‘I can check out where she worked, talk to her colleagues. They’re bound to be in shock after the executive director and the financial controller are both killed.’
‘And in the same bed. Let’s go, I’ll come with you,’ Isaac said. ‘After five minutes with our senior, I need to be out of here.’
‘Begging your pardon, sir, but Superintendent Caddick is a pain in the rear end,’ Wendy said.
‘Don’t even think it, don’t ever say it. You know how we’re meant to act with the man.’
‘It’s hard. Sometimes I feel that I could tell him what I think of him.’
‘I know what you mean,’ Isaac said. ‘Where’s Larry?’
‘He’s back out at the crime scene. The CSIs are wrapping up. He wants to see what he can find out.’
‘If it’s a professional slaying, then probably not much.’
‘There are still cameras in the street. Bridget can look through them once we have some idea of the murderer. She’s collating what she can find on Holden and Langdon. It’s a sorry mess, that’s what it is.’
‘A mess. I’m not so sure about the sorry. James Holden can only blame himself.’
‘What did you make of Holden’s wife?’ Wendy asked.
‘There’s not much to say. She looked upset.’
‘She was, but she wasn’t surprised her husband had been in another woman’s bed.’
‘How can you know?’
‘I observed her reactions when she spoke. She wasn’t happy about the situation, although she was shocked it was Helen Langdon.’
***
The offices of James Holden’s organisation were located in Paddington, no more than a six-minute drive from Challis Street. Isaac parked the car in a bay reserved for the executive director. ‘He’ll not need it today,’ he said.
Inside the office, freshly painted judging by the smell, a middle-aged woman sat behind reception. ‘Can I help you?’ she said.
‘Detective Chief Inspector Cook, Sergeant Gladstone,’ Isaac said.
‘You’re here about James?’
‘That’s correct.’ Isaac took note of the fact the woman did not mention Helen.
‘It’s a sad day. Everyone’s a bit lost. His daughter’s here if it’s any help.’
‘It will be.’
Isaac and Wendy took a seat. Isaac flicked through some brochures on the table in the reception area; Wendy checked the news on her phone. After a few minutes, Linda Holden appeared. ‘We’ve been discussing what to do. We need to make a press statement.’
‘I’ll be asked to give a press conference at some stage,’ Isaac said.
The three walked through the offices to the rear of reception. It was a better office than Homicide, Wendy had to admit.
‘What can I do for you?’ Holden’s daughter said. ‘As you can understand, I’m not really in the mood to answer too many questions. I should be with my mother.’
‘That’s understood. In fact, we’re surprised to see you here.’
‘I wouldn’t be, but my father’s work is important. It can’t be allowed to fail.’
‘Tell us, how do you plan to handle your father’s death? How will you word your press statement?’ Wendy said.
‘How can we be accurate and ignore the fact he was murdered?’
‘You can’t,’ Isaac said, ‘but you’re the second person in this office who has purposely not mentioned Helen Langdon.’
‘We decided the best way to deal with the media would be for us not to mention Helen.’
‘She worked here?’ Isaac said.’
Yes, and very efficiently.’
‘Then some advice. Don’t ignore her, and don’t try to hide the fact she was in bed with your father.’
‘We thought it would be best.’
‘Maybe you did, and if you were dealing with friends and relatives, then fine, but you’re not. You’re dealing with the British press, and they’ll smell a rat if you try to hide the truth.’
‘Then what do we say?’
‘Words to the effect that tragically James Holden and Helen Langdon were killed in Bayswater today. The full details of how they died and what the motive was behind the slayings are still unclear. The police are conducting an investigation, and it would be inappropriate to comment further until more information is available. In the meantime, the good work of Mr Holden and his team of loyal supporters will continue.’
‘You said everything without saying it,’ Linda Holden said.
‘You’ve not lied. You’ve acknowledged that Helen was killed, yet you’ve given no details.’
‘And later on, when the press continues to pry?’
‘The matter is with the police. It would be inappropriate to comment or speculate.’
‘But everyone will know the truth.’
‘It’ll be headline news tomorrow, but you’ve not fuelled the fire.’
‘Thank you. We’ll follow your advice. I’ve made a note of what you just said.’
‘Now, coming back to our investigation. What is your position in the organisation?’
‘I was here in an advisory capacity, but now I’ll be taking my father’s position.’
‘Are you qualified?’ Wendy asked.
‘I hope so. My father schooled me well in his beliefs. Beliefs I share as well.’
‘Your father has died, upsetting in itself, no doubt. What we need to know is why?’
‘My father did not make enemies intentionally, and he was not a firebrand. He was pragmatic, fully cognisant that in all of us is the need to rebel, to be bemused by the frailties of the human condition. He only wanted to control the descent into barbarism, not to curtail it totally.’
‘Barbarism?’
‘My father believed society was descending into a moral abyss as a result of modern technology. His opponents portrayed him as puritanical, against anything and everything. He was not that, but he held views, dated in modern society, which he put forward. He was vigorously opposed to the gratuitous sex and violence that pervade our lives.’
‘There are people making fortunes out of those. They would be powerful enemies.’
‘Potentially, but my father had little impact. However, I will continue the fight on his behalf and
