‘She’s fine. In fact, she’s being treated for a few minor injuries as we speak. They kept her in overnight and her daughter stayed with her.’
‘So, she’s here?’
Gina nodded. ‘How are you?’
‘Pained.’ She paused. ‘Can I tell you something?’
Gina smiled. She hoped it was the answer to Jacob’s proposal.
‘We’re getting married.’
‘Congratulations. You deserve every happiness. You and Jacob are perfect together.’
A twinge of sadness washed over her ashen face and a tear slid down her cheek. ‘Our baby died.’
‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart.’ Gina leaned forward and gently held Jennifer like she would her own daughter. Jennifer’s tears dampened her sleeve. The poor woman had been through the wars.
‘Jen.’ Annabel held Cally’s hand in hers and they both hurried over, gently hugging and kissing Jennifer.
‘I’ll leave you to it. You all have a lot of catching up to do.’
Jennifer gripped her hand. ‘Thank you.’
Cally smiled at Gina. Annabel had given a statement in the night. For now, Gina would let the friends be together before asking her any more questions. They all needed time to be together and Gina was going to respect that. Annabel had lost her father, her husband, and she’d told them everything about Whittle, adding weight to the case against him too. She’d done enough for now. She needed her strength for the court case.
As Gina left she passed Jacob in the main corridor. ‘Call me if you need anything at all, okay?’
‘’Course, guv.’
‘It’s Gina when we’re not on duty. Now, go and be with Jennifer.’ They had been through so much over the past few days and Gina knew that the healing would be tough. They would mourn the loss of their baby, they’d have their work to do with Jennifer’s recovery and they would carry the burden of never getting justice. Evan had determined his own end.
As she reached the main entrance and left the hospital, the April sun shone golden rays across the car park, little glints of it bouncing off all the windows. She checked her watch and for a second hoped that Briggs would forget to come over for their talk. She knew he wouldn’t. He had something to say and he was going to say it.
EPILOGUE
‘Do you want a drink?’
Briggs shook his head and sat at her kitchen table under the stark main light. She’d put the rabbit in the living room.
‘Well?’ There was no point in prolonging this agony any longer. She could tell from the worry lines across his forehead that the news wasn’t going to be good. He wasn’t going to shout, “Surprise, she’s my long-lost sister.”
He fidgeted a little and went to speak but then stopped.
‘How long?’ They’d spent the night together two weeks ago. Had he been cheating on her?
‘Not long. I met up with her several days ago. Things have moved fast. I’ve known her a long time.’
Gina poured herself a brandy and sat at the opposite end of the table. Her cat sensed an atmosphere and fled out of the cat flap. ‘Okay.’
‘I knew her a long time ago. She’s just moved back to the area.’
‘So you rekindled a school romance?’
He shrugged. ‘We were close back then, not romantically but that was because she moved away. I always wondered why we never kept in touch. After my divorce, I wondered if we’d ever meet again and I saw her in the supermarket. She lives locally now.’ He paused. ‘I never meant to hurt you.’
A tear slid down Gina’s cheek. ‘I don’t know what I expected from you and I always thought if you met someone, I could handle it.’
He pressed his eyes closed for a second. ‘She had a child and she’s a widow.’
