Cain’s eyes filled with tears. ‘If this is true, which I don’t think it is because Angela and I have no secrets, we share everything, then she is in so much danger.’ His voice caught in the back of his throat.
‘Yes, she is.’
‘Why wouldn’t she tell me this? Why hide it and pretend it was to help a friend out?’
‘Shame, embarrassment or maybe she wanted to judge how it all went before she talked to you about it. I imagine this is a huge thing for her. She is so lovely, she wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, Cain; at least, not on purpose.’
From the corner of her eye, she saw Wendy dash into the office and by the way her arms were waving around, she had news. Ben nodded at Morgan, and she tried to stop Cain from turning around before he, Stan and Wendy left the office. She had her radio turned low so had no idea what was happening and instead focused on Cain.
‘Did she mention anything about her life being married to Jonathan?’
He nodded, oblivious to what had just happened in the office behind him. ‘Yeah, all she said was her ex-husband was horrible; she always became so quiet if I asked, and I didn’t want to pry. He obviously hurt her. She said it was so long ago it was nothing but a blip on that part of her life, that’s why she never married again. I think that’s why she won’t commit to a date to get married now. If he wasn’t dead, I’d strangle him for hurting her so badly. She doesn’t deserve anything but love and respect.’
‘I agree, bless her. We’re going to find her, Cain, I promise you. How about I take you to Amy’s. Have you spoken to her yet and told her? Then I can focus on finding Angela, you know the score. I love you and I want to be with you, but I can’t do my job whilst I’m sitting here with you. What would you want Ben to do if it was the other way around?’
‘Ben wouldn’t go home and wait for news; he’d want to be in the middle of it if we were looking for you though, Morgan. This guy has stabbed four women and faked Jack’s suicide – and he’s out there, he might even have Angela now.’
‘I know, but if Ben was holding everyone back from doing the job they needed to do, he probably would go home. You know I’m going to keep you updated and ring you the minute I have any news.’
He nodded miserably. ‘Okay, thanks, Morgan.’
She leaned across and squeezed his fingers ever so gently. ‘Come on, Amy is going to be beside herself with worry too.’
Cain followed her out to the car park where she led him to a plain car. She had grabbed the last set of keys available on the whiteboard. He hadn’t even noticed that the office and parade room were empty. She’d checked a message from Ben notifying her that every available patrol had gone to the site where Angela’s mobile had last pinged off the phone masts, and for that she was glad. It was true, she couldn’t work with Cain following her around because she was afraid of upsetting him, although he was still processing what she’d told him about suspecting Angela could be their killer’s estranged mum. God, poor Angela, what a mess this was.
She’d messaged Amy to tell her they were on the way, and Amy was standing at the door waiting for Cain, Ava cradled in her arms.
Cain got out of the car but turned to Morgan. ‘You let me know the minute you have news. Promise me, Morgan.’
She nodded. ‘I’ll do my best.’
Amy waved at her before ushering Cain inside, and Morgan felt a little better that he was safely tucked out of the way for now. She drove off, before turning up her radio and asking for an update.
FORTY-SEVEN
Angela’s phone had pinged in a one-mile radius of Scotty’s house. There were a limited number of houses in that area, what were the chances of it being another? When Morgan had caught up to Ben, she whispered in his ear the likelihood of that happening. ‘I’m sorry, Ben, I know he’s one of us, but we can’t ignore this now. Where is he anyway? Is he still on shift? He picked me up earlier, but I wasn’t sure if he was finishing.’
Morgan’s phone vibrated in her pocket. ‘Brookes.’
‘Hey, it’s Wendy. Are you on your own?’
Morgan stepped away from Ben, but Madds was striding towards them. There was a park, and fields that bordered the streets around. Morgan was glad it hadn’t pinged near to the riverside, as that area had seen its fair share of tragedy.
She walked in the opposite direction of Madds and Ben. ‘I’m not, but I’m some distance from the others. What’s up?’
‘We got a hit from the partial print finally.’
‘You did, that’s incredible, and they’re on the system?’
‘Oh, yes, they are definitely on the system but not as a suspect for anything. Morgan, it’s one of us, it’s a cop.’
Morgan felt light-headed as she realised she’d been holding her breath and expelled it in one big gasp. She lowered her voice to barely a whisper. ‘Who is it?’
‘My knees are shaking, I feel as if I’m going to puke. It came back as Scotty’s.’
Morgan quickly turned to look at Ben, the horror in her eyes expressing every fear she’d had about Scotty.
‘Shit.’
