Free Double Dealing (Detective Sergeant Catherine Bishop Series Book Two) by Lisa Hartley Page B

hadn’t spoken.
     
      As Mark stood to take his plate to the sink, having managed to force most of the toast down his throat, there was a knock at the front door. Celia looked at him.
      ‘Do you want me to go?’ she demanded. Geoff sighed, lifting his gaze to the ceiling.
      ‘It’s their house, Celia, not ours. I’m sure Mark can manage.’
      ‘I’m only trying to help. He’s got enough on his mind,’ Celia tutted.
    Mark ignored them both and turned away. He felt sick, his stomach lurching. It could be anyone, of course: someone wanting to read the gas meter, a delivery driver or lost motorist. It wouldn’t be though, he knew it.
      Sure enough, as he approached the front door he could see two hazy figures silhouetted through the privacy glass panel, one tall, one shorter. Dark clothes. He gulped and all at once seemed to be floating, not walking, down the hallway with his breath coming in uneven gasps. The door felt heavy when he pulled it open.
      ‘Good morning, Mr Cook. I wonder if we could come in?’
    Mark knew he was staring, but he couldn’t help it. He gazed at them, his mouth working. Then he was aware of movement behind him and Geoff pushing him aside, his hands gentle.
      ‘Sergeant Bishop. Good morning.’
      ‘Hello, Mr Chantry. This is my colleague, Detective Constable Lancaster. Could we come in, please?’
    Celia shouted from the kitchen. ‘Let them in, Geoff. I hope she’s got some good news for us.’
    Geoff winced. ‘I’m sorry about my wife,’ he said in an undertone. ‘She’s very worried.’
    Catherine inclined her head. ‘I understand.’
    Celia also appeared in the hallway, the five of them cramped together uncomfortably. Mark recovered himself a little and suggested, ‘Shall we go into the living room?’ They all trooped after him and he waved a listless hand towards the three-piece suite. ‘Please sit down.’
    Sergeant Bishop unbuttoned her woollen coat. Today’s suit was black, Mark saw, with a pale lilac shirt beneath it. He had no idea why he’d taken note of her clothes; he never usually saw such details. Lauren had moaned at him countless times for not noticing her new dress or haircut. He could hear the clock on the dresser ticking too, as if his senses were somehow heightened. The male police officer was silent. He took a small black notebook from his coat pocket and looked expectantly at Catherine Bishop, who shuffled forward a little.
      ‘Mr Cook, we’re here because there’s been a development.’ Her voice was formal, precise.
      ‘Have you found her?’ Celia demanded. Mark’s mouth was suddenly dry. He fought the urge to bolt from the room.
      ‘I’m afraid not. However,’ DS Bishop glanced at her colleague. ‘With your permission, Mr Cook, we’d like to take some items belonging to Lauren with us, so that we can carry out some tests.’
      ‘Of course he doesn’t mind, do you, Mark? Anything to find her,’ Celia butted in again.
      ‘It’s Mr Cook’s permission we need, Mrs Chantry.’ Catherine set her jaw, attempting to keep the bite from her tone. Celia’s eyes narrowed.
      ‘If you want me to shut up, Sergeant, just say so.’
    DC Lancaster’s lips twitched, but he said nothing. Geoff Chantry exclaimed, ‘Celia!’
      ‘Take anything you like,’ Mark croaked. ‘What do you need?’
      ‘If it’s okay, I’ll need access to your bathroom and your wife’s clothes and other possessions. We’ll give you receipts for anything we take away, of course.’
      ‘Will I get them back? When Lauren comes home, she’ll need them.’ Mark’s voice disappeared and Geoff Chantry cleared his throat.
      ‘Can I just ask what’s changed, Sergeant Bishop? Yesterday, and we do understand why, but you said you couldn’t help us.’
    Catherine hesitated, but only for a second. She hadn’t wanted them to know but better to hear it from her now than on the television later on.
      ‘I’m afraid that a body was discovered