The Lipstick Killers

He looked Margaret square in the eye.
    Margaret shook her head and hoped she didn’t look flustered.
    ‘I hope that’s right. Now we’ve got a warrant to search Mr Smith’s office. I don’t want to bother Mrs Smith further, so could you get the keys and let us in. We’re not going to ransack the place. It’ll just be me and a DC. We’d like to do it as soon as possible please.’
    ‘This afternoon?’
    ‘If you could. And we’ve issued production orders on his bank accounts.’
    ‘You’re being thorough.’
    ‘Of course. And listen, I had a word with a mate of mine in the Met. He says you’re good people. I know your mum’s reputation, of course. But you’re a hard worker on the force, so I hear.’
    ‘I’m flattered,’ she said sarcastically.
    Mahoney smiled. ‘But no more messing about, right?’
    Margaret didn’t know whether to cross her fingers behind her back as she nodded in reply.
    ‘Three o’clock do you this afternoon?’ asked Mahoney.
    ‘Yes. I’ll meet you there.’ Mahoney nodded.
    ‘I’d like to bring one of my other sisters.’
    ‘Good idea. A witness is always handy. We want to do this by the book.’
    ‘Three o’clock then,’ said Margaret, and they parted on the steps of the coroner’s court. She found herself watching him leave, noticing his tight arse in a fitted suit that looked Italian. Christ, she said to herself. You’ve got enough on your plate. Get it together. The last thing you need is to start wetting your knickers over some stuck up DI.

29
     
     
     
    Back at the house, Margaret told the others about the warrant for Monty’s office.
    ‘This is horrible,’ said Sharon. ‘Do I have to be there?’
    ‘No,’ said Margaret. ‘I’m going. And Roxie, I want you to come with me.’
    ‘Why?’
    ‘We need a witness. This has all got to be above board.’
    ‘Fair enough. And I get to meet the lovely Mahoney in the flesh at last. I think he’s got a thing for our Mags.’
    ‘Roxie!’ Margaret warned her.
    ‘Just a joke,’ said Roxie. ‘We can still make jokes can’t we? Or is it against the rules now?’
    ‘Course we can,’ said Sharon.
    ‘I didn’t mean…’ said Roxie.
    ‘I know love,’ said Sharon. ‘I’m just sorry to involve all of you. But I couldn’t do it alone.’
    ‘You’re not alone,’ said Frankie. ‘And never will be.’
    ‘Sorry Roxie,’ said Margaret. ‘I’m a bit stressed out today. We got sussed out.’
    ‘Do what?’
    ‘Our little trip to Lovedean. The meeting was in Monty’s BlackBerry. The local cops made a visit. They heard that two women were making enquiries. They got descriptions from that blonde in reception no doubt. Mahoney worked it out that it was us. I got a slap on the wrist and a warning off.’
    ‘My, my,’ said Roxie. ‘Naughty us.’
    ‘That’s what I said. Which reminds me. I need to go to London tomorrow.’
    ‘Why?’ asked Sharon.
    ‘A few things I need to do. Get some fresh clothes for one.’
    ‘I’m coming too,’ said Roxie. ‘OK?’
    ‘If you want.’
    ‘Yeah, I left Spain in a hurry and I’m running out of fresh gear. A quick trip to Topshop will do me right.’
    * * *
     
    Margaret and Roxie arrived at the building that housed Monty’s office just before three. It was a faceless modern building, split into units overlooking the river. Margaret parked up in front, and a few minutes later a dark saloon drifted into the car park. Mahoney and his DC got out.
    Margaret and Roxie left the Porsche and joined them. After a brief introduction Mahoney produced his warrant. ‘Got the keys?’ he asked Mags.
    ‘Right here,’ said Margaret, taking the bunch from her handbag.
    ‘Let’s go then.’
    The foyer of the building was empty, and no one was at the reception desk. ‘Good security,’ said the DC.
    ‘Monty’s office is on the top floor, Sharon said,’ said Margaret. ‘Unit twenty.’
    They took the lift to the top, and walked down a short, empty corridor with doors on both sides. ‘Quiet,’ said the DC, who was the type of man who couldn’t not state the obvious.
    Nobody replied.
    The corridor branched off to the left and unit twenty faced them. The door was ajar.
    ‘Shit,’ said Mahoney. Then, ‘stay back,’ to the two women, as he and the DC approached the door. The lock had been forced. ‘Police,’ he said loudly as he pushed the door open.
    Inside, the office was empty and had been ransacked. Papers were everywhere, filing cabinets and desk drawers