Gina hurried towards the waiting room and smiled at the desk sergeant, Nick, then turned to see the young woman sitting on a plastic seat, hugging her knees with her oversized bag filling her lap.
Chapter Twenty-Six
What are you doing in there, Frannie? The slow walk into town had led you to the police station. Why? I need to find out what you know, and I will.
He walked past the wall and headed to the public car park on the grounds just opposite the station and he leaned against the fence, checking his phone. Far enough away to avoid detection from either Francesca or the police but close enough to spot her burnt orange knee-length trench coat that covered her perfect figure.
Your coffee was terrible yesterday, Frannie. I’m not sure if you made it that badly on purpose to hurry me out, and you don’t trust me – that much I know. I can see I have work to do when it comes to you. When I stood next to you in the kitchen, you moved and it wasn’t subtle or polite. You didn’t spare my feelings at all. Trust needs to be earned. I’m good at that. Whether I have the time to waste, that’s another question entirely.
He closed his eyes and imagined stroking his fingers through her hair. It was up today, a loose bun, which reminded him of Holly. He’d prefer that Francesca leave her hair flowing down her back, ready for him to wrap it around her neck. He stretched his twitching fingers, already desperate to act out his thoughts, then he curled them into a fist.
‘You alright, mate?’ asked the man in the paint-splattered tracksuit as he got into his white Transit van.
He loosened his clenched fists, the moment ruined. He’d just been at the part when her lips would begin to turn blue. ‘Yes, mind your own business.’
‘Stuff you. Was only askin’.’
He walked away towards the other side of the car park, watching the man stick two fingers up at him as he pulled out onto the main road. Was that image in his mind enough? He inhaled and imagined breathing in the scent of lemon, the smell he’d forever associate with Frannie from now onwards.
Back to the moment.
He’s wrapping her mane around her neck and watching her stark stare plead with him to unleash her but she’s enjoying it too so he carries on.
Is the thought of it enough?
Her voice is nothing more than a croak and she gasps air as he releases her from her own hair.
No, it wasn’t enough. He needed to feel it fully. He needed to feel the end.
He unbuttoned the top button of his shirt letting the light breeze cool his reddening face.
He turned his attention back to the station knowing that she could be ages. When she came out, he’d be waiting. A quiver ran through his body. Maybe Holly had said something to Fran and maybe she was telling the police. If that was the case, the police would come for him within the next couple of hours, he knew that much. He’d have a lot of explaining to do. Two hours, three hours, maybe four. When would he be in the clear? No more risks and no loose ends. If he were to get a second chance, he was going to tie them up, good and proper.
Come on, Frannie. Show me your hand. I’m waiting for you.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘Have a seat. Can we get you a drink?’ Jacob asked as he indicated for her to sit.
Francesca Carter shook her head and removed her orange raincoat. ‘I just want to get this over with.’
Gina sat next to Jacob in the little room and gave Francesca a slight smile. ‘What can we do for you?’
Jacob began to scrawl the date and a few details at the top of the page.
‘This is off the record so you can stop making notes.’ She put her bag by her feet and leaned forward, her long pale pink talons resting on the desk between them.
‘Okay, but bear in mind that someone murdered your friend on Saturday night and if you have information that could help us catch the killer, we would need to record it properly.’
She looked away and ran a hand across her eyes. ‘What I am going to say may well have nothing to do with Holly but I had to say something. Do you know what I mean?’
Gina nodded.
‘There’s no denying I was drunk, so drunk at times I struggled to stand, but I soon sobered up when I saw Holly’s lifeless body. I don’t think I’ve ever come around so fast.’ She paused and scraped her chair closer to the table.
Jacob closed his notepad and leaned back.
‘Go on, in your own time,’ Gina said.
