Page 84 of Her Lips Are Sealed

Wendy craned her head. ‘I saw the cut on your head. Who did that?’

‘Your new friend Jaxon threw a mug at me.’

Wendy began to laugh so much her eyes were watering and she had to swipe at them with her sleeve. ‘Yet you had the cheek to comment on my tea making, sounds like yours wasn’t much better, Morgan.’

Morgan was grinning at her. She turned on the cold water tap and splashed it in her eyes while Cain gave Wendy his hand and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped his huge arms around Wendy and squeezed her gently, rocking her from side to side. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay. I don’t think I’d like anyone else to be telling me off at crime scenes, it just wouldn’t feel right.’

Morgan walked out into the hallway where Jaxon Cartwright had been uncuffed from the radiator by two armed officers and was currently being dragged to his feet. She couldn’t help it and knew she shouldn’t, but she stared him in the eye and uttered one word.

‘Why?’

He smiled at her. ‘Why not?’

A shiver ran down her spine. ‘How do you know who I am?’

Lifting up his handcuffed wrists to his face, he used one finger to tap the side of his nose but never answered and then he was being dragged outside into the waiting van.

Morgan’s insides turned to ice. This was one ending she had not envisaged but it had worked out fine, and for that she would forever be grateful.

EPILOGUE

Al announced the search team were entering The View over the radio and everyone paused to listen. Cain had turned his on loudspeaker so they could all hear what was going on. As each room was entered by an armed officer, ‘Clear’ echoed throughout Wendy’s kitchen.

Al called out.

‘There’s a tabby cat here sunbathing on the window, but no other people.’

Morgan sucked in her breath, reached for Cain’s radio and asked, ‘Does it answer to Pickles?’ She crossed her fingers on both hands.

‘Erm, no, it’s just glaring at me. Hang on.’

There was rustling and then.

‘Yes, it’s Pickles, it says so on its heart-shaped name tag.’

A loud whoop of delight filled the kitchen, and Al laughed.

‘Sorry to break this to you, but this cat is living its best life and isn’t bothered where it is.’

Morgan grinned. Cats were so unfaithful at times.

‘Don’t tell Lisa, its owner, that, whatever you do. There should be a cat carrier in that house somewhere, make sure you get it secured inside it and bring it back, please.’

‘Yes, boss.’

Al replied but there was no hint of annoyance in his voice.

‘Is there any sign of Elaine Cartwright?’

‘No, the house is empty except for the cat.’

Morgan sighed. She’d been worried Jaxon had killed his mum first which had set off his murderous spree. Hopefully the woman was in the US visiting her sister. She was going to come home to an awful shock.

‘Morgan, we have found several lipsticks in the bathroom, all of the same colour red. Expensive ones too, my missus uses Estée Lauder too. I’ve bagged them up to send for testing, and hopefully they’re going to match the samples from the victims and give us the DNA we need.’

Morgan wanted to cry, the relief was so great. Instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat and whispered, ‘Good job, Al.’

The rest of the team had left Wendy waiting for the CSIs to arrive while they went back to the station. She had practically chased them out of her kitchen, and nobody had dared to argue with her.