‘You two make a sweet couple. The crime scene investigator and the detective. Your parents will be as proud as punch on your wedding day,’ she said, teasing him.
‘Shut up. Enough. We’re a long way from weddings.’
The brewery looked like a large barn and was adorned with their signage and logos.
‘So this is where Furnace and Blower Ales are made?’
Gina nodded. ‘Yes, and as we know this is where Holly Long worked. Her mother, Marianne told us that Holly had had an argument with someone here but she didn’t know who or why.’
‘What did she do?’ Jacob rubbed his nose and flinched a little.
‘Some sort of accounts admin but her mother didn’t entirely know.’
Gina rang the buzzer, focused on the little camera above it and was buzzed into a tiny holding room with two doors leading off it. She tried one of the doors but it was locked. ‘I suppose we just wait.’
A yeasty smell seemed to be coming from everywhere. ‘I’d love a pint.’ Jacob smiled.
‘When we’ve solved this case, I’ll buy you one.’
‘I’ll hold you to that, guv.’
A man with an identification card pinned to his jacket pushed open the door in front of them. Gina could see that his name was Rick. ‘Hello. Who are you here to see?’
Gina held up her identification. ‘We’d like to talk to Holly Long’s manager.’
‘Has something happened?’
‘We would need to discuss that with Holly Long’s manager first.’ Gina needed to know who Holly had been arguing with before speaking to the other staff.
‘That would be me. Rick Elder. Come through. We can talk in the lounge.’
They followed Rick along the corridor that led to a room with a floor to ceiling window. A large mural was painted on the wall depicting the brewing production cycle, from the hops being harvested to the final bottle of ale. Several cosy couches were positioned around small coffee tables and a single white carnation in a miniature vase adorned every table. Gina shuddered as Holly’s body covered with the little petals scattered all over her torso flashed through her mind.
‘We try to make the staff as comfortable as possible when they take breaks. Fortunately, no breaks are due for another half an hour.’
Gina took a seat on the couch and pulled out her notes, as did Jacob.
‘I love the smell of this place,’ Jacob said, with a smile.
Rick ignored Jacob’s comment. ‘Now can you tell me why you’re here?’
Gina crossed her ankles and placed her hands on her knees. ‘Unfortunately we have some bad news. I’m sorry to tell you that Holly Long was murdered last night and we’re conducting investigations.’
Rick removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes. ‘Are you serious?’
‘I’m afraid so.’ She paused, giving the news a moment to sink in. ‘We need to ask you a few questions, about Holly.’
He walked over to the coffee machine and pressed a button. ‘Want one? I could do with one.’
They both nodded. Gina needed a coffee more than anything. Her lips hadn’t been wet since her morning coffee during the briefing and she was beginning to feel even more headachy. As soon as she was done, she’d be heading home to work before having a shower and catching up on some sleep.
‘Here.’ Rick placed three cups down and dropped a few sachets of sugar onto the coffee table.
‘I was surprised but glad to see that you were open on Sundays.’ Gina sipped the hot coffee.
‘We’re a twenty-four seven operation. We have orders coming out of our ears and are hoping to secure bigger premises soon. It’s been tough stepping up production but while the going’s good, we keep going.’ He paused. ‘I’m sorry. Things aren’t good. I only saw Holly on Friday. She mentioned that her friend who got married in Greece was having a reception in Cleevesford. She said she was looking forward to it.’
Jacob flicked over to a clean page in his pad.
