40
“Jackie?” Grey asked when the front door of the house on the left of Lewis Rice’s opened. He couldn’t help thinking that he should have asked Mr Penfold what Jackie’s last name was; it didn’t seem right to simply use her first name.
“Uh huh,” Jackie grunted, shifting the baby on her hip into a more comfortable position. “You’re cops ain’t ya, what d’ya want?”
Grey nodded, sure that Jackie’s reaction was prompted by irritation, rather than by concern. “Yes, we’re cops, Miss; sorry to trouble you, but we’d like to speak to you about your neighbour, Lewis Rice, may we come in?”
“Is he in trouble?” Jackie shifted the baby again and turned at the sound of rapid footsteps. “Back in the living room,” She ordered the young boy who was approaching her at a run, without waiting to see what it
