Page 36 of Dying Truth

‘When we find Sadie’s killer I’ll be sure to let you know.’

He smiled and followed her out of the door.

* * *

They all gathered around Stacey’s computer; she had loaded the news channel onto her screen. There stood her boss in front of the north side of the building, not visible from their window.

He was flanked by press liaison officers with lanyards hanging around their necks but no other police officer was present. His authoritative demeanour in his smart black uniform commanded all the attention.

‘Turn it up, Stace,’ Dawson said from the back.

‘…incident at Heathcrest Academy that has resulted in the death of a thirteen-year-old girl. Our condolences and thoughts are with the family at this time and officers are working—’

‘Are the circumstances suspicious?’ shouted one female voice from the front.

Kim groaned. She knew that voice well.

Woody ignored the question. ‘Officers are currently determining—’

‘Was it suicide or accidental?’ Frost shouted again, getting the attention of theSky Newscamera, which now flitted back and forth between the reporter and her boss.

Woody stared straight ahead. ‘Our enquiries are ongoing at this time—’

‘Chief Inspector, was it murder?’ Frost shouted.

The camera whipped right back to Woody, who hesitated before speaking again.

‘We will update you as soon as we have more information,’ he said, before turning away and heading back into the building.

‘Bloody Frost,’ Kim said, shaking her head. This was exactly what her boss hadn’t wanted.

The only thing that would be taken away from this press conference was that one word and his refusal to deny it.Murderwould be screamed from every headline.

‘I’m thinking that Jack is definitely out of the box now, boss,’ Dawson observed.

‘I think you’re right,’ Kim said, as her phone began to ring.

She recognised the number as Lloyd House. West Midlands Police headquarters in Birmingham.

* * *

‘Stone,’ she answered, heading back into the bowl.

‘Detective Inspector Stone, this is Chief Superintendent Briggs.’

Kim had the urge to laugh out loud. She’d heard the name, had even seen his photo, but this man wasn’t Woody’s boss. He was Woody’s boss’s boss.

‘Sir?’

‘Whatever you were doing next, please cancel it. The Winters have requested your presence at their home. They have something they’d like you to see. Immediately,’ he said before the line went dead.

She stared at the phone for a full twenty seconds as a feeling of unease stroked the hairs on the back of her neck.

She had the impression that someone was trying to put this Jack back into the box.

Twenty-Four

‘So, how’d it go, Kev?’ Stacey asked as soon as the boss and Bryant had left the room.