The Cold Light of Mourning - By Elizabeth J. Duncan Page 0,56

here in Llanelen we can use. I don’t think there should be a problem with that.”

Oh very handy, she thought. Somebody might not have a problem with spending more time in Llanelen.

“We can start with the undertaker and the grave diggers—anyone who had any connection to the burial or gravesite. You’re also going to have to organize the fingerprints from the wedding party, go over the times again, check everybody’s story. Durham can get the parents’ prints and the Met can do the bridesmaids.”

He stood up and walked over to the coat stand beside the door and picked a lightweight windcheater off it.

“I’ve learned over the years that the answers are usually in the files, it’s just that we’re not reading them right. You might start with that,” he said as he slipped on his jacket and fiddled with the zipper. “But it can wait until morning. We’ve had a very long few days and we’ve got more coming up. I’m going home to get a few hours of sleep and I suggest you do the same. There’s going to be overtime this weekend, I’m afraid.”

And then, with a casual, “See you later,” he was gone.

Morgan looked after him for a few moments with a mildly puzzled look on her face and then returned to the straightened stack of files on her desk. A few minutes later she was deeply engrossed and making a few cross-references as she referred back to her notes.

The room was quiet and warm, but she could make out the gentle buzz of voices in the hallway as officers made their purposeful way through the building. Engines started up in the car park as station life went on around her.

It would help if I knew what I was looking for, she thought. I’ll start with a timeline.

As she flipped through her notebook to find what she had written hours and days ago, she was surprised to see Davies enter the room.

Looking mildly sheepish, he walked over to the desk where he had been sitting and picked up a set of keys.

“Won’t get far without these, will I?” he said as he lightly tossed them in the air.

“We’ve all done that, sir,” she said with a wan smile. As the smile faded, a thoughtful, slightly worried look replaced it. “Um, and I’m sorry, sir, but I wonder if you could just give me a bit of direction here. Tell me again exactly what I’m meant to be looking for.”

Davies stopped and looked at her. The edges of his mouth slackened and his eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re looking for someone who wasn’t where he was supposed to be. Or who was somewhere he had no reason to be. And who then went on to have a very dark and busy night.”

Morgan nodded and switched on the computer as her boss left. This time he did not return.

Penny, meanwhile, was feeling better for the extra sleep that Davies was now pursuing, and quietly enjoying the deferred mug of coffee in her small sitting room as Victoria filled her in on the morning’s events.

“The talk in the shops was nothing but the body,” she said. “Well, it would be, wouldn’t it? But I’ve been thinking, Penny,” she said, leaning forward to make her point, “that you probably know more than you think you do. We could solve this. I know we could.”

Penny sat back in her chair and laughed.

“What, you mean like those dotty middle-aged amateur lady sleuths that you see in books? Tramping all over the evidence, touching things they shouldn’t, putting themselves in harm’s way, and just generally annoying the police?”

“That’s exactly it!” said Victoria as they both laughed.

“Don’t be ridiculous!” said Penny. “Oh go on, then. When do we start? Or more to the point, how do we start? What should we do first? I’m new at this.”

Victoria looked at her blankly and the two broke into gales of laughter.

“I guess we haven’t got the sleuthing thing down, yet,” said Penny a few moments later. “But it’ll come to us, I’m sure. Although I think this would definitely be more in Mrs. Lloyd’s line!”

And then, realizing how much better she felt, added, “What’s for lunch, by the way? I’m starving.”

And then, in that instant, she started forward as she remembered the shop.

“It’s okay,” Victoria reassured her. “Your first customer isn’t until three. You’ll be working until seven tonight, though.”

Victoria nodded at her.

“Perhaps you should consider having regular evening hours. The ladies loved the idea and it would bring