Ten Guilty Men (A DCI Morton Crime Novel Book 3) Read Online Free PDF

the door shut then breathed a sigh of relief. Just by closing the door, Morton had doubled the available space to stand in.
    Brianna Jackson, born Brianna DeLange, sat on the end of the single bed with knees tucked up beneath her chin. She looked up expectantly, quickly glancing between the two detectives.
    ‘Miss Jackson, I’m DCI David Morton. I have some bad news to tell you. I sorry to inform you that your sister has been found dead at her home,’ Morton said.
    Brianna inhaled deeply, then nodded. ‘It was it an overdose, wasn’t it?’
    ‘We believe your sister was murdered.’
    She clapped her hands to her mouth, her eyes flaring wide in apparent surprise. ‘How? When?’
    ‘We’re not sure yet. When did you last see your sister?’
    ‘Her... her birthday party, the weekend before last.’
    ‘What night was this?’
    ‘Saturday. She was stressing about turning the big three-oh.... It just seems so silly now. She’ll be young forever now.’ Brianna began to sob loudly. Ayala reached into his pocket, and pulled out a silk handkerchief monogrammed with a golden ‘B’.
    ‘Was the party in the evening?’ Morton asked.
    Brianna nodded. ‘It was supposed to start at seven... but she only picked seven to get everyone there by nine. Everyone turns up late, don’t they?’
    ‘Do you remember who was there?’
    ‘I... I’ve got a list. She invited everyone on social media. Pass me that laptop.’ Brianna pointed at a small notebook sat on top of the microwave. She flipped up the lid, and the trio waited for the notebook to boot up in silence. Once it was on, Brianna tapped away at the keys to log in and brought up the details of the party.
    She pointed at the screen. ‘See, eighty-two attendees. She even invited my ex-husband, the useless git. He didn’t turn up, thank God.’
    ‘Eighty-two!’ Ayala cried out.
    ‘Miss Jackson–’
    ‘Please, call me Brianna.’
    ‘‘Miss Jackson,’ Morton repeated firmly. ‘Tell us about the people your sister had in her life.’
    ‘Me. I’m pretty much almost all she had. We lost our parents a few years back, though Ellis never really got on with them. She was only two years older than me, but she looked out for me.’
    Brianna might have been twenty-eight, but she looked a decade younger than her sister. In the most recent photos Morton had seen at the house, Ellis had a sunken, weather-worn appearance with waxy skin and eyes that seemed lifeless and dull; Brianna was still chubby-cheeked and cherub-like.
    ‘Why didn’t Ellis get on with your parents?’ Morton asked.
    ‘They disapproved of her lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, they were proud of everything she achieved... but Ellis got mixed up in the wrong crowd. It was that Paddy Malone that did it. He got her hooked, and she’s been his meal ticket ever since.’
    Ayala pulled out a notebook and pencil from his inside jacket pocket. ‘Do you have an address for Paddy?’
    ‘How should I know where he lives? He comes and goes. Most of the time he’s in her kitchen with a needle jammed in his arm.’
    ‘Could he have killed her?’ Morton said.
    ‘I doubt it. He’s a loser, but he’s pretty laid back. And like I said, he needed my sister.’
    ‘Is there anyone that would have wanted her dead?’
    ‘No... Yes. Her boyfriend, Kallum. Kallum Fielder. I saw them arguing at the party. It was embarrassing really. We all tried to ignore it.’
    Morton’s forehead creased as he strained to remember where he had heard the name Kallum Fielder. He hated it when things slipped out of recall.
    ‘When was this?’ Morton asked.
    ‘Ten o’clock, maybe. Maybe a little after. I was gone by eleven so it had to be before then.’
    ‘And was there anyone else?’
    ‘Not that I can think of. Look, I don’t mean to be rude but I’ve got to make some phone calls. I’m sure you’ve work to do anyway.’
    ‘Of course. Do you have a phone number we can reach you at?’
    Brianna scribbled on the back of a leaflet