Page 107 of She Saw What He Did

‘Open the door,’ said Scott firmly.

Rick reluctantly turned the key in the lock. The entrance hall consisted of two doors. One led to Ryan’s flat and the other to the flat above. Rick hesitated at the door to Ryan’s.

‘I’m really not sure about this,’ he began.

Scott sighed.

‘Tenants’ privacy and all that,’ continued Rick.

‘Right,’ said Scott, grabbing the keys from him and unlocking the door.

Scott felt an adrenalin rush as he entered the flat.

‘Ryan,’ he called.

Rick pulled his cigarettes from his shorts pocket.

‘Not in here,’ snapped Scott.

The door to the living room was open and Scott stepped gingerly inside.

‘Ryan,’ he called again.

A draught of air wafted across his face as he stepped into the bedroom. There was a gasp from Rick who had followed him in. The bedroom window had been smashed. The curtain rail, ripped from the wall, lay mangled on the floor.

‘What the fuck?’ uttered Rick.

Scott glanced at the mattress which had been ripped to shreds. The bedroom cabinet drawers had been yanked unmercifully from their runners, the contents strewn across the room. Ryan noted several photos of Ellen. He moved cautiously to the living room, Rick close on his heels. The carnage continued there, and they stepped carefully over the broken glass from the coffee table. Scott went into each room, satisfying himself that Ryan wasn’t in any of them. He hadn’t realised how hard his heart had been pumping. While waiting for Rick he’d had these horrifying visions of finding Ryan’s mutilated body. It was ridiculous. There was no earthly reason that anyone would want to murder Ryan. By the same token, thought Scott, there was also no earthly reason why someone should ransack his flat.

It was quite clear to Scott that Ryan had gone missing.

‘Why would anyone rob a copper?’ asked Rick.

Scott saw he was shaking.

‘That’s what I’m going to find out,’ said Scott.

*

Ellen stepped into the arrival lounge and walked to the desk.

‘I’m Sergeant Burden, there should be a car waiting for me.’

The woman nodded.

‘One moment.’

Ellen’s mobile trilled as soon as she got a signal. She had a missed call from Scott and two messages. She sighed. Honestly, couldn’t they cope for five minutes when she was away? It’s not like they had much to do. It was irritating that Scott or Ryan always phoned when she was here. It didn’t need three of them on the island. It was a total waste of resources.

Colin Weis thinks we’re a joke, she thought, feeling embarrassed. Maybe he’s right.

She pushed the mobile back into her bag. She had far more important things to do here then worry about Farmer Brown’s lost sheep. Scott and Ryan could sort that out easily enough. She wondered if Weis would put in a word for her regarding the job at Porthaven. She couldn’t very well ask. She’d need to discuss the whole thing with Peter when she got back. She’d given their relationship a fair bit of thought and decided that maybe it was time to call it a day. Nothing ever happened on the islands. It was time for her to move on in more ways than one.

The woman returned and handed over a set of keys.

‘It’s waiting in a parking bay for you, Miss Burden. When you return the car, please leave it in the same place and leave the keys at reception.’

‘Great, thank you,’ said Ellen.

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