‘He got hammered and thought about taking an overdose. How do you know?’
‘How do you know?’
‘You first?’ Declan smiled at her.
‘I needed to talk to him about this case and I went to his house; it was quite late. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a row of tablets in front of him. He said it was the anniversary of his wife’s death.’
‘Shit, I forgot all about Cindy’s anniversary. I usually take him to the pub, he tells me how he’s going to do it and I tell him not to bother because having to do his post-mortem is way beyond the realms of our friendship.’
‘Oh, so he wouldn’t have?’
‘I like to think not. He was devasted to find Cindy dead and blames himself, but he knows suicide won’t help anyone. Look how it’s left him.’
‘She killed herself. Oh God, I thought she’d died accidentally.’
‘No, it would have been better for Ben if she had. He wouldn’t be shouldering the guilt like he is. I’ll give him a ring. Thank you for reminding me.’
‘Please don’t tell him I told you. I don’t want him to think I’m interfering or gossiping.’
He smiled. ‘I won’t, it’s not interfering when you’re concerned. I can’t believe I didn’t remember; it was the day the Potters turned up. No excuse, but it was busier than it’s been in here in a very long time. I’ll let you out the main entrance.’
Leading her to the door she came through with Ben the other day, he held one open. ‘You take care, Morgan.’
‘Thanks, I will. You too.’ She walked back to her car, a whirlwind of emotions blowing in her mind.
Forty
Ben stood in front of the briefing room, which was full. As he looked around, the only person missing was Morgan. Dan was sitting next to Abigail at the front, his legs crossed, staring at his phone, and just looking at him made Ben want to take the phone from him and slap him with it. He’d never known anyone irritate him as much as he did.
‘Right, we are in what I would say is a bit of a mess. You already know about the Potter family; we are progressing that investigation. I still need a lot of work doing in regard to that case and several of you are going to be tasked with enquiries, so hang on after this finishes. Amy will go through what I need you to do. This morning a male was found brutally murdered at the offices of the Cumbrian News. We believe this male to be Jamie Stone, the editor in chief of the paper.’
There were murmurs around the room; everyone knew him. Most people disliked him and the way he ran the paper. He loved to write stories that slated the local police and officers. Ben waited for them to quiet.
‘He hasn’t been formally identified yet, although the co-worker who found the body thinks it might have been him. I’m also pretty sure it is after a bit of a run-in with him outside the Potters’ the other day. She didn’t look long enough to make a positive ID. However, his car was parked outside on the double yellows and the engine was cold, so it had been there some time. No one else was in the building, so it’s highly likely to be him. Dan, can you go check out the home address and any other addresses on the list I’ll give you just to make sure he’s not in bed nursing a hangover?’
Dan rolled his eyes. Ben clenched his knuckles under the podium he was leaning against. The door opened and Morgan slipped through it, mouthing ‘sorry’. He nodded and continued, but not before noticing the look of contempt Dan threw her way. He was going to have to speak to the little git at some point and remind him about his attitude.
‘Send Morgan, I have some urgent enquiries.’
Ben stared at Dan, not quite believing what he was hearing. ‘Morgan is tied up.’
‘Yeah, I bet she is.’ Dan sniggered and a few of the others joined in.
Ben couldn’t look at her. He could sense she was trying to squeeze further into the corner she’d already backed herself into.
‘I’ve already cleared it with the duty sergeant, she said it was fine.’
Dan shook his head, and Ben had to turn his attention away from him before he launched himself across the room and dragged him outside.