Learning English

OFFICE

Callie
Yes m’am. She identified him last night. I was with her. Too soon to tell…. it’s likely he jumped or fell. Yes mam, I’ll keep you fully in the loop… Yes, I understand.

Nikesh
What time is it?

Callie
Seven thirty. I’m just getting a head start on my paperwork backlog. What is this situation, please?

Nikesh
I just needed more than forty five minutes without a screaming baby in my ear. I stayed up with her until two last night to help Denise out, then came in here. So quiet, it’s beautiful.

Callie
Hmm. Are you OK after last night? I’m supposed to ask if you want to speak to someone. A counsellor or…

Nikesh
Nah. Pretty full on first day back but… I should be alright. Thanks, mate.

Callie
Bloody hell Nikesh. Take a shower, you stink.

LATER…

Callie
Did they have? Yes! You wee dancer. 

Nikesh
We don’t need to do this for a suicide, Cal?

Callie
I know but… I just want to make sure we didn’t miss anything yesterday evening… So, Dreamers Cliffs, 200 feet and Jamie Phelps’ body was discovered at the foot of them by… Fatima Jamali at 5pm yesterday, she was out on a walk. Seemed very dead. The body was wet – the tide had recently gone out. His phone and laptop were discovered close to the body.

Nikesh
So, yesterday afternoon, after he sent the text to his wife, he jumped from the edge of the cliff path with his phone and laptop in his arms. Pip still in the car.

Callie
Yes. Which is the odd bit, isn’t it? Pip. Being there, being in the car.

Nikesh
Yes… that’s the bit that… I don’t know. What’s this?

Callie
Chewing gum. From inside his mouth.

Nikesh
He was chewing gum?

Callie
Apparently. We’ll have to wait for forensics, but… seems that way.

Nikesh
And then there’s this. Dad and Woody. You know, I spoke to Ms Phelps about this again last night, after the ID. And, look she says Pip’s not really into Toy Story, he likes Frozen. But yesterday, after they got home, he was all Woody this and Woody that. 

Callie
I don’t want to base too much on the ramblings of a four year old. Kids… make stuff up, imagine things… whatever. They’re unreliable.

Nikesh
I wouldn’t say that ...

Juliet
They said I could come up. I’ve just been into the office… what’s that? Who’s….? Oh no!

Callie
Mrs Arnott, please step this way. I’m so sorry that you saw that. The front desk should never have left you up… If you just head through here... have a seat.

I’m afraid we have found a body and Lucy Phelps has identified it as that of her husband. It looks as though he may have taken his own life.

Juliet
But I don’t… it doesn’t… but he paid it.

Callie
Paid what Mrs Arnott?

Juliet
The ransomware. All the files have been returned. That’s why I came in.

Nikesh
Jamie Phelps paid the ransomware!

 END