Page 49 of The Truth Will Out
“Phew, I thought you were being bloody serious then. A boss should never interfere in someone’s marriage.”
“For your information, I wouldn’t dream of it.” Sam winked and tapped the side of her nose. “Your secrets are safe with me, big man, never fear.”
They continued on their journey.
“Why do I always feel uneasy when you say, ‘never fear’?”
Back in the car,Sam rang and organised the team. She also placed a call to the SOCO team to arrange picking up the key to Weller’s house from his wife. She told them he had an office but couldn’t tellthem if there was a safe in the house or not. Then she and Bob drove to the council offices in Workington and followed the signs for the Planning Department. Sam showed her warrant card and introduced herself and Bob to the receptionist.
“We’d like to speak with whoever is in charge today.”
“Ah, that would be Mrs Kilner. Our usual boss, Mr Weller, isn’t here right now.”
“Mrs Kilner will do, thanks.”
The receptionist picked up her phone and turned her back on them to make the call. She hung up and said, “She won’t be long. If you’d like to take a seat. Can I get you a drink?”
“We’ll pass on that, thanks all the same.”
Sam and Bob stepped back. Instead of sitting in the waiting area, they studied what was on the noticeboard. It highlighted several new developments in the area, which Sam recognised as being beneficial to the community.
“This one is close to where you live, isn’t it?”
“Yep. Don’t get me started on that. The local residents are up in arms about it.”
“Why?”
Bob didn’t get a chance to answer because a woman in a dark-grey suit appeared.
“Hello, I’m Mrs Kilner. I’ve been told you’d like a word with me.”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m DI Sam Cobbs, and this is my partner, DS Bob Jones. Would it be possible to speak with you in private?”
“That sounds ominous. Come through. Have you been offered a drink?”
“We have. We’re fine at the moment.”
She led the way up the corridor into a larger-than-average room. “I’m using our boss’s office today. He’s not shown up for work, and there was a lot of work that needed to be dealt with on his desk. It was easier to do it in here rather than ferry it all to my office across the way. Please, take a seat. What can I do for you today?”
Sam and Bob sat.
“Umm… it’s to do with your boss that we’ve come here today.”
Mrs Kilner frowned and sat upright in the executive chair. “Oh, can I ask what you mean by that?”
“Have you tried to contact him?”
“Yes, I’ve been trying on and off all morning. Why? Don’t tell me something has happened to him? Damn, that thought never even crossed my mind. Is he okay? Should I call his wife? I know they’re separated, but I’m sure she’d want to know if he’s been in an accident.”
Sam raised a hand to stop her from asking anything else. “Sorry to interrupt you. Mr Weller wasn’t in any accident.”
Mrs Kilner flopped back in her chair, relieved. “Thank goodness. So, where is he then, and why haven’t I been able to contact him all morning?”
“I’m afraid Mr Weller’s body was found this morning at a construction site.”
She sprang forward in her seat and shook her head. “He what? I can’t believe I heard that right. He’s dead?”
“That’s correct. I can’t go into details as to how he died. What I need to know is why he was at the site. Do you know?”
