Henley ended the call as the normality of home life continued around her. She could hear Rob flicking through TV channels and Luna licking the floor near the dishwasher. The sounds of her home should have been a comfort to Henley, but she couldn’t settle. Linh’s words swam in her head. She understood why Linh didn’t envy her. This case was more than just a person committing murder. The scalping was vengeful and purposeful, but it also felt like an offering. Whoever wielded the knife wanted not only to punish but also to please someone. Henley shuddered. Whoever killed Fox-Carnell, Hall and attempted to kill Tabitha Ashcroft was trying to prove themselves, which meant that someone else was pulling the strings.
‘Shall we do one more episode?’ Rob asked Henley as the credits rolled.
‘One more then bed,’ Henley nodded, even though she knew she would probably spend half the night wide awake. The next episode had just begun when Henley’s phone rang again. Pellacia’s name appeared on the screen, and she steadied herself for the worse.
‘It’s work,’ she said. ‘I’ll take it upstairs.’
Rob sighed and gently shifted Henley’s legs off his lap. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’
Henley accepted the call and went into the spare room. ‘What’s happened?’ she asked.
‘Nothing has happened,’ said Pellacia. ‘This isn’t about the case.’
‘Why are you calling me if this—’
‘I didn’t like how I left things with you,’ Pellacia said hurriedly. ‘I said things I had no right to say.’
‘You told me that I was selfish and that you’d find someone else to do my job.’
‘I was out of line. I’m sorry.’
Henley sat down on the bed and rubbed her temple. ‘You’re doing my head in.’
Pellacia laughed. ‘I’m doing your head in. Imagine what you’re doing to me?’
‘Stephen.’
‘I didn’t mean … look, I didn’t call to talk about us, well at least, not like that. I just want to know why?’
‘Why what?’ Henley asked as anxiety clawed at her chest. She opened the window and let the cold October air into the small room.
‘Why you didn’t come to me about Rhimes. Why you chose to do this on your own.’
‘I don’t need you to carry me, Stephen.’
‘It’s not about carrying you, it’s about being by your side, Anj. This thing that Eloise asked you to do, it doesn’t just affect you.’
‘I know that.’
‘So why not tell me? Why not let me in?’
‘Eloise came to me,’ Henley said with exhaustion. She didn’t have the energy to fight.
‘This has nothing to do with Eloise, not really. You’re shutting me out. Building walls. That’s not you, Anj. That’s not us.’
Henley focused on the peeling wallpaper.
‘You talk about me shutting you out, but what about you?’ she asked.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘I’m talking about Copeland joining—’
‘That’s different and you know it,’ Pellacia snapped.
‘No, it’s not. We’ve both been keeping things to ourselves. Not being honest with each other.’
‘When have I ever not been honest with you?’
