Dead Level (The DI Nick Dixon Crime Series Book 5) by Damien Boyd

yet.’
    Janice looked at Jane and raised her eyebrows.
    ‘C’mon, Jane, let’s not keep Perry waiting.’

    ‘This is not going to be easy,’ said Jane.
    ‘These ones never are,’ replied Janice, grimacing.
    Jane stepped back and watched Janice take a deep breath and then open the door of the interview room. Tom Perry was sitting with his back to the door, rocking backwards and forwards on his chair, his chest heaving. He was crying but making no sound. Jane looked at the uniformed officer standing just inside the door. He looked at her and shook his head.
    ‘Mr Perry,’ said Janice.
    He turned around on his chair. His eyes were bloodshot and tears were streaming down his face.
    ‘I’m Detective Inspector Janice Courtenay and this is Detective Constable Jane Winter. We’re investigating the death of your wife . . .’
    ‘Murder. The murder of my wife.’
    ‘Yes, Sir.’
    ‘I’ve had my clothes taken, my DNA taken, they’ve even scraped under my bloody fingernails.’
    ‘It’s standard . . .’
    ‘You think I did it, don’t you?’ screamed Perry, jumping up from his chair. ‘Why? Why would I kill her?’
    ‘Sit down, sir,’ shouted the uniformed officer, stepping forward.
    ‘She was carrying my child, for God’s sake.’
    ‘Please sit down, sir,’ said Janice. ‘We don’t think . . . nobody thinks . . .’
    We have questions we have to ask, boxes we have to tick . That was Dixon’s standard line in this situation. Jane stepped forward.
    ‘We have questions we have to ask, boxes we have to tick. I’m sure you understand, sir.’
    Perry glared at Jane. He took several deep breaths.
    ‘Yes, of course, you do,’ he replied, sitting down.
    Jane sat down on the seat next to him. She reminded him that he was not under arrest and that he was free to leave at any time.
    ‘I’m just helping you with your enquiries, am I?’
    ‘You are.’
    Perry nodded.
    ‘You’ve declined a solicitor?’ asked Jane.
    ‘I don’t need one.’
    ‘OK. Let’s start with the difficult question. You’ll understand I have to ask it.’
    ‘I went to the office Christmas party. I got home at about eleven thirty. I sent my wife a text message then went to bed. I was woken up this morning by your lot.’
    ‘Was there . . . ?’
    ‘I was in the house alone. My wife’s parents are in Poole.’
    ‘How much did you have to drink at the party?’
    ‘Too much to drive, if that’s what you’re asking. Several people on my table can vouch for that.’
    ‘OK. Can you think of anyone who might want to hurt Elizabeth?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Tell me about her.’
    ‘She was the sweetest person you could ever hope to meet. She . . .’ Perry stopped mid-sentence and began to sob again.
    ‘Let’s get his parents,’ said Jane.
    Janice turned to the uniformed officer and nodded.
    ‘Tom.’
    Perry looked up at Jane.
    ‘Someone’s gone to get your parents. All right?’
    Perry nodded.
    ‘They’ll be here in a minute.’
    ‘We will catch whoever did this, Mr Perry,’ said Janice.
    They sat in silence, watching Perry sobbing in front of them. He threw his head back and screamed but no sound came out. Jane closed her eyes.
    ‘Would you like to see the doctor, Tom?’ asked Janice.
    Perry shook his head.
    Jane stood up when she heard voices outside the interview room.
    ‘Wait here, Tom.’
    She opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. A custody officer was talking to the elderly couple who had been waiting in reception.
    ‘May we see our son now, please?’ asked the elderly man, turning to Jane.
    ‘Yes, of course. You’ll understand that he’s in shock. We asked him if he wanted to see the doctor but he said no.’
    ‘Is he all right?’ asked the woman.
    ‘He’s very distressed and agitated, Mrs Perry,’ replied Jane. ‘Not only is he having to deal with the loss of his wife but there are questions and tests we . . .’
    ‘You surely can’t think he did it?’
    ‘No, we don’t. But we