"I don't understand. He didn't have any enemies. Everyone liked him, life and soul of every gathering, every night out."

Sitting on the edge of the sofa in the tastefully decorated sun room that she'd ushered them into, Robbie was impressed at just how together she was coming across. They'd left the mortuary and headed straight to the Maloney residence, calling on the way to give her a heads up. In the 40 minutes it had taken them to negotiate the mid-morning traffic to the smart new housing on the edge of the city centre, Katherine had managed to get her sister to come and collect the boys. Robbie admired her forethought. The conversation they needed to have with her was not for the ears of children. Having just broken the news of how her husband died, they'd let the information sink in, knowing that her initial reaction would be important in determining the jumping off point for their questioning. That her first thought was that he was well liked was interesting and spoke volumes about their relationship.

"Tell me about his work, Mrs Maloney. You said he was an accountant?" Robbie said, encouragingly.

Katherine nodded and explained how Jackson had approached Kevin about five years ago to join his new venture. Prior to that he'd worked for one of the big international firms so this was a risk, but one that seemed to have paid off. He worked long hours for sure but was more than financially compensated and got a generous amount of annual leave.

"And you were happy?"

Katherine looked at the Inspector, wondering how honest to be.

"We were, for the most part," she replied, opting for the almost truth. "But life is busy when you have three boys. Do you have children?"

Robbie nodded, "Aye, two. But they've flown the nest, although not so long ago that I've entirely forgotten how hard it can be juggling work and family. Hard to carve out time for one another."

Katherine smiled thinly, "It is hard, I mean was...God, guess I'm going to have to get used to saying that..." she tailed off, lost in her thoughts for a moment.

Robbie gave her a minute. He'd had exactly this kind of conversation a hundred times or more over the years but something about her manner, her calmness, was an echo of a time when he'd found himself in the same position she did now. Pushing these recollections aside, he proceeded to cover the basics. Where had she been when Kevin had died? Had she noticed any unusual behaviour lately? Had he been ill, any worries, anything that could possibly explain how he'd gotten the injury that killed him? She answered everything with seeming honesty, mostly in the negative, and Robbie for one was inclined to believe her. Thanking her for her time, they left

Unlocking the car, James leaned on the roof. "Doesn't really add up, does it? Her not knowing about an injury like that to his back," he said.

Opening the passenger door, Robbie paused, "The thing is James, whatever you imagine married life to be like, it really isn't. Keeping secrets from your spouse, easy as pie when you've been together long enough to know exactly how they think and behave. Not difficult to side step questions when you can anticipate them being asked. Knowledge is power after all."


There was no denying that the offices of Agile Accounting Ltd were impressive. Situated in one of the elegant Regency buildings of Beaumont Street, their interior was in contrast to their historic facade, everything glass or metal, muted tones livened by feature walls of bespoke artwork that leant towards the dramatic. If Jackson Brompton had meant to reassure his traditional clients with the location, and dazzle his more forward thinking ones with the modern furnishings, then he'd achieved just that. They'd had to wait for Monday morning to tick around but as Lewis and Hathaway waited to be called through, it was hard not to compare the beauty of lobby with its cream carpet and soft background music with that of the stark, functional reception afforded to those finding themselves in the public entrance to the Oxfordshire nick. A young receptionist who was diligently directing phone calls gave James a sparkling smile to which, Robbie noticed, he only gave the smallest of acknowledgment to. Just about to elbow his Sergeant in the ribs and give him an encouraging nod to speak to the young lass, his attention was drawn elsewhere as a well-dressed gentleman appeared, his hand stretched out in a greeting. They were ushered through to the man's office which afforded a rather spectacular view of the dreaming spires, and on balance, Robbie thought they did a pretty good job of hiding how impressed they were.

"Can my secretary fetch you gentleman a drink? Tea, coffee, sparkling water perhaps?" and on his polite offer being declined, Jackson moved to sit behind his desk looking at them expectantly.

"We do appreciate you making the time, Sir, to meet with us," Robbie leading proceedings. "As Kevin Maloney's employer we're keen to get a sense of his work here, relationships with colleagues, that sort of thing."

Jackson regarded these two police officers keenly before speaking. "Of course, I completely understand. We're all devastated at the news of Kevin's death. Heartbroken. He was such a key figure here, he led on many of our top accounts. He'll be sadly missed."

"What can you tell us about his work over the last few days?" James asked. "Was he here all week, or meeting with clients? I imagine some need wining and dining?"

Jackson nodded, "Oh yeah, they certainly do. We pride ourselves on ensuring our clients are made to feel like family. After all, we are privy to a great deal of their secrets, financial ones, I mean." He paused. "As far as I can recall it was a normal week. I'll ask his assistant to forward on his diary if that's helpful. We had some post-work drinks at the Randolph on Thursday evening, just myself, Kevin and some of the other more senior members of the team. From what I remember, Kevin left about 9, 9.30."

"And as far as you were concerned he was content in his work here?" Robbie stepping in.

"Absolutely," Jackson replied. "In many ways he was my right hand man."

He continued to sing the praises of his former colleague, and after a few further questions satisfactorily answered, Robbie and James made their exit. They exchanged a knowing look as they hit the street, James giving voice to it, "Slippery customer."

"Oh yes, Sergeant," Robbie confirmed. "As slippery as it's possible to be, I should think."


A pair of dark eyes followed the two detectives as they walked back in the direction of the police station, at least that's where he supposed they'd be heading next. Taking a final drag on his cigarette before dropping it on the pavement and grinding it out with his foot, the man crossed the road and pressed the buzzer of the building they'd just left, and after giving his name, the door was unlocked and he went in.


"A happily married dead man and his wife doesn't know he's been kicked in the back?" DCS asked, attempting to suppress a knowing laugh. "Makes my marriage sound dream-like, eh Robbie?"

"Ma'am," a rare smirk on his face, "But don't scare the boy," nodding his head in Hathaway's direction. "He doesn't yet know the wonders of married life. Anyway whatever secrets he was keeping, they pale in comparison to whatever his employer's up to. We'll get into that tomorrow. Right now, I'm more interested in the insulin, and who had reason to grab him just before he died. We need to get the CCTV from the pool, as well as any records of who may have been on the premises at the time."

Innocent seemed to agree, "Ok chaps, I'll leave you to it. Although Robbie, if you have a moment?" catching Hathaway's eye to indicate he should beat a retreat. Waiting until he'd shut the door she clocked Robbie's expectant face, "Oh, don't worry it's nothing to do with the case. As you and I know marriage is about give and take and it seems it's my turn to give. I have tickets for a preview at the Ashmolean but it clashes with a work thing of Richard's and apparently my presence is required, so I wondered if you fancied taking them off my hands?"

Rather taken aback by this offer, Robbie hesitated to respond. "That's very generous, Ma'am."

She brushed his words away as she reached into her desk drawer and passed over an envelope. "Not at all. Rather not see them wasted to be honest. Includes a glass of fizz so could be a lovely excuse to treat a friend."

Thanking her as he accepted the offered item he missed the slight curl of the lips on his bosses' face as she wondered if she'd done enough for him to take the bait. Only time would tell, she thought, sighing and picking up her pen once more.