asked if I’d like to grab a coffee after work, but conveniently her sister had some type of fall right before we were due to finish. I mean I can’t be sure but—’

‘Officers, I’m ready to see you now,’ said a voice from behind.

Kim hadn’t heard the door to the principal’s office open.

‘Yes, we’ll be with you in a minute,’ Kim said, without turning. ‘Please continue, Ida. What were you going to say?’

‘Oh nothing much, really. I was just going to say that I got the impression that her sister didn’t much like her spending time with anyone.’





Twenty-Five





Kim knocked and entered the door that had just closed behind her.

A plump woman with a severely cut shock of blonde hair offered her hand. Bryant stepped forward and shook it while introducing the two of them.

Kim watched the woman make her way back to the other side of the desk and got the impression the three-inch heels were not adding as much height as she would like them to.