‘Stress?’ Bryant asked.
‘No.’
‘Conflict?’
‘No. People, Bryant. Less people.’
‘Yeah, and the people would thank you. So, what do we know about Rick Felton?’
‘Rick Harris. Karen took back her maiden name. We don’t know much except that he works as a logistics manager at a haulage company.’
Although they were questioning the homewrecker theory, she wasn’t prepared to rule it out before speaking to Karen’s ex-husband. Had she broken up his previous relationship?
‘Guv, what exactly is a logistics manager?’
‘Hell if I know,’ she said, turning to face the window.
Despite her fatigue, it hadn’t been a restful night. Even with Barney’s comforting warmth beside her, every time she’d closed her eyes, her mind had been assaulted with images of Ava, unhappy and miserable, living with people whose only motivation was financial gain.
No innocent child deserved to grow up on Hollytree, but the ones born there had no other reference. Ava had been part of a loving family. She’d had parents who doted on her and a normal childhood where she hadn’t been made to feel like a freak because of her disability. She’d been on the road to becoming a confident, well-adjusted kid with a bright future, and Kim couldn’t help feeling that was in jeopardy. Hollytree was not a nurturing environment.
At that moment, Kim wasn’t sure she had ever wanted to find a killer more. Yes, she felt for all three of their victims, but it was the seven-year-old girl who’d really affected her.
She just hoped that Stacey could find another relative before she received the inevitable call from Gloria.
She remained lost in her own thoughts until they arrived at a haulage company on the outskirts of Cradley Heath.
She checked her watch. ‘Website says they’re open at eight, so let’s go start his day off well,’ she said, getting out of the car.
The door into the building was unlocked, but the reception desk was empty.
A bell was resting on the front desk with an instruction to ring for attention.
For once, Kim did as she was directed. She pressed the bell four times, unable to hear it sounding anywhere.
‘Inspirational,’ Bryant observed, looking around.
The only decoration on the walls were photos of different-sized trucks.
‘May I help you?’ asked a sharp voice from behind the desk.
She was guessing the bell had been heard loud and clear somewhere and may even have been a bit annoying.
‘May we speak with Rick Harris?’
‘That’s me,’ he said, looking from her to Bryant.
She still wasn’t sure what being a logistics manager entailed, but it seemed to include covering reception until the full-timer arrived.
‘We need to talk to you about your ex-wife,’ Kim said, showing her ID.
He frowned and smiled at the same time. ‘Well, I know she’s not in any trouble, so what’s this about?’
‘Mr Harris, I’m afraid she was murdered yesterday afternoon.’
He stared at her for twenty seconds before he burst out laughing.
It wasn’t the most common response.
