Page 45 of Her Hidden Shadow

Gina nodded. He really didn’t know the case that well at all. He shouldn’t be working it with her and he knew it. Her first thought was to call Briggs and see if she could have Wyre or O’Connor assisting but she knew that Sullivan would cause more trouble for her, so she would remain on the case with her spy by her side, and she would play the game, for now.

‘Yes. Then that exact same design of scarf was used to kill Sienna Moorcroft. We are working on the theory that the attacker uses something from the previous attack in the current attack, although we can’t prove that yet. We haven’t come across a past case of strangulation where an earring was taken, so right now it’s a working theory. When we attended the scene of Sienna’s murder, we found that she wasn’t wearing underpants. We know there was a pair of underpants found in Robbie’s pocket when we found his body. They looked to be Sienna’s size but right now we can’t prove that they are Sienna’s until the lab have finished their job. The killer is playing with us.’

He looked confused while he thought through what Gina had said. ‘Right, I see.’

Gina swallowed. She knew that officers would be going through all of Jacob’s personal belongings as they searched for anything and everything that connected him to Sienna. That was a side of the investigation she wouldn’t hear about until it was over. Being kept in the dark would make everything harder. Only Sullivan would have the whole story for now, unless Collier had heard something. ‘Have you heard anything about the search of Jacob’s house?’

He raised his brows. ‘Yes. You shouldn’t be asking me questions like that, DI Harte.’

Tiffany opened her front door, breaking the tension. ‘Hello. Did you catch him? Tell me you did.’

Gina walked past the shoulder height shrubs outside Tiffany’s front door and followed the short path with DI Collier in tow. ‘The officers are still looking, and they will be conducting door-to-doors where your neighbours will be asked if they’ve seen anyone suspicious.’

The young woman tucked her blonde curls behind her ears and put her hands into her sweatshirt pockets. ‘So, he’s still out there, ready to terrorise me again.’

‘May we come and speak with you? This is DI Collier and I’m DI Harte, we met before.’

She opened the door. ‘Come through.’

Gina followed the woman through to the living room. The large window led the eye to a square garden, dotted with washing lines and a bin store at the far end. Once seated, she waited for DI Collier to get his notebook ready. ‘Can you talk me through what happened this morning?’

Tiffany wiped her nose with a creased-up tissue, then placed it in her pocket. ‘I err, was just about to have my breakfast about eleven. When I stood at the window, he was there.’

‘He? Do you know him?’

‘My attacker. The one who tried to strangle me four years ago. He was wearing a balaclava back then, so I know it was him. He stared at me through the window, and I grabbed that panic button and pressed it. I hid on the kitchen floor and I think he was trying to open my front door.’ Tiffany began to rock back and forth in her chair while biting her nails.

Gina knew from the previous interview that Tiffany was poorly, but they didn’t know what illness she suffered with. She certainly looked pale and clammy. ‘Can you describe anything about him that might help us. Eye colour, height, build?’

Tiffany scrunched her brow as if in thought. ‘I didn’t look for long enough to catch his eye colour. I felt his stare on me and it was angry, maybe manic. He was definitely taller than me, but most people are, and he was of average build, I think. I saw him for a couple of seconds so it’s really hard to think.’

‘You’re doing really well. I appreciate how difficult this is for you. How about clothing. Did you see what he was wearing?’

‘All I saw was that balaclava. He must have had a jumper or coat on, but it was as if nothing else existed around him. I was so scared, I literally dropped to the floor, out of sight. When I eventually got back up, he’d gone.’

The young woman looked to the side then cleared her throat. For a second, Gina thought she might say something. She opened her mouth and held her breath.

‘Is there something you want to tell me? Is something worrying you?’

Tiffany didn’t answer and began fiddling with her cuffs. ‘No, just please catch him. I’m sick of living in fear. No one understands what it’s like with him out there. I don’t speak to my parents anymore. Can you believe they accused me of malingering? If my mother had experienced what I had, she’d be the same, I know she would. Everyone thinks that I should be over it by now. I’ve lost friends, jobs. If he is caught, I feel like I might stand a chance at a normal life again. Please promise me you’ll catch him.’

Gina took a deep breath. She couldn’t begin to imagine how Tiffany was feeling but she couldn’t make a firm promise. More than anything, she wanted to bring the perpetrator in, but she couldn’t guarantee it. All they had linking the recent murders and Tiffany’s attack was a scarf. Was it enough to convict the perp of Tiffany’s attack? She didn’t know the answer to that question yet. ‘I am going to do everything I can.’ That’s all she could say to Tiffany for now. ‘Have you noticed anything else? Maybe someone loitering around.’

She shook her head. ‘No, but it’s as if I can feel him. I find myself waking up in a sweat after reliving the attack. I feel as though he gets off on that. I don’t know why, but I keep thinking he’s close, but my feelings aren’t what you need, are they?’

‘We want to do everything we can for you so if you see or hear anything, don’t hesitate to press that panic button again. Another officer will pop in shortly to take a formal statement. If you remember anything after we’ve left, call me straight away, any time, okay?’ Gina placed a card on the coffee table.

‘Or you can call me.’ Collier placed his card next to Gina’s. Gina let a breath out slowly, trying not to reveal her irritation.

Tiffany nodded. ‘I will, thank you. And thank you for not treating me like I’m mad. My doctor treats me like I’m mad.’ She waved a hand. ‘Thank you, that’s all.’ Her eyes welled up.

The young woman looked so vulnerable; Gina wondered if she should be alone. ‘Do you know anyone who will sit with you for a while?’

‘I need to call my husband. He tried ringing earlier while all this was going on and my phone died. I’ll call him as soon as you go.’

Gina and DI Collier stood. ‘For your protection, a police car will be stationed outside your flat at all times. You have your panic button and our numbers. They will have shift changeovers, but you won’t be left without them for long.’

‘Thank you again.’

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