‘It’s stupid. I feel stupid. It was nothing.’
Gina leaned forward as Jacob played pass the brick back and forth with a dribble-mouthed Ben.
‘Last night, I thought I heard something at the back gate. Brendan went out to look but there was no one there. I thought I saw movement in the shrubbery that lines the bus route. It looked like someone was out there, standing still. It was probably someone waiting for their dog to do its business or something like that. When he went out, they’d gone; that’s if there was anyone there in the first place. I haven’t had much sleep lately. I saw a flash of white in the darkness. It could have been a carrier bag trapped in branches for all I know. It could have been anything. I was just jittery, that’s all.’
‘Well, if ever you’re worried again, just call us.’
Lilly hurried over to Jacob, rescuing him from the many coloured bricks that were piling up in his lap. The child screamed as she scooped him up.
‘He’s okay,’ Jacob said with a smile. ‘You best have your bricks back.’ He passed Ben a brick and the boy stopped crying for a moment.
As they tied up the conversation, Gina and Jacob said their goodbyes and headed out, back into the May sunshine. The weather was starting to change for the better. Daffodils grew in clumps on the communal patches of grass and birds tweeted from the trees. Lilly and Ben waved to them as she closed the door.
‘Do you think someone was hanging around, watching them, guv?’ Jacob stood beside the car.
‘I don’t know. What I do know is that we have two dead bridesmaids and I don’t want anything to happen to her. I’m going to up the patrols on this house. We’ll add in a patrol of the street too. If officers are checking around the back regularly, that may act as a deterrent. My biggest fear is that our perpetrator is known to her. She may let our killer straight in through the front door. This person could be trusted by all, seen as harmless. How do we guard against that?’ She grabbed her phone and dialled the incident room. ‘Wyre, it’s Harte. I want a panic alarm fitted at Lilly Hill’s house as soon as possible. Can you ask PC Kapoor to head over as soon as she can?’ She paused as Wyre spoke. ‘What? We’re on our way back now.’ She ended the call.
‘What was that about?’ Jacob tapped his nails on the roof of her car.
‘Phillip Brighton checked in as a part of his bail conditions, albeit late. He’s there now. Wyre and O’Connor are preparing for Francesca’s post-mortem so let’s hurry back.’
‘Was that all?’
‘No. The plot thickens. I’ll tell you in the car. We have a witness coming in to make a statement against Samuel Avery. It’s all happening at the moment.’
Chapter Forty-Five
Midday had passed and Cass had already received two calls from work. They really didn’t trust her when she’d told them that she was sick in bed with a tummy upset. Now, it was more of a bind and she’d have to face a back to work interview the next day, a company procedure she’d come to fear. Two sick days in a year, that’s all she’d had. She couldn’t face work and the idea of calling in with a sickie had appealed at eight in the morning. She did feel ill but it was all self-inflicted. The fried food hadn’t sat well at all but she knew it wouldn’t when she was scoffing it down.
She tied the silky scarf in a different way. That was better. It looked far nicer in a loose bow. That’s how Kerry would wear it. Cass wore the same black trousers or leggings every day but she knew Kerry would have racks of amazing designer clothes and that wearing them would command respect as soon as she entered a room. She had to conjure up her inner Kerry and she had to do it on a budget. She did a half turn and flinched as the lights and radio went off. Heart beating like a hammer drill, she let out a laugh. The emergency button needed pressing on the meter; that was all.
Hurrying out of the front door, she opened the cupboard and pressed. Everything came back to life. Heavy footsteps clunked up the stairs. She gazed down, trying to spot who was coming up another flight. ‘What are you doing back?’
Elvis’s shoulders dropped. ‘You’re meant to be at work.’ He pushed past her and hurried into the bathroom, locking the door behind him. Moments later, she heard the shower running. She turned the radio off and waited for him to come out and interrogate her.
Kerry still hadn’t replied to her message. Last night, Cass had watched from the bushes as her drunken friend’s mother had helped her stagger into the car before driving her away. Then the detective had heard her, the one who’d been at the reception on the night of Holly’s murder. When she approached, Cass had held her breath until she’d got into her car and drove off with her partner. She had no reason for being in Kerry’s bushes and had no idea what to say if she’d have been caught.
She fiddled with the white scarf and smelled it. The free sample of expensive perfume still lingered. A flowery fragrance of quality. Kerry would approve.
Her stomach turned as she waited for Elvis to make an appearance.
As the shower stopped spraying, a loud hammering knock at the door startled her.
‘Who the hell is that?’ Elvis unlocked the bathroom door and trod wet footsteps over the carpet.
She shrugged her shoulders. ‘Shall I answer it?’
‘Durr, yes! What the hell have you done to your face?’
He obviously didn’t approve of her make-up. She hurried to the door. ‘Hello, who is it?’
‘Police.’
‘It’s the police,’ she mouthed.
The knocking continued.
She gently opened the door with the chain across it. ‘Hello.’
