Page 65 of Her Lips Are Sealed

Sally picked it up and studied it as she sipped the coffee. It was strong, hot and amazing.

Sally shook her head. ‘I’m sorry, no, I don’t. Is that him?’

‘We don’t know but he’s a person of interest and we’d like to find him urgently.’

‘So would I. Do you know why he attacked Lisa? Is it the same guy that killed the woman on Brade Street and in Bowness?’

‘We think so, although just to be clear I’m not saying the guy in the photo is that guy, so if you come across him don’t take matters into your own hands.’

Sally stared at her. ‘I wasn’t born yesterday. You show me a pretty clear picture of a guy at the front door of this building and don’t know who he is, but you’re interested in speaking to him. That’s standard police talk.’

She nodded. ‘It is.’

‘What if you can’t find him? How many doors are you knocking on?’

‘Every door in Coniston if we have to.’

‘Good luck with that then. How’s Pickles doing? Does he need feeding? I’m not into cats but he can come up here until Lisa gets home if there’s nobody else.’

‘He’s okay, Lisa’s friend picked him up before.’

Sally nodded. ‘Oh, that’s good then.’

Morgan finished her coffee and sighed, forcing herself to stand. ‘That was just what I needed, thanks, Sally. Do you want me to let you know how Lisa is when I find out?’

‘Yes, that would be great. I still can’t believe it though.’

Morgan couldn’t answer her. She couldn’t believe the last few days either.

As she reached the door, Sally asked, ‘What friend came to get the cat?’

‘Some guy with a cat carrier I believe, said he’d take care of it until Lisa was out of hospital.’

She screwed up her eyes. ‘That’s strange, Lisa never has guys around. Her ex, Jake, was allergic, and I think he doesn’t even live around here anymore. I haven’t seen him for a good six months maybe longer. I wonder who told him about Lisa so soon?’

Morgan felt her entire body turn to ice. Just who had come to pick up the cat? As far as she knew nobody had told anyone about the attack on Lisa. It had all happened in such a blur – no next of kin had been informed until just before the briefing when Lisa’s mum had been picked up to go to the hospital. Ben had to send an officer to the library where Lisa worked to find out her personal details.

‘I’ll find out and be in touch with an update as soon as I get one.’

Morgan needed to get out of here and phone Eric Jackson to look at the cameras again. Had the killer the audacity to stroll into the crime scene he’d created, past officers and the CSI team to take away Lisa’s pet cat? The sick feeling in her stomach told her he had and she rushed downstairs, taking the business card Lucy had given to her for safekeeping out of her pocket.

Just when she thought it was going to answerphone a voice said, ‘Eric Jackson.’

‘Hi, Eric, it’s Morgan. I was talking to you earlier.’

‘Oh no, please tell me it’s not bad news.’

‘No, Lisa is still stable. Could you check your camera again, please, for just before you came to meet us.’

‘Why? Did I miss something?’

It was hard to know how much was too much information when she hadn’t even spoken to Ben or Lucy, but she needed his cooperation. ‘I think the guy came back and took Lisa’s cat.’

‘You’re joking right?’

‘I wish I was.’

‘The flaming cheeky bastard. Are you telling me he walked into a crime scene guarded by cops and took the cat from under everyone’s noses?’