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

have to ask, do the tests.’
    Mr Perry sighed. ‘Can we go in now?’
    Mrs Perry pushed past Jane as she opened the door and threw her arms around her son.
    Jane turned to Janice and the uniformed officer. ‘Let’s leave them to it, shall we?’
    ‘I’m gonna head back upstairs,’ whispered Janice, closing the door behind her. ‘Can you sort them out?’
    Jane nodded.
    The uniformed officer looked at her and tipped his head to one side.
    ‘Yes, yes, you go too,’ said Jane. ‘I’ll see them out.’
    Then she took her phone out of her pocket and sent Dixon a text message.
    What are you up to? J x
    She waited several minutes for a reply, checking the signal and shaking the phone several times, but none came. Then she knocked on the interview room door.
    ‘Come in.’
    Tom Perry had changed into the clothes that his parents had brought and the overalls were lying on the floor in the corner.
    ‘Can I go now?’ he asked.
    ‘Yes, you can. I’m assuming you’ll be staying with your parents?’
    ‘Can’t I go to the cottage?’
    ‘No, I’m sorry. It’s a crime scene and it’s likely to be a few days before . . .’
    ‘But I need clothes.’
    ‘You can make do, Tom,’ said Mrs Perry. ‘There are still some at home.’
    ‘If you let me have a list of the stuff you need, then I can . . .’
    ‘Forget it,’ said Tom, shaking his head.
    ‘So, what happens now?’ asked his father.
    ‘We do have several lines of enquiry. I’ll know more when the forensic teams have finished, but a family liaison officer will be in touch and they’ll keep you informed.’
    ‘Where is she?’ asked Tom.
    ‘Musgrove Park Hospital,’ replied Jane.
    ‘Can I see her?’
    ‘Not yet, I’m afraid. We . . .’
    ‘I must see her,’ said Tom, jumping up and towering above Jane. Tears were streaming down his cheeks.
    ‘Let’s get out of here,’ said his father, stepping in between them. ‘There’s nothing we can do now. Let’s go home, Tom.’
    Mrs Perry put her hand on her son’s shoulder and turned him towards her. Then she put her arms around him. Jane watched his huge frame heaving as he sobbed.
    ‘Have the papers got hold of it yet?’ asked his father.
    ‘No,’ replied Jane. ‘But it’s just a matter of time before they do.’
    Mr Perry gritted his teeth. ‘Vultures.’
    ‘We’ll be doing everything we can to keep it out of the press as long as we can,’ said Jane.
    ‘And there’s the election,’ said Mrs Perry. ‘Oh, God.’
    ‘C’mon, let’s get you home.’
    ‘No,’ replied Tom. ‘I have to go to Poole.’
    ‘Let someone else tell them, Tom,’ said Mrs Perry.
    ‘No. They never thought I was good enough for Lizzie and I’m not going to let them think it now.’

    Jane watched from the windows on the first floor of the police station as Mr and Mrs Perry drove their son out of Express Park. The street lights lit up the inside of the car and she could see him sitting in the rear passenger seat, his head in his hands. Then she thought about Elizabeth Perry’s parents and brother, who still had an hour or so of Christmas left to enjoy. She was watching the tail lights of the Perrys’ car disappear into the distance when her phone rang.
    ‘How’s it going?’ asked Dixon.
    ‘Don’t ask.’
    ‘Got anything?’
    ‘Some cigarette butts and vomit have gone off to the lab.’
    ‘Any witnesses?’
    ‘Not really.’
    ‘What’s happening now?’
    ‘Not a lot. Janice is still here but the others have all gone, I think. We can’t do a lot now until we get the results. What time is it anyway?’
    ‘Just after five,’ replied Dixon. ‘I’m assuming Roger’s doing the PM. I had a text from him cancelling our curry.’
    ‘Yes. He’s doing it now, I think.’
    Jane spotted Janice waving at her from the other side of the CID area.
    ‘I’ll call you back,’ she said.
    ‘Who was that?’ asked Janice.
    ‘Nick. Just wondering where I was.’
    ‘Has Perry gone?’
    ‘Yes. They’re