Page 17 of The Truth Will Out (DI Sam Cobbs #18)

S am received the call that another body had been found at a building site on the edge of Workington. She had no hesitation in jumping in the car with Bob in tow and travelling to the scene.

“I can see how worked up you’re getting about this by the colour of your knuckles. Just a reminder, we don’t yet know if this murder is connected to the investigation.”

“I’m well aware of that fact. But here’s the thing: I stopped believing in coincidences not long after I graduated from training school.”

“All right, that was uncalled for. There’s no need to be sarcastic just because I state the obvious now and again.”

“I wouldn’t mind if that were the case. ‘Now and again’ means something entirely different in your book than it does in mine.”

Bob crossed his arms and glanced out of the side window until they were much closer to the location. “I’m sorry for stating the obvious.”

“Apology accepted. This part is going to hurt… and I’m sorry for having a go at you.”

“Is this about what happened last night, when you got home? ”

She frowned and shot him a quick look before she returned her gaze to the road ahead. “Meaning?”

“What the fuck? You didn’t tackle Rhys about what we found, did you?”

Her grip tightened around the steering wheel.

“No need to answer. Actions speak louder than words.”

Sam sighed. “I couldn’t. God help me, I wanted to, but my anger got the better of me. After we’d eaten, I ended up shutting myself away in the bedroom for the rest of the evening.”

“I don’t get it. Why?”

“Because I was too scared to start the conversation with him. We don’t have enough evidence against him, and I wasn’t sure how I wanted to proceed. Just finding his name in a file isn’t enough to be suspicious of him, and yet last night, I treated him like a convicted criminal.”

“Jesus, Sam. Why?”

“Stop bloody asking me that. Because…”

“What? Just because, or am I missing what you’re trying to say here?”

“Because for the first time in my life, I’m confused. No, make that dumbfounded beyond words that Claire chose not to confide in me, went behind my back and ended up…”

“Dead! You can say the word. It doesn’t stop you normally. It’s generally part of our usual vocabulary, especially during an investigation.”

“All right, Bob, there’s no need for the added sarcasm. I’m feeling shit enough about this case as it is.”

“I’m sorry. At the end of the day, we’ve got a job to do. Would you rather it was me who tackled Rhys?”

“No. I’ll do it in my own time. First, we need to find out how deep this goes and what Claire’s involvement was in it.” She drew onto the road leading to the building site. “Let’s leave this conversation here, for now.”

“We will definitely revisit it, though. We have to, Sam. All you’re doing by avoiding the obvious is tying yourself into knots. ”

“I hear you.” She parked behind two patrol cars.

Four officers were trying to control a crowd of workmen, and things appeared to be getting heated.

“We’d better shake a leg or two and get in there to help out.”

“I’m sensing things might escalate soon. My advice would be for you to stay back.”

“Thanks for your concern. I happen to believe the opposite would be better to ease the tension here.”

They exited the car, and Bob shrugged at her.

“You’re the boss.”

“Exactly.” She grinned and marched towards the group. “Who’s in charge here?”

An older man raised his hand. “I’m the foreman.”

“Can I have a chat with you in private?” Sam pointed at a free spot not ten feet away.

He followed her, and the crowd quietened down behind them.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name?”

“Likewise, and that’s because I didn’t give it. I’m Nigel Bowman.”

“Forgive me, Mr Bowman. I’m Detective Inspector Sam Cobbs. Can you tell me what all this commotion is about?”

“The men are keen to get back to work. We’re on a tight schedule, and they’re worried their bonuses will be affected.”

“Ah, I see. Whilst I can understand where they are coming from, until the pathologist and his team have carried out the necessary work at the crime scene, the site is going to be off limits to everyone.”

He growled and shook his head. “I hope you’re ready for the uproar that’s going to cause when I break the news to them.”

“Surely, that’ll be down to you to control your men, won’t it?”

“I’ll do my best. The thing is, I’ve only just been promoted and…”

“You haven’t earnt their respect yet. Is that what you’re hinting at?”

“Yes, that’s it in a nutshell.”

“And what if your boss was down here, telling you to pack up and leave? Would they still be standing their ground? ”

“No, they wouldn’t. Sorry, I’ll send them home. Any idea how long your team are going to be on site?”

“For as long as it takes. I suggest a minimum of two days.”

Bowman ran a hand through what little hair he had left. “Jesus, that’s taking the piss.”

“Let me put it this way: if it were a member of your family who had been murdered, you’d expect the experts to carry out their jobs efficiently and quickly, wouldn’t you?”

He raised a hand and turned to walk away. “Enough said. I’ll give them their marching orders.”

“Thank you. We really appreciate your cooperation.”

“I’ll do my best and hope that anarchy doesn’t break out. I must have been an idiot to have accepted this job at the end of last week,” he muttered as he walked away.

“Everything all right?” Bob asked as he joined her.

“We’ll soon find out. Poor bloke has his back against the wall. Be prepared to intervene. He’s new to the job and is about to tell them to go home and risk losing their bonuses.”

Bob shrugged. “Not everything in life is that cut and dried, is it? Sometimes people throw a spanner in the works.”

“So true.”

They watched as the foreman called for the group’s attention and issued the bad news. The crowd of men surged towards him, but Bowman stood firm and ended up shouting at them. A few of his colleagues instantly backed down; the others needed to think it through first.

“Crisis averted,” Bob whispered.

“We’ll see how long that lasts.”

“Ah, here’s Des and the team now. Let’s help to disperse this crowd quickly.”

Bob jumped into action and assisted the foreman with his authoritarian voice in full swing. “Come on, gents. Do as you’re told now. The professionals are waiting to get to the crime scene. The sooner you allow them access, the quicker you’ll be able to get back to work, right? ”

The men released a mixture of groans and murmurings of discontent, until they reluctantly gave up the fight and drifted off.

Relieved, Sam and Bob slipped on their protective suits but left their shoe coverings off until they were closer to the scene. Bob handed Sam a pair of gloves, and they made their way over to Des’s van.

“Good morning. Don’t ask; we haven’t had a chance to view the body yet. We’ve been too busy negotiating with the workforce. Don’t shoot the messenger, but they’re working on a tight schedule and have been promised a bonus if they finish early.”

“Not my problem. We’ll take as long as necessary to assess the crime scene. You know that as well as I do, Inspector.”

“I know. I told them as much. All right if we head over there and have a look for ourselves?”

“As long as you don’t approach the victim. I’m assuming he’s been confirmed dead if we’ve been called in?”

“He must be. We haven’t been here long ourselves,” she replied.

Sam nudged Bob, and they set off.

“I sometimes wonder if I’m talking a foreign language,” she said. “I seem to be repeating myself a lot lately.”

“You are? I hadn’t noticed. No more than usual anyway.” His jibe earned him a dig in the ribs.

“Don’t push me, matey.”

“It was a joke, Mrs Sensitive.”

They approached the side of the building where the foreman had told Bob the body was situated.

The second Sam rounded the corner, she froze.

There, tied to the scaffolding planks, was a man in a navy-blue suit.

The air was silent and raw with tension.

Sam could see there was a placard on his chest but struggled to read it.

“Can you see what it says?”

“ Buried the truth. ”

Sam exhaled a large breath and continued to walk towards the body.

It wasn’t until she got to within ten feet of the victim that she noticed his head was lying at an odd angle and his lips had been stitched together.

She stepped closer until the victim came fully into focus.

The placard wasn’t pinned to his chest; it had been attached with a thick nail. “Fuck, is that what I think it is?”

“Yep. Let’s hope it was nailed in place after he took his last breath.”

“Me too.”

Rustling behind her announced Des’s arrival. “Right, what have we got he…? Ouch, that’s not good. Hurry up, men. Let’s get this area sectioned off. I need a partial tent erected at least. This victim has had an audience for too long as it is. Poor bloke.”

“We haven’t been near him. Can you give him a quick search for ID?

“On it now.” Des slipped his hand into the man’s jacket pockets and drew a blank. “Nothing in either of those.” He stepped around the side and patted down the back of the victim. “Ah, here we are.”

Sam took a few steps closer while Bob withdrew his notebook, ready to jot down the information.

“Stephen Weller. As well as his driving licence, there’s a council ID. He’s a planning officer.”

“Shit. Does that mean he was here in an official capacity, or did the killer bring him here to make a statement?” Sam asked, her voice trailing off as her thoughts began to run riot, not for the first time during this investigation.

“We have no way of knowing. What is clear is that the other murders are connected to this one.”

“That much is obvious,” Bob said without engaging his brain first.

Des ignored him and proceeded to read out the address on the driving licence. “Fifty-six Sillcroft Road, Barepot.”

“Thanks. We’ll take a drive over there once we’ve finished here. Can you tell us how long he’s been dead?”