Page 22 of Her Deadly Promise

‘No. I wanted to help her. I’d have given her money, but she didn’t want me, or my help, so here we are. I don’t know who murdered Billie, but I’d say it was one of her clients. I mean, what type of sleazy letch pays for sex anyway?’

‘Did she mention that anyone might be harassing her?’

‘No, but she was upset with someone.’

‘Who?’

‘I don’t know the woman, but Billie said her best friend had betrayed her. Someone called Nadia. Billie was angry, upset, and we’d been arguing too. She kept saying that she couldn’t trust anyone but herself and that everyone had let her down.’

Gina knew that she had to prioritise a visit to see Nadia of Mockingbird Avenue.

As they wound up the interview, Jacob agreed to chase up Merry’s alibi. Maybe Mr Peel had CCTV or as the man said, a neighbour might have seen him. Merry wasn’t off the hook yet but the revelation that Billie was a sex worker had opened up a whole new side to the investigation. The fact that her phone was missing told Gina that there might be some communications on it that the killer didn’t want them to see. Her stomach began to jump and churn as she hurried back along the corridor, passing the interview room and knocking on Briggs’s office door. Whatever he had to say was about to be said and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to hear it.

FOURTEEN

‘Come in,’ Briggs called.

She gingerly opened the door and stepped in, not knowing how to stand or where to go. Should she sit? Stand? What to do with her hands that constantly wanted to fiddle with her clothing or pick her nails. She quickly spoke, filling him in on her interview with Merry then he interrupted her.

‘Have a seat.’

‘Why am I here?’

He stood and sat on the edge of his desk. She wondered if there was some power play going on. He was literally looking at her down his nose and it was setting her nerves alight. His stiff stance softened as he relaxed his shoulders. ‘I’m worried about you, Gina.’

‘Not you as well.’

‘So, it’s not just me?’

‘Frankly, I wish you’d all butt out. I’m doing my job, so I don’t know why people don’t just stop hassling me.’

‘It’s harsh talking like that about people who care about you.’

She shook her head. Harsh it might be, but it was getting annoying.

‘I can tell you’re not eating enough.’

‘Fabulous. I’m on a diet.’ She pasted a huge fake smile on her face.

‘I care you know. Is it because of me? I didn’t mean to hurt you like I did.’

‘Don’t flatter yourself.’

He paused and bowed his head. ‘Feelings don’t just go away.’

‘But you don’t love me. Wait.’ She held a hand up. ‘Don’t say anything to that. It’s irrelevant. This is about me, not us. We are no longer an us. All you need to know is that I work hard and I deliver, that’s all you need from me as my superior.’ She didn’t want to discuss her hot flushes with him.

‘I won’t say anything, you know. Not to Rosemary, not to anyone. The things you told me in confidence will remain with me, I promise.’

Rosemary, her name on his tongue made her want to vomit. ‘I don’t know if I care any more. Maybe I’ll walk right out there and shout out my secrets to everyone. Get it over with.’

‘You do care, Gina.’

He was right. There was no way she’d want him sharing her secret. The one where she’d waited for her violent ex-husband, Terry, to die at the bottom of the stairs before calling an ambulance. When a person shared secrets like they did, they were bound for life – so she thought. What Briggs didn’t know was why she never wanted that secret to get out. She could take the punishment. She deserved it. But she couldn’t bear the look on her daughter Hannah’s face when she found out. She’d probably never see Gracie again. That would be the death of her. Their relationship had been rocky enough, but she knew that despite how evil her daughter’s father was, Hannah would never forgive that.

‘You’re right. I do care.’ He’d see right through her lies. That was intimacy for her.

‘This is coming from a place of love. We have a past, and I’d hate for you to enter a downwards spiral. You’re too good for that. Your team need you. This case needs the best of you.’

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