The History Suite (#9 - The Craig Modern Thriller Series) by Catriona King Page B

instead. “Jake, take Ken and have a word with Ray Mercer.”
    Ken looked at Craig curiously. “Who is he?”
    “One of the most unpleasant tabloid journalists you’ll ever meet – a real bottom feeder. Have a word with his editor as well please, Jake. You know what to say; obstructing enquiries, interfering with a case. The usual.” He smiled. “Tomorrow’s time enough.”
    Liam saw Craig’s smile. He was about to ask what was wrong with Jake seeing Mercer sooner when Annette nipped him on the calf. “Ow! What the hell?” The look in Annette’s eyes said ‘shut up. I’ll tell you later.’ Craig had updated her on Jake’s home situation on the way to the Rudd’s.
    Craig restarted. “OK, so Eleanor Rudd didn’t have the happiest family in the world and she was undoubtedly beaten by her father. She has old scars and if he hits his wife I’m sure the children didn’t escape.” He turned to Carmen who was scribbling furiously on her pad. “Carmen, you and Ken interview Ellie Rudd’s brother tomorrow please. If he’s not living at home Davy can get you his address.”
    Ken blushed and Liam rolled his eyes. He stopped quickly at Craig’s sharp glance.
    Craig continued. “So we know Eleanor Rudd had a hard past and we know she wasn’t the nicest person. Anyone anything more on that?”
    Liam reported Hazel Gormley’s reasons for banning Rudd from working in Reilly Suite. He was about to continue when Craig crossed the room and brought back a white board. He wrote up the heading ‘Motive’ and beneath it ‘harsh/cruel’ then he waved Liam on.
    “Aye well, Rudd was so bad she actually bruised an old lady’s arms helping her dress.” His brow furrowed. “If I ever saw…” He didn’t need to finish the sentence. “Apparently she was a bit of a girl for the men as well.”
    Annette cut in. “We’d already guessed that. Dr Cooke and the Professor.”
    Liam reclaimed the floor decisively. “Aye well, Mrs Smartass, did you also know that Adrian Cooke was a drug addict?”
    Everyone looked shocked.
    “No, you didn’t. You see now. I’m a chief inspector for a reason.”
    Craig laughed. “Dear God, Liam, all that’s missing is you sticking out your tongue. Grow up and get on with it.”
    Liam sniffed. “Aye, well, I’m just saying. A bit more respect wouldn’t go amiss around here. Anyway. Adrian Cooke had or has a drug problem. Sister Gormley said he’d got help for it but for all we know it might still be there.”
    Craig thought for a moment. There was no such thing as an ex-addict but that didn’t mean Cooke was still using. “What sort of drugs?”
    “Coke mostly.”
    Craig was surprised. Most drug–addict doctors’ poison of choice was Morphine; it was easy to find in the medical world. Cocaine meant that Adrian Cooke had gone to a dealer. Risky behaviour. Liam was still speaking.
    “That’s not the worst of it. He was using Roids as well.”
    Steroids! That brought all kinds of possibilities. Craig asked the obvious question.
    “Is he a body builder?”
    Liam shrugged. “Might be. I don’t know yet. Fit was all Gormley would say. But if Cooke was on steroids then Roid-rage isn’t a million miles away.”
    Craig nodded. “Especially if he’s on coke too. OK, check it out. I want him looked into and interviewed.”
    Annette said something and Craig turned to see her musing to herself. “Do you have something, Annette?”
    “Just…if Cooke knew that Rudd was seeing the Prof and he was taking that cocktail, jealousy’s a good trigger for murder.”
    Craig nodded. “It is, but not the only one. Cooke’s a suspect but not our prime one yet.” He turned back to Liam. “Good work, Liam. What else did your team find out on the ward?”
    Jake and Ken exchanged a look on the word ‘team’ and smiled as Liam preened himself.
    “We interviewed everyone on Reilly and came up with a five person shortlist of those who might have the strength to strangle Rudd. Two women and