Page 40 of Gone in the Night (Detective Morgan Brookes #16)
FORTY
Morgan went to find Cain. He would listen to her. He was at the brew station rifling through a cupboard and she knew he was looking for biscuits. Grabbing his elbow, she pushed him along the corridor to the stationery cupboard and into it, shutting the door behind them.
‘Steady on, Morgan, I’m spoken for, although I might be tempted if you can provide me with something to eat.’
Morgan slapped his arm. Then whispered, ‘Cain, I do not want sex and sorry, I haven’t got anything worth eating.’
‘Then what are we doing in here?’
She lifted a finger to her lips to shush him. ‘Talk quiet, Marc’s around.’
Cain was squinting at her, a look of total confusion on his face. ‘Can we pretend I have no idea what’s happening, and you explain it to me?’
She smiled at him. ‘Sorry, I have to talk to someone and you’re my only option.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘Gee, thanks, Morgan. I’m your last resort.’
She lightly slapped him again.
‘Ouch, that’s police brutality.’
‘Marc is about to announce that Jack killed Sharon and Lydia then himself. He’s convinced he is responsible. He’s talking to HQ now about releasing a statement to the press.’
‘He can’t do that; he hasn’t investigated it.’
‘I know, but he’s got it in his head, and you know how stubborn he is.’
‘What did Ben say?’
‘Not a lot, I think he feels as if his hands are tied.’
‘You don’t think it was Jack? Be nice and tidy if it was though, wouldn’t it?’
‘No, I don’t think it was Jack. It doesn’t make sense and before you say he might have lost it, I’ve considered that and if he’d lost it, wouldn’t he have killed Amy because of all the stress over the baby? I mean thank God he didn’t, but you know what I mean.’
Cain nodded. ‘Yeah, I guess so.’
‘We have to prove Jack was killed too.’
‘How are we going to do that? Has Declan finished his PM yet?’
‘I’m going to phone Declan now and speak to him about it in more depth. I also think we need to issue a press release to any women who may be considering going solo camping, because I think the killer is still out there and I don’t think they’re going to stop now they’ve got a taste for it.’
‘Why wouldn’t they stop if it’s all neatly tied up and someone else is going to get the blame?
And how are you going to issue a press release without getting in trouble when Marc is about to say that there’s no cause for concern, we have it all under control and are not looking for anyone else in connection to the two murders?
Do you know anyone who would do that off the record? ’
Morgan sighed. ‘Fin Palmer would, I think.’
‘The same Fin Palmer I arrested a couple of hours ago?’ Cain looked incredulous at her suggestion.
‘I don’t know who else. He’s a creep and I hate him with a passion, but he can’t resist a story.’
‘Morgan, this is so fucked up. We’re going to get in so much trouble if we do this.’
‘Then you know nothing about it, pretend this conversation didn’t happen. I just need his address from you, or his phone number.’
He nodded. ‘It’s on the custody paperwork; I can go get it for you.’
‘Thank you, when the shit hits the fan, I won’t mention you, okay? And don’t go and drag yourself into it because that’s not what I want. I’m happy to take the fallout. If it means we get to save someone’s life, it’s worth everything.’
‘Including your career? You’ll get suspended at best.’
‘I really don’t care. I can’t stand by and watch them blame Jack when they’re guessing and not focusing on the cold, hard facts.’
Morgan leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Cain who hugged her back even harder. ‘You’re my fearless leader, Brookes, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Should I come see Palmer with you?’
She squeezed him, grinning. ‘No, I better go alone. I don’t want you involved any more than you already are, and besides, I doubt he’ll talk in front of you after earlier. Thank you, Cain.’
Cain put his hand on the doorknob then turned to her. ‘Are you doing this so you don’t have to work with Amber?’
Morgan shrugged, and he shook his head, a smile on his lips. ‘You’re a chancer, Brookes.’
Then he stepped out into the corridor and straight to the lift, to go back down to custody to get Palmer’s contact details for her.