“I’m fine,” she replied and sat down. Somehow I didn’t believe her. She was the type of young woman that didn’t complain at every ailment. I respected that. She was strong.
“So, what do you have planned today?” I asked them and took a large bite of the hot cross bun, closing my eyes at the comforting taste of the warm bun.
Rose smiled and it lit up her beautiful blue eyes. “We’re going to do some knitting. We haven’t done any in a while. Which reminds me, do you think you’ll be able to pick us up some more wool? We’re getting a little low.”
“Of course, I’ll get some after work.”
“Thank you,” she replied.
I took her hand over the table and gave it a squeeze. “You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure.” Rose’s blue eyes danced with happiness. My heart constricted. Every touch from her meant so much to me—much more than anyone else’s. I wished I could go back in time and handle our meeting better.
“How is work?” she asked.
“Boring but fine.”
Work wasn’t the problem. The fact that everyone now knows about the bodies is what concerned me. It was only a matter of time before the police would want to talk to Christy’s colleagues—which I was one of. If she hadn’t been such a disgusting whore, none of it would have happened. She deserved it.
Finishing my last bite, I stood up, not wanting to put off the inevitable any longer. The girls hadn’t finished, and I knew I was being rude by leaving, but this was too important. “Forgive me for not staying, but I have something I need to tend to. Thank you for breakfast.”
“Okay,” Rose said. “We’ll see you tonight. Have a good day.”
I gave her a nod and smiled. “You too. Thank you.”
***
I arrived at work and walked straight to my office. “Morning, Colin. Would you like a coffee?” Jemma asked as she pushed my door open.
“Good morning, Jemma. That would be lovely, thank you.”
She left the room, and I turned on my computer. There were so many folders in my tray. What now? I thought and flipped the first one open.
When are they coming? I looked out of my window to the parking lot. Nothing. I tried to concentrate on work, but I couldn’t. My foot tapped the floor of its own accord and everything outside caught my attention—birds, a cat, cars, people, anything.
Jemma came back with a cup of coffee and placed it on my coaster. “Terrible about Christy, isn’t it? I can’t believe anyone would hurt her.”
“Thank you. Yes, it is. She was such a bright young woman.” Who made disgusting choices. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “In shock. I just can’t believe it. So many women in the canal too. It’s scary.”
“You just make sure you’re safe.”
She nodded. “Oh, I will be. My boyfriend is picking me up now. I don’t feel safe walking anywhere while a killer is on the loose.” I blinked in shock and Jemma walked out of my office. Killer. That wasn’t what I was. There is a huge problem out there, and I act accordingly. Did people just think of me as a killer?
A knock on my door pulled me back. Sarah, the receptionist, pushed the door open. “Mr. Brown, the police are in reception. They’d like to speak to everyone, starting at management level. Can I show them in?”
My heart raced. I hadn’t seen a police car. Glancing out the window, I saw none. Front of the building perhaps. “Of course, Sarah. Please show them through.” She nodded her head and retreated back out of my office. I took a deep breath to mentally prepare myself and then straightened the papers on my desk.
A minute or two later, two police officers entered my office and Sarah closed the door behind them. “Good morning. Please sit,” I said, gesturing toward the two chairs against the wall.
“Thank you. We won’t keep you long; we just have a few standard questions to ask.”
I nodded. “Anything I can do to help.” One of them, the female officer, flipped open a notepad and clicked the top of her pen.
“Thank you. I’m Detective Inspector Brook and this is DI McKinney,” the man, Brook, said.
“Christy was a lovely woman, always willing to help—never turned you down if you needed a chat. It’s such shame she got herself tied up in that awful mess.”
“Mess?” the male officer asked. “What mess was that?”
“Oh, I assumed you would know by now. Christy and Greg Hart, also an employee here, were having an affair.” They both looked up and the woman quickly scribbled something down on her pad. Good girl.
“Do you know how long this was going on for?”
I shook my head. “No, I only found out recently, when I heard them argue in his office.”
“What were they arguing about?”
“I didn’t catch it all, but Christy was saying she wanted their relationship to be exclusive. I guess she wanted him to leave his wife. Mr. Hart’s wife is pregnant. I assumed Greg had come to his senses and decided to make things work with his family.”