‘Just make sure the doors and windows are locked. If you hear or see anything suspicious, just call the emergency number immediately. If you’re worried or scared, you can also call me.’
‘Thank you.’
Keith pulled his face mask down and called her out into the lean-to, then spoke in a hushed voice. Nicole continued to convey her worries to Jacob.
‘I’ve found a smear of blood on the floor and I can see that there was an attempt to wipe it away. It’s going straight to the lab now. There is also evidence of a struggle, a few items were strewn under the table and the back of the chair was damaged. Again, I found a trace of blood and hair. I’ve called for more assistance and the kitchen and hallway are now a no-go zone. I just wish the housemate hadn’t tampered with everything. It’s going to make our job harder.’
‘Check the drive too.’
He nodded. ‘I’ll cordon it off now.’
Gina popped her head around the lounge door. ‘Nicole, is there anyone you can stay with for a few days?’
She nodded. ‘I’ll go to my mum’s. I don’t want to stay here alone.’
‘I think you’d feel better there,’ Jacob replied as he stood.
Gina had no guarantees that the attacker wouldn’t come back. Something bad had happened to Aimee, she knew it. Her heart rate quickened. She only hoped that another body wouldn’t turn up or worse – vanish; just like Samantha had.
Something was missing. Their perpetrator had been clever up to now. She only hoped something had been left behind this time. She shuddered as she thought of her own intruder the previous night. Shaking her head, she pushed it out of her mind. It couldn’t be related. Steven had now been cleared and for some reason he had backed off completely. Or could it be related? Samantha, the party animal, the fun young woman who’d been having a relationship with more than one man. Jade Ashmore, attended a partner-swapping party. The photo turning up showing both Jade and Samantha at the same party all those years ago. She couldn’t see where Aimee fitted in to all this, let alone herself if there was some link.
Perceived sexual deviance flashed through her mind and she felt the colour drain from her face. No one else knew about her past and that night, no one. Or had Terry shared that information adding his own twist to the truth. This person saw Aimee as some sort of sexual deviant and, as her theory went, he was punishing her. Why the photos? He likes to keep a record.
Jacob brought her back into the moment. ‘We have to go, guv. Diane Garraway has just called in a hysterical state. She was waffling on about Samantha, then she hung up.’
‘Let’s go and check on her.’
Sixty-Four
Gina hammered on the door for the second time but Diane still didn’t answer. ‘Do you think she’s in?’ Jacob asked. Children ran around screaming as they chased a football on the small patch of grass in front of the houses.
‘She looked like she could barely walk last time we saw her.’ Gina stepped over the patch of muddied earth in front of the living room window and peered through the smeared glass. Diane lay on the sofa, vomit glistening down the side of the settee where she lay. ‘Call an ambulance.’
She darted around the side of the building and ran through the open back gate, hoping that the back door would be open and it was. Charging through, she entered the chilly lounge, grabbed Diane’s wrist and began searching for a pulse.
She could hear Jacob relaying the address over the phone.
‘Overdose, looks like paracetamol. She’s vomited but we need an ambulance pronto.’ She counted the missing tablets. ‘I’d say fifteen paracetamol but I can’t be sure.’
‘They’re on their way, guv.’
‘Diane.’ Gina gave her a little shake. ‘Diane.’
The woman murmured and half-opened an eye. Gina grabbed a tissue and wiped the side of her face. ‘An ambulance is on its way.’
‘I caused all this pain. I did bad things,’ she half-whispered. ‘My brother, he said—’ Her eyelid began to droop as her body juddered. ‘Samantha—’
‘It’s DI Harte. You called and we’re here. Help is on its way. You’re going to be okay.’
‘My brother.’ She began to half-sob and cough before spraying Gina’s shirt with a stream of vomit. The woman gagged and choked. She was already on her side.
‘Let it all out, Diane.’ She stared down at her shirt and almost gagged herself. She felt the woman’s clammy head and Jacob entered with some kitchen towel. She heard sirens approaching as she mopped herself and Diane with the tissues. ‘Help is here, hang on, Diane.’
The woman no longer responded and her pulse was faint.
‘Diane. Stay with me. The paramedics are here.’
Jacob opened the front door and two paramedics entered, pushing Gina aside as they began treating the woman.
