‘Did Tommy mention this when he was interviewed?’
‘I couldn’t find any reference to a late arrival,’ Dan said.
‘Kate, get Tommy on the phone and ask him.’
A knock on the door focused their attention away from the whiteboard and a young uniform came in and told Kelly that a man named Lee Lovett was downstairs asking for her.
Kelly raised her brows and got up.
‘Anything else?’ she asked.
She received murmurs of a collective acceptance that everybody had said their bit, so she got up from her chair to leave.
‘I’ll report back soon,’ she said.
Chapter 41
Lee Lovett looked nervous.
Kelly greeted him warmly and noticed his hand felt tacky. She took him into a free interview suite.
‘How can I help, Lee?’
She studied him as she waited for him to collect himself. She appreciated that just being inside a cop shop was at best intimidating and could be downright terrifying. Especially if you had something to hide.
Which Lee Lovett clearly did. He looked like a child who’s caught pilfering pudding before main course. She relaxed into her chair.
‘How are you holding up?’ She broke the ice.
On a serious note, Lee had witnessed a horrific scene and the longer she sat with him and watched him, the more she realised that he was conflicted.
‘You’re here for a good reason; tell me what it is.’ She put on her most charming manner and opened her body. She waited patiently.
‘I was thinking about leaving the area and taking a new position.’
‘That’s good. It’s a positive step,’ she said. ‘A fresh start. What will happen to Heron Hall?’
‘I’ve heard rumours that a big American buyer is interested. The Nirvana Project.’
‘It’s being sold?’
‘It’s been on the cards for some time. Everybody is struggling in hospitality. Especially the independents.’
‘And this American buyer, do you know how long they’ve been interested?’
‘Months. I think there have been negotiations.’
‘And this incident. The very public death of a guest has spurred on the owners to sell?’
‘Looks like it.’
‘Does that strike you as fortunate for the buyers?’ Kelly asked.
Lee looked at her and it dawned on him what she was getting at.
He relaxed and smiled at her. ‘Christ, I didn’t even think of that; you don’t think…’
Kelly shrugged. ‘I’m a police officer; I don’t assume. I wait for the evidence to come together.’
