Dead Memories (D.I. Kim Stone #10)(70)

‘Jeez, woman, loosen up,’ Stacey said, winking at her. ‘I’m only joking and, if it helps, my mum always tells me to retrace my steps,’ Stacey advised, turning back to her computer.

Alison wasn’t sure what use that advice was to her. It wasn’t as though she’d lost something.

But actually she had, she realised, thinking again about Stacey’s advice.

She clicked on the folder holding scanned copies of the statements.

She read through Curtis’s vague recollection of finishing his set and getting his stuff together on the night Beverly had been attacked. He’d smoked a few joints and couldn’t remember what he’d done next. Nope that wasn’t it.

She read through Tom’s account of the evening. He’d served Beverly with two drinks, gin and tonic. She’d been no trouble and had sat alone sometimes, closing her eyes to the music. He hadn’t seen her leave but she’d still been there while Curtis was packing up and he had gone to cash up with Tilly. Exactly as he had told her the night before. There was nothing different to what she already knew.

She moved on to Tilly’s statement who reiterated Tom’s account that she’d seen no interaction between Curtis and Beverly. Curtis was no different to usual. He took no alcohol, just a pint of lime and lemon to sip on while he played.

She also hadn’t seen either Beverly or Curtis leave as she and Tom had gone to start a deep clean on the restrooms.

That was it.

That’s what had stuck in her mind. Tom said cashing up and Tilly said cleaning. They had said they’d been together but where: office or toilets? It couldn’t be both.

So, effectively they had alibied each other. The question now paramount in her mind was: for whose benefit had it been?





Eighty-Nine





It wasn’t until they’d reached the hospital reception that Bryant spoke.

‘I want to ask the significance of the ripped-up money but I don’t want to lose my head in the process.’

‘It’s what he gave… the girls to keep quiet,’ she said.

‘The girls?’

‘Yes, the girls,’ she said with finality and remembered what Ted had said.

Disassociation

Disassociation

Disassociation

‘So, we gonna head off to the prison now, or what?’ he asked, as a text message dinged to her phone.

‘Apparently not,’ she said, turning around. ‘Keats wants to see us.’

‘And he obviously doesn’t know you’re “officially” off the case,’ Bryant said, glancing at her phone. ‘Is it a good idea for you to come with me to see him when?…’

‘I absolutely promise not to get in your way of running this investigation,’ she said. ‘And I’ll make it clear to Keats that you’re in charge.’

‘Well, if I’m in charge I say that we really need to get over to the prison. Need to know who got that bloody book and shake them all up. That’s where we’re going to find our answers.’

‘Agreed,’ she said, taking the steps down to the morgue. ‘But, we’re right here.’

He followed her through the double doors mumbling something about empty gestures.

‘Wow, it’s an ambush,’ she said, seeing Keats, Mitch and Doctor A in the same room.

‘We are almost completed,’ said Doctor A. ‘Our man is untangled from the wreckage but I have no more detail than I have told you.’

Kim held up her hand. ‘I must tell you that I am here in no professional capacity whatsoever, so please direct your comments to my colleague,’ she said, jumping up onto the stainless steel work surface.

Doctor A turned to Bryant. ‘As I told your boss the other—’

‘Got it, Doctor A, thanks,’ he said.

‘So, Bryant,’ Keats said, stepping in front of her, ‘how do you keep your sanity on a daily basis?’

‘Oi, I’ve still got ears,’ she said.

‘I shall return to my cell along the hall to sort the debris,’ Doctor A said.

‘Debris?’ Kim asked.

‘Bits and pieces I think you say. Not man nor machine. I shall bring them tomorrow for your puzzlement.’

‘Thanks, Doctor A,’ Kim called after her.

The other two scientists just watched her leave.

‘God save us from brilliant women who are so much more intelligent than we are,’ said Keats once she’d gone.

‘We forgive you,’ Kim said.

‘You’re not even here,’ he said, moving to the other side of the room. ‘I’m not sure why you’re not here but I’m sure the accusation is correct, and you’re totally guilty of the crime.’

‘Jeez, Keats, thanks…’

‘So, Bryant, the reason I called you down here. The toxicology results are back on the first tissue samples we retrieved for our man in the car.’

‘And?’ Bryant asked.

‘Just like the other four victims, he too had been pumped full of Baclofen.’





Ninety





‘I’ll just add this name to my list, then,’ Stacey said, writing down the name ‘Billie Styles’.