Killing for Keeps: A Kate Daniels Mystery (Kate Daniels Mysteries) by Mari Hannah

Author:Mari Hannah [Hannah, Mari]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2015-06-01T23:00:00+00:00

38

Cameras flashed. The large conference room was filled with the sound of shutters going off in quick succession as the DCI was shown to her seat in the centre of a long table, the force logo at her back, Gormley on one side, Naylor on the other, a microphone in front of her. The room was busting at the seams, not a spare seat to be found. Everyone facing Kate was sporting a VISITOR PASS lanyard.

Directly in front of Kate was a man she recognized: Ian Payne from ITV’s local news channel. Next to him was a BBC news presenter whose name she couldn’t recall, and behind them were journalists from several national newspapers. Further back, she could see representatives from the local rags: Northern Echo, Newcastle Chronicle, Evening Gazette and Hexham Courant. It was standing-room only at the rear.

Kate waited for the hum in the room to die down, keen to get the conference over with. Tapping his microphone, an admin officer called for order. Instructing everyone to turn off mobile phones or switch to silent mode, he checked that they were all in receipt of press packs containing details of both victims and suspects.

Satisfied that he’d covered everything, he sat down, giving Kate the nod.

Thanking everyone for attending at such short notice, Kate introduced herself as the SIO in charge of the case they were assembled to discuss. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I asked you here this afternoon as a result of serious matters that have occurred in our force area in the last few days. You’re aware that the body of John Allen was found on the Silverlink Industrial Estate in the early hours of Friday, twenty-fourth August. Shortly afterwards, the body of his brother Terence Allen was discovered at the Royal Victoria Infirmary. A murder enquiry was launched into both deaths.’ The DCI paused, giving the reporters time to make notes. Glancing to her right, she noticed Detective Chief Superintendent Bright sneak into the room quietly. Their eyes met briefly, then she carried on. ‘There is a third victim, Bethany Miller, a fifteen-year-old girl from Barrow-in-Furness. I must stress that at present I am unable to say for sure whether this third death is linked to the other two. What I can tell you is that she knew John and Terry Allen. Before I say anything more, on behalf of Northumbria Police I’d like to extend our condolences to the families and friends of all three victims.’

The press officer stood up. She wore a figure-hugging tailored suit, hair tied back and too much slap, the badge on her large left breast spelling out her name: Constance Blackett. Looking straight to the television camera crews positioned at the rear of the room, she made sure she got her sound bites in . . .

‘I must point out that this incident is one of the most harrowing in the history of Northumbria Police and one of the worst Detective Chief Inspector Daniels and the Murder Investigation Team has ever had to deal with.

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