Free Death and Deception by B. A. Steadman

what we can do.’ He made a note in his pad.
    Dan looked over at Sam Knowles, but he shook his head, ‘Sorry, sir, nothing to go on the board except gossip and vitriol.’ Sam paused, then added, with a wistful sigh, ‘I have a dream that one day I’ll have a junior officer on my team who I can force to spend the whole day being giggled at and toyed with by sixteen year-old girls who think they are hilarious and irresistible.’
    Dan tolerated the wolf whistles and hoots round the table. With his great height and extreme skinniness, Sam was nobody’s idea of a sex symbol, including his own.
    ‘They did know about Carly’s relationship with Jamie May, and most of the girls were jealous of her, in a catty sort of way. She was clearly Mr Westlake’s favourite, too, and that made them even more jealous. Jamie’s considered very cool at school, although a couple of boys said he has a nasty side when he’s crossed. I’ve got the contact details of a couple of lads from his band if we need to ask for more.’
    ‘So,’ Dan said , ‘what have we got so far? Why would someone want this girl dead? We need to find a motive, folks. What did she see, or hear, or find out, or threaten to do that would cost her her life? Who was the last person to see her alive?’ He paused. ‘I think we look closely at Jed Abrams- he’s hiding something.
    Sally, keep close to the family, I’m not convinced that Dad hasn’t got something to do with it.
    ‘And Ian, the boy is important, find him. It may be significant that he disappeared from school today.’ He squeezed the tendons at the back of his neck – solid. Definite headache lurking there under the three ibuprofens he’d swallowed. ‘Did Carly get as far as the studio on Sunday night?
    Sam, go round the local shops on Sidwell Street and check their CCTV recordings for Sunday. There was a camera outside the studio door, start with that one.’
    The young officer nodded.
    ‘Also, what about this Music teacher? It’s not normal for teachers to have kids at their houses, is it?’
    He looked across at Gould who consulted his notes.
    ‘The teacher said it was a one off because of the recording session. His wife said it was OK, so I assume she was there.’
    ‘So, in fact, they could have been there many times, couldn’t they? And did his wife really agree to this rehearsal? Was she even there? Should Miles Westlake be in the frame, not Jed Abrams?’ He let the thought slide around the room. ‘Too much we don’t know, and every hour takes us away from finding the killer.’ Dan shut himself up. He knew he had a tendency to go on a bit and state the bleedin’ obvious. They were the professionals and there was no need to over-egg the seriousness of the situation. He was just angry at Gould’s assumptions. It was poor detective work.
    ‘Right, post-mortem tomorrow morning at 10.00 a.m. Ian, will you and Sam pick up Jed Abrams and bring him in round about 10.30 a.m.? He can sit and sweat for a bit while I watch the PM. Can you both then go and talk to the boy, Jamie May, please? He is the girl’s close friend and possibly the last person to see her. I wanted to interview all the main suspects today.’
    He stopped himself having another go at Ian for not catching up with boy. It would be fine to do that tomorrow.
    Julie Oliver nodded to the team and suggested Dan joined her in her office straight after the meeting to plan a brief statement for the late news. The noise level in the room rose as she left. People shuffled papers and pushed back chairs.
    ‘Night all,’ shouted Dan. ‘Take your own mugs back to the dishwasher and I’ll see you at 8.30 am, bright and breezy. Thanks for your efforts today.’
    He saw Gould raise his eyebrows again at the Flowerpot Men, and mimic Dan’s thanks in a little girl’s voice. A wave of anger washed up his throat. Gripping the edge of the table, he put his burning face down and made busy with his paperwork. It was a small victory. Two