“Okay, let’s focus our fire on her. She didn’t drink, club, socialize. So what professionals did she come into contact with that might link her to the other women? How is he doing it? How is he getting access to them? Isobel had traces of trichloroethylene in her hair—is that important? Does whoever’s behind this have access to this anesthetic or derivative of it for their work? Check and double-check.”
There was a brief lull as Helen came to a close. “What are you waiting for?”
The team sprang into action, hurrying off to check and recheck their leads. Helen was furious at herself for wasting so much time on Price and Simpson. She hadn’t really had a choice, but this would be of no comfort to Ruby. If that girl died, Helen knew she would never forgive herself. Would this last throw of the dice finally yield results or were they already too late?
109
The door swung open and Ruby jerked awake. How long had she been asleep? What day was it? Why hadhereturned?
Suddenly the whole bed moved. He had a hold of it now and flung it on its side to reveal Ruby cowering underneath. She blinked into the harsh light, ripped from her sanctuary and thrust out into the open. Slowly her eyes became accustomed to the light and she was surprised to see that he seemed to be shaking with anger. It was as if no time had passed at all.
“Listen carefully, Summer, because this is your last chance.”
His voice was harsh and unpleasant.
“You have let me down badly. Very badly indeed. If I had any sense I’d forget all about you. But I’m prepared to forgive you. I know you regret your mistake.”
Ruby said nothing. She didn’t know where his crazy talk was leading and she was suddenly very tired of this game.
“But I won’t be hurt by you again. If you let me down again, youwillbe punished. Do you understand?”
“How will you punish me?” Ruby found herself saying, her words dripping with defiance. It was her talking, yet she had no idea where it was coming from.
“Don’t push it. You’ve done enough har—”
“Will you punish me like you punished Roisin?”
She picked Roisin’s crudely drawn Christmas card from the floor, thrusting it at him. “Or like you punished Pippa.”
She threw Pippa’s makeshift diary at him, a fierce rage overcoming her. He immediately backed off, as if the cards were toxic.
“She was a mistake—”
“Then what does that make me?”
“Don’t try to trick me, Summer.”
“I’m Ruby Sprackling—”
“Your name is Summer—”
“I’m Ruby Sprackling and I hate your fucking guts.”
His hand shot out, forcing Ruby back, back, back, until she collided heavily with the wall. The breath was knocked from her; his hand was squeezing tighter and tighter.
“Say another word and I’ll kill you. I swear it,” he rasped, flecks of his spit landing on Ruby’s face.
“There’s nothing you can threaten me with anymore,” Ruby spat back. “As far as you’re concerned I’m already dead.”
From somewhere, Ruby managed to find a grim, victorious smile. It had the desired effect. He dropped her like a stone, watching her collapse to the floor.
He walked away from her quickly, then stopped, turned andhurried back—kicking her harshly three times in the ribs. As she rolled away from the blows, he bent down, grabbing her by the collar. “You’ll regret this.”
Dumping her back to the floor, he walked over to the bedside table, snatching up her inhaler.
“No.”
Ruby was crawling across the floor toward him now, hand outstretched, beseeching. But he was too quick for her, crossing the room quickly, unlocking the door.
