‘I just can’t figure out why Ashcroft would be a target. There’s no such thing as a perfect victim but I could understand why someone would seek Fox-Carnell out,’ Ramouter replied, just as his phone started ringing again. ‘Oh.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing, there’s no caller ID. But. What if … what if it’s—’
‘I’m sure that everything’s fine,’ Henley said reassuringly. ‘It’s probably nothing to do with Michelle.’
‘Most likely someone trying to sell life insurance,’ said Linh.
Ramouter gave a tight smile as he accepted the call. ‘Hello. Oh. DC Copeland. Sorry, yeah. Nia. What can I … seriously? How long? Right. Right. Ok. Thank you for letting me know. Of course. Not a problem. Thanks again. Bye.’
‘Nia?’ Henley asked. She folded her arms when she caught the slight flush on Ramouter’s cheek.
‘That was … well you heard who it was,’ Ramouter said, putting his phone away. ‘Tabitha Ashcroft just called DC Copeland and told her she’s on her way to the hospital.’
‘It’s been nearly a week since someone used her husband asa human target and she’s just turning up now?’ said Henley incredulously.
‘Copeland said that Tabitha should be there in forty minutes.’
‘Graham Ashcroft is at King’s, right?’
‘Yes, he is.’
‘Denmark Hill. We’ll get the train,’ said Henley, grabbing her coat. ‘If we leave now, we might catch her before she has a sweet reunion with her husband.’
20
DC Copeland’s smile dissipated when she saw that DC Ramouter was not alone. She adjusted her hoodie.
Henley could see a hint of annoyance in Copeland’s eyes as she extended her hand. ‘DI Henley.’
Copeland shook her hand firmly. ‘It’s good to meet you, guv, sorry I mean ma’am.’
‘I’m surprised to see you here,’ said Henley.
‘Oh.’ Copeland was clearly caught off guard by the abruptness of Henley’s statement. ‘I was already out, and I just thought it might be a good idea for Tabitha Ashcroft to put a face to the name so to speak. Also, I realised I hadn’t told her DC Ramouter was now the senior investigating officer on her husband’s case.’
Henley kept her face passive as Ramouter, who had been standing silently next to her, stifled an embarrassed cough.
‘That would have been incorrect,’ said Henley as she walked towards the bank of lifts and pressed the button. ‘I’m the SIO on the case.’
They stepped into the lift together. The silence grew uncomfortable as they ascended.
‘Do you know where she is now? Tabitha Ashcroft, I mean?’ asked Henley. ‘She told you it would take her forty minutes to get here.’
‘I have a feeling that was a lie,’ answered Copeland.
Henley knocked twice on the door and then pushed it open. Graham Ashcroft was sitting up in bed, but his wife wasn’t by his side. A woman was on the other side of the room, standing with her back against the large window. The oversized black hoodie she was wearing drowned her and she was wearing a black beanie. If Henley didn’t know better, she would have sworn that the woman was attempting to conceal her identity. She looked up at Henley with fearful eyes and pulled the collar of her hoodie towards her chin, but it was too late. Henley had already seen the fading rainbow of bruises along her jaw. Henley scanned the couple. The space between them felt charged with an emotion that Henley couldn’t yet name.
‘Sorry to barge in like this,’ Henley said softening her tone ‘I’m Detective Inspector Henley and Graham you already know DC Ramouter and DC Copeland.’
‘Yes, yes I do,’ Graham replied, his voice barely a whisper.
‘And you must be his wife, Tabitha?’
Tabitha nodded, keeping her eyes not on her husband but on the door as though she was mentally navigating the gauntlet of three police officers in order to get out of the room.
‘How are you feeling?’ Henley asked.
