Realisation
Another day at the office and an interesting promotion wasn't exactly what she expected herself to agree to, her head was pounding gently and she wished she had something to numb it, the paracetamol she gulped down just want enough. She was on her way with her colleague to investigate this murder that happened last night, the body only just found today, mere minutes ago. Carla didnt really know how to feel about this, she had been training for this but this was her chance to show her boss what she was made of and that she could actually pull this off and figure out who murdered the poor woman she was told about. She had family, a kid and that was something that sent shivers down her spine. How would she have to tell her friends and family that this had happened? Maybe they already knew something was up but either way, she knocked on the door and smiled showing her badge to prove that this whole thing was legit.
"Miss Price?" Carla queries "I'm Detective Chief Inspector Carla Connor, may I come in?"
"Uh sure?" Eva says allowing Carla into the house, her colleague follows her "What's happened?"
"We believe Leanne Battersby is your sister, her body was found at the bottom of the stairs at Victoria Court, Victoria Street in the early hours of this morning"
"No!" Eva exclaims as Carla flashes her a sympathetic look "What happened? What...why was she there when she lives here? I dont understand...?"
"We understand that this may be difficult" Carla responds sympathetically "We believe that Miss Battersby was murdered in the early hours of this morning, I'm so sorry to bring you this news"
"I dont understand, why would she? Who did it? I-" she stops before letting out a number of tears, Carla sits beside her
"We were wondering if you would be able to provide us with any information?" Carla questions gently, Eva shakes her head "I understand that you're grieving but right now we're going to start with signing a family liaison officer to your family so they can help with guiding us all through this process. We will find out who has done this to your sister"
"I didnt even like her when we first realised we were sisters" Eva admits "But now she's gone? Just like that..."
"I understand this will be difficult but we want to find Leanne's killer as much as your family will" Carla confirms looking back at her colleague who nods "If you feel it too soon we can stop with the questions but I would like to ask you some if thats ok?"
"Yeah thats fine" Eva nods wiping her eyes, Carla smiles pulling out her notepad
"What was your relationship like with your sister?"
"Difficult at first but when I realised she wasn't a bad person we were good friends, acted like sisters"
"Ok thats really great Eva" Carla confirms with a small smile "Did Leanne have anyone she had any arguments with? Recently, in the past?"
"She was arguing with her son's father, Peter. She adopted him when they were together, they were married" Eva responds honestly
"Thats really good, thank you"
"She was also seeing her boyfriend Nick Tilsley, he works at the bistro at the end of Coronation Street" Eva informs her, Carla nods slowly "She was so happy, they had been together before. She had an affair when with Simon's dad, Peter, with Nick once before, they were married but the marriage broke down. I just don't understand how this could have happened, who would want to do this to her?"
"We'll stop the questions here Eva," Carla says quietly putting her notepad in the way "The family liaison officer is on her way so they will help you with everything"
"Ok thank you," Eva says as the buzzer goes off, she answers it "Oh hey Si..."
"What's going on?" Simon questions chucking his bag down, Eva looks at Carla who smiles sympathetically "Where's mum?"
"Si why dont you go into your room, we'll have a talk later yeah?" Eva suggests, Simon shrugs and nods heading into his room "I dont know what to say to him?"
"The family liaison officer will help you, there will be so much support for your family Eva" Carla informs her as Eva nods, the buzzer goes off again and Eva lets the family liaison officer up "We'll leave you to it, the sooner we start making enquiries the sooner we can help your family"
"Thank you" Eva nods as Carla nods back before leaving with the officer that attended with her, she smiles knowing she was going to bring justice to this family no matter how hard it was...
"Mr Nick Tilsley?" Carla enters the Bistro, Nick looks up from the bookings and frowns "May we speak to you?"
"What's this about?" he questions, Carla smiles showing off her badge to prove that she was a detective "Come right through..."
"Thank you" Carla smiles as they enter the office, "We wanted to speak to you about your girlfriend, Leanne Battersby"
"Is she ok?" Nick frets looking between Carla and her colleague "Has something happened?"
"Leanne's body was found in Victoria Court in the early hours of the morning"
"What?" Nick questions rubbing his hands over his face "Are you sure it's her?"
"We've informed her family and we're starting our enquiries as we speak" Carla confirms, Nick nods slowly "Do you have any idea why she was at Victoria Court?"
"She could have been looking for me, I live there you see and...couldnt she just have tripped and fallen down the stairs? They are pretty steep I mean I've lost my footing a number of times..."
"Unfortunately not" Carla confirms, "Along with the injuries from the fall, a bottle was found at the scene of the crime which was believed to have been used to-"
"Finish her off?!" Nick exclaims, Carla sighs and smiles slightly "Who would want to do that to her?!"
"This is what we're trying to figure out which leads us to our next question?"
"Ok" Nick breathes out closing his eyes
"We were wondering if Leanne had anyone who she was upset with or someone who may have been upset with her?"
"There were always people who were upset with her, she was always quite fiery but she loved so much. A while back I was ill, I have brain damage you see even though our marriage ended because we were married before you see we will always still love each other and now thats gone, it's all gone"
"We understand this is a difficult thing to process, we just want to find Leanne's killers as much as you probably do" Carla smiles, Nick nods wiping his eyes "Is there anything else you can tell me about the last time you saw Leanne?"
"It was yesterday, she used to work here, she was the manager" Nick informs Carla "It's how we started our relationship up again"
"Ok" Carla nods writing this down "What time did you last see Leanne yesterday?"
"When she left after her shift, maybe around eleven, everyone was defintiely out by then I'm pretty sure" Nick confirms, Carla nods slowly biting her lip as she takes notes "I went straight home after that and I'm pretty sure she did as she said she was exhausted"
"Thank you Nick, we'll leave it there" Carla confirms with a small smile before placing her card on the table "If you have any other information that would be useful about the night then please don't hesitate to get in contact with us"
"Alright, thank you," Nick says as Carla nods before leaving the room with her colleague they walk to their car and get in
"What do you think?" Carla questions with a small smile as she flicks through the notes "DS Anderson?"
"Something doesn't add up," he says, Carla nods slowly "You'd think that Mr Tilsley would be more shocked?"
"I guess shock is displayed in different ways" Carla shrugs with a small smile "That poor woman though"
"Awful death" he shakes his head, Carla sighs and nods sadly "What are you going to do now?"
"I say we go back and type up these notes before heading to question her son's dad, Peter Barlow"
"Sounds like a plan" he smiles pulling the belt across his body, Carla does the same and starts up the car "I just wanted to say...this role really suits you"
"Aww Alex you're so sweet" she chuckles with a smirk "But either way this is about bringing justice to that poor woman's family and friends, we have to remain professional but I won't be one to deny the compliment"
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you DCI Connor"
They headed back to the station and typed up the notes looking for anything to do with it until the forensic reports got back which would take ages considering the crime scene was so large. After taking a break to regroup they then went back to speak to Peter Barlow. They rang the buzzer but there was no answer so they continued to knock on the door before someone approached them telling them to try number one so they headed over there and knocked on the door and they were greeted by an old man.
"Is there a Peter Barlow here?"
"Uh yes, I assume this is about Leanne?"
"We just need to speak to him, can we come in?" Carla questions the man not wanting to reveal too much, it was definitely going to be one of those cases where everyone was in each other's pockets
"Of course" the man steps aside and lets them enter the living room "Peter!"
"What?" he grumbles appearing from the stairs, he enters the room and narrows his eyes, Carla narrows hers before coming to a startling realisation
"Um" Carla pauses biting her lip feeling ever so awkward "Peter Barlow we need to speak to you about the murder of Leanne Battersby"
"Murder?" he questions looking between them both "She was murdered?"
"If you could take a seat we would like to ask you some questions," Carla says avoiding his gaze every now and then
"Of course" Peter narrows his eyes looking at the woman in front of him, Carla bites her lip praying he doesn't say anything
"DCI Connor" Alex prompts, she tears herself out of her thoughts "The questions
"Sorry," Carla says looking down at her notepad to avoid Peter's gaze "How was your relationship with Leanne Battersby?"
"You know what it's like, we were married, she had an affair there will always be grievances with that" he states "We have a son together, well she adopted my son Simon, we're always in contact about him, sometimes argue about childcare arrangements you know how it is"
"Thank you" Carla mutters closing her eyes before opening them as she continued to write "Other than that were you ok?"
"Yeah we were fine most of the time, we only really spoke when she had something to say about Simon or if she wasn't happy with something I've done-"
"What would you have done to make her unhappy?2
"She worries about Simon, I have a bit of a drinking problem, I'm an alcoholic and I haven't always been the best dad as my addiction usually takes over"
"Ok" Carla nods writing this down "When was the last time you saw Leanne Battersby?"
"Yesterday, I saw her when she dropped off Simon that morning" Peter confirms, Carla nods slowly knowing they saw Simon earlier that day "Simon stayed with me last night"
"And you were here all night?" Alex confirms, Carla gulps and stares at him warning him not to
"Not all night, no" he confirms, Alex narrows his eyes "I was out after Simon went to bed, as I said I'm an alcoholic"
"So you were out drinking?" Alex confirms as Peter nods watching Carla write this down
"Yes from around eleven till five in the morning, I came home after"
"That'll do for now" Carla smiles putting her notepad away, Alex frowns at her knowing they could get more information out of Peter "Thank you for your time"
"No problem," he says looking at Carla dead in the eyes, she looks at him as well before biting her lip and leaving the house with Alex
"Are you ok Carla?"
"Yep, just have a bit of a headache" she smiles, Alex nods slowly unsure of this "We should get back to the station and wait for that forensics report. I doubt it'll come today anyway"
"You're the boss" Alex smiles as Carla nods slowly watching him get in the car, she breathes out a sigh of regret and relief knowing that Peter had a chance to blow this for her but he didn't, maybe she owed him...