‘Could we please meet you there so that we can take a look too?’
She sniffed and pulled a tissue from her pocket, wiping her sodden eyes. ‘Of course.’
Gina made a note to catch up with Marianne later that day. For now, she needed to find out who Holly was arguing with at her workplace.
As Gina and Wyre left the building, Gina took a couple of deep breaths.
‘That bad?’
‘Yes. I don’t know how Marianne Long is going to get through this. I couldn’t even tell her when her daughter’s body would be released.’
Wyre yawned again.
‘I need to find out who Holly was arguing with at work and why. I’ll drop you back and take Jacob with me. You need to get some sleep.’
‘How about you, guv? You look like a walking corpse.’
‘Thanks.’
‘I meant, you look tired.’
Gina smirked. ‘I was just having you on but I agree, I do look like a walking corpse. When I’ve been to Furnace and Blower Ales, I’ll head home for a shower and rest. I’ve checked. They are open today which is good for us.’ She could send O’Connor and Jacob, or PC Smith and either detective, but she wouldn’t. She had to be there. She had to interrogate this person with her eyes as well as her questions. Going home wasn’t an option. Holly had some sort of disagreement or argument at her workplace and Gina needed to know what that was about and if it led to her murder.
Chapter Fifteen
Staring at her phone, Cass began spreading several slices of bread with peanut butter and chocolate spread. That would follow the multipack of crisps and half jar of jam, scooped straight out with a spoon. Nausea swept through her. They hadn’t been shopping and she hadn’t cared after promising herself she wasn’t going to eat today. Elvis would get a meal of some sorts at work and he wouldn’t ask if she’d eaten or not.
Her phone beeped.
Just having a break. Look, I’m sorry about this morning. I’ll make it up to you later. Elv. X
Too late. She’d seen the disgust on his face at the sight of her naked. It had happened all too often, leaving her looking desperate when he’d rejected her advances. It wasn’t like when they’d first met a year ago. He couldn’t get enough of her. They’d done it in his car, in the work van, in the cellar at the pub. His hands were all over her, all of the time. She bit into the stodgy sandwich, forcing an uncomfortable amount into her mouth, crumbs puffing out as she let out a sob, the peanut butter sticking to the roof of her mouth.
She knew exactly what he thought of her now. And Kerry, she’d only just gained an inroad to her friendship and she’d lost that too. Everything she’d done was for nothing. No one wanted her. She swallowed the bread and washed it down with a swig of fizzy orange straight out of the bottle. Again, she filled her mouth and continued until four of the slices had gone. Acid rose at the back of her gullet, a reminder of how she’d failed again. One day without food, that’s all she had to achieve to prove she could do it.Ugly, disgusting, failure.No wonder Elvis was looking elsewhere. No wonder he didn’t want her like he once did.
She prodded her stomach and slapped it hard, then again until it reddened and the skin prickled. She parted her dressing gown and pinched her thighs. Grabbing the knife she’d used to cut the bread, she traced a line across her thigh. If only she could slice her disgusting layer of flesh away, just like that. A small prickle of blood emerged, contained in its skin until it was ready to pop. She placed the knife back on the table and shoved her stubby fingers into the chocolate spread jar before placing a blob of it into her mouth as she sobbed.
She reread his message and replied, getting chocolate all over the screen.
Am I losing you?
Who was messaging her man? He didn’t answer her message. Maybe he was taken up with her, whoever she was. That had to be a sign.
She needed a friend. She needed someone. Kerry.Keep it cool and polite. She’ll need a friend soon and I’m here waiting. After all, one of Kerry’s besties was murdered at her wedding reception. I will be a good friend. I’ll be the best. Just like old times.
She answered the earlier message from Kerry.
Kerry. You take care too. I’m here if you need me. X
Playing it cool was beyond her. Impatience was setting in already.Answer me, answer me,she kept repeating in her head.One of you, say something.Elvis? Kerry?
She swiped the chocolate spread off the table. Holly took Kerry from her all those years ago and she was going to get her back. She didn’t care how, but Kerry was her friend, her best and only friend and she’d forgiven her for being horrible back then. The glass from the jar shattered, covering the tiles and her bare feet. She didn’t care. All she cared about was fixing her sad meaningless life. She wrapped the bread up and wiped the blood globule from her thigh. No more food today. She’d had enough. She could claw this back by not eating again – not failing.
Chapter Sixteen
‘Someone forgot to put sunscreen on,’ Gina said as she parked the car in the brewer’s car park.
‘Shut up, guv! I knew I’d never live this red nose down. I fell asleep on the sun lounger and Jennifer had gone to get a massage.’
