Page 15 of Her Hidden Shadow

‘Starting from when?’

‘When you first heard from Lauren or arrived at her bungalow.’

‘Okay, I was at Hoopers up until lunchtime, but Lauren had booked the day off. I work in the hair extension and wig department, she’s normally on the make-up counter. I got home about two and I WhatsApped Lauren and the rest of the group to say how excited I was about the night we had planned. She replied with a photo, showing me a couple of her dresses. After that, I got ready, watched a bit of telly and left about eight. I caught the bus at the end of my road and got to Lauren’s about eight twenty, maybe eight thirty. The taxi turned up at nine and we left. That was it really.’

Gina waited for Jacob to catch up. ‘Did you see her partner, Robbie Shields?’

Maxine shook her head and began to fiddle with what looked like a honey-coloured hair extension. Her dark painted on brows made her forehead look pale. ‘No, she said he was keeping out of our way. We went in the kitchen because she didn’t want our giggling to disturb him, and she gave me a glass of wine. Dee arrived about five minutes later and she joined us in the kitchen. Lauren then said she was going to check on Robbie—’

‘Check on Robbie?’

‘Yes, she said he might want a glass of wine as we’d opened the bottle. There was a bit left, and she knew the taxi was due. She rejoined us and said he was watching TV in bed. He was meant to drive us to Birmingham, but she said he’d had a drink, so he called us a taxi instead. It wasn’t like him to not come out and talk as he’s normally very sociable and I wondered if he was a bit under the weather, but I wasn’t worried.’

Robbie wasn’t acting normally in the eyes of Maxine at this point. ‘What was he usually like?’

‘Smiley, he’s a hugger. Talks a lot and is quite the joker. He likes to be centre stage, where all the action is. That’s why I thought he might be ill.’

‘Did you hear him at all in the other room?’

‘What are you getting at?’

‘Please, Miss Winterbourne, it’s important that you answer as best you can.’

She pressed her lips together, thought for a few seconds and picked up a mug of coffee from the tray. ‘No, I didn’t see or hear any sign of him. Are you saying he wasn’t really in?’

‘No, I’m just trying to establish what you saw and heard. The questions are routine.’

‘Right. Sorry.’

‘Did anything else happen between waiting for the taxi and leaving?’

‘Not really.’ She took a sip of her steaming drink.

‘Not really? Did something happen?’

Maxine looked through the gaps in her fringe and bit her bottom lip. ‘Only that Lauren had an argument with Tiff over the phone, but I can’t see why that matters.’

Gina glanced at the notes on her phone. ‘Tiffany Crawford?’

‘Yes, I think. I don’t know her surname. She too works at Hoopers, as a cleaner. Mostly does mornings.’

‘Are Lauren and Tiffany close?’

Maxine shook her head. ‘Not really. Lauren feels a bit sorry for her as she doesn’t get out much. Tiff’s quite nervous and quiet. For whatever reason, I can’t think why Lauren wanted her to come with us to the club as she’s hardly the life and soul of anything. Tiff messaged to say she couldn’t come, something about having a dicky stomach but we all thought that it was an excuse. That phone call was Lauren’s last-ditch attempt to persuade Tiff to join us. I like Tiff but I also think she’s a hypochondriac. She’s always going on about her aches and pains, her IBS, her brain fog. Doctors find nothing wrong, and she thinks they’re all ignoring her symptoms because they want her to die. It’s all melodramatic.’

Gina knew she’d have to speak to Tiffany. Maybe there was another reason she cried off from their night out and the illness was a cover. ‘How well do you know Sienna Moorcroft?’

‘Not that well. Lauren talks about her a lot – only good things. They went to school together. She’s popped into Hoopers to meet Lauren in her lunch break a couple of times, and I’ve said hello. She seemed really nice and chatty.’

‘Did you see her yesterday?’

Maxine shook her head.

‘Did Lauren mention her yesterday?’

‘Only in passing. She said they were meant to be enjoying a spa day today and that her daughter was going with them too.’ Maxine stared blankly into her cup. ‘That poor little girl.’ She swallowed and fanned her watery eyes with her free hand.

‘How come Sienna didn’t go out last night, to celebrate Lauren’s engagement?’

---