A Secret Killer (Julia Blake Cozy Mystery Book 4) (11 page)

Chapter 19

Cain
got in the car the following morning and said,
“
I can
’
t
believe it
’
s
Friday already, this week has gone so fast.
”
He paused in the fastening of his
seat belt and looked closer at Julia.
“
What? What
’
s
wrong? Have I got something in my teeth?
”

Julia
shook her head.
“
No, I
’
ll
explain as we drive. You reminded me of something last night when you told me I
was a good boss.
”

“
Well,
you are,
”
Cain admitted.

“
Thank
you again for that,
”
Julia
said as she set off.
“
I finally
remembered  where I
’
d seen that man before, you know, the
one in the blue car.
”

“
The
one at Hugo
’
s
house? Yes, I remember. Oh! Did you used to work for him? Was he your boss?
”

“
No.
There
’
s a
TV programme that
’
s on now and again. It
’
s all
about good bosses and how the employees want to say thank you to them. On
camera, of course, everyone wants to be on camera nowadays. Anyway, the cameras
secretly follow the boss in question around for a week and record the good
deeds that the boss does. At the end of the week the employees let the boss in
on the secret. They usually throw the boss a big party, and, usually, the boss
is delighted. Who wouldn
’
t be?
”

“
I
’
ve
got a feeling that you
’
re going to tell
me the man in the blue car was the boss on a show, and that he wasn
’
t
pleased.
”

“
Exactly,
”
Julia said as she pulled up
outside a semi-detached house.
“
The man, I know
his name now, it
’
s William Roper, was furious at first.
He kept trying to hide his face from the camera, but eventually his staff
cajoled him into smiling. You could tell it was a forced smile though. It was
an awkward programme and everyone looked embarrassed. I wondered at the time
why he wouldn
’
t be
pleased to be filmed so I had a closer look at his face to see if he was
someone who used to be famous, or someone who had been in the news for the
wrong reasons.
”
She turned the engine off.

“
And?
”
Cain prompted.

Julia
released her belt.
“
I didn
’
t recognise
him at all. But I remembered his face. I watched the programme again last
night. It was definitely him in the blue car.
”

“
What
are you going to do about him?
”

“
We
are going to visit him when we
’
ve finished this
next cleaning job. I know where he works.
”
She smiled at the expression on
Cain
’
s
face.
“
Unless
you don
’
t
want to come with me. I
’
m happy to snoop
on my own. Although I
’
d rather not
call it snooping, I think making enquiries sounds better.
”

Cain
grinned.
“
I
would love to come along with you whilst you make your enquiries. What are you
going to say to him?
”

“
I
’
ve no
idea yet,
”
Julia replied truthfully.

Thirty
minutes later Julia was heading towards an industrial estate on the outskirts
of Leeds. Cain was nibbling at a piece of shortbread, the latest gift from a
concerned client.

They
pulled up outside Roper Chemicals and found a parking spot.

There
first obstacle was the stern-faced woman on reception. She had the same pursed
lips and folded arms that Julia had seen on many a receptionist. Did they learn
that as part of their job training?

Julia
wasn
’
t
deterred. In a firm voice she said,
“
I
’
d
like to speak to Mr William Roper please.
”

The
receptionist
’
s
nose wrinkled as if Julia was giving off a less than pleasant aroma. In a
nasally voice she said,
“
Do you have an
appointment?
”

“
No,
but it
’
s
very important.
”

The
side of the receptionist
’
s mouth curled
as if she
’
d
hoped that Julia would say that.
“
If you don
’
t
have an appointment, then you can
’
t see him. Good
day.
”

Julia
forced a smile on her face and continued.
“
I
must speak to Mr Roper, it
’
s of grave importance.
”
She realised immediately that
‘
grave
’
wasn
’
t the
most respectful word to use.

“
No
appointment means no appointment. What part of that don
’
t you
understand?
”

Heat
flushed through Julia.
“
The part I don
’
t
understand is why you have to be so rude! I need to speak to Mr Roper, it
’
s
about a murder enquiry!
”

A
security guard was at her side in a split second. Which was quite a feat
considering his size. His red face glared at her.
“
Did
you just say murder? Are you here to murder someone?
”

The
receptionist pointed a finger at Julia and said,
“
She
wants to see Mr Roper! She must be planning to murder him! Call the police!
”

The
security guard puffed his chest out.
“
No need for
that, Daphne, I can handle this matter.
”
He looked back at Julia.
“
Are
you planning on murdering Mr Roper?
”

“
I
certainly am not!
”
Julia
said. The situation was becoming ridiculous.
“
I
wanted to speak to him about a friend of mine who was murdered.
”

“
Really?
”
The security guard
’
s
bushy eyebrows rose so much they looked like they were trying to fly off his
face.
“
And
do you think Mr Roper killed your friend?
”

Julia
let out a cry of frustration. Cain stepped forward and said calmly,
“
We
think Mr Roper might have some information that could help us with our
enquiries. We appreciate that he
’
s busy, and it
’
s
heartening to see that you are being so efficient in your duties, but we won
’
t
take up much of his time.
”
He moved a bit closer to the guard and
said,
“
To be
honest, we
’
re at
a crossroads and Mr Roper is our only hope. I
’
m
sure you can appreciate our predicament, considering you
’
re in
the law enforcement profession.
”

The
security guard tapped the side of his nose.
“
I
understand, say no more. Mr Roper
’
s on floor
seven, it
’
s the
office at the end.
”

“
But,
”
Daphne screeched,
“
they
don
’
t
have an appointment!
”

The
security guard waved her concerns away.
“
This
is none of your business.
”

Daphne
tried to make it her business. Julia grabbed Cain
’
s arm
and pulled him towards the lift as the red-faced receptionist launched a verbal
attack on the security guard.

As
soon as the lift doors closed behind them Julia said to Cain,
“
What
was all that about? You had them believing that we worked for the police.
”

Cain
held a finger up.
‘
Ha, but I never said we did, did I? They
made their own assumptions. I
’
ve found that if
you speak with conviction, people are more likely to listen to you.
”
He looked down at his feet and
mumbled,
“
And I
thought I
’
d
better say something, you looked like you were going to hit someone.
”

Julia
laughed.
“
I was
thinking about it! But I wouldn
’
t have done it,
don
’
t
look so worried!
”

“
Have you
thought about what you
’
re going to say
to Mr Roper yet?
”

Julia
nodded.
“
I
’
m
just going to come right out and say it.
”

“
Say
what?
”
Cain asked, a nervous note in his
voice.
“
Are
you going to ask him if he killed Hugo?
”

Chapter 20

Julia
hesitated outside the door with William Roper
’
s
name on it. She looked at Cain and said,
“
Do
you think this is a good idea? Perhaps we should have gone to the police with
this information."

Cain
said,
“
We
may as well talk to him now that we
’
re here."

Julia
nodded. She knocked firmly on the door. A voice immediately called out,
“
Come
in, Julia Blake! And bring Cain Andrews with you!
”

Cain
and Julia looked at each other. Cain said,
“
I
suddenly feel like I
’
m in a horror movie. How does he know we
’
re
here? And how does he know our names?
”
He took a step backwards and hissed,
“
Julia!
He
’
s the
killer! He knew we
’
d find out that he
’
d
been to Hugo
’
s and
now he
’
s
lured us here and he
’
s going to get rid of us!
”

“
You
’
re
being overdramatic,
”
Julia
said, not quite keeping the tremor out of her voice. Her hand shook as she
grabbed the door handle and turned it. Were they going to come face-to-face
with Hugo
’
s
killer?

If
William Roper had killed Hugo he certainly showed no signs of remorse as he
stood up from behind his desk and welcomed them in. He was a tall, thin man who
was going slightly bald. He gave them a big smile and walked towards them with
his hand outstretched. There was a faint accent in his voice as he spoke.
“
I
’
ll
bet I
’
ve
given you both a fright! Don
’
t look so
worried. It
’
s
lovely to meet you, Julia.
”

Julia
shook his hand uncertainly.
“
How do you know
our names?
”

“
Hugo
Barnes told me. You must be Cain, please to meet you.
”

Cain
shook William
’
s
hand and said,
“
How did you know we were here?
”

William
laughed and indicated for them to sit down. He returned to his seat behind the
desk.
“
I
’
ve
ordered some tea, it
’
ll be here soon.
”
He looked at Cain.
“
And I
’
ve
asked for biscuits too.
”

Julia
sat down.
“
I
’
m
very confused. Can you explain how you know us again?
”

William
smiled.
“
I
take it you remember seeing me on Monday morning at Hugo
’
s
house? We practically drove into each other. I had something I needed to
discuss with Hugo but before I could get down to it Hugo told me about you and
Cain. Said I wasn
’
t to worry if you
’
d
stared at me too intently as our paths crossed, so to speak. Hugo said you were
a naturally nosy person, and that you just couldn
’
t
help yourself.
”

Julia
bristled.
“
That
’
s not
true at all! What a thing to say!
”

William
opened his arms wide.
“
But you
’
re
here now. I
’
m
assuming you haven
’
t stopped by to discuss the weather.
”

Julia
folded her arms.
“
Well, it
’
s
just that
…
we saw you on Monday and
…”
She held her finger up.
“
How
did you know we were outside your door?
”

“
I
’
ve
got CCTV cameras everywhere. You caused quite a commotion down in reception.
Ah, here
’
s our
tea and snacks. Thank you, Sylvia.
”

Julia
had chance to gather her thoughts as William poured the tea. He pushed a plate
of chocolate covered biscuits towards Cain. Cain helped himself, Julia was
tempted but she had many questions for William Roper.

He
must have sensed what she was thinking because he said,
“
Go
ahead, start with your interrogation. I don
’
t
mind.
”

Julia
didn
’
t
know whether he was being sarcastic or not, he was still smiling. She decided
to jump in anyway.
“
Do you know that Hugo Barnes was killed?
The police have put the time at somewhere between Monday night and Tuesday
morning.
”
She stopped. She didn
’
t
actually know when Hugo died, she was guessing.
“
You
were there after we left. Can I ask what your business was with Hugo?
”

William
replied,
“
You
can certainly ask, but can I ask you something first? Why are you so interested?
If Hugo was murdered shouldn
’
t the police be
questioning me? I did phone them on Tuesday afternoon after I saw the news
about Hugo
’
s
death. I got through to a DS Pendleton. I told him I was at Hugo
’
s
house the previous day. I offered to come in and give a full statement about
why I was there. He said he
’
d get back to
me, but he hasn
’
t yet.
”

Julia
gave him a wry smile.
“
That answers
part of your question. I don
’
t think the
police are dealing with this matter as efficiently as they could. But the real
reason why I
’
m
asking is because Hugo made a silly comment to me on that Monday morning. He
said if he was ever murdered he
’
d like me to
investigate his death. I don
’
t think he had
much faith in the police.
”

Cain
tucked into another biscuit.

William
gave her a thoughtful look.
“
Why do you think
he said that? Was he worried that he
’
d uncovered a
family secret that he shouldn
’
t have? Had he
already received a death threat?
”

Julia
said,
“
That
’
s
what I
’
m
trying to find out. I
’
m trying to
track down his last few cases, see what he
’
d
found out. He
’
d
just returned from New York and he said that his client wouldn
’
t be
pleased about what he
’
d discovered. He
referred to his client as
‘
she
’
. I
’
d
like to find out who that client was, and why Hugo had been to New York.
”

William
gave her a nod and said,
“
That would be
because of me and my secret life. Hugo did find out something about my past,
something that I
’
d kept hidden for years, something that
could destroy my family.
”

“
Ooo,
”
Cain
said through a mouth full of biscuit. He caught Julia
’
s
look and grinned.
“
Sorry, but that does sound dramatic.
”

“
Wait
until you hear my full story,
”
William said.
“
I
take it you do want to hear my story.
”

Julia
reached for a biscuit and said casually,
“
If
you don
’
t
mind.
”