The Corpse's Tale (Trevor Joseph Detective series) by Katherine John Read Free Book Online

shouldn’t have to put up with this.’
    ‘I didn’t expect people to welcome David back with open arms.’ Her voice trembled and she mopped tears from her eyes. ‘But after the judge freed him I thought they’d at least let us live in peace. David’s suffered so much. He didn’t kill Anna.’
    David carried in a tray. ‘That’s why Mr Joseph is here, Mam,’ he said cheerfully, ‘to prove to everyone in Llan that I didn’t.’
    ‘Inspector Joseph, David,’ Mike corrected.
    ‘Mr will do.’ Trevor looked at Mrs Morgan. ‘Is there anyone you can go and stay with for the next few days, Mrs Morgan?’
    ‘I just told Sergeant Thomas. No one’s going to drive me out of my own home. They can do what they like. Throw stones at us, break our windows, burn the roof over our heads…’
    ‘There’s no need to get upset, Mrs Morgan,’ Mike interrupted. ‘I told you, I’ll have a uniformed officer stationed here, day and night, for the next few days.’
    ‘You have that much manpower?’ Trevor was amazed.
    ‘Mrs Morgan’s sofa looks comfortable, either I or one of my officers will sleep on it until this is over.’
    ‘Policing in rural Wales is certainly different to what I’m used to, Sergeant Thomas.’
    ‘The case you’re working on was the biggest we had in over a century.’
    David handed round cups of tea and held the milk jug and sugar bowl for them to help themselves.
    ‘Please sit down,’ Mrs Morgan invited the officers. ‘David, there are chocolate biscuits in the cupboard.’
    ‘Not for me, thank you, David.’ Mike sat on one of the easy chairs, leaving the one nearest the sofa for Trevor.
    ‘Or me, thank you. I’ve just eaten one of Mrs J a m e s ’s excellent steaks.’ Trevor smiled at David, hoping to put him at his ease. He waited until David had sat next to his mother before speaking to him again.
    ‘I’m here to talk to you about Anna Harris, David.’
    ‘I liked Anna…’ David began.
    ‘Anna and David played together when they were children. He was twelve when she was born. He idolised her. Worshipped the ground she walked on. He wouldn’t have hurt a hair on her head. He’s big but he’s always been gentle. They used to call him the gentle giant in special school…’
    ‘I’d like to hear what David has to say, in his own words, Mrs Morgan,’ Trevor interrupted softly.
    ‘ D a v i d ’s not like other boys, Inspector Joseph.’
    ‘The Inspector knows that, Mrs Morgan.’ Mike rose to his feet. ‘You said earlier that you needed a few groceries. Why don’t I drive you to the superstore?’
    ‘That’s ten miles away.’
    ‘Twelve minutes there and twelve back in my car, Mrs Morgan,’ Mike smiled. ‘And half an hour for shopping. We’ll be back within the hour. Inspector Joseph will stay with David until then.’
    ‘I will,’ Trevor assured the elderly woman.
    ‘We do need a few things,’ she admitted. ‘And I don’t want to go to Morris’s.’ She clenched her fists tightly. ‘He might refuse to serve me like Tom the baker.’
    ‘Try not to think about it, Mrs Morgan. Get your hat, coat and handbag and we’ll be off.’ Mike nodded to Tr e v o r, ‘See you later, Inspector.’
    ‘I’d appreciate a chat about the locals’ view on the case, Sergeant.’
    ‘You’re staying in the pub?’
    ‘I am.’
    ‘I’ll get one of my constables to cover here for an hour this evening and call in.’
     
    Trevor sat chatting to David about dogs until Mike left with Mrs Morgan. Sammy, the Jack Russell puppy David had been training ten years before was now an old dog. He hadn’t moved from his basket the whole time Trevor had been in the room.
    ‘Will you get a new dog, David?’ Trevor set his empty tea cup on the tray.
    ‘No point, Mr Joseph.’
    ‘Why’s that, David?’
    ‘Can’t go out. People don’t want to see me.’
    ‘Have you been outside?’ Trevor asked.
    ‘Tried when I came home. Went into the garden to sort it. People stood outside the