Page 147 of Making a Killing

The hand shows signs of claw marks and parts of the flesh have been scraped away. There’s no varnish on the nails, but one thing does remain.

The metal is blackened now, and the stone in the centre discoloured, but the engraving on the ring is still just about legible.

***

Video recorded on mobile phone

belonging to Robin Tierney

Recorded 15.06.202417:17:04

* Not turned over to the police by Dry Riser *

Footage begins with a close-up of Robin Tierney adjusting the position of the phone to ensure the angle she wants. As she moves out of shot we see the main sitting room at Tichborne Farm, taking in two sofas, a low table and the front door. There’s a wooden hall tree on one side with hooks for coats and a storage cupboard below, and on the other, a round mirror with a spiky abstract frame of leaves and thorns. Tierney is in a T-shirt and black sweatpants. There’s a ring at the doorbell, but she deliberately waits a few moments before going to answer it.

Tierney:

Hi Kelsie – you made it, great. Come on in.

A young woman comes into the room. She’s mid height with long auburn hair in a ponytail and big gold hoop earrings. She has a backpack over one shoulder.

Tierney:

Sit down and I’ll go get us a drink. White wine OK? Or there’s some rosé in the fridge if you prefer –

Smith:

White is fine.

Tierney disappears out of shot. Smith drops the backpack and phone on to one of the sofas and wanders round the room, looking at the art, the ornaments, and ending up at the mirror, where she stands, staring at herself. Tierneyreappears in shot with a bottle and two glasses. She pours the wine and hands a glass to Smith. They sit down on opposite sofas.

Tierney:

It’s nice to put a face to the name, after all this time. You look really different.

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