Cruel Justice (DI Lorne Simpkins (Book one)) by Tania Mel; Tirraoro Comley Page B

way to Doreen, what happens now?"

    "I'm not with you?"

    "Well, wouldn't Doreen's money go to her own daughter, Colleen?"

    "I guess so." He shrugged.

    "So why in God's name would Oliver kill his aunt?"

    "Because he's not as clever as he looks. Maybe his next victim is going to be his cousin." Pete's eyes beamed.

    "Nope, sorry, Pete, I don't buy it. He seems a pretty shrewd individual to me. There's another matter we should be considering here, too."

    "What's that?" His brow crinkled.

    "The sexual aspect of the case. Would he subject family members to that kind of sick behaviour?"

    "I beg to differ with you on that one. There are some sick folks out there. Anyway, I ain't finished yet. I also got in touch with his firm, Callick Oil and they told me things haven't been going too well for him over the last two or three years."

    "Meaning?"

    "Apparently, he's lost the company millions. He promised to bring in more business if and when he got promotion, but instead he lost them a few lucrative contracts."

    "I thought Oliver came up squeaky clean when we did the initial checks on him?" Lorne searched through the case file.

    "Depends who's asking the questions," he said, tapping the side of his nose. "Let's just say my charm works wonders on occasions."

    "You're a good cop, Pete, a bit highly strung and lacking in foresight at times. But basically, I wouldn't be without you." Her smile broadened as she noticed the colour rising in his chubby cheeks.

    "Aw, give it a rest, boss. Like you're always telling me, we make a good team."

    "I'll drink to that," she said. They raised their coffee cups and clinked them together.

    "Don't you find it strange, though?" Pete asked as he settled back in his chair.

    "What are you talking about now?"

    "If your aunt had just been murdered right after your mother, wouldn't you be down the cop shop straight away, demanding what the hell was going on?"

    "I'd be there before the ink had time to dry in the attending officer's notebook. Do we know where he's staying?"

    "I'll have to check, but I think it's the Deerfellow Hotel in town?"

    "You check while I tidy up here. I think it's time we paid Oliver Greenaway a little visit."

    "Yes, ma'am." Pete hurried out the door like a man on a mission.

Chapter Nineteen

    The receptionist at the swanky four star Deerfellow Hotel informed them Mr Greenaway had checked out at ten that morning.

    With their suspicions heightened that their prime suspect had left town, Lorne and Pete decided to pay Colleen a visit. Maybe she'd be able to shed some light on what they had discovered about Belinda's will.

    "How could you think such a thing? Oliver loved his mother and he always visited my mum whenever he was in town." Colleen nervously twisted a tissue in a figure of eight around her fingers.

    "Some details have come to our attention that makes us suspect all's not well with your cousin. Has anything strange happened over the last few months, anything at all?" Lorne asked.

    "I'm trying to think. At the back of my mind there is something I found strange, give me a few moments and I'm sure it'll come to me. My mind's all jumbled up because of what happened to Mum, I've got to go to the mortuary today. Don's coming with me." She smiled at her husband as he entered the room carrying a tray holding four mugs of coffee.

    Don handed round the drinks then sat on the sofa next to his wife. He placed an arm around her shoulder and asked, "What's up, Col?"

    "About a month ago, it might've been two, something happened with Aunt Belinda, I can't remember what it was, can you?" Her frown deepened as her frustration to think clearly mounted.

    "That's right, Belinda and your mother came to Sunday lunch and we were shocked by what she had to say."

    "Was it something to do with changing her will?" Lorne asked.

    Don ran his fingers through his hair and looked pensive. "No, she definitely didn't tell us about that. She did tell us she was angry with Oliver about