Page 33 of Guilty Mothers

‘Boss?’ Stacey asked, putting her satchel under her desk.

‘Yep, we got another one.’

‘You’re joking,’ Penn said.

There had been no doubt in anyone’s mind that Katie had been the killer. And they had all been wrong.

‘I wasn’t laughing when I was called out in the middle of the night,’ Kim answered.

‘You attended a crime scene without me?’ Bryant asked, feigning hurt.

‘Yeah, I took Barney with me. Far more use at two in the morning.’

‘Fair point,’ he admitted.

‘Sorry I’m late,’ Tiff said, sliding into the seat at the spare desk.

‘You’re not, but just cool your heels while we get out of the blocks on this one. It’s changed since last night.’

‘Got it, boss,’ she said, removing her coat.

Kim continued. ‘Our second victim’s name is Andrea Shaw. She was forty-seven years of age and worked as a doctor’s receptionist.’

‘Motive discovered,’ Bryant offered.

Kim gave him a look before continuing.

‘Phone indicates she socialised with friends a couple of times a month and filled her down time with crafting and reading. Divorced amicably some years ago and has two grown children, a boy and a girl.’

She paused while they took it in.

‘Anyone want to take a guess at the link between the two women?’

‘Both worked administrative roles?’ Penn asked.

She shook her head.

‘Both women home alone?’ Bryant asked.

‘Nope.’

‘Pageants?’ Stacey asked.

‘Jeez, guys,’ she said, looking from Bryant to Penn. ‘Don’t know why you even bother trying when Stace is in the room. It is indeed pageants.’

Only Stacey had, in a few seconds, put together what they’d found in Sheryl’s throat and that their second victim also had a daughter.

‘Same kind of shrine?’ Bryant asked.

‘No. Total opposite. The tiaras were packed away with the old karate suits and cricket bats.’

Tiff held up her hand and nodded towards the door. ‘Boss, do you want me to…?’

Penn looked disappointed.

‘No, I said we’d help and we will, but if we need to pull Penn off to assist…’

‘Of course, of course.’