Desperate to quench away the disgusting taste in her mouth, she opened wide so he could pour. Before she realised what was happening, he’d already dropped what felt like a pill to the back of her throat and the water followed – too fast for her to stop that and the pill from slipping down her throat. ‘What was that?’ she spluttered.
He removed the goggles and moved in closer, leaning over. That’s when she saw the barely visible line of his squarish jaw, one she recognised.
‘A sleeping tablet. How long will you be able to stand for now?’
‘Please don’t do this to me. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this. Please let me go. I won’t say anything to anyone. I just want to go home,’ she said.
‘All debts must be paid in full. You were on the wrong side all those years ago. All that rejoicing, champagne… It’s all about justice, rebalancing the scales. Remember his name. Baz. Baz, Baz,’ he shouted and she knew exactly who he was referring to.
How could she not know that name? She pictured the day that they’d all gone to the pub after the inquest had been heard at the court in Kidderminster. Kain had walked straight up to the bar and ordered several bottles of their finest champagne all while the teen was gazing through the window of the pub. ‘You were the boy…’
He slammed the lid down, but this time, he closed it. The air was thickening with eggy fumes and however much Lindywanted to force her eyes to stay open, she couldn’t. They half closed and she stumbled.
Her breaths slowed and she began jumping over the waves again, her hand gripping Kain’s so the sea couldn’t sweep him away from her. A large wave came and weed began to wrap around her calves, dragging her away as she held on to Kain. She allowed the sea to take them both.
FIFTY-THREE
‘I don’t need a solicitor,’ Pia shouted as Gina and Jacob sat opposite her. It had taken a short while to process her arrest but now they were ready to start questioning her. ‘Let me go. This is absurd. How the hell are you arresting me for all that?’
‘Mrs Yates, please sit. You will get your chance to speak in a moment when the recorder is rolling again.’ Gina sat back down next to Jacob with one hand ready to hit the emergency panel now that she knew how hard Pia could punch when forced into a corner.
‘But I don’t get it. This is stupid. I swear, you’re all just so bloody woke. A person isn’t allowed to say anything anymore. Just because I said a few things when I was upset.’ She folded her arms in front of her chest.
Jacob introduced them all for the tape. Gina glanced at the time. It was now almost ten thirty that evening and it had been a long day but she knew that Pia was the key to getting Lindy back. She was also the person who reported Lindy missing but even though she had proven that she’d stopped at the garage for wine, no one could really corroborate Pia’s whereabouts.
‘Pia, where is Lindy Pickering?’
‘How would I know? It’s your job to find her. You’re the police, not me.’
‘Did you want Kain Pickering to pay in full?’
‘No, this is insane!’ She slammed her hand on the table but this time she flinched as the pain of the second hit to the same hand flared up.
‘Where is Lindy?’ Gina paused. Pia didn’t answer.
‘What do the blue and pink teddy bears mean?’
‘This is getting more absurd by the minute.’
‘Please answer the question, Mrs Yates.’
‘I don’t know what the hell you’re on about.’
‘Is your husband still at home?’
Pia shrugged. ‘He’s probably on his way over here to be with me.’
‘We’ll need your house keys as we need to search your property.’
‘You can’t do that. No way you can go through my house on some stupid hunch or whatever you have me here on.’
‘It’s more than a hunch, Mrs Yates. We have reason to believe that you were involved in some serious crimes. Why did you use the words “paid in full?”’
Pia scrunched her brows and tilted her head before allowing her jaw to slacken.
That wasn’t the reaction Gina had expected but she continued questioning. ‘Mrs Yates, where are Craig and Danny Crawford?’
‘I don’t know and I don’t care. It’s them you should be arresting, not me. Craig is a nasty man.’
