Helen Taylor was a tiny woman with spindly arms poking out from a sleeveless summer top.
Eyes filled with grief, her overall appearance when PC Aaron Stewart led Kay and Barnes into the living room of a semi-detached house on the fringes of Lenham was of a gaunt figure who looked as though she would fade away at the slightest breeze.
She rose from a tan-coloured armchair and held out a slim hand to Kay. ‘Aaron tells me you’re the detective in charge of finding out who murdered my husband.’
Her voice was soft, reed-like.
Kay gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘I am, and I promise you I’ll do everything within my powers to bring them to justice. I’m so sorry for your loss.’
‘Thank you. Would you like to take a seat?’
Barnes remained standing, notebook in hand, while Kay lowered herself into an armchair.
She took a brief moment to collect her thoughts while she gazed around the room, her eyes taking in the framed photographs of Carl and his wife on their wedding day and various holidays and events since. She turned back to Helen Taylor, and saw the woman watching her.
‘I’ve seen you on the television,’ Helen said, and dabbed her nose with a paper handkerchief. ‘When there’s an appeal for a crime you’re trying to solve.’
The woman paused, swallowed, and then took a deep breath. ‘I never thought it’d be me you’d be trying to help. This sort of thing happens to other people, doesn’t it?’
‘I’m sorry, Mrs Taylor.’
‘Helen, please.’
‘Thank you. How long were you and Carl married?’
‘Thirteen years.’ A faint smile brushed the woman’s lips. ‘We met a little later in life – I’d just split up from a long-term relationship and Carl was the same. It was my thirtieth birthday – I was out celebrating with a couple of close friends, and he was at the bar we went to with some work colleagues. We bumped into each other on the way out and went for a drink somewhere quieter. We’ve been together ever since.’
Kay paused a moment while fresh tears streamed down Helen’s cheeks.
‘When did you last speak with your husband?’
‘Friday morning – he phoned me at work to ask if I could leave early.’
‘Why was that?’
‘He said that he’d arranged for a plumber to come around. He sounded so… well, insistent. I mean, it wasn’t a problem for me to leave early – I’m only a contractor anyway and I haven’t had any time off since I started eighteen months ago – but it was the way he asked. Like it was really urgent and he wouldn’t take no for an answer if I’d said that.’
‘What time did he phone you?’
Helen’s gaze dropped to the carpet, and she frowned. ‘I can’t remember for certain. About half past ten, perhaps?’
‘So you left early, and came back here?’
‘Yes. I got home at two o’clock – he said the plumber wasn’t due until about two-thirty.’
‘Where do you work, Mrs Taylor?’ said Barnes.
She twisted in her chair to face him, lifting her chin slightly. ‘I’m a receptionist at a firm of solicitors in Sittingbourne. They specialise in personal injury claims, insurance, things like that.’
‘Mrs Taylor, have you or your husband received any threats in recent months?’
‘No,’ she sniffed. ‘That’s what I don’t understand. Carl wouldn’t harm anyone – he’s a delivery driver, for goodness’ sakes.’
‘Have you had any issues with friends, perhaps, family?’
‘No, nothing like that.’ Helen paused, then gestured to the photographs lining the bookcase. ‘Carl and I didn’t have a wide social circle, to be honest. Neither of us is on social media. We spent what we saved on travelling. I suppose we’re quite introverted – we love… loved our own company.’
Kay lowered her gaze as Helen’s eyes filled with fresh tears. ‘Helen, I’m sorry but I have to ask these questions. Do you know if Carl might’ve been having issues at work? Did he have any concerns that he spoke to you about?’
The other woman shook her head, plucked a fresh tissue from a box on a small wooden table next to her armchair and twisted it between her fingers. ‘No. He would’ve told me if he was worried about anything. That’s why I was panicking by the time I reported him missing. It was so unlike him. I knew something was wrong…’
Kay’s phone started to vibrate from within her bag, and she gave Helen an apologetic glance before checking the screen.
‘I’m sorry, Helen, but I have to take this call.’
She didn’t wait for a response. She signalled to Barnes to follow her out to the hallway and swiped the screen the moment he shut the living room door.
‘Gavin?’
‘Guv, you need to get back to the incident room. Now.’