Emma hadn’t officially announced her condition. Now was her chance.
‘You’ve guessed?’ Emma said.
‘I’m thrilled for you both. I just want to keep an eye on you, that’s all. How far are you?’
‘Fourteen weeks.’
Kelly smiled. ‘Past the big scan then.’
‘I couldn’t sleep last night. It was too hot; I feel as though I’m giving birth to a pressure cooker not a baby.’
Kelly laughed.
Ever since she’d discovered Emma’s secret, she’d looked at her in a new light. The rosy cheeks, the thick waist, the hot flushes and the sprints to the toilet.
‘But you don’t need to worry about me. I’m pregnant not broken,’ Emma said.
Kelly recalled her own pregnancy spent rushing around the Lakes chasing leads. The only change to her routine was waddling into an ice-cream shop for a fat cone dripping in caramel and raspberry sauce.
Nothing else changed. Except she was dog tired.
‘Is Dan excited?’ she asked.
Emma smiled broadly. It said everything. She changed the topic back to the case.
‘What struck me most about the people I interviewed at Heron Hall on Tuesday was their air of certainty. They’re not easy to read. They’ve been striking deals their whole working lives and I guess it’s hard to just be themselves. They’re real hardballers,’ she said.
They parked up outside the entrance and noticed the lack of cars compared to last time. Jamie’s M4 was still there, and it’d be towed to the compound for forensic examination on Monday if they were lucky. The hotel looked different somehow, though nothing had changed. But without the buzz of people milling about down by the lake, or lights on above the atrium, it seemed abandoned, but it could just be her imagination.
Sandy Cooper should be waiting for them.
Doctor Cooper was a scientist, not a sales rep, so Kelly expected to get straighter answers from her; however, a check of her work history showed that she’d been employed by Hampton-Dent for thirty years and she also liaised with legal and HR. It was an odd collection of hats and Kelly assumed it was one of those situations where a very experienced employee is trusted with more than the remit of her exact role. It happened less nowadays but Sandy was in her fifties and a product of the market before over-regulation.
Her role fascinated Kelly and she wanted to get to know more about her. There was no doubt of her value to the company, and she’d left her stamp on patents going back to the 90s. She’d also been one of the only two people to try to help Jamie in his final minutes. Even though she’d been useless in her anguish, she’d at least shown she cared for him and Kelly wondered if they’d beenclose. In the footage of the incident, Sandy had been covered in Jamie’s blood.
Emma was tasked with finding Lee Lovett and Kelly found Sandy Cooper in the conference room, sitting alone, looking out of place. Kelly didn’t see a wedding ring, though that was none of her business. Sandy struck her as somebody who played fast and low. Kelly smiled and thanked her for meeting her for an informal interview. Kelly sat down.
‘Coffee?’ Kelly asked.
‘I’ve had enough coffee to send me to the cardiac ward,’ Sandy said.
Kelly got a whiff of cigarettes and thought it was a good job Kate hadn’t returned with her – she’d be envious, for sure. Kelly was surprised Sandy was a smoker. These days, especially being a supposed health expert, it was hugely unpopular. But apparently coffee was bad for you too. Kelly already knew that if you took every piece of advice offered, you’d not only cease to exist, but also suck every last bit of joy out of life to boot.
Kelly possessed a healthy dose of scepticism when it came to wellness advice. She’d noticed in the few years she’d been back from London that her health had improved. It wasn’t as if she’d been unfit in London, just her skin had brightened, her pallor shone, her personal bests had improved and she breathed easier and slept soundly, even with a two-year-old waking her up at odd times. There was definitely something to be said for the Cumbrian regimen of fresh air, exercise and local food. But she knew that the sort of backward beliefs that provincial folks spouted wouldn’t convince these cutting-edge corporate animals wanting to sell pills and gels over Keswick cheese and butter.
It wasn’t worth arguing with these people who spent their lives on synthetic pick-me-ups.
‘Can you explain to me your role in Hampton-Dent? You’re a scientist, is that right?’
Sandy Cooper nodded. She told Kelly that it was her job to oversee the efficacy and safety of the myriads of supplements marketed by Hampton-Dent.
‘So, you legitimatise the product with scientific backing?’
‘If you want to put it like that, yes.’
‘Did you encounter any problems withYouthBlast?’
‘No, all standard stuff, I’ve been doing this for years.’
