Page 7 of Her Hidden Shadow

‘Just water. Love you,’ she said as she kissed Kieron. He really was her everything. She had no idea what she’d do without him. She listened as he ran the tap. Moments later, he was back with the water. As she took huge gulps, her dry throat enjoyed the instant relief. Maybe it was time to cut out the wine completely and practice a little more self-care. It wasn’t a cure, but it would be a start and it would stop the doctor bringing her moderate drinking into every conversation about her health. She never had more than two glasses and he always spoke to her like she was an alcoholic. Shifting in bed, she felt something gritty on her foot. She reached down and picked a speck of gravel from between her toes.

Kieron smiled at her. ‘Better, now can we get some sleep?’

She reached for her neck, tracing where the scarf had cut off her breath. The harder she tried not to think of that night – the one that turned her into a wreck – the more she couldn’t get it out of her head. That was the start of her pain and all it did was get worse.

Kieron reached for her hand. ‘I should never have left you alone that night.’

She shook her head. ‘It’s not your fault. You can’t be with me every second of the day.’

‘But I didn’t need to go to that stag do. I didn’t even want to go.’

She realised then that he too was living with the guilt of what happened. They’d gone from lovers to carer and victim overnight. ‘It’s all in the past now.’ She lay down and Kieron spooned her as he soothingly stroked her hair. Only in his arms did she feel safe. ‘Did I sleepwalk and go outside last night?’

He kissed the back of her head. ‘I found you out the front, standing on the pavement. We fell asleep on the settee and when I woke up you were gone. It’s my fault, I forgot to double lock the door. Can’t believe I was so slack after all that’s happened.’

‘I don’t know what I’d do without you.’ She shook her head. ‘Thank you for being you and looking after me.’

‘Always. Now let’s get some sleep or we’re both going to be shattered all day.’

He reached over and turned the light off. As she inhaled and exhaled, her arms and legs felt like lead. The police had never found the man who came into their home and tried to strangle her with her own scarf. He was still out there. She often wondered if he came back, or if he watched her. That’s why her body was failing. Trauma had taken its toll. That’s why she was ill, and it was the reason she let people down. While he was out there, identity unknown, she would remain his prisoner.

Five

Gina passed Jacob a machine coffee and grabbed her own, then they headed to the ward where Lauren Cross had been admitted. She sipped the hot liquid, hoping that the caffeine would work its way through her body rapidly. ‘You haven’t said a word since we got here.’

Jacob swigged his drink as their steps echoed through the wide corridor. A nurse pushed a patient in a bed past them but there were no visitors around with it being only five thirty in the morning. ‘I’m just tired, guv.’

She arched her brows. She’d seen Jacob tired on many occasions, but tiredness had never rendered him that speechless. ‘Are you and Jennifer okay?’

‘Yes, couldn’t be better.’

‘How’s Thumper?’

‘Oh, you know. He’s just being a rabbit as usual. Keeps trying to mate with the footstool but I guess that’ll pass.’

‘I was thinking about this case,’ she said. ‘It’s screaming affair. Lauren Cross’s friend comes over all dressed up as soon as Lauren goes out. They have sex, then what goes wrong?’

Jacob coughed. ‘Sorry, wrong way.’ He held his coffee up.

Gina continued. ‘The victim, Sienna Moorcroft, was stabbed first. Then we have the taxi driver. Why did he park up, go to the bungalow and then walk back to the car? It’s far from straightforward.’ She stopped. ‘Here we go. Ward sixteen.’ She entered first, holding the door open for Jacob. They reached an inner door with an intercom and threw their empty coffee cups in the bin.

Gina buzzed and a nurse finished tapping words onto a keyboard before he let her in. ‘How can I help you? Visiting for this ward isn’t until ten in the morning.’

‘I’m DI Harte, this is DS Driscoll.’ They held their identification up. ‘Are we able to speak to Lauren Cross?’

The man headed behind the counter and checked his computer screen. ‘Ah, yes. From what I can see, she’s a bit calmer now. Follow me and we’ll check with the patient, see if she’s up to talking. A police officer came in with her, but he just asked where the vending machines and toilets are.’

The nurse knocked and entered the tiny room. ‘Miss Cross, there’s two police detectives to see you.’ He opened the door, allowing Gina and Jacob into the room. ‘I’ll be back at the nurses’ station if you need me.’

‘Thank you,’ Gina said as she stepped towards the woman’s bed. ‘Hello, Lauren. Is it okay to call you Lauren?’

The young woman sat up and nodded, her eyes panda-like from all the smudged make-up and her foundation had smeared on the crisp white hospital sheet. She rubbed her nose and moved her straggly blonde to brown ombré coloured hair from her face.

‘It must have been such a shock, seeing what you saw.’ Gina sat on the plastic chair next to Lauren’s bed and Jacob took his notepad out and remained by the door.

‘I… I was in bed with her. I didn’t know and I had her blood on me…’ The woman hiccupped and released a little cry.

‘I know this is hard, but we need to ask you a few questions. We would really like to find out who did this. Are you okay to speak?’

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