“New girls, as in, she works alongside him?”
“Yes, as a secretary. She’s a stand-in for Susan who is on maternity leave. She’s due back in a week or so, therefore, Ray decided to play hookie with Tina, to show how appreciative of her work he was.”
“By sleeping with her behind his wife’s back, is that what you’re hinting at?”
“Yes. Look, he’s one of those men who has certain urges which need satisfying.”
“Behind his wife’s back?” Katy had pleasure in repeating to get her point across.
“If you like, yes.”
“Does he have any kids?”
“Yes, the twins. Evie and Jessie attend private school.”
“So they’re out of the way, is that it?” Katy neither liked nor respected this man or his partner, the dead victim. “Why get married in the first place if all he really wants to do is fool around with younger women? Sorry, that’s me being presumptuous. How old is Miss Lascombe?”
He chewed his lip for a second as if debating her question. “Twenty-three, I believe.”
“Hmm…all right, thanks for that information, it’ll come in handy for our investigation.”
“Which is? You haven’t really told me what all this is about, have you?”
Ignoring his question, Katy pressed on. “Did Ray say where he would be taking Miss Lascombe for the day?”
“Out on his boat. She’s new, and he wanted to impress the girl.”
“Any reason he felt the need to impress her when he owns one of the biggest companies in London? That’s my assumption by the way, not the facts speaking.”
“No, you’re right. It’s a male thing. Yes, we’re a highly successful firm, you’ve hit the nail on the head there. He’s always been one for the ladies, that one.”
Katy sighed and puffed out her cheeks. “Fair enough, and yet his wife is in the dark about this affair and likely the numerous liaisons he’s had before Miss Lascombe, is that what you’re expecting me to believe?”
He sat upright again. “I don’t understand what any of this has to do with you coming here today. Please either state your business or return at a later date when Ray is around to answer your questions directly regarding his personal life, which really has nothing to do with me.”
“Oh, I’m sure it has everything to do with you, when two members of your team decide to go off for the day together, but maybe that’s my take on things. Okay, here’s why we’re visiting you today. Yesterday afternoon, Ray Thatcham and who we now believe to be Tina Lascombe, died on board his boat.”
“What? Is this some kind of warped wind-up?”
“Sadly not. Miss Lascombe is yet to be formally identified, but given what you’ve just told us, I think we can safely say the other victim was her.”
He sat there in silence, shaking his head slowly for a while, an ashen hue filling his cheeks.
Katy was growing concerned by his demeanour and asked, “Are you okay, Dan?”
“I’m devastated. How the hell…? What in the…? God, I can’t believe what you’ve just told me. Dead? How can they both be dead? What happened?”
“Before I reveal that, perhaps you wouldn’t mind telling me what line of business you’re in, by that I mean, what do you export and import?”
A twinkle glinted in his eye. “Goods.”
“That doesn’t really tell me a lot. What goods? And where do you import and export to and from?”
“All over the world.”
Katy’s chest burned with frustration. It was obvious the man was being deliberately evasive, why?
“If that’s the way you want to play things, I’ll have no other option than to get a warrant to search the premises and take an in-depth look into your accounts, is that what you want, sir?”
“Do what you like, although I have to say that’s a little extreme considering what you’ve told me, that Ray and Tina died in a boating accident.”
“I don’t remember telling you that.” She turned to face her partner. “Did I say that, DC Simpkins?”
“Nope, you said nothing of the sort,” Charlie backed her up.
His frown returned. “You said they died on board the boat. All right, maybe I presumed it was an accident. So, what are you telling me then?”
“Sir, we’re here to obtain answers in a murder investigation.”
“What the…? No way! Who the fuck…? Sorry. Why would anyone want to kill Ray?” He left his desk and went to stand by the window with its view of all the tourist attractions on offer in the city. “Jesus, I can’t get my head around this. How?”
Katy shrugged when he peered over his shoulder. “I can’t go into detail, although I can tell you that they weren’t the only two people to have lost their lives on the boat.”
He turned and folded his arms. “What are you saying? Who else died?”
“Two police officers. Now, do you understand the necessity for our being here, asking these questions?”
“Fuck! Two coppers, and this all took place on the boat, you say?”
“That’s correct. Do you have an explanation for that?”
His flattened hand slammed against his chest. “Me? Why should I? This is all news to me. Listen here, I’m not sure what you’re bloody insinuating by coming here, but I can assure you, you’re bloody barking up the wrong tree thinking you can bully me into answering your damn questions. You hear me? Either state what you want or fuck off. Yes, I could have possibly said that more politely, but to be honest with you, you’re coming across as though you think I had something to do with this shit. I can categorically deny it and I’d be willing to pay for a top barrister to wipe the floor with you if you insist on taking this further.”
“First of all, you might want to calm down a bit, sir. All I’m doing is trying to get some background information on your business partner. Secondly, you’re acting as though I’ve hit a nerve and you’re doing your best to punish me verbally for achieving that.”
He slumped
