Page 56 of Her Hidden Shadow

‘You weren’t in bed. It was about an hour ago. You moved the chair away from the door and went outside in your sleep. You came back in with it. I asked you where you got it from, and you pointed out the bedroom window at the bushes.’

She leaned down and pulled a dead leaf from between her toes. ‘Didn’t the police see who left it there?’

‘They were on a changeover. I’m so worried about you, Tiff. I think you need to see a doctor and you need to be honest about this.’ He grabbed the half-empty bottle of sherry and the pills. ‘This can’t go on. I know you’re worried, and I know he’s trying to scare you, but you’ll end up accidentally killing yourself. I don’t know what to do anymore.’ Tears began to run down his cheeks. ‘I need you. I need the old Tiff back. Please, I’m begging you. I just want it to be like it was before the attack.’ He fell onto the settee and sobbed.

She’d never seen Kieron like this. He’d always been the strong one in the relationship, but she’d broken him. She hurried over and went to hug him, but he flinched. ‘Kieron, what’s up.’

He stared at her and wiped his eyes. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’

More tears rolled down her cheeks.

‘I’m scared for you and…’ He hesitated. ‘I’m scared of you.’

Forty-Two

Gina got out of the shower and began to dry herself, then she stopped as she heard Briggs talking downstairs. She wrapped a towel over her dripping hair and pulled her bathrobe on. Ebony began to rub herself against Gina’s damp leg, depositing cat hairs all over her. She lifted the cat up and began to quietly walk down the stairs while she listened to Briggs speaking on the phone.

‘No, I want her on the case. Your DI didn’t even read the whole file. From what I heard she had to fill him in on the historical strangulation. Not a problem, he came in cold and was sent straight out after the quickest of briefings, but he can’t handle it alone.’ He paused. ‘I know it’s not ideal and it’s looking likely that he’ll be charged, but for now DI Harte stays. We’ll talk again when I get into the office.’

She sat on the step, knowing full well that Sullivan was on the other end of the call. For now – what did that mean? Were they all working on a way to get Collier up to speed so that they could push her out?

‘No, she stays.’

He paced up and down the kitchen.

He paused. ‘No, she’s not sloppy in her job and just because I’m saying that it doesn’t mean I’m soft on her so please stop insinuating that I am. I will do what is necessary for the case but only when the time is right.’

Ebony meowed so she let her go.

‘I’ve got to go. Yes, okay. A briefing at ten with you and Collier. I’ll be there.’

She hurried down the rest of the stairs and pressed her lips together as he looked across at her. ‘When have you and Sullivan decided is the right time to ditch me off the case? I heard you say that I’m staying on it, for now.’

He slammed his phone on the table. ‘I’m doing what I need to do to keep you on the case.’

‘Which is wait until Collier is up to speed then let me go, because that’s what it sounded like. You know, that woman is the reason I missed Hannah in school plays and sports days and now, look how that’s come back to bite me. We have the worst mother daughter relationship ever. Sullivan told me the job had to come before everything and I so badly wanted to prove myself, I believed her. I did everything I could to please her, yet I never did, and I still rightly or wrongly put the job before everything else like some institutionalised robot.’ Gina paused. ‘Thanks for nothing. You know I need to stay on this case, for Jacob.’

‘It’s not like that, Gina, it really isn’t. I’m trying my best to stay on it myself so please don’t doubt me, not now. Jacob may have been your right hand, but you are mine. Our department sticks together, and I will not hear a bad word said against you. I’ve never met anyone more committed to the job, but it saddens me to know that she took advantage of that in the past. Let’s get this case wrapped up and then we can send Collier and Sullivan packing.’

‘Thanks and I’m sorry, I know you’re stuck in the middle. Any developments on the case?’ It saddened her that Sullivan was coming between her and Briggs. As if things couldn’t get any worse. She hoped that he was being truthful with her.

He nodded. ‘There was a callout in the night at the Crawford household.’

‘Has something happened to Tiffany?’

‘Tiffany sleepwalks. Her husband found her coming back into the flat with a scarf. He said he thinks she pulled it from the bush outside their bedroom window.’

‘Are we thinking that the man came back? But the police were outside.’

He nodded. ‘The officer watching their flat was desperate for the loo. He popped to the garage and just after there was a staff changeover.’

‘I see.’

‘The scarf has been entered into evidence and is on its way to the lab. Another officer is going to take a statement today. She wasn’t up to it last night. Apparently, she’d taken a couple of diazepam and had a couple of sherries. She was disorientated and dopey.’

Gina swallowed. Tiffany was having a tough time of it.

‘And get this.’

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