‘Yes. Or are they a bunch of incompetents who like a nice clean case to wrap up in a pretty little bow, regardless of the truth?’
I detect a slight malice in her tone for a brief second. I wonder why it’s there.
‘They’re a good team of hard-working detectives and police officers, Erin.’
‘I’ll take your word for that, Dan,’ she says, earnestly this time. ‘You, at least, strike me as the type who believes in truth and justice.’
‘My colleague tells me that you have some information for us, information on a witness we’re looking for, someone called Samantha Valentine, is that right? You said she was hiding?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you know where?’
She pauses.
‘I know who Samantha Valentine is. Well, I know who she is to me.’
My heart starts beating hard in my chest.
‘Who is she toyou, Erin?’
‘What can you tell me about the crime that took place recently? The murder that happened in Stockwell Gardens, the man that was killed…’
I look over at Davis. She’s shaking her head. If she’s using a burner phone without GPS, it’ll be nigh on impossible to trace her.
‘Only what’s already been released to the press. Why? Do you know something about this crime?’
There’s a pause.
‘The woman who was arrested, was she a friend of Samantha’s by any chance? A close friend, someone she trusted?’
OK,nowI’m excited.
‘Why are you asking me that, Erin?’
‘Did Samantha tell this woman that she was being abused by the man she went on to kill? Did she engineer such a situation to happen following weeks, months even, spent grooming her, creating a credible, believable story whereshewas the victim, astory, incidentally, concocted entirely from lies? Oh, and let me guess,’ she continues, almost whimsically, ‘did she stab him in the chest?’
Do I answer truthfully? It’s clear that whoever Erin Santos is, she knowsa lotof detail about the crime – unreleased detail. ‘Did she use a kitchen knife? Was it one single, deep and fatal puncture wound, straight to his heart, or something similar?’
My hands are shaking with adrenalin as I think about my strategy. I make a call on it.
‘Yes.’
Silence.
‘Erin? Are you still there?’
‘I’m here.’
‘How do you know all of this, Erin? How do you know Samantha Valentine? Were you also familiar with the victim?’
‘I liked that article that was written about you in the paper the other day.’ She changes the subject. ‘I saw it on social media. You look…’
I hold my breath, hoping that she isn’t going to say, ‘distinguished’. I really don’t think I could cope.
‘… Trustworthy. I see a genuineness in your eyes. You see, my instincts are highly evolved now, Detective Riley. I’ve learned how to read people and situations better than most. I suspect that you’re a very good judge of character yourself.’
Davis is staring back at me, unblinking.
