Chapter 9
NINE
Gina knocked on the door of the old post office. While waiting for someone to answer, she admired the post-box-red ledges. The owners had restored the property beautifully.
‘I don’t think anyone’s in, guv.’ Jacob exhaled.
A car turned onto the drive and a woman stepped out.
‘What can I do for you both? Has something happened?’
‘May we come inside?’ Gina held her identification up. ‘I’m DI Harte, this is DS Driscoll.’
The woman’s pale face began to redden at the neck, her straight blonde hair damp and up in a messy bun. She led them into the snug. ‘It’s Kain, isn’t it? What has he done? Damn, I should’ve known something was wrong. I haven’t heard from him in days.’
As soon as Lindy was seated, Gina swallowed and began. ‘We found a body this morning. We have reason to believe it is your brother, Kain Pickering. We’re so sorry for your loss.’ Gina waited for her reaction but all Lindy did was stare into her lap.
‘How… I mean, what happened?’
‘That’s what we’re trying to find out.’
‘Was he drunk? Did he hurt himself or fall over? It wouldn’t be the first time. I sat with him for several hours in A he drank at home.’
‘Work or business colleagues?’
Lindy shrugged.
‘Can I take your surname?’
‘Pickering.’ She dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a finger.
‘What is the name of your brother’s company?’
‘What’s left of it. The staff have gone and the rental lock-up has an eviction notice pasted to the roller shutter.
There’s nothing there. Mum and I helped to clear the unit out.
For what it’s worth, it’s K Pickering’s CCTV and Security Installations.
’ She cleared her throat. ‘I know he took money for jobs then he spent it, letting the customers down. He applied for bankruptcy and they lost their money.’
‘Do you know who these customers are?’
‘His paperwork and computer is in the spare room wardrobe at Mum’s house. I know that because Mum keeps her coats in there and she said that the boxes were creasing them up.’
Gina watched Jacob typing out a message to PC Smith, telling him to mention it to the search team.
As soon as they could get that paperwork to the station, they could look into who these wronged customers were.
She made a mental note to pass on the information about the industrial unit, just in case anything was left there.
‘I’m sorry to have to ask you this but did Kain have any distinctive or unique features such as a tattoo? ’
‘Yes, he has Sheena’s name on the top of his right arm in a heart.’ She paused and swallowed. ‘I don’t want to see his body.’
‘That’s okay. You don’t have to.’ Gina was glad. After what she saw earlier, she didn’t think it would be possible. The scent of Kain’s decomposing body was still coating her nostrils. ‘Do you know the name of his dentist?’
‘Err, Sparkling Pearls on Caywood Road.’ Gina waited for Jacob to message that information back to the station.
‘Can you tell me where you were on Friday the fourteenth of November after one in the afternoon?’ That was when Joyce heard the commotion coming from Maura Pickering’s house.
She shrugged. ‘I’m normally at home on Fridays. I was here, probably cleaning up the house.’
‘Was anyone with you?’
‘No, I was sweeping the drive at one point so someone might have seen me. Am I seriously a suspect?’ She started to clench her teeth.
‘The questions are routine. All we want to do is find out who killed your brother.’
‘Of course. What happens next?’
‘We will need to formally interview you at the station. Would you be able to come in later?’
‘Yes. There is something you should know about Kain?’
Gina tilted her head, wondering what Lindy was about to tell them. Her phone beeped. It was a message from O’Connor. She glanced at the message while Lindy was taking a couple of deep breaths and Gina almost gasped out loud. Her hands began to shake so she placed them in her lap.
Lindy continued speaking, unaware of the message. ‘He used to be in the police. He was a PC in his youth but he didn’t stay in the police for long. I don’t remember the year.’
Could the policing link be relevant? ‘Why did he leave the force?’
Lindy looked away. ‘He never said.’
Kain wasn’t the person they thought he was. Gina had to find out what changed in his life. What made Kain the PC turn into a man that steals money from his customers and pushes his mother over?