Gina leaned back into the cushion. It was possible that she didn’t want her drug-addicted ex-husband back in her life causing trouble, but to what lengths would she go to ensure that never happened again? ‘And where was that?’
‘I wasn’t sure it was him at first. I was driving and I saw this man hurrying down George Street. It was dark but he stopped under a street lamp and was fumbling in his pockets. I was being held up by a learner so I wasn’t going fast. Then, I looked closer at him just as I passed. I knew it was him straight away. I then caught another glimpse of him in the rear-view mirror and watched as he cut through the old terraced cottages.’
Gina felt a slight surge of adrenaline running through her body. That was a route they needed to check out, see if it would lead them to something useful. She undid her coat a little more as her face continued to burn. ‘Did you speak to him, or confront him?’
‘No way. I didn’t want him hanging around here again. I must admit, I couldn’t sleep once I’d seen him. I was sure he’d come here for something, for money maybe, but he didn’t. After that, I avoided driving up that road altogether. I thought no more about it until Eveline rang me up to tell me what had happened.’ She paused. ‘I couldn’t tell Eveline that I’d seen him. She was so upset when she called me from the airport and I didn’t need her telling me that I should have scooped him up from the street and brought him back into my home. I have Joshua to think of. He comes first.’
‘So, let me get this right’ – Jacob was catching up with his notes – ‘you didn’t see him again after that?’
She removed her glasses from her head and placed them on a side table, next to her book. ‘No.’
‘When was this?’
The woman grabbed her phone from the arm of the chair and began scrolling. ‘It was Monday the twenty-sixth of October. I was driving to the childminder’s house from work.’ She scrunched her brow. ‘I don’t know why I felt the need to note that down in my diary. I suppose I expected him to cause trouble so keeping a log would have been the sensible thing to do. I vowed that if he came back, I would call the police this time. Our ties were well and truly severed and he hadn’t lived here for over a year.’
Gina’s mind went back to the night she and Briggs were in the café. Their victim had come in and caused a small amount of commotion. Then the kids had attacked another kid by the bus stop. She had chased them all the way to that row of cottages but they got away. Then, she had headed back and bumped into their victim at the back of the houses that lined the road. Last she saw of him was when he stood outside the accountants. Then he was gone. ‘What time was this?’
‘I worked over, so I would say about six thirty, or maybe nearer to seven. I don’t know exactly.’
Gina glanced over. That would be about right. He must have gone that way after Gina had seen him outside the accountants.
‘Thank you. Is there anything else you can tell us about him that might help with our enquiries? Did he have any enemies that you might know of?’
She threw her shoulders back and ruffled the curtains with the back of her head. ‘I wouldn’t know where to start. He owed a lot of money to people and caused a fair bit of disturbance around here. I don’t think anyone on this road liked him. Do I think any of them would kill him? No, I don’t.’ She stared at the floor. ‘There is something strange that I saw but it might be nothing. On the night I saw him, on the Monday…’ She paused. ‘When he stopped to rummage in his pockets, someone a few paces back ducked behind a car. I thought it was probably just teenagers playing about as Halloween was close.’
‘Could you tell us anything about this person, anything at all?’
‘They were more female shaped, wider hips than a man. It was so fast, I don’t remember anything else. I just caught a glimpse but it did seem odd.’
A few minutes later, they wrapped up the conversation. Gina stood. ‘Thank you. We’ll keep you informed with what—’
‘I don’t want to know.’ The woman swallowed and looked away. ‘I’m managing to keep it all together now. It’s been a hard year. My son and I just need to move on. Besides, Eveline will probably be told. When I’m ready to hear, I’ll call her.’
‘You have my card. If you do remember anything else, please call me.’
The woman nodded and showed them to the door, locking it behind them. As they reached the end of the path, Gina saw a teen dressed up in a cloak and a scream mask throwing custard on a car. He removed his mask. Gina bolted for the youth. ‘Police!’
They had their Justin Bieber lookalike. The sound of footsteps scurrying off in all directions faded. His gang had deserted him. The boy smirked.
‘You need to come with us. Criminal damage and causing alarm and distress is no laughing matter.’
He wasn’t getting away this time. He slumped his shoulders and dragged his feet all the way to her car. Caught red-handed. Maybe, just maybe, he disappeared in the same direction that Alexander Swinton did on Monday. And then there was the matter of this boy’s attack on the other boy to deal with.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
‘Well, that was exceptional as usual.’ Isaac smirked and scraped the dining chair along the tiled floor, standing with his cigarettes in hand.
‘It’s a shame Penny wasn’t feeling too well.’ Cherie knew that was a lie, but Marcus hadn’t wanted Christian and Joanna to know about their argument.
‘Bloody drama queen,’ Isaac muttered. ‘Do you mind if I pop out for a cigarette?’ His intense stare meeting Cherie as he awaited an answer.
Cherie had barely touched her food. Each time she’d placed the slimy pasta in her mouth, it cloyed in her throat, and now the moment that was causing all her angst had finally arrived. ‘Of course not. Go ahead.’ She threw her serviette to the table. ‘I might join you for some fresh air.’ She wafted her top. It was time to talk. ‘It’s warm in here, what with the cooking.’ She glanced at her water glass next to all the empty wine glasses. If there was a time she really needed a drink, it was now – desperately.
Christian began collecting the dirty plates, dutiful as always. ‘I’ll clear up and get dessert plated while we take a break. I’m stuffed at the minute.’ He patted his belly, then he smiled and carried on, not suspecting anything was amiss.
Cherie knew that everything was amiss and for once she was glad that the kids had gone to stay with Christian’s parents for the night. He’d reminded her that the kids could enjoy a little Halloween fun without her weird behaviour ruining it for them. Also, something was brewing and it wasn’t good.
Marcus had seemed deep in thought as he’d pushed his pasta around the plate and Isaac had kept nudging him under the table as if to say, calm it down. Then Cherie had caught herself staring at Marcus. Isaac had also appeared to be deep in thought and had occasionally snorted through his nose as if suppressing a laugh. Cherie had felt the table judder as Marcus then kicked Isaac under the table. Tensions were definitely simmering over.
