Page 33 of Her Deadly Promise

‘Where?’

‘To the Angel Arms, where I had a couple of pints in the beer garden. I was there during that time hoping to meet up with some of my old friends.’

‘And the pub will be able to verify your presence?’

‘Yup. That’s where I was. I talked to the landlady a few times, Elouise. She seemed nice. There was also a party going on. I don’t know who it was for, or what it was about but there were loads of people there. Look.’ He pulled out his phone and selected the Angel Arms’s Facebook page. ‘I liked this earlier. It’s a photo of the party. That’s me sitting on a bench drinking beer.’ Gina made a mental note of the name he was using. Brock Man.

Gina knew that Elouise, the licensee of the Angel Arms, would let them see the CCTV and they were going straight there after. She could see that Brock was in the photo, but she couldn’t tell what time that photo was actually taken. It did, however, verify that Brock had been at the Angel Arms on the afternoon he said he had. ‘Okay, I want you to head to the station, now, and give a formal statement. We can take you.’

‘I really need to speak to my mum first, if that’s okay. As I’m not under arrest, I’d rather my mum brought me in her car. Before that, I need to quickly explain to her what’s happened without upsetting her too much.’

Gina glanced at Jacob. She’d rather him come with them but there’s no way she could force him. Brock jumped off the bench and began walking back to his mother’s flat. Gina and Jacob followed, watching as he went in. His mother waved out the door and pulled the net across after closing it.

The old man next door lifted the brim of his hat. ‘He’s a prick, that kid. If you heard the way he talked to his mother, it would make you sick.’

‘Did you see him yesterday?’

‘I was sitting here all day and he went out about lunchtime. He never came home until this morning. I heard his mum asking him where he’d been, and he told her to stop going on before playing his hideous music. I feel sorry for Beryl having to put up with that racket, I mean, it’s disturbed my peace. I did knock at hers and complain but that got me nowhere. Yesterday morning, I was sitting here, and he had the door open. He kept pacing and whining down the phone. I don’t know who the poor lass was on the other end of the line, but I wouldn’t let him see the kid either.’

As they got back into the car, Gina took a swig of water from the bottle. ‘I don’t trust Brock, but that photo proves he was somewhat truthful. There’s no time to waste. Before he gets to the station, I want to verify everything he said with Elouise at the Angel. If we find he had even the remotest of opportunity or he lied in any way, he’s our prime suspect.’

TWENTY-ONE

NADIA

Hair still wet from her shower at the gym, Nadia jogged to the school gates. The summer dress she’d changed into clung to her damp legs. As she glanced around, trying to catch sight of William, her gaze stopped on Candice who was waiting for her with William and Poppy in tow. William looked a little sad and Candice tilted her head as she spoke to him. Her little boy’s frown turned into a smile and Poppy playfully prodded him in the arm.

Candice waved and smiled. ‘Nadia, how are you bearing up?’

‘Not good, if I’m honest. I was late for my afternoon session, and it ran over. I’ve never showered so fast.’ She grabbed her knotty hair and clipped it up in the hope that it would dry. The truth was, she’d started fishing through Ed’s belongings in the garage in the hope of finding the one thing she really needed right now but, as always, she couldn’t find what she was looking for. That had set her back for the afternoon. If only she was as good at searching as Ed was at hiding. A knot formed in her stomach.

‘You look how I feel.’

Nadia pressed her lips together. ‘I feel empty.’

‘Same.’ Candice wiped a tear from her eye and exhaled. ‘Are you still coming back to mine?’

‘Yes, that would be lovely.’

‘I popped to the deli and got a selection of salads and scones to eat in the garden.’ She swallowed. ‘It won’t be the same without Billie.’ Candice took her daughter’s hand.

William looked up at Nadia with big, sad eyes and it made her want to crouch down and hug him close. She couldn’t imagine not being around to see her little boy grow up. Instead, she held his clammy hand and squeezed while she mouthed ‘Love you,’ to him. ‘I’ll see you at yours, then.’

With that Candice led Poppy by the hand towards her car, leaving Nadia in the middle of the playground, surrounded by parents.

Her hearing tuned into what was being said by a gaggle of gossips.

‘Was she really a prostitute?’

‘Yes, I heard. I told Sam to keep away from Kayden. You know those types, probably on drugs too.’

‘Who told you?’

‘I don’t know, it’s been going round. I just heard something.’

‘People have choices, and she made a bad one. Look at her now.’

‘Are you sure she was? How am I the last to know?’

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