A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Gillian Larkin Read Free Book Online Page B

’ t be
too sure about that. I think DS Pendleton will have many questions for me. ”
    Heat
flushed through Julia as she thought about DS Pendleton. She wished she could
be at Cain ’ s
side when he gave his statement, but she knew that wasn ’ t an
option. Why couldn ’ t DI Clarke be the one in charge?
    When
they arrived at the police station they were told by the uniformed woman on
reception that DS Pendleton was busy. Hope flared up in Julia and she said, “ Can
we give our statements to you then? ”
    The
woman shook her head and said, “ I ’ m
really sorry, DS Pendleton has left strict instructions that he ’ s to
be the one who interviews you. ” The woman did look sorry. Julia
concluded that the woman was wise to DS Pendleton ’ s
true nature. The woman spoke again, “ Please take a
seat, I ’ ll
let DS Pendleton know that you ’ re here. There ’ s a
vending machine over there. It ’ s not fantastic
but the tea and coffee are strong. I ’ m afraid it ’ s
drinks only, there ’ s nothing to eat. ”
    Cain
held up a plastic tub, smiled at the woman and said, “ We
have chocolate cake. There ’ s plenty, you
can have a slice if you like. ”
    The
woman returned his smile. “ Thank you, but
we ’ re
not allowed to take food or drink from the public, just in case there ’ s
poison in them. ”
    Cain ’ s
smile dropped. He moved the tub away from the woman. “ I ’ m so
sorry! I never thought of that. ”
    Julia
took Cain over to a set of metal chairs and sat him down. “ I ’ ll
get us a drink. I ’ ll be more than happy to share that cake
with you. Goodness knows how long we ’ ll be here. And
those seats don ’ t look at all comfy. ”
    They
had to wait thirty minutes before DS Pendleton graced them with his presence.
His smug smile was firmly in place as he looked Cain up and down. He sniffed
and said loudly, “ I thought you were here, Stinky, I could
smell you. ”
    Julia
jumped up. “ That ’ s enough!
Any more of that and I ’ m making an
official complaint! ”
    “ Do
what you like, ” DS Pendleton retorted. “ DI
Clarke has told me all about you and your interfering ways. No one will take
any complaint that you make seriously. ”
    “ We ’ ll
see about that, ” Julia
said. She marched over to the woman on the reception desk and announced, “ How
do I make an official complaint? ”
    The
woman already had a form and leaflet ready. She threw DS Pendleton a disgusted
look and then said to Julia, “ Fill this in.
Bring it straight back to me, I ’ ll make sure it
goes to the right department. ”
    Julia
gave her a smile of thanks and put the paperwork in her handbag. She turned to
face DS Pendleton. “ You can take Mr Andrews first, I don ’ t
mind waiting. ”
    DS
Pendleton sneered at her. “ I ’ ll
decide who goes first. ” His lip curled in disgust as he added, “ Mr
Andrews can wait. ”
    Julia
was taken to a stuffy room to give her statement. Was this how members of the
public were treated? Was there really any need for her to be in a room like
this?
    She
was in the room for twenty minutes. Then she had to wait one hour for Cain to
give his statement. Her frustration and anger rose in equal amounts the longer
that she waited. Why was it taking so long? What was DS Pendleton saying to
Cain? She wished she could burst into the room.
    Cain
looked exhausted when he came out. He gave Julia a surprised look. “ You
didn ’ t
have to wait, I could have got the bus home. ”
    “ Of
course I waited for you. Are you okay? What did he say to you? ”
    Cain ’ s
shoulders dropped. “ I ’ d rather
not say. ”
    Julia
pressed her lips together tightly. Her opinion of DS Pendleton would have to
stay inside her head for the moment. She drove Cain home and told him she would
pick him up in the morning. “ Don ’ t
leave all that cake on the back seat! ” she called out as he left the car.
    Cain
reached into the back seat for the various containers that Julia ’