Dubious Justice (Justice Series Book 11) Read Online Free Page B

they’d visited the company where he worked, but she lived in hope that some clue might surface once they started questioning his colleagues. It sometimes worked out that way.

Chapter Three
    The instant Lorne and Katy entered the reception area of the electrical firm, an angry voice emanating from the intercom confronted them. “Send him into the office the second he arrives. Got that, Susan?”
    The woman behind the counter smiled uncomfortably at them and left her seat. “Sorry about that. I think he got out of the wrong side of bed this morning. He’s not usually so grumpy. What am I saying? Yes, he is, but usually, his grumpiness generally takes place in private. What can I do for you, ladies?”
    Katy and Lorne flashed their warrant cards. Katy introduced them. “DI Katy Foster and DS Lorne Warner. I take it that was the owner of the company we heard then?”
    “Yes. That was Derek’s dulcet tone you heard. Again, I can only apologise for him. Police? In connection with what, may I ask?”
    “If it’s okay with you, we’d prefer talking to Derek about that. Derek what, by the way?”
    “Of course. Derek Wilson—he owns this place. I’ll just check if he has time to see you.”
    “Thank you. Tell him to make the time. It’s very important.” Katy winked at the receptionist, who scurried across the room and knocked on her boss’s door. They heard the man bellow, and the receptionist glanced warily over her shoulder at them.
    Katy called out, “Tell him it’s urgent and that he’ll want to speak to us. He needs to speak to us.”
    The woman opened the door and closed it quietly behind her. Within seconds, she reappeared, looking somewhat flustered. She approached the counter, raised a section of it, and motioned for them to follow her into the office. “He’s usually a pussycat, honest.”
    “We’ll bear that in mind,” Katy said with a sigh.
    The door opened into an office that looked more like a storeroom, where a small desk was shoved into the corner of a room no larger than eight foot square in total. The receptionist tried to introduce them, but the boss glared at her and shooed her out of the room.
    “Ladies, I’d offer you a seat, except there’s no room for any. You wanted to see me? About what?”
    “Mr. Wilson, we have some bad news for you,” Katy began before the man interrupted her.
    “Ha, go on, make this day even worse than it is already, why don’t you?” He slammed shut a file he was working on and sat back in his chair. “Surprise me?”
    “Maybe you’d care to share what’s bugging you first, Mr. Wilson? Perhaps we can help you with that issue.”
    “I doubt it. Although, I do suspect one of my vans has gone missing. It would certainly save me a call to the coppers, er… I mean police to report the theft.”
    “Interesting. This van wouldn’t happen to be in the hands of one of your men, would it?”
    “Yeah, the guy neglected to bring the van back after work last night and hasn’t showed up for his shift this morning, either. That’s why I’m pis… fed up.” His lips strained into a forced smile.
    “That employee wouldn’t be Paul Lee, would it?”
    The man propelled himself forward in his chair. “Yes. Why? What do you know? He ain’t used my van in a bloody armed robbery or anything like that, has he?”
    “No, he hasn’t. Mr. Wilson, it’s with regret I have to inform you that Mr. Lee and your missing van were found in the local Morrison’s car park early this morning.”
    “What the f… sorry, I don’t understand.”
    “Then let me try and explain to the best of our knowledge. We received a call first thing this morning to say that there was a van with its engine running sitting in a car park. When our guys turned up, they found Paul Lee’s body in the back of the vehicle.”
    The colour drained from the man’s face. “Body? Are you telling me Paul is bloody dead?”
    “Yes. I’m sorry if the news has come as a shock. The pathologist is