Read The Dead Dog Day for Free Online

window, and then calmly walk out again as if nothing had happened … and for nobody to notice a thing? I can’t get my head round it.’
    â€˜It’s bonkers.’ Cora saved her script and hit print. ‘I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s this “Chris” thing that’s the weirdest – any ideas? I mean, it can’t be Christina, can it?’
    Wendy rubbed her hands together in glee. ‘Intriguing, isn’t it! Of course, we’re not even supposed to know about it – not the sort of thing the police are going to make public.’
    â€˜I know. But Bob on security’s so damn indiscreet. I bet the whole building knows by now. Impossible to keep a secret in this place.’
    â€˜Indeed! Well of course, we hear “Chris” and we all think “Christina”, don’t we? Maybe not, apparently. I mean – I don’t think for a minute she’s got killer potential, but after Dead Dog-gate quite a few people mentioned her to the police – sort of had to, you know?’
    Cora nodded.
    â€˜But as she’s in work this morning, and not locked up … not that she’d be strong enough to push a cat out of a window, would she? She’s tiny!’
    Cora nodded. ‘Or brave enough. She hated Jeanette, but she was scared of her too.’
    Wendy brushed an errant curl out of her eyes. ‘Exactly. Anyway, she spent ages with the cops yesterday, but sounds like she’s in the clear. She was down in Reception sorting out a delivery while Jeanette was flying out of the building – CCTV footage from down there will prove it, or so she says.’
    Cora stared into space, chin on her hand. ‘So, if it’s not Christina – who else? Who else is known as Chris?’
    Wendy shrugged. ‘No idea. Don’t know anyone else called Chris. Or Christina, or Christopher. Anyway, got to go. Weather graphics calling. See you later.’
    â€˜See ya.’ Cora sighed, logged out, and headed for make-up.
    â€˜How many are we expecting?’
    Detective Chief Inspector Adam Bradberry frowned as he surveyed the conference room. He’d asked all the Morning Live staff to assemble here after the programme, but he wasn’t entirely sure the room he’d been allocated was large enough.
    The young detective constable who was fiddling with a TV in the corner looked up.
    â€˜Around sixty, I think, boss.’
    â€˜Right. Well, most of them will have to stand. Got that working yet?’
    â€˜Almost.’
    Adam nodded. Good. He sat down and flicked through his notes again. This was a funny one, and no mistake. Virtually everyone in the damn newsroom had to be considered a suspect, but there were definitely a few persons of more significant interest, and the sooner he started eliminating people, the sooner he’d get it sewn up. He ran his fingers through his cropped blond hair. He was definitely feeling the pressure this morning. A high-profile killing like this … he sat up straight as somebody knocked gently on the door.
    â€˜Come in!’
    The door opened and, looking both wary and weary, the programme’s production staff filed in.
    In the newsroom, Sam had just finished briefing Cora.
    â€˜We won’t do updates every day – just when there’s some significant news. But I want you to do it Cora. You’re back on the road after this week anyway, and you’re good at crime. You always get the tone right, unlike some of the others. So if you fancy making friends with the senior investigating officer after our little film show this morning, feel free – it can only help.’
    They slipped into the conference room. The email they’d all had earlier just said there was some CCTV the police wanted staff to look at so they could eliminate a suspect from their enquiries, and everyone was speculating in excited whispers. What were they about to see? The low murmur in the room faded