Katy held a hand up, preventing Paula from reaching for her phone. “I think we should be the ones to tackle him. Do you have his number or address?”
“He works at Enright Towers with Ray, at least he used to. I need to speak to him as well, so tell him to get in touch when you eventually track him down.”
“We will. We’ll call and see him next. What about around here, have you had any bother from anyone in the past few months?”
“No. I can’t think of anything out of the ordinary. If he was in any kind of trouble, I think he would have said something. However, saying that, I’m not sure he would have after what you’ve told me. And to think, I thought I knew him well. Why? Why was he cheating on me? I can’t believe he’d do it. We had a good sex life, and I thought we were happy, and now I find out he’s had someone on the side. I’m reeling from that news.”
“Please, we don’t know why the woman was there. I wouldn’t dwell on it, not until all the facts come out.”
“If I find out Dan knew, I’ll bloody kill him. I had a right to know he was cheating, if he was. Shit! Why isn’t the bastard around for me to ask him? I’ll never get the answers I want now.”
Katy sighed. The woman was rambling all of a sudden, something she couldn’t abide. “Are you sure there’s nothing else you think we should know?”
“No, I’ve told you. I’m going to ask you to leave now. I need to get my head straight before my client arrives.”
Katy and Charlie stood. “We understand. Thank you for giving us some of your valuable time today. We’re sorry for your loss.”
“Thanks. I’ll show you to the door.”
Outside the house, Katy said, “Damn, I didn’t handle that very well, did I?”
“Nonsense. Everything was going well until you mentioned the other woman. I think I would’ve reacted the same way she had if I heard that bolt out of the blue. You shouldn’t blame yourself.”
“Thanks, I think you’re being kind, though. Never mind, it’s done and dusted, I can’t take the words back.”
Charlie remained quiet until they were back inside the car. “Saying that, I kind of got the impression that she was keeping something from us, didn’t you?”
“I’m not sure. If I’m honest with you, I was too damned focussed on trying not to put my foot in it to notice. But if that’s what your intuition is telling you then I’m prepared to go along with that. You think her husband was importing illegal stuff? Drugs or possibly people trafficking?”
“It could be anything judging by the cost of this place. You’ve got to be looking at around twenty-five million for this gaff. How many legit companies do you know that would bring in that amount?”
“You’ve got a point. Okay, let’s call in at his office and see for ourselves.”
3
Katy parked in the underground car park and locked the vehicle. They rode the swanky lift up to the top floor of Enright Towers and approached the receptionist.
Katy flashed her warrant card. “Hi, DI Katy Foster and DC Charlie Simpkins. We’re here to speak with Ray Thatcham’s partner, Dan…sorry, I don’t have his surname.”
“That’s no problem, it’s Williams. He’s bound to ask me what this is about, what shall I tell him?”
“It’s about a colleague. Thanks.” Katy decided to keep her answer brief and simple.
The receptionist left her desk, and this gave Katy and Charlie the chance to survey the area.
“Pretty swish. It obviously costs a packet to run this place, especially as it’s situated in the heart of the city. I’m not getting good vibes about this, are you?”
Charlie shook her head. “Do you think we should call for backup?”
“No, however, I think we should be guarded in what we say and do, okay?”
“I’ll follow your lead on that one, boss.”
The receptionist reappeared and asked them to follow her down a wide carpeted hallway and into an office with one of the most spectacular views of London Katy had ever seen. She hid her awe well and remained focussed on the task in hand.
Dan Williams leapt out of his chair and raced around his desk to shake their hands, a little too enthusiastically for Katy’s liking.
“Hello, sir. We appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us today.”
“Sandy mentioned your visit was concerning a colleague. May I ask who? Please, take a seat.” He returned and sat behind his desk and immediately picked up a pen which he clicked to an unknown tune.
“Your partner, Ray Thatcham.” Katy said the man’s name in case there were several partners in the firm. At this point, they just weren’t sure how things were run around here.
“I see. What about Ray? Wait, let me stop you there. The last I heard from him was first thing yesterday morning. I’ve tried at regular intervals to contact him about a pressing issue since yesterday afternoon, and my success has been limited. When I say limited, what I really meant was non-existent. Is something wrong? Is that why you’re here?”
“Where did he tell you he was going?”
The man’s gaze darted between Katy and Charlie, and then his brow furrowed. He appeared to shuffle uncomfortably, squirming, to be exact. “He, well, he…umm…how do I put this?”
“The truth would be a good idea, Dan, thanks.”
“Why? What’s he done?”
“I’ll answer that when you tell me what your partner was up to yesterday, because according to Paula, his wife, he was supposed to be away on business at a local hotel.”
“Ah, yes, he was. No, he wasn’t, I mean…that’s what he wanted her to know.”
“What are you trying to tell us? I’m struggling to decipher it right now.”
He flung himself back in the chair and threw the pen on the desk. “All right, you’ve forced it out of me.
