The Coercion Key by Catriona King Read Free Book Online Page A

them on as John continued talking.
    “She was found in her car in the communal garage.”
    “Carbon Monoxide poisoning?”
    “Yes.” John paused and Craig knew what was coming next. He wouldn’t have woken him up at four a.m. for a suicide case, no matter how lonely he felt. “She left exactly the same note, Marc... I’ll see you there in ten.”
    The line went dead and Craig slipped his mobile into his pocket and went to freshen up. He looked a shambles but he didn’t care, neither would Victoria Linton. He brushed his teeth sleepily as her name turned over in his head. He knew that name, he was certain he did. Then he remembered where from. She’d prosecuted a case of his six years before, when he’d first come back to Belfast. She’d been a snippy piece of work, but attractive. Craig wondered idly what she looked like nowadays then he remembered she was dead and chastised himself.
    Ten minutes later he was staring down at her corpse, the familiar cherry-red discolouration of her skin confirming John’s diagnosis of a Carbon Monoxide death. Craig gazed at the woman’s face, remembering her from the courtroom. He could almost hear her voice. Cool but not unpleasant, like a BBC Newsreader in a vaguely pissed-off mood. It was her stare that had really wilted her opponents; fierce and unblinking, as if she could make them tell the truth by her sheer force of will. A tap on his shoulder told Craig that Linton’s apartment was ready to view and he nodded John to cover her face with the sheet.
    “Pity. She was young.”
    Craig nodded in agreement.
    “Did you know her, Marc?”
    “I came up against her in court once. She was a criminal prosecutor. Pretty good as well. I don’t know if she was still doing it.”
    “Her apartment will tell us.”
    “Who found her, John?”
    “A neighbour who was coming home late. He heard the car engine running and went into the garage to take a look. He pulled her out and tried to resuscitate her, but no joy. Uniform at Stranmillis caught the call.” John pointed at a young man who was leaning against a police car, holding a cup of coffee in his hand. He was shaking so much that he was spilling it all over the ground.
    Craig walked over to him and extended his hand. “I’m Superintendent Craig, Mr…?”
    “W…Wallace. James Wallace.”
    Wallace’s voice was shaking as much as his hands and Craig smiled kindly at him. “It must have been a shock.”
    The man nodded vaguely. “I knew her. Vicky. She used to come to the boat club the odd time and we’d all go to Cutter’s Wharf together.”
    Cutter’s was a popular riverside bar in Stranmillis that Craig had been to many times. Wallace was still speaking.
    “Why would she do this to herself? She had everything. Her job, Julian, her…”
    Craig interrupted gently. “Who is Julian?”
    Wallace stared at Craig as if he was looking through him, searching for something. It was probably his peace of mind.
    “He’s her boyfriend. They’ve been together for a while. It was quite serious I think.” His mouth dropped open. “Oh God, maybe he dumped her? Maybe that’s why she did it?”
    Craig shook his head. “There’s no point speculating, Mr Wallace. We’ll sort all that out later.”
    Craig thought about going over the events with the young man again but a glance at his pale skin and reddening eyes said that he’d had quite enough for tonight.
    “Thank you for being so helpful, Mr Wallace. I think you should go home now and get some sleep. A constable will contact you in the morning.” Craig turned to enter the apartment block then thought of something and turned swiftly back again. “Just one more question. How do people gain access to the development?”
    Wallace stared at the high gates that separated the exclusive apartments from the road and then back at Craig. “Electronic gate opener.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a fob, holding it out to Craig. “We get them from the managing agents. Only