With nothing more to be done about Gemma, she turned her focus to the next lead they’d uncovered.
She was no stranger to the building that housed children’s services in St James Road, Dudley. She’d visited in connection with many cases over the years.
Bryant approached reception and introduced them before asking to speak to Ashley’s boss. They remained in the lobby while Ashley’s line manager was sent for.
‘I think Gemma and anything we find here are far more likely leads than the netball players,’ Bryant said while they waited.
Kim nodded. ‘Absolutely. Because every murder victim we’ve known has died due to a highly emotional killer with an intense and justifiable motive.’
‘Okay, why do I feel that your initial agreement was to lull me and now I’m going to get schooled?’ Bryant asked.
‘Not schooled but a memory refresh. Remember not so long ago when we were chasing a man around the Black County?’
‘I remember,’ he groaned.
‘And his motive?’ Kim asked.
‘To be noticed,’ he answered, as though the words were being prised from his mouth.
‘Never assume someone’s reasons for?—’
‘Inspector?’ said a voice from behind.
They both held up their identification to a man in his mid-forties. Slim and smartly dressed, he looked as though he spent most of his morning grooming regime trying to hide his receding hairline.
It wasn’t time well spent, she thought as he held out his hand. She busied herself putting away her ID while Bryant introduced them by name.
‘Ron Pike, Ashley’s line manager,’ he said.
Before she could ask a question, he ushered them into a small room off the lobby that contained a table, four chairs and a projector.
‘Hope you don’t mind talking in here. The staff are upset enough.’
She heard a catch in his voice and knew that sentiment included him as well.
‘She was popular?’ Kim asked, taking a seat.
‘Oh yes. Most of my team are in tears upstairs. Just disbelief really. I can’t imagine that we’ll never see her sitting at that desk again,’ he said, blinking rapidly.
‘It’s a lot to take in, we understand that, but we have to find who did this. Which means we have to ask questions now, okay?’
He nodded and swallowed deeply.
‘You just said Ashley was popular, but is there any member of staff she didn’t get along with?’
He thought long and hard, as though working his way through her colleagues.
‘I’m afraid there really is no one. She was pleasant, had a good sense of humour and on many occasions helped people out.’
‘How about current cases, Mr Pike? We hear there’d been some issues.’
He reddened. ‘Nothing that would blemish her exemplary record.’
‘I understand that, but sometimes changes have to be made, don’t they?’
He relaxed once he realised he didn’t have to sully the record of a dead woman. Kim took a moment to appreciate his integrity. She’d met worse bosses in her time.
‘Ashley was asked to relinquish a case to another colleague.’
