32
Wednesday, 27 January
I wait and my patience is paying off. After falling asleep for a couple of hours I feel a bit more refreshed although sleeping in a car isn’t easy. I see her through the bedroom window. She’s dressed in her white shirt and dark suit jacket. Her hair falls over her shoulders and she checks in the mirror one more time before heading to wherever for another day of crime fighting.
Little does she know that today, she gets to be star of the show. At this time in the morning it’s still pitch-black. She must be dedicated, being up this early. I think back to the lake on the morning she was there, one of the first on the scene, looking down at Amber. Was she searching for me when she glanced back and forth? Had she looked harder, she would have probably found me but no one walks along the old overgrown bridle path, definitely not at this time of the year. Not even a dog walker came by. I was neatly tucked away behind the trees, watching and waiting to see how it all panned out. I know our eyes didn’t really meet but in my mind I like to think they did, because all I see is her begging me to come for her.
For a while, I even stood, blending in amongst the crowd in my winter wear, but then they started taking names and details. I managed to slink away again. I’m good at that, at being the unmemorable person that I am.
The light to her bedroom goes off and every room is now in darkness. Her car is the silver saloon. I know that because I saw her come out of the station yesterday and I followed her home. I mean my attention had been on Madison but my time is my own. I don’t have a boss to answer to or a workplace to be at. I have commitments but they are on my terms. Finding an excuse to not be where I should is easy and nothing unusual.
I don’t need much to exist and I have a bit of a steady income although it’s a paltry one. I live my life freely without the burden of employment. No one tells me where to be or what to do which is why I’m here. The main front door will open at any minute. No pussyfooting around with this one.
Grabbing the pepper spray and the rock, I gently close my door and slink behind the car, then I scuttle along to the next one and I’m right where I want to be, behind hers. I’m ready and it’s dark – perfect.
I hear her boots clipping on the ground, getting louder as she gets closer. Two words to myself,Don’t hesitate.
As her lights flash and the car beeps, she goes to open her car door and I stand and bring the rock down hard, straight onto her head as hard as I can. Then comes the pepper spray, just a touch. She’s going to scream. ‘Don’t you dare scream or I will kill you – just don’t.’ Her gaze is confused and wavering, like she’s losing her focus. I bring the rock down one more time and all her muscles go at once. She slumps between her car and the next, perfectly hidden from anyone who might pass by.
I did it. She’s mine. Come on police person, detective or whoever you are. Who cares? Let’s go home.
I will break you and remake you. That’s a promise.
I cannot fail again. I refuse to fail again.
33
Gina paced in the car park outside Amber Slater’s apartment. Every car that passed had her attention. It wasn’t like Wyre to be late, ever. She could barely feel her phone as her fingers were so numb from the morning frost but she managed to call the station to see if Wyre had got their meeting time mixed up.
O’Connor picked up. ‘Alright, guv?’
‘Yes, I’m at Bulmore Drive waiting for Wyre and she’s not picking up. Have you seen her?’
‘No but I think we have a staff problem today. A couple have called in sick. ’Tis the season for the flu.’ He sang the last line.
‘Must be something in the air. So, you haven’t seen or heard from Wyre at all today?’
‘Sorry, guv. On a good note, I’m going through all the CCTV cameras from the Tesco Superstore, looking for Mr and Mrs Collins. I’ll hopefully have something to report soon.’
‘Don’t let me keep you. Is Jacob there?’
A scuffling sound came through the phone, sounding like O’Connor was holding it against his body or covering the receiver and Gina caught O’Connor’s muffled words as he asked around. ‘He is, guv.’
‘Would you ask him to meet me at Amber’s landlord’s, Vincent Jordan’s, bungalow as soon as? I want someone else with me when I speak to him and let me know if you hear from Wyre.’ Gina listened as O’Connor relayed her request.
‘He said he’s on his way. Be ten minutes. On a good note, Mrs O has made some pecan and maple twists, I’ll keep one aside for you.’
‘Mrs O is too kind. Tell her “thank you” from me.’
‘Certainly will.’ O’Connor ended the call and Gina stared at her phone. She’d tried Wyre three times and no answer. She did a half-hearted jog on the spot to warm up a little but it wasn’t working. Her fingers may as well have been three times as chunky as she missed the redial button and cursed her failed attempt under her breath. Her phone lit up. It was a message from Wyre.
I’m not too good. Sorry. Paula Wyre.
Gina’s brow furrowed. This wasn’t protocol. Each and every one of them had been sick at some point. The first thing they were required to do was actually call in. She exhaled a white mist and wondered if her break up with George had been affecting her colleague more than she was making out. The usually pristine Paula Wyre had seemed a little dishevelled but she’d also been eager to work so that her mind was off her problems.
Gina stared at the message. Had her response been a little cold? It wasn’t as if their messages or emails had ever ended with kisses but there was something off. She scrolled back to Wyre’s message. Since when had she ever been that brief? Wyre trusted her enough to say what was wrong and why would she end with her full name? Paula Wyre. Paula or Wyre would have been sufficient or even nothing. Gina knew her number.
She tried to call Wyre again and the call was cut off. She tried again but her phone went straight to voicemail. An uneasy feeling began to swell in the pit of Gina’s stomach. In her mind she pictured Wyre still in bed, depressed and unwashed, not wanting to get up and face the world. As a colleague, it was Gina’s duty to leave her be; as a friend, there was no way she could sit back and see Wyre head into some dark descent. After her visit to the Fish and Anchor, she was going to head to Wyre’s apartment to see if there was anything she could do to help.
