Page 9 of The Truth Will Out (DI Sam Cobbs #18)

“Wait, I’m struggling to comprehend why the four members of staff haven’t mentioned the camera during the interviews.”

“It does seem odd, unless the damn thing is for show or isn’t functioning properly.”

“Maybe. Go on then, go ask the question.”

Bob grumbled and left the car .

Sam took the opportunity to call Rhys. “Hi, have you finished for the day?”

“Yes, are you and Tilly back home now?”

“Tilly is. I was called into work a few hours ago. I drove back and dropped Tilly off at Doreen’s.”

Rhys let out a long sigh. “Sam, I thought you said you needed to take time out for a few hours.”

“I did that. It’s a murder investigation. I had to come in. Anyway, that’s not why I’m calling. I wondered what your plans were for dinner this evening. Have you got any?”

“I haven’t, not really. I don’t fancy cooking, do you?”

“My thoughts exactly. Someone mentioned they had a fabulous meal at The Royal Yew at Dean. I wondered if you were up for it. It’s a dog-friendly pub, so we can take Casper and Tilly with us.”

“That sounds great. It’s a date, then, for all of us.”

“Fantastic. I’ll book a table when I get five minutes.”

“Leave it for me to do. I haven’t got anything on. In fact, I was just packing up to go home. Do you want me to take the dogs for a walk when I get back or leave it until we go out later?”

“It might be a good idea to take them just in case we can’t find a suitable walk out that way later.”

“Gotcha. What time shall I book a table for?”

“Seven-thirty? It’s been a while since we’ve been out during the week.”

“I’ll give them a call now. Looking forward to it. Love you, Sam.”

“Love you, too,” she said as Bob returned to his seat.

“Aww… thanks. I wasn’t gone that long.”

She slapped her partner’s thigh for being such an idiot. “I was talking to Rhys.”

He smiled and waved a disc at her. “I knew that. I’ve got the footage from his final day at work. Ruth apologised for not mentioning it and blamed the shock of hearing the news.”

“It’s fine. I can understand how upset they must have all been. I don’t think it was intentionally missed.”

“Me neither. ”

Sam drove back to the station. The first thing they did when they arrived was to view the footage with the rest of the team. However, none of them saw anything that could be deemed as suspicious on the disc.

Sam pressed the Off switch, and the TV went blank. “That just about sums this case up so far. We keep drawing nothing but blanks. Have you guys found anything while we’ve been out and about?”

Disappointingly, the team all shook their heads. “Right, then I suggest we call it a day and start afresh in the morning.”

The team agreed and began switching off their computers, everyone except Claire. Sam walked towards her. “You’ve been exceptionally quiet since we got back. Is everything okay, Claire?”

“I have a lot on my mind, boss. Would it be all right if I worked a little longer this evening? There’s something that’s bugging me, and I’d like to do some extra digging before I bring it to your attention.”

“If that’s what you’d prefer. You’re going to make me feel guilty, going on a date night while you’re slaving over a hot keyboard.”

“Don’t be daft. You go out and enjoy yourself. It’s been ages since Scott and I went out, or so it seems.”

“It’s good for the soul to get out with our partners, especially during the week. Don’t work too long. You can always crack on with the task in the morning. It’s not like we have much else to deal with at the moment.”

“I know. I should only be an hour at the most.”

“Cool. Do you want to come in an hour later in the morning?”

“There’s no need. I’ll be here at my normal time.”

Sam squeezed her shoulder and went into her office to ensure everything was switched off in there.

She stopped by the window to admire the view.

It was always spectacular at this time of the day.

The sun’s rays were beaming through the fluffy clouds.

If she weren’t trying to find a sadistic killer, the day would be perfect.

Unfortunately, life never turned out to be that simple .

Forty minutes later, Sam drew up outside her cottage. Doreen was standing at the lounge window next door, waving. She knocked on the door, and Doreen came to open it.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m all right, Sam. I’ve been worried sick about you all afternoon, after the news you shared with me earlier. I can’t get Morgan’s death out of my mind. I don’t suppose you’ve had any news yet, have you?”

“No, it’s far too soon for that, Doreen. I hope Tilly didn’t run you ragged this afternoon?”

“She didn’t. We had a quick game of fetch in the back garden before she decided she’d rather have a nap instead. You must have worn her out this morning on your trip to Coniston. You’ve got yourself a very sweet dog there, love.”

“I know. I hope she doesn’t prove to be a handful for you to deal with over the coming months. I’ve been told it can take a rescue pup some time to settle into a family’s routine.”

“I’d say she’s pretty much there already. I’ll tell you if she’s having a problem. I won’t hold back, I promise. I’m glad you and Rhys are going out for a meal tonight. You both work far too hard and never seem to take time off to enjoy yourselves.”

“Really? I wouldn’t say that. We do okay at the weekends when we have time off. I’m never one to turn down the chance of free food. Oops, there’s me presuming that he’ll be paying the bill.”

“He will because he’s a true gent. Dare I ask how the wedding plans are coming along?”

“You’re asking the wrong person. Apparently, Crystal has it all under control. All Rhys and I have to do is show up for the big day.”

“I received my invite. Thank you. I’m worried about who is going to take care of the dogs, though, if we’re all at the venue on the day.”

“I’ve had a word with the hotel. They’ve told me Casper and Tilly can attend the reception.”

“Wow, that’ll be good, if they can come along, too. You’d better get yourself ready. Time is marching on, Sam. Thank you for dropping in to see me. ”

Sam kissed her on the cheek and hugged her. “You’re welcome to join us for dinner, unless you’ve already eaten.”

“You don’t want me hanging around your neck like a spare part. Anyway, I’ve had my dinner earlier, but thank you for the offer.”

“We should go there for Sunday lunch one day.”

“Now that would be lovely. Let me know what the food is like when you drop Tilly off in the morning.”

“I will. See you tomorrow, Doreen.”

Rhys and the dogs were still out when she got home. She prepared the dogs’ dinners and then ran upstairs to jump in the shower. When she came out of the bathroom, Rhys was standing in the bedroom.

“Blimey, you scared me half to death.”

“Sorry. The dogs are eating. I managed to book the table. Are you getting dressed up for our date?”

“I wasn’t intending to. I had to have a shower. I felt lousy because of the clinic we visited earlier this afternoon.”

“I don’t blame you. Is that where the body was found?”

“Yes. I’ll tell you about it later.”

He grimaced. “Not over dinner, I hope.”

“Maybe we’ll discuss it on the way home instead.”

“Sounds like the perfect solution to me.” He crossed the room to the wardrobe and removed a pair of khaki trousers and a cream short-sleeved shirt. “How about this ensemble?”

“Looks spot on to me. I was going to wear black trousers and a white shirt.”

“You’d look good going out in that.” He pointed at the towel wrapped around her slender body.

“Charmer.”

The dogs thundered up the stairs and bounced into the bedroom. Tilly flung herself at Sam, expecting a cuddle, and then flopped on her back, wanting a belly rub.

“She’s such an adorable girl.”

“I had my doubts if she would slot in. I thought it might have been too soon after losing Sonny to welcome another dog into the fold, but she has proved me wrong. What’s more, Casper loves her to bits.”

“We’re going to be the perfect family in a few weeks, husband and wife with two kids to care for. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

He shuffled his feet. “Umm… we’ve never really discussed the prospect of having children, have we?”

Here it comes, crunch time. After failing IVF five times with Chris, I haven’t really considered going through all that with someone else.

“We will, one day. We’d better get a move on. It’ll take me ten minutes or so to dry my hair and get ready.”

“I can take the hint. I’ll jump in the shower myself.”

Their meal turned out to be one of the best Sam had eaten in a long time. She couldn’t wait to treat Doreen to Sunday lunch and ended up booking a table for the three of them in a couple of weeks. “She’s going to love it, and they do a smaller roast dinner, which will suit Doreen better.”

“I can’t believe we haven’t been there before. It was sensational, and you’re right, Doreen will love it. Right, now that the evening is over and the dogs have passed out on the back seat, you can tell me about your murder investigation.”

Sam closed her eyes for a second or two. She opened them and faced him. “Do I have to? It might spoil our wonderful evening.”

“Not if you don’t feel like it.”

In the end, she decided to open up to him.

“I’m in shock right now. How awful to lose your life like that after being a caring member of the community.”

“That’s debatable. I’ve had it on good authority from Doreen that his bedside manner was somewhat lacking at times.”

“Do you think a patient killed him?”

Sam shrugged. “I don’t have a clue. It’s going to be difficult to find out who actually did the deed. We’ve viewed the CCTV footage from the surgery and didn’t see anything out of the ordinary around the time he left work on the evening he went missing. ”

“I don’t envy you. However, I have every confidence in your ability to figure it out. You always do.”

“Not always. There are a few cases to my name that I’ve failed to close over the years, mainly up in Liverpool, but they still haunt me all the same.”

“I learn something new about you every day.”

“I prefer to keep you on your toes, Mr Wilkins.”

His gaze left the road for a split second, and he grinned. “Oh, you do that all right.”