Page 30 of Her Hidden Shadow

She gestured for them to sit. ‘I only spoke to someone yesterday. Detective—’ She grabbed the card off the table. ‘This is her, DI Harte. She spoke to me about Lauren’s friend’s murder. I told her everything I know.’

‘Yes, we have something we need to speak to you about, relating to the incident. Also, officers will be driving by your property throughout the day. We don’t have a lot of information to share with you, but we know you mentioned to DI Harte that you were attacked in the past.’

She felt her jaw begin to tremble. It was a related incident. She’d read the detective’s expression correctly and now her attacker was back for her. ‘He’s coming for me. That’s what you think, isn’t it?’

‘We’re just being precautionary at this stage. There are similarities to your attack, and we want to make sure you’re safe.’

‘And how the hell are you going to keep me safe? He could smash his way in through the back. I’m on my own all day in this flat.’ She now wished they lived on the top floor. She didn’t want to move into a ground floor flat, but Kieron had insisted, saying he’d miss a garden when they moved. Her stomach spasmed and her head began to pound. It was the fear that had kept her awake all night. Hour upon hour, her heart had palpitated away only to leave her exhausted when Kieron’s alarm went off. Still, she wasn’t tired, and she doubted she’d ever have a good night’s sleep again.

‘We would like to fit a panic alarm in your flat. Would that be okay?’ PC Smith leaned forward a little and linked his hands in front of him. ‘We can also get someone to check your windows and doors, see if they’re secure enough. Will you be in all day?’

She nodded.

‘Are you okay, Mrs Crawford?’ PC Benton asked, the officer’s brows furrowed, a look of pity on her face.

‘No.’ Her voiced quivered. ‘It’s like it happened yesterday, the attack I mean. I have tried so hard to move on and I can’t. No one understands what it’s like, knowing that he’s out there and he could come for me at any time. I’m scared to go out. I’m scared at work. When I see a man, it goes through my head – could it be him? Why didn’t you catch him? Why did you lot fail me?’ She couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. The attack had caused her illnesses. It was the start of everything that had gone wrong in her life. She’d lost her career. She’d decided against having a family. She lived like a hermit, relying on Kieron to do almost everything for her and she hated what that evil man had turned her into.

PC Smith furrowed his brows. ‘We’re so sorry, Mrs Crawford.’

‘Am I in danger? What do you really think?’

‘The truth is, we don’t know but we don’t want to take any risks. I know DI Harte will want to speak to you again when we know a little more. Do you have anyone who can come and sit with you, or is there anywhere you’d rather stay for now?’

She shook her head. ‘I’m not in touch with my family. We fell out years ago. I don’t have anyone. Kieron is my absolute rock, but he has to work. He’ll be back around teatime. I’ll be okay.’ She had no choice. ‘I’ll take the panic button, please, and thank you for the drive-bys.’ She wasn’t going to turn down their help, not until the local murderer was caught. For a moment, she dared to hope that he would be caught, and did turn out to be her attacker. She imagined stepping outside as the weight of her fear floated away. Then she swallowed. She still couldn’t recall anything from the night of Sienna’s murder, yet she was found outside, sleepwalking. A thought flashed through her mind. Bare feet stepping onto the kerb. She opened her mouth, wondering if she should say something. A sharp pain went through her lower stomach. Was it her IBS or maybe it was appendicitis, or something worse, much worse? Maybe a tumour. Stop. She had to stop doing this to herself, thinking the worst all the time was making her sicker.

‘Is there something you want to tell us?’ PC Smith shifted to the left slightly to stop himself sinking into PC Benton on the couch.

She closed her gaping mouth and shook her head vigorously. ‘No. I was thinking, that’s all. It’s horrible knowing that someone was killed close by. It gives me the shivers. And she was killed in my friend’s home.’ She pulled her full-length cardigan across her chest. ‘I’m not feeling well which is nothing new, but I think I might need to go to bed for a bit.’ Her inner dialogue whispered in a menacing voice. You did it. It had to be you. You attacked Kieron too.

‘Thank you for speaking with us.’ They stood and PC Smith continued to speak. ‘We’ll see you later. Hope you’re feeling a little better by then.’

She led them to the door and as soon as they left, she pulled the chain across and leaned against it, breathing rapidly until the dark speckles that plagued her vision subsided. She couldn’t pass out, not now.

Kieron was right. She couldn’t harm anyone, not intentionally, and she didn’t go to Lauren’s place while she was sleepwalking. Why would she kill Sienna? Then she answered it for herself. The voice was right. She’d stabbed Kieron because she thought he was her attacker. She’d been asleep and she hadn’t known. She swallowed and almost slipped to the floor as the confusion dancing around her head became overwhelming. Did I? Didn’t I? Did I? Those questions repeated in her head at a dizzying speed.

She shook the intrusive thoughts away and began pacing. That whole evening was a blank. She almost toppled as another image flashed through her mind. Metal piercing flesh. Blood. Shouting. She ran into her bedroom, jumped into her bed fully clothed. She dragged the duvet cover over her curls. The fear was real and it was justified.

‘Go away,’ she yelled as she gasped for breath. ‘Leave me alone.’

Twenty-One

Gina stuffed the rest of her chicken wrap into her mouth while Wyre finished her banana. That was all the fuel they’d get for a while. The chill in the air sent a little shiver across the back of her neck. She adjusted her woollen scarf, her fingers fiddling with a crease at the back. As she worked the knot out, she thought of Sienna and the terror she must have felt in her final moments. ‘Time to check out what Gerard Hale has to say.’ She stopped on the path. ‘We know he was jealous. Sienna had left him. We know he didn’t take it well if he kept trying to call her at work. Question is, had he known that she was having an affair with Robbie Shields, and did he kill them both?’

Wyre straightened her stiff white collar underneath her grey coat. ‘With Robbie now a victim, he’s definitely in the picture.’

Gina entered a showroom. Gas fires were displayed on every wall, some set back into cosy nook-style alcoves, setting the scene. Toasties was a huge company. Gina had spent a short while researching them at home last night. She knew they had shops in most major cities and a head office in Norway. She also knew that Gerard Hale looked after all the buildings. It was his job to make sure they were secure, fire safe and alarmed. That’s where Sienna’s company had come into it. They serviced and maintained all their systems in their shops and offices throughout the UK. ‘Can you see a bell or an intercom?’ They walked around, browsing for a door or a corridor.

‘No, guv. I have no idea how we’re meant to get anyone’s attention.’

A camera housed in a corner whizzed around to face them. She smiled at it. ‘I think they know we’re here.’

Within seconds a woman with long red hair appeared through a hidden door that had blended in with the granite-coloured walls. ‘Hello, welcome to Toasties. Apologies, our receptionist is having lunch. How can I help you?’ She looked a little confused. ‘This is an office. We have shops locally if you’re looking to browse our fantastic fires.’

Gina held her ID up. ‘I’m DI Harte, this is DC Wyre. We need to speak to Gerard Hale.’

‘Gerard? I see.’

Gina glanced around. ‘Sorry, may I take your name?’ She needed to know who she was speaking to. Wyre flipped open her notebook and leaned on the counter.

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