‘I don’t see we have a choice; I want to go over everything, and I need the files to do that. I can’t believe we missed it, missed that there could be another person involved.’
He nodded. ‘If you’re happy then that’s good. Whilst you’re there can you investigate the security guard who turned up, see what his background is? I’m assuming he has no criminalrecord, or he wouldn’t be the supervisor, but who knows what’s going on.’
Morgan stood up, took one last look at Lauren for now and walked towards where Ben was hovering in the doorway. He caught hold of her elbow, pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. ‘None of this is your fault, Morgan.’
‘No? Then why do I feel as if it is? If we’d paid more attention, then Lauren wouldn’t be lying there, she wouldn’t have bled out all over the dusty carpet in this place all alone.’
Ben shook his head. ‘You didn’t kill her; you didn’t chase her and stab her in the neck and chest.’
‘No, but I may as well have.’
She knew she was going to cry – hot tears of anger and frustration that would smudge her eyeliner. She had to get out of here and clear her head because crying wasn’t going to make a difference to the dead woman behind her. She needed to focus on finding the missed connections that they hadn’t picked up on, find the killer and this time make sure they were locked away for the rest of their evil, miserable lives.
Declan’s white Audi waited at the entrance gates until Morgan drove through them. He put his window down.
‘Hey, you, where are you escaping to? Have you got permission to leave? I need you here to give me my entertainment fix.’
She smiled sadly. ‘You’re going to have to find someone else to fall on their arse or do something wrong, I need to go to the station.’
He pouted at her. ‘You look sad, is everything okay? Is that brute Ben being mean to you?’
‘I am sad, I’m also really angry about this crime scene.’
‘Why?’
‘It should never have happened. I think we screwed up big time and now an innocent woman is dead.’
‘Oh, that’s not good. Ben?’
‘Ben isn’t being mean to me; in fact, he’s the opposite, he’s far too nice, I don’t deserve him.’
‘Ah, I see. This is one of those complicated female things. I won’t beat him to a pulp then on your behalf, that could be a big mistake on my part.’
This made Morgan laugh out loud. ‘Declan, if he ever needs beating to a pulp, I am quite capable of doing that.’
‘Oh, I bet you are, dear. You could beat the lot of us and not even break a sweat.’ He did his best Mrs Doubtfire impression.
‘You missed your way, you know that, don’t you? I could see you as an actor.’
He snorted. ‘God forbid. Do not tell Theo that, he’s always looking to recruit innocent souls to the Thursday amateur dramatics club.’
‘Your secret is safe with me.’ Morgan winked at him, and he blew her a kiss.
She drove away feeling slightly less unhinged after speaking to Declan. He always knew how to cheer her up and she was forever grateful he was her friend and the best forensic pathologist there was.
EIGHT
Ben was standing at the entrance of the room waiting for Declan, Wendy and Carl, who had arrived at the hotel whilst he’d been upstairs with Morgan. They had been in the process of bringing in floodlights to illuminate the entrance and the staircase. The sky was still heavy with rain clouds, and it was almost completely dark. There were no stars out tonight, no moon either and the grounds surrounding the empty hotel were as creepy as hell. Declan nodded as he shuffled past him, heavy case in one hand.
‘Just saw Morgan, she’s upset. Not like her.’
Ben sighed. ‘I know, she’s blaming herself. There’s no point in me explaining. You’re better off looking at the body first.’
‘Keep to the side, please, I’ve put a light in the bedroom for you so you can see.’
Declan snapped to attention at Wendy’s voice. ‘Thank you, Wendy, much appreciated as always.’
She smiled at him before turning away.
