No wonder Richie had wanted to talk to her. Was it weird that he was interested in the case? After all, he grew up here. He had the inquisitive mind of a detective.I know you intimately.The words from the hate mail she had received returned to haunt her. What was that Richie said about her husband?Unfinished business.Could Richie have had a hand in it? He had been to Blackhall Manor. He also had a reason to hate her, given her husband’s behaviour … David had been his sergeant, after all. No. It couldn’t be … She shifted uncomfortably as niggles crept in. Snorting, Sarah turned the ignition of her car. Her imagination was galloping away with her.
She manoeuvred the car from the car park, her thoughts only half on the busy road. There had been a moment between her and her father before she had gone to bed that night. The look he gave her as she said goodnight held nothing but love. She closed her mind to the thought. It was too much to bear.
She turned off towards Pine Heights. This gated community was not quite as grand as Slayton Crest, but still a development of exclusive properties with price tags of half a million pounds upwards. She drove freely through the tall black metal gates. There were no barriers at the entrance of Pine Heights, no CCTV to capture her presence as she passed through.
The girl who answered the door was wearing a pink onesie with a unicorn horn attached to the hood. Her afro hair was tied in cute, pink-ribboned bunches and at about five feet tall, she looked far too innocent to be getting involved with deadly Halloween games. But in a predominantly white community, there was a likelihood that Jahmelia would have done anything to fit in. ‘Hi, Jahmelia, remember me? Is it OK if we talk one more time?’ Sarah said, as she displayed her warrant card. The girl nodded slowly, her gaze returning to the hall as she called for her mum.
‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ Sarah said after Jahmelia’s mother let her inside. She reminded her of someone. Perhaps someone she’d seen in town … ‘Would it be OK if I had another quick word with your daughter?’
‘You’re welcome to, but she’s already spoken to the police several times now.’ Pointing to the left, she led Sarah into the living room. The house was tastefully decorated with cream-coloured furniture and a family portrait on the main wall. Jahmelia was the middle child, with an older and younger brother. According to police files, her father was an architect. Like many people in Slayton, he was employed by Irving Industries.
‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ she said to Jahmelia’s mother, Bryony, as she left her ankle boots outside the living-room door. ‘It’s just a quick visit to see if anything has jogged Jahmelia’s memory, or if she’s heard anything in school.’
‘Jahmelia wasn’t friends with Angelica,’ Bryony instantly replied. But the look on Jahmelia’s face said otherwise. It was a look Sarah knew well. Her shoulders hunched, the young girl was brooding, burdened by a secret she was too scared to share.
‘Your husband works for Irving Industries, is that right?’ Sarah said.
‘For now,’ Bryony nodded. ‘But we didn’t encourage any kind of friendship. From the moment we met Angelica we knew she was a bad influence.’ She looked to her daughter then back to Sarah. ‘Sometimes I wish we’d never come to Slayton, but it’s convenient for work.’
Sarah returned her attention to Jahmelia. ‘Is there anything you’d like to share with me, Jahmelia, anything at all? You’re not in any trouble.’ Jahmelia shook her head.
‘Has anyone asked you to keep a secret? Threatened you?’
‘No,’ she uttered quietly.
‘And you didn’t knowanythingabout the Midnight Game?’
‘She’s already been through all this,’ Bryony butted in. ‘She was in the tent at the bottom of the garden with Libby. They didn’t leave it all night.’ She appeared annoyed as Sarah pushed the subject. This was obviously sore ground. ‘Besides …’ Bryony continued. ‘If Jahmelia did know anything, her grandmother would have got it out of her by now.That womanis like the Spanish Inquisition.’ The words were not spoken fondly, and Sarah sensed tension there.
She was interrupted by the delicate chime of a doorbell. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, pointedly checking her watch. ‘That’s her.’
At least it bought Sarah a few seconds alone with the child. ‘You’re Elliott’s babysitter, aren’t you?’ she continued. ‘He’s a nice boy, isn’t he?’
Jahmelia brightened. ‘He’s the best. I like babysitting him.’
Sarah’s smile faded. ‘He’s been having nightmares about the Midnight Man. It’s making him really upset. Could he have overheard you talking about it with Libby? Did you mention the game at all?’
Voices rose from the hall as Jahmelia’s mother welcomed her visitor inside. Jahmelia stared, unblinking, at the door.
‘Because if you’re scared, you can talk to me. Elliott did. He feels much better now.’
Jahmelia’s eyes glistened with tears as Sarah spoke of keeping her safe. ‘It’s not your fault. None of this is. You don’t need to be afraid.’
The young girl took a breath to speak before her gaze returned to the door. She knew something, Sarah could feel it. She was on the cusp of confiding in her. The door swung open, putting paid to any disclosure. Jumping from the sofa, Jahmelia ran from the room.
‘What the hell are you doing with my granddaughter?’
Sarah jumped from the chair as if she had received an electric shock. It was Gabby, and she was not best pleased.
‘Sarge … Gabby … I mean …’ Sarah stuttered, as the woman approached.
Gabby turned and shooed Bryony away. ‘Check on Jahmelia. See if she’s OK.’
‘Of course she’s alright, we were only chatting,’ Sarah said, before being silenced with a glare.
‘Who authorised you to come here and harass my granddaughter? Because if anyone’s going to be doing the harassing, it’s me.’
‘I didn’t know,’ Sarah said. ‘I just thought that.… well, Jahmelia is Elliott’s babysitter. He could have overheard her talking with Libby about the game. I just wanted to speak to her one more time.’
