Cruel Justice (DI Lorne Simpkins (Book one)) by Tania Mel; Tirraoro Comley

insisted that Dad was still around her and refused to leave the security she felt in the home. That seems a bit ironic now after what's happened to her…"

    "Did your mother employ staff?"

    "They've been with my Mother and Father for years. Surely you don't suspect them?"

    "Give Pete their names and addresses, they'll have to be checked out."

    They searched every room, drawer and cupboard in the house. Lorne felt like an intruder as she rifled through the dead woman's belongings. The more they hunted the more their frustrations grew. They found nothing. No signs of a break-in or of Belinda being killed there. Again their investigation had hit a brick wall.

    Was this a random killing after all?

    Two frustrating hours later, they left the grieving Oliver to his memories and returned to the station.

    En route, Pete asked, "What do you make of the son?"

    "In what respect?" Lorne shot him a puzzled glance.

    "Can we regard him as a suspect?"

    "Jesus, Pete, I think you've been watching too many cop shows on that damn telly of yours." She laughed, but then realisation came crashing down on her. "Oh I get it, you think he killed her for the inheritance money, is that it?"

    "Stranger things have happened." He shrugged his broad shoulders.

    "You haven't quite grasped it yet, have you, Pete?"

    "What's that?" It was his turn to look puzzled.

    "You haven't quite mastered the knack of gauging people's reactions."

    "You mean we're back to women's bloody intuition again? Well I'm sorry to have to inform you, boss, but I ain't no woman with no magic powers. I have to go about things my way, which happens to be the force's way. So, if I've got suspicions about someone I have to follow up on those suspicions."

    "That's why we're such good partners — because I can share my God given ability with you. Read my lips, there is no way Oliver Greenaway killed his mother. I'm adamant about that, it is definitely not an avenue I'm willing to pursue, got it?"

    "Don't blame me if you're wrong. There's always that saying, 'look at the in-laws before looking for the outlaws'."

    "Another wonderful analogy from one of those American cop shows you love so much. What else have we got?"

    " Hey don't knock it, honey," he said in the lousiest American accent he could muster. In his normal cockney voice, he said, "Absolutely sweet FA which is why we should check him out. Unless the doc comes up with a match to the mud found on the body, we might as well wrap this case up now."

    "What about the staff?"

    "I'll get someone to do some digging when we get back."

    "Chase up any leads we have regarding the girl who was reported missing last night, as well. The evening news will be airing the conference soon we should get a flurry of calls from that."

    The rest of the team had also had a very disappointing day. The helicopter accident had proven to be just that, an accident. The bank accounts showed nothing dubious, except that Belinda Greenaway had been a very wealthy woman. It didn't take a genius to work that one out. The neighbours said that the Greenaways were a wonderful couple and never any bother. Finally, much to Pete's annoyance, Oliver came up smelling of roses, Mr Squeaky, Squeaky clean, in fact.

    "And the missing girl?" Lorne asked her partner over a cup of coffee and a jam doughnut in her office.

    "She's sixteen, Kim Charlton. Left her friend's house at about eleven. She called for a taxi, when it failed to show up she got impatient and decided to walk. Her house is about two miles from her friend's."

    Pete reeled off the facts he'd gathered from one of the team, before taking a huge messy bite of his doughnut.

    "Does she make a habit of going missing?"

    "Generally, she's a hundred per cent reliable. But according to her parents she's recently started going out with a boy they don't fully approve of," he spluttered, through a large mouthful of cake.

    "Did the parents call him?"

    "Yeah, he was on the other side of town with his