Page 43 of Her Hidden Shadow

‘We’re investigating a serious crime and your son’s name has come up.’ It was obvious that Hale’s mother had not linked the murders on the news to Gerard. Gina noticed the vein on the woman’s head twitching as she looked away. Adina Hale knew more than she was letting on. ‘You mention that you saw your son on Saturday night. Where were you when you saw him?’

‘I was here. He came over for dinner and stayed the night. He didn’t want to stay at the caravan. It was cold.’

Damn, if that was true and he didn’t leave the house, he had an alibi. But would his mother lie to protect him? That’s what Gina needed to establish. ‘What time did he arrive at yours?’

‘Around five. We had dinner about six and watched a film on Netflix. Later I went into the kitchen and called my sister. When I went back into the living room, he had fallen asleep in front of the TV, so I left him on the settee and went up to bed to watch something else.’

‘What time was this?’

‘About eight thirty, I guess. It was early but I know he hasn’t been comfortable in the caravan, and he isn’t really meant to be there until March.’

Gina waited for DI Collier to catch up. ‘Why was he staying there and not with you?’

She pressed her lips together in thought before continuing. ‘I love my son, I really do, but I find him hard to live with. He’s messy, he can be snappy and he’s lazy. I don’t want to spend all day picking up after him. We agreed that it would be best if he stayed in the caravan after losing his house. I guess it’s only a matter of time before that gets sold off as an asset so they can get their hands on his share, but he’s using it for now.’

‘You say you went up to bed about half eight on Saturday. Could he have woken up and gone back out?’

‘I’d have heard him.’

‘Where do you sleep?’

She swallowed and scrunched her brow. ‘On the second floor.’

Gina just wanted to clarify. ‘So, you could have heard him leaving from all the way up there?’

‘Yes, I’m sure I would have.’

Gina knew that Gerard didn’t have the perfect alibi in his mother, and she saw DI Collier write a question mark where he’d noted Hale’s whereabouts.

‘Did he mention his previous relationship?’

She shrugged. ‘I know he was seeing someone, and she moved in with him for a couple of weeks, but he wouldn’t tell me much. I don’t even know what her name was. I only know he worked with her. He said he wanted to see how things went. Most of his relationships don’t work out so I didn’t hold out much hope for that one.’

‘Do you know why that is?’

‘Like I said, he’s hard to live with. Messy and lazy. It wouldn’t have taken the poor woman long to find out. You saw his room in the caravan. Is that why you’re here?’ Ms Hale looked into her hands. ‘I was a bit concerned when I saw those boards, but Gerard assured me he was over her and he was going to get rid of them. He said he was just missing her, and all that stuff would be gone next time I visited.’

Now Gina wondered if Ms Hale was in denial over the red flags her son was displaying. ‘Do you know where he is now? It’s important that we find him and speak to him.’

‘He got the train to London on Sunday morning. He said he was visiting some old uni friends for a few days and that he had some holiday from work. He wanted to go abroad to Magaluf with a few friends but didn’t have enough money. I know that much as he tried to borrow some off me.’

‘Do you have a name for the friends he met up with in London, or do you know which part of London he was heading to?’

She shook her head. ‘I dropped him off at Birmingham on Sunday lunchtime, by the coach station at Digbeth. That’s all I know.’

Gina sat back. He could literally be anywhere. ‘Do you know when he’s due back?’

‘He said he’d be back today and that he didn’t need me to pick him up. It is still early, maybe he’ll be back later. I’ve tried to call him to check, but his phone is off and keeps going to answerphone, then you turned up. Should I be worried? Do you think something has happened to him?’

Gina couldn’t answer that. Either he was hurt, or he was on the run. She had no idea which. ‘If you hear anything from him, can you call us straight away? It’s highly important that we speak to him as a matter of urgency.’ Gina placed her card on the desk.

The woman took it and placed it in her desk drawer.

Gina pulled a photo of the blue flowery scarf that was found at the scene of Sienna Moorcroft’s murder. ‘Do you recognise this scarf?’

Adina Hale took the photo. ‘I think I do. I have so many. I’m a bit of an obsessive collector of scarves and I’m sure I have one like this.’

‘Do you have it here? Could you check?’

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