Bart leaned down again and touched his grandfather’s shoulder. ‘Gramps, just move—’
‘Don’t touch me, queer. Get your brother. Get me Dale.’
Mallory ran from the hallway.
‘Gramps, I can do it,’ Bart said, kneeling by his side.
‘Get away from me, you fairy,’ he said, as Dale came running into the hallway.
He registered surprise at the presence of Kim and Travis but his priority was the man on the floor.
She noted his casual attire of jeans and sweatshirt, rather than the austere suit he’d worn the other day.
‘Get away, Bart,’ he said, pushing his brother to the side.
Kim saw the flash of emotion in Bart’s eyes. As if the dismissal from his brother was the final straw.
He said nothing but stomped out the front door.
‘In fact, can you all leave, please?’ Dale asked, kneeling beside his grandfather.
Mallory headed to the back of the house, while she and Travis stepped outside.
She spied Bart at the edge of the wall. His hands on the brick, staring down.
‘Back in a minute,’ she said to Travis.
‘You okay?’ she asked, tapping Bart lightly on the shoulder.
He turned and she saw the emotion had reached his eyes.
‘I’m fine,’ he said, trying to place a smile on his face. ‘He likes to call me names sometimes. It’s what he called me as a child. I made the mistake of showing I didn’t like it. Made him worse.’ He paused. ‘And I’m not, you know,’ he said.
‘You’re not what?’
‘Gay,’ he said.
‘Does it matter?’ she asked.
He shrugged. ‘I just wanted you to know.’
‘But he’s your grandfather,’ Kim observed. She had zero experience of grandparents but she was reasonably sure this wasn’t normal.
‘I’m a disappointment to him, Inspector. My grandfather is a man who believes that fair competition brings out the best in people.’ He shrugged. ‘He was always pitting us against each other. Who could climb highest, run fastest. My father hated it, but when he died we moved back here and my grandfather’s selection process continued.’
‘Selection process?’ she queried.
He turned and leaned his behind against the wall. She followed suit so they were both facing the house.
‘Survival of the fittest, Hunger Games, however you want to look at it but what he wanted was someone worthy to take over the business. And that someone is Dale.’
Kim tried to imagine being set against your own brother. She’d had a brother for such a short time but she couldn’t imagine being forced to compete against him.
‘Doesn’t Dale mind?’
Bart shrugged. ‘He’s a good guy, don’t get me wrong. Cast in the same mould as my grandfather but I love him. We’re just beyond being any other way,’ he said, as Mallory appeared in the doorway.
She spied her younger son and began moving in his direction. He offered her a look of disgust and walked away.
Perhaps her silence was one betrayal too far.
‘You can go in, now,’ she said to Kim, wringing her hands and staring after her younger son, although she made no effort to follow him.
Travis turned to the woman. ‘Do you mind if I use the bathroom first?’ he asked.
Mallory again looked flustered, and Kim realised it didn’t take a lot.
‘Yes, yes, there’s a restroom at the top of the stairs.’
‘I’ll join you in the office,’ he said, indicating she should continue without him.
Kim feared for his ageing bladder. He’d used the toilet before they’d left the hospital.
Mallory appeared torn, unsure who to follow. She opted for Kim, as Travis took the stairs two at a time.
Kim followed the woman, even though she knew where Dale’s office was. Mallory knocked and waited for an answer before entering. Kim followed closely behind.
As she stepped into the room, she noted Dale Preece close the lid of the laptop.
His grandfather was seated beside him.
There was no evidence of the frail man lying on the tiled floor just moments earlier. Despite the wheelchair, his demeanour was upright, proud. The excess skin at his turkey neck was kept in check by a starched white collar and tie. His eyes were keen and focussed.
Kim recalled Bart’s comments and found them easy to believe.
‘Where is your partner, Sergeant?’ he asked, officiously, looking behind her.
‘It’s Inspector, Mr Preece and he had to answer a call of nature.’
The irritation showed in his eyes.
‘You have come to update us on your investigation, I assume,’ he said, attempting to control the situation.
‘Amongst other things,’ she answered, taking a seat.
Dale sat back in his chair, his expression pensive. Clearly her conversation today would be with Preece senior.
‘Mr Preece, could you explain to me the history of the lease between yourself and the Cowley family?’
‘Absolutely none of your concern,’ he said easily.
‘I understand it’s a long-term lease for a minimal amount of money that hasn’t been increased—’
‘It is none of your business, officer, and certainly not pertinent to whatever it is those animals have been up to. How many bodies have you found?’
Kim ignored his question. ‘You seem convinced the Cowley family is responsible for our findings.’
He frowned and stared at her hard. ‘Inspector, are you in charge of this case?’
‘I am,’ she answered, only half lying.
‘Then I would assume that even you have mastered the art of adding one and one together to make two.’
Kim wasn’t sure what the ‘even you’ comment meant.
‘I have mastered the art of not jumping to conclusions which—’
‘Aaah, perhaps now we’ll get some answers,’ he said, as Travis stepped into the room.
Robson Preece thrust his hand across the desk in Travis’s direction. She was tempted to slap a cuff on it and arrest him for being a sexist bastard.
Travis shook the hand and nodded before glancing in her direction. She met his gaze. Her unspoken message said: You just dare undermine me in front of this arsehole and I will crush your nuts with my bare hands, or something along those lines.
He opened up his leather wallet and looked down.
He got it.
‘As I was saying, Mr Preece, we rely on something called evidence. We struggle to make a case without it,’ she said.
‘But you’ve arrested Jeff Cowley, so you obviously have some evidence,’ Robson emphasised, still looking at Travis. ‘I don’t see why you’re complicating it, Inspector. The bodies were found on their land and—’
‘But it’s not technically their land, is it Mr Preece?’ Kim asked, calling his attention back to her. ‘It’s your land, which is why we have to investigate all avenues.’
‘Give me the name of your superior officer, miss,’ he said, thunderously. His generous, unruly eyebrows had descended over his eyes.
She’d had enough of his condescension. She ignored his question and turned to Dale. ‘Mr Preece, we need to know the purpose of Fiona Cowley’s visit here yesterday.’
He swallowed deeply.
‘Fiona Cowley, here?’