‘What else?’ she asked, sensing there was more he wanted to say.
‘Mind if I do a bit of digging on Ava’s dad?’
It took Kim a second to realise he wasn’t talking about Daniel. ‘Why?’
Penn shrugged. ‘Maybe Daniel could make it legal. It doesn’t seem like Ava’s biological dad has got any interest in the kid. He might be willing to rescind his parental rights.’
Kim considered for a minute before answering. It was a strange request from the sergeant. She relied on his ability to remain emotionally unconnected to any of their cases. His fact-based objectivity was a necessary part of their dynamic. But she had to remember that he had visited the Chances. He had seen first-hand what was likely in store for Ava.
She nodded her agreement. ‘Second priority though.’
‘Understood.’
‘Guv, I’ve been thinking,’ Bryant said, tapping his finger on the desk.
‘Oh, shit, now we’re in trouble,’ she quipped.
‘Maybe there’s a link between the two women after all. I mean, I know Nadine’s job was controversial and all that, but folks would be forgiven for thinking she was a paid homewrecker. Gemma thinks Ashley stole Daniel from her. And some might say social workers are always separating families…’
‘You think someone could have had it in for them because they’ve both broken up relationships?’
Bryant shrugged.
Penn nodded his agreement. ‘Folks have killed for a lot less.’
Kim turned to Stacey’s screen. ‘Look for any link between Gemma and Nadine too.’
‘Talking of Gemma, the Uber guy couldn’t confirm one way or another if she was home,’ Stacey said. ‘She paid and tipped through the app and told him to ring the bell and leave the food.’
Kim felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise. Gemma was cementing herself at the top of the list in connection to Ashley. Now to find out if she had any links to Nadine.
The thought of the homewrecker link hadn’t occurred to her because she didn’t see Ashley as a homewrecking whore.
But there was definitely someone who did, and it was time to have another word with her.
Forty-Four
She had been waiting outside the foot spa for about ten minutes when Gemma Ross arrived for work just before 8 a.m. She’d left Bryant sitting in the car.
The first thing Kim noticed about the woman was an appearance upgrade. Gone were the comfy crocs, replaced by ankle boots with a kitten heel. The functional black trousers had become faded jeans which hugged her curves, and her free-flowing hair had been washed and styled. The carefully applied make-up signalled considerable attention to how she looked.
She didn’t seem particularly pleased to see the police again.
‘You look nice,’ Kim observed, stepping out of the way for the woman to unlock the door. Instead, she stood in front of it.
‘Thank you. I’m going to drop in on Daniel later. See if there’s anything he needs.’
Kim knew she should have been more surprised than she actually was. The woman had barely been able to contain her glee that Ashley was out of the way. Kim was only surprised that it had taken her this long.
‘I’m not inviting you in,’ she continued before Kim could respond. ‘Whatever you want to ask me you can ask out here.’
‘Okay, why did you instruct the Uber driver to leave your food outside on Sunday night?’
‘Because I was in the bath.’
‘You took a bath knowing you’d ordered a delivery?’ Kim asked.
‘It was pizza. Good hot or cold. Anything else?’
