Page 75 of Her Hidden Shadow

Every bone in Nancy’s body ached as the nurse pushed her to the room that Lauren had been settled into. They’d both escaped with their lives and for that she was thankful, but she needed to hurry up, get better and get out. Fifi was waiting for her, and Lauren needed her. As soon as her daughter was well enough and the police had left her house, they’d be able to go home.

‘I’ll just see if it’s okay for you to go in now,’ the nurse said as she knocked on the door. Another nurse left and nodded. ‘I’ll be back in ten minutes to return you to the ward.’

‘Thank you.’ The nurse went to push the chair into the room, but Nancy held a hand up. ‘I’m okay to walk.’ On shaky legs, she stood and hobbled over to her daughter’s bedside. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw the red mark around Lauren’s neck. Her mascara-streaked face and the vacant look in her eyes told her that she was still in shock. Nancy had been told that they’d had to rescue her from Kieron Crawford’s grip. She sat on a plastic chair and stroked Lauren’s arm.

‘He was killing me, Mum.’

She leaned up and hugged Lauren, allowing her daughter to let it all out. ‘They have him now. He can’t hurt you ever again.’

Lauren’s sobs died down. ‘I know about the text that you sent him, on our wedding day.’

Nancy stared open-mouthed.

‘It’s your fault, all of it. If you hadn’t interfered, I’d have been happy. You did this. You did it all,’ Lauren screamed. ‘I hate you. You ruined my life.’

‘Lauren, stop. Where is this coming from? Kieron was and still is a dangerous man. Yes, I sent the stupid text but there was something about him that set my hair on end when he spoke. Everything I did was to protect you. You’re all I have.’

Lauren shook her head. ‘You wanted to control me. You didn’t like anyone I ever fell for. You hated Kieron. You didn’t like Robbie.’

‘And look what a cheat and liar he turned out to be.’ Nancy instantly regretted speaking up. Her daughter was upset, and she was venting. As a mother, she should have let her get all her upset and anger out of her system.

Lauren wiped her eyes and paused. ‘Kieron was right. I should have let him kill you today.’

‘Lauren don’t say that. What are you talking about?’

‘Ms Cross, will you please step away so that DC Wyre and I can talk to Lauren?’

The detective who saved her, DI Harte, stood at the door.

‘Err, what’s going on?’ Nancy hobbled out of the way and swapped places with the two detectives.

Lauren looked up at them, a flash of panic in her eyes. Nancy swallowed. ‘What’s going on?’

‘He’s lying,’ Lauren said, all upset gone from her voice.

Nancy had never seen her daughter looking so cold and calm. It’s as if she’d been replaced with another person. ‘Lauren.’

The detective sat on the chair and looked directly at Lauren. Nancy felt her hands trembling and her heart booming. ‘Lauren Cross, you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Tiffany Crawford and the conspiracy to murder Robbie Shields and Sienna Moorcroft. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

‘Stop, that can’t be right. He tried to kill Lauren. You’ve got it wrong.’ The stare that Lauren gave her told her that she didn’t know her daughter anymore. Her legs gave way and DC Wyre ran over to help her out of the room. A uniformed officer came down the corridor and headed in, leaving Nancy with the detective. ‘This isn’t happening,’ Nancy cried out. But she knew it was. She knew from seeing Lauren right there and then, that she was guilty. Lauren had it plastered all over her face. Nancy cried and screamed as self-blame took over. If only she’d never taken Lauren with her to the well-being class. If only she hadn’t made up that text to split Lauren and Kieron up. If only, if only, if only…

She pierced the air in the corridor with her scream and the detective came over. No pain she’d ever felt had come as close as this. ‘Ms Cross, I’m so sorry.’ DI Harte stood beside her.

‘No, I’m sorry. I failed as a mother. I failed.’

The detective tilted her head and bit her bottom lip before speaking. ‘You haven’t failed, please don’t blame yourself.’

Nancy huffed. ‘I will always blame myself.’ It was over. Nancy wanted to go home. In fact, she was going to sign herself out and leave to go and be with Fifi. That was all she had left. She left the detective and walked away, knowing that life would never be the same again. She’d be dutiful. She’d visit Lauren in prison when she could, but she’d never understand how her daughter could do what she did. Ever.

All she’d ever wanted in life was to make the world a better place and instead, she’d reared a killer. She’d wanted nothing more than to save the earth but what for? When her main reason for saving it was as contaminated and polluting as the companies she despised.

Sixty-Two

Gina paused at the end of yet another hospital ward while she waited for Wyre to finish up with Lauren. There was one more person she wanted to see before she headed back to the station to get on with the paperwork. She glanced at her phone and saw a message from Jacob.

Guv, I wish I could call and talk to you, but I just don’t have the words at the moment. I’m exhausted. I need to go to bed, and I guess I need to process everything. I wanted to say thank you for all that you did. DCI Briggs told me about you going rogue. I owe everything to you and the team and I’m coming back on that team. I don’t know where I’d be now without you. Anyway, end of message because my emotions are all over the place. Speak tomorrow. J.

She wiped away the tear that was threatening to spring.

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