‘How did that happen?’ Kim asked.
‘On a train,’ she sneered. ‘Of all places. There was a mix-up with seats, and he ended up sitting next to her for two hours.’
Kim could argue that it sounded like fate, but she thought better of voicing the theory.
‘Did he cheat on you with her?’
‘He says not, but I think so. He made it all sound so innocent, but I know better. She got her claws into him and stole him from under my nose. She knew exactly what she was doing, and he had no chance of resisting her.’
‘You’re still angry with her all these years later?’ Kim asked.
‘She stole my whole world, Inspector. She robbed me of the life I’m supposed to be living now, with Daniel, with our children.’
‘You haven’t met anyone else?’
‘No one that measures up. Daniel was my soulmate. My one and only. It’s that simple, and that fucking slut took it all away from me. My rage will never die.’
If true, that was a great shame, Kim thought, deciding now was the time to pull her cards away from her chest.
‘Ashley Reynolds was killed last night.’
‘She’s dead?’ Gemma asked, and Kim tried not to be sickened by the note of hope in her voice. It was quite worrying that she still cared enough to have that hope and hadn’t yet moved on with her life.
‘She was murdered,’ Kim said, meeting and holding her gaze.
‘Sh… she… was… what… oh no, if you’re thinking what I think you are, you’re dead wrong.’
‘Are we? You’re still pretty consumed by hatred for the woman.’
‘Not enough to risk being sent to prison! But I’m not going to pretend I’m sorry that she’s dead.’
Quite the opposite, Kim noted, realising Gemma’s posture had changed since learning the news. Now she sat erect, her expression more animated. Her eyes filled with hope. Did she really think Daniel would welcome her back with open arms as though they’d never been apart?
‘Where were you last night, Miss Ross?’
‘At home.’
‘Anyone that can corroborate that?’
‘Two cats and an Uber Eats driver.’
‘You answered the door to the delivery guy?’ Kim asked.
‘Well, not exactly. I told him to leave it on the step,’ she said, standing. ‘And if you’re done accusing me of murder, you can leave unless you intend to arrest me.’
Kim was beginning to wonder what Daniel had ever seen in this woman. She was finding very little to like at all.
‘Not right now,’ Kim replied. ‘But don’t leave the immediate area, just in case.’
Gemma opened the door and waited with a sulky look on her face.
Kim had mixed feelings as she walked back towards the car. She had seemed genuinely surprised to hear of Ashley’s murder, but Kim couldn’t be sure the woman wasn’t capable of committing murder to get her man back.
Eleven
The rage of Gemma Ross was still with her when Bryant parked at their next location. How destructive it must be to live with that level of hatred, that bitterness eating you alive from the inside. There was no question that Gemma was now right at the top of her list.
She’d instructed Stacey to start looking at the woman more closely and to see if there was any way of checking with Uber Eats. Being jilted for another woman wasn’t the strongest motive for murder, unless you were still so angry about it after so many years.
