Page 79 of Silent Scream
‘Were you aware that Mary Andrews also recently passed away?’
‘No, I wasn’t.’ He looked towards his desk. ‘I must make a note to send ...’
‘Flowers,’ Kim finished for him. ‘Do you recall a staff member named Arthur Connop?’
Richard appeared to ponder for a moment. ‘Yes, yes, he was one of the orderlies.’
Kim wondered just what kind of assistance this man may have offered had he managed to find the time to visit the station, because he wasn’t being all that forthcoming now.
‘We spoke to him earlier today.’
‘I hope he’s well.’
‘He didn’t particularly wish the same for you.’
Richard laughed and reached for his cup of green liquid. ‘People rarely remember their superiors with fondness, I find. Especially when those individuals are lazy. I had cause to reprimand Mr Connop on more than one occasion.’
‘For what?’
‘Sleeping on the job, shoddy work ...’
His words trailed away as though there was more.
‘And?’
Richard shook his head. ‘Just day to day corrections.’
‘What about William Payne?’
Kim saw a slight shift in his eyes. ‘What about him?’
‘Well, he was the other night porter. Did he receive similar reprimands?’
‘Not at all. William was a model employee. You know of his personal circumstances, I assume?’
Kim nodded.
‘William would have done nothing to risk losing his job.’
‘Would you say he was treated more favourably than Arthur Connop?’ Kim pushed. There was something here. She could feel it.
‘Honestly, we probably did turn a blind eye to one or two things.’
‘Like what?’
‘Well, we knew now and again that William would pop home at night if his daughter was having a particularly bad time or if his neighbour was unable to watch her, but he never left the girls unattended, so we let it slide. I mean, we knew about it but ...’ He shrugged. ‘Would you want to change places with him?’
‘Anything more than that? Arthur indicated ...’
‘Really, Detective. I think Arthur Connop was born bitter. If you’ve met him you’ll know that he is one of life’s victims. Every bad thing in his life has been the fault of someone else and not under his own control.’
‘And earlier today he may have had a point when a car drove into the back of him, leaving him for dead.’
Richard Croft swallowed. ‘And is he ... dead?’
‘We don’t know yet but it didn’t look hopeful.’
‘Oh dear. What a terrible, tragic accident.’ He sighed deeply. ‘Well, in that case there seems no harm in my being completely candid with you, Detective.’
