‘You said she was seeing someone else. Did she see other people?’
The woman stared beyond her, fixing her vision on a scratch in the paint on the wall as her forehead crumpled as she thought. ‘People called her names, like slag, marriage wrecker. I heard them while I was out and about. I may be falling apart in every other way but my hearing is spot on. I heard people when I went to the café, to the shop or even huddled on the streets. Everyone knew her. All the men had a thing for her and all the woman hated her. I knew her better though. She was just a kind-hearted, trusting girl who wanted to be loved. She loved Derek. The others were just there to make him jealous.’ She paused. ‘She played a stupid game really but she was led by emotion. I know people thought she was more calculating than what she was, that she played with people’s feelings. She broke the hearts of a few young men who fancied their chances, none I know the names of, she just told me about them as she fished for advice.’
‘Advice?’
Diane let out a little laugh. ‘She’d say she was talking about a friend of hers but I knew it was her. She reminded me a little of myself. I bet you can’t believe I was ever attractive, can you, Detective?’
Gina cleared her throat and smiled. She wasn’t going to answer that question. ‘Tell me more about the other men?’
‘Some really liked her, some were just one-night stands. Samantha never felt fulfilled or loved. She was looking for something she couldn’t have when it came to Derek. I don’t know what she saw in him. He wasn’t particularly attractive and he certainly wasn’t as intelligent as she was. He came with so much baggage too and, worst of all, he was using her really. As for the others, there was no one memorable. Sometimes she’d go to the pub or a party and end up with someone. Rumours would go around and she and Derek would argue. He didn’t want to commit to her but he soon objected when there was someone else on the scene.’
Gina’s phone beeped. She glanced at the message. It was Jacob wondering how long she would be. She turned the phone over to remove the distraction. ‘Tell me what you know about the last man she was seeing. You now say you remember Samantha smelling of cannabis when she’d been with him.’
‘He was just some bum, that’s what she called him. No one special. She’d seen him two or three times and as I said, she stank of weed when she came here. She was never stoned though. She didn’t smoke. I can tell a stoned person a mile off, seen a few in my youth. I know she’d told Derek about the other man. She’d had enough and was about to break it off with him and he was livid.’
‘About the other man, do you remember anything else she said?’ Gina knew from the files that Derek had been questioned numerous times and had come back clean. A search of his property had given them nothing and his wife had provided him with an alibi on the night of Samantha’s disappearance, stating that he’d been at home all night.
The woman stared through the window as a man walked past. ‘No. I should have asked her more. I should have tried to protect her. She was vulnerable you know. People didn’t see that. She always felt she was worthless and not good enough. She wanted to complete her degree so people would respect her. She walked people’s dogs for them if they couldn’t get out, checked on her neighbours too. She helped the very people who gossiped about her. I hate people, I really do. They all loved to hate her. They were jealous because she was beautiful and clever and they loved the drama that her life brought.’ Diane wiped a tear away. ‘You need to speak to Derek again. I don’t trust him.’
‘Why do you say that?’
She shrugged. ‘I said all this at the time. His wife was his alibi on the night of her disappearance. She’d have done or said anything to keep him. Samantha was everything to me and no one understands—’ The woman pulled her dressing gown sleeve over her hand and wiped her eyes as she sobbed.
‘I’m going to do everything I can to find out where Samantha is.’
‘Was.’
‘What do you mean?’ Did she know more than she was letting on?
‘I knew her, better than anyone else. If she was alive, she’d have contacted me, not remained silent all these years. She treated me like her mother, for heaven’s sake. She’s dead somewhere, dead,’ Diane said as tears fell from her chin.
‘Oh, Diane, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.’ Gina ran out to the kitchen and grabbed the kitchen roll. She passed a couple of sheets to Diane.
‘Don’t be. I know she’s gone. Just catch who did this to her.’
Gina nodded. ‘I will do everything I can.’ She placed one of her cards on the table. ‘I know you probably have my card but if you think of anything or you need to talk, just call me. I know this case has unearthed a lot of upset for you.’ Gina couldn’t leave her without offering a little support even though she knew Briggs would think she was getting too involved if he found out. Maybe she was but Diane wasn’t in a good place. ‘Did one of the officers call you to talk about home security since the break-in?’
She nodded. ‘I have someone coming from the council next week to fit some more locks.’ Gina smiled. It wasn’t much. They should be offering so much more but funds were a problem. Lack of funding affected people like Diane. A police officer driving by regularly would be preferable but it wasn’t going to happen, not with their current staffing levels. Diane going to stay with a relative or friend would also be a good option but after looking at her notes, Gina knew she had no one to turn to.
Gina stayed with Diane for a few minutes and left her with a freshly made cup of tea and a slice of toast. After emptying her bin, she’d left, promising that she’d do everything to find out what happened, and she would. Finding out who killed Jade and what happened to Samantha were the most important things in her life at this moment. Her heart ached for the woman and deep down there was still a glimmer of hope that Samantha was still alive. She wouldn’t give up on her that easily. She glanced at the message that Jacob had sent and scrolled down further.
Hurry back, guv. Wyre has finally infiltrated the Swap Fun weirdos! You’ve got to see this!
Thirty-Five
Gina scoffed the rest of her fried egg sandwich as she nodded at Nick, the desk sergeant, before hurrying through to the incident room. It was just what she’d needed to line her screaming stomach. After the night before, she knew she’d feel sicker still if she skipped breakfast. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in a window. Her dark circles were a giveaway that she’d not slept much that night. Make-up may have hidden them had she been wearing it, but time to preen herself was a luxury she didn’t have that morning.
A glimpse into the Swap Fun group was just what they needed. She rubbed her greasy hands together until the crumbs dissipated over the hard-wearing carpet tiles. ‘So, what have you got for me, Paula?’
Wyre glanced back from her computer screen and smiled. ‘I’m in, guv.’ She punched the air and smiled. ‘They trust me. I’ve already had several messages from couples wanting to meet up and jazz up their stale sex lives. The main forum for the meet-ups is full of chat about another one, and guess when it is?’
Gina shrugged her shoulders and leaned over Wyre’s screen. ‘Tell me everything.’
‘You know all that greasy food is bad for you.’
Gina gave the younger woman a comedy stare and they both tittered. ‘Whatever.’
After clicking a couple of tabs, Wyre opened up the chat room conversation. ‘As you can see, most people don’t use their own names. I’m Daisy Dukess.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know where that came from but I thought it might sound attractive. Given the ages of the people we’ve interviewed so far, most of them will rememberThe Dukes of Hazzard. I’m trying to work out who our contributors might be and there are only two I think I can clearly identify at the moment, Stevie Boy and Ames Yogi. I don’t think our Steven Smithson made too much of an effort to hide who he was. And Ames is a picture of a pert bottom in jazz pants, I’m thinking Aimee Prowse. She describes herself as a personal trainer and yoga guru.’
