‘Well, I’m not one to stir things,’ she said, ‘but I can’t say I blame Jake for losing his temper. The information in those letters can only be coming from here, after all. Whichever way you look at it, it meanssomeone’snot doing their job properly, doesn’t it? A job they’re getting paid well to do, I might add.’
‘Well, yes, but …’ Sally had the grace to sound uncomfortable. ‘Even so, I can’t believe Emily had anything to do with sending the dreadful things out. I mean, why would anyone want to do such a thing?’
Fran drew in a long breath, meaning she was gearing herself up to impart her invaluable opinion. Emily froze. ‘Out of jealousy, obviously. Think about it. Michael was the first person to get one, wasn’t he? Now, I’m just speculating, but if it had beenmyhusband Natasha had been fawning all over and fluttering her eyelashes at during the duck race… Well, let’s just say I would have been tempted to drown her too.’
Emily’s stomach roiled, nausea rising hotly inside her. She’d wondered how long it would take her to say that in front of her face. She was bound to have been spreading vicious rumours. Everyone in the village would think she’d pushed her on purpose. That it was her sending the letters, now that Fran had got her teeth into this too.
Her legs felt as if they might slide from underneath her, and she stretched a hand to the wall for support. Taking several deep breaths, she was desperately trying to slow her frantic heartbeat when Nicky said behind her, ‘Emily? Are you all right?’
Hearing the concern in her voice but not sure if it was genuine, whether there was anyone she could trust any more apart from lovely, dear Edward, Emily nodded quickly. ‘Fine,’ she assured her, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears. ‘I felt a little faint, that’s all. I didn’t get chance to eat anything this morning.’
Willing herself not to pass out, which would give Fran – and Sally now, it seemed – yet more juicy gossip to bury her under, she turned to Nicky, a forced smile on her face. ‘Did you need something?’
Nicky looked her over, unconvinced. ‘Jake rang through,’ she said. ‘He wondered whether you could step into his office.’ She hesitated, her gaze flicking worriedly down and back. ‘The police are here. They’d like to have a word with you.’
Twenty-Eight
As she approached Jake’s office, Emily’s urge to run was almost overwhelming. He’d apologised for the things he’d accused her of, and admitted he’d been wrong, but what might he be telling the police? He couldn’t state categorically that it wasn’t her leaking confidential information, if not posting these vile letters through people’s doors, any more than she could state categorically it wasn’t him. The reality was, in Jake’s eyes she wasultimately responsible, as Fran had just unkindly pointed out to Sally. No matter how many times he apologised, he couldn’t take back the fact that he’d thought she was.
The worst part of it all was that he was right. Emily couldn’t escape the fact that, as practice manager, the blame for what was happening rested squarely on her shoulders.
Might he have mentioned to the police his ludicrous notion that she was taking some kind of medication, as he called it? A fresh bout of nausea swilled inside her. If asked about the competency of his staff, he might have felt obliged to. There was only one way to find out. Her stomach knotted with nerves, she drew in a breath, knocked on his door and pushed it open.
‘Hi.’ Jake smiled uncertainly as she went in. ‘This is my wife, Emily. She’s our practice manager.’ The two officers glanced in her direction. Getting to his feet, he walked around his desk towards her, his forehead creasing into a troubled frown as he looked her over.
‘Sorry I’m late. I felt a bit off colour this morning,’ Emily said, trying to keep things businesslike despite what was going on between them and the fact that they’d spent the night in separate rooms. Sally was right here in this building, no doubt desperate to see her fall apart. To see her marriage fall apart. Fran was probably in Tom’s office right now with her ear glued to the adjoining wall, poised to share her malicious gossip the second she left the room. Emily wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble. She had to stay strong for her children.
‘But you’re okay now?’ Jake asked, his hand brushing her arm, deep concern clouding his eyes, sending a turmoil of conflicting emotion right through her.
‘Fine,’ she assured him. ‘I think it’s just a touch of that bug Millie and Ben both had,’ she added, pointedly reminding him that they had children. Children who were already troubled and whose futures were in danger of being marred by all of this.
‘There’s a lot of that going about. My little one’s just had it.’ The female officer smiled as she got to her feet to offer Emily her hand. ‘Liz Regan, Detective Sergeant,’ she said.
Shaking her hand, Emily made herself smile back. Regan seemed nice. She had an open, amiable face, short brown hair peppered with highlights, and sharp hazel eyes, which seemed to be weighing her up but not judging her badly. She was grateful for that much. ‘Emily Merriden,’ she said.
Regan dipped her head. ‘I gathered. This is Detective Constable Morse.’ She nodded at her colleague.
‘Dave,’ the man said, shaking Emily’s hand. ‘And no, no relation.’
Emily had to smile at that. He seemed friendly too. She felt a surge of relief wash through her. Shorter than DS Regan, he had a ready smile and a warm handshake. She relaxed a little.
‘Your husband’s filled us in,’ Regan picked up. ‘I imagine you’re all pretty shaken by events.’
‘Very,’ Emily said, swallowing as her mind conjured up an image of poor little Zoe lying in a medically induced coma with no certainty yet as to her prognosis. She thought of Natasha and the violence she’d suffered at her husband’s hands. Of Jenny and the emotional devastation that would impact on the rest of her life.
‘We know all our patients on a personal level,’ she confided, and then almost wished she hadn’t. ‘It’s a small community. Tight-knit,’ she added, feeling her cheeks heat up under Jake’s scrutiny.
DS Regan nodded sympathetically. ‘We’ll be taking statements, trying to establish who knew what about whom, and talking to everyone here individually. Is there an office we can use temporarily?’ She looked between Emily and Jake.
‘Sally’s?’ Jake suggested, his gaze flicking awkwardly down and back, Emily noticed. ‘She’s our phlebotomist. It’s actually the treatment room. She has some patients in this afternoon, but she can use Tom’s – my father’s – office. He’s a partner, but he’s only here part-time. I’m sure we can reschedule any existing appointments.’
‘Great, thanks. It will make things easier.’ DS Regan turned to Emily. ‘Your husband tells me you’ve updated all your PC logins and access codes.’
Had they? She looked at Jake, confused.
‘That’s right,’ he said, his eyes wary as they skimmed hers before going back to DS Regan. ‘Nicky did it first thing this morning, on Emily’s instruction.’
Emily’s guilt intensified. She’d organised a meeting, she recalled, but she hadn’t been here because of their personal problems … and because she’d had very little sleep again. Jake had gone ahead and asked Nicky to do it; of course he would have done. It clearly indicated that he trusted Nicky, though, where he hadn’t trusted his own wife.
