Close to Home (A DI Mitchell Yorkshire Crime Thriller Book 4)

by Oliver Davies

  Stephen checked his watch. “We should head down.”

  Pulled from my thoughts back into the moment, I nodded, and we walked down, taking the stairs.

  “How’s the training going now?” Stephen asked. “You’re not wincing on the stairs.”

  “Nope,” I agreed. “The pain’s pretty much gone. I don’t feel as fit as before, but that’s what’s expected.”

  “You’ll be ready for the day,” Stephen said confidently.

  I sent him a sideways smile, touched by his faith in me. Even though he wasn’t convinced by my theory that Isabel had orchestrated Maddie’s fall, he still trusted me enough not to argue the matter and to give it a go. I appreciated that a great deal.

  Isabel was already settled in the interview room, a plastic cup of water at her elbow. Her hair was slightly compressed on one side, and I wondered whether she’d been lying down on it, trying to sleep even though it wasn’t yet three o’clock.

  She was the first to speak, eying us closely as she did so. “What do you want?”

  I could already see that this was going to be an uphill battle. I decided to be frank and see where that got us, because our technique of being more carefully evasive last time hadn’t yielded the results we wanted.

  “We’d like to give you a chance to change your statement,” I said, trying to keep an accusatory tone out of my voice.

  She frowned. “Now, why would I do that?”

  “Because we’ve had other evidence come up,” Stephen said firmly, “and it’s pretty persuasive.” His body language was relaxed, still, but there was a steely edge to his voice.

  “I take it that this ‘evidence’,” Isabel said contemptuously, “doesn’t support my statement?”

  I looked at her steadily. “You’re correct.”

  She tossed her head. “Then your evidence-”

  I sighed. “Ms Davies, listen. We know that you were in your husband’s apartment that night.” Isabel went stiff and very still, her eyes glued to mine. “We’ve got proof that he cut open your arm while you were fighting and we know that you’ve spoken to Maddie before. Your claims that you weren’t there, that you didn’t know her, don’t hold water.”

  I leaned forwards. “What I want to know is, why harm an innocent girl? What did she ever do to you? You achieved nothing by hurting her.” I pulled back again, watching her closely. I could see that she was actively trying to keep her face expressionless. “Lashing out in anger like that, what did that prove, Ms Davies? That you were just the same as Mr Banks?”

  Isabel glowered at me. “I am nothing like him.”

  I kept my face neutral. “He hurt an innocent woman. So have you-”

  “I warned her!” Isabel barked. “I told that girl what kind of a man he is! She paid no attention, and she thought she was different, better.” Isabel scoffed, rolling her eyes, before falling into a sullen silence.

  “You thought she didn’t deserve Alec, did you?” I said, deliberately provocative. “Perhaps you wanted to be the one to change him, b-”

  Isabel looked at me like she was imagining slamming me head-first into the table. “Men like that don’t change,” she said, her voice thin and hard. “And the police are useless, made up of men like you,” She flicked her fingers at me, “who care more for the law than for what’s right. He should’ve gone away for life for what he did to me.”

  “Why didn’t you push him down the stairs then?” I said evenly. My heart was racing as I said the words, casually inviting Isabel to condemn herself with them.

  “What would that have achieved?” she said, dismissive. I fought to keep my expression neutral as she took the bait and responded. “He should have his life ruined-” She stuttered to a stop, and her face drained of colour as she realised what she’d said. What she’d just confirmed, that she had planned to push someone down the stairs.

  I thought for a moment that she was about to faint and tensed to get up, move round the table, and catch her. She blinked and swallowed, looking dizzy as her gaze swept unseeing across Stephen and me, before she recovered herself.

  “I- I don’t know what I’m saying,” she tried to backtrack. “I’m not feeling well.” That certainly looked true as her face had gone a worryingly grey colour.

  “Ms Davies,” I said, making my voice gentle now. Even after what she’d done, what she’d just accidentally admitted to, I couldn’t help but feel a stirring of pity for her. “Talk to us. If you cooperate, perhaps we can put a word-”

  She frowned at me. “I should beg you for scraps, that’s what you think? Pour out my heart for the mere chance of you sparing me a year, or maybe two?” She shook her head, proud as she’d ever been. “I’d take a decade in prison rather than let any of you into my head.”

  I sat back, holding back a sigh. “Alright. I don’t understand why you hurt Maddie when you could’ve taken your revenge directly on Alec, but if you won’t say, we’ll have to accept it.”

  I could hazard a guess at why Isabel had lashed out at Maddie rather than Alec. Of course, I could, but I’d wanted to hear Isabel’s version, from her own lips. She clenched her jaw, looking like she had to force herself not to speak.

  “You know what I think?” Stephen said quietly. Both Isabel and I turned to him. “I think killing Alec wouldn’t have been enough. That’s why you hurt Maddie, isn’t it?”

  Isabel glared at him. What Stephen had said had been much along the lines of what I was thinking.

  “You knew his history,” I said, picking up where he left off. “You knew his temper, and what buttons to press to make him angry. So you set him up, you framed him.”

  “If you’ve got it all worked out, what am I still here for?” Isabel sneered.

  I gave her an unimpressed look. “I suppose we are done, then. We’ll see you in court, Ms Davies.”

  Stephen and I got to our feet, and I switched the recording device off. I was gathering up my notebook when Isabel spoke, her voice rough.

  “You don’t understand any of it,” she said.

  I turned back to her. “What don’t I understand?” I said hesitantly, when she didn’t speak. I glanced at the recording machine, but didn’t move to switch it back on. I knew she would clam up if I did.

  She looked up at me, her expression bleak. “How it feels to be betrayed like that. To be hurt by someone you love, who you married, committing your whole life to be with them.” Her voice cracked, and she shook her head, giving a brittle little laugh. “Look at me, doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t. But know this; Alec deserved prison. You’re not doing the right thing by condemning me, you’re just doing the easy one.”

  I looked at her for a long moment, before I slowly shook my head. “You came within a hair's-breadth of killing an innocent woman. I’m truly sorry for what Alec did to you, but hurting Maddie achieved nothing but causing more pain.”

  She looked icily at me for a long moment before she turned away. Stephen and I left the room silently, and I felt like I could finally breathe properly once we were out in the corridor. Isabel had an intensity to her that felt like a crushing force on my chest.

  “Well heck,” Stephen said, looking worn out and slightly breathless himself. After a second, he broke into a hesitant smile. “You got your confession, mate.”

  I couldn’t smile, still too affected by the pain in Isabel’s eyes. I knew I’d done right to bring her in, and I didn’t regret it for a moment, but it didn’t stop me from wishing that Isabel had had some support or help earlier on, to stop her from acting out her pain so violently against Maddie.

  “Aye,” I said weakly.

  Stephen wrapped a brotherly arm around my shoulders. “C’mon. You need coffee. It’ll all work out now, you’ll see.”

  Twenty-Two

  The next few days were a rush of activity. Isabel would be charged with attempted murder, Gaskell needed to be filled in on everything that had happened, and then we’d start the work of putting all the evidence we’d collected into a cle
ar and comprehensive order.

  I’d managed to fit some runs in on the way to work, and Sam and I had met up to go to the gym, leaving me aching but happy the next day. Other than that, Stephen and I were fully focused on wrapping the case up, giving one last push to get it over the finish line.

  “C’mon,” Stephen said abruptly. It was the middle of the afternoon, and we’d spent the day doing the necessary stack of paperwork and forms. “We need a break from all this.”

  “A break?” I repeated, half of my attention still on my computer screen.

  Stephen leaned over and clicked his fingers in front of me. “Yes,” he said. “I called ahead. We’re going to see Maddie.”

  I turned my full focus on him, then. “We are?”

  He smiled. “Yep. She’s home and recovering. We can take her some flowers, or chocolates, or whatever it is that a twenty-something might like when they’re healing.”

  I chuckled. “Alright, we’ll do that.”

  As much as I wanted to round this case up, I was more than happy to take an hour or two to visit Maddie and see how she was doing. Alec was still being held in prison as the law decided whether he’d be charged for his part in what had happened, so Maddie was staying with her family. I privately hoped that even if Alec got let off lightly, Maddie would find someone who was more deserving of her time. Someone who didn’t have anything to do with the traumatic injury she’d suffered. But it wasn’t my place to say that to her, so I held my peace. She was a smart woman. I’m sure she’d decide for herself what she wanted.

  It wasn’t a long drive over to the Packhams and Annabel, Maddie’s mum, welcomed us warmly when we arrived. She bustled off to put the flowers we’d brought into a vase.

  Stephen sat down with Maddie, who was resting in a hospital bed set up in her living room. There were colour and fullness in her cheeks that hadn’t been there when she’d still been in hospital, and her gaze was bright and lively.

  “We picked up a few things from the shops,” I said, half-apologetically in case what we’d gotten wasn’t what she liked. “Couple of magazines, some biscuits, a book, that kind of thing.”

  “Thanks,” Maddie said. “The worst thing right now is the boredom. I wouldn’t mind something to read.”

  She fidgeted with her hands in her lap, and I realised that she was slightly nervous about us. I wondered whether perhaps we shouldn’t have come, if it would cause her distress.

  I stayed quiet as Stephen exchanged easy small talk with Maddie, who responded politely. Annabel brought in a tray with several cups of tea and a plate of biscuits that she and Maddie’s younger sister had made the day before. They were covered in drippy icing, and I smiled as I took a bite of a biscuit decorated to look like a ladybird.

  Annabel left the tray with us and excused herself, putting a hand on Maddie’s shoulder before she left. Maddie’s head bowed, and I sensed her discomfort. I tensed to stand up and politely take our leave, since our visit seemed to bring up bad memories for Maddie, or otherwise putting her on edge.

  But Maddie spoke before I could. “I’m sorry for lying to you,” she said quietly. She was a full-grown woman, and smart as a tack, but she sounded small and young as she apologised.

  I glanced at Stephen, at something of a loss. “It’s alright,” I said finally, slipping into a more professional mindset for lack of anything else. “You told us the truth not long after, and that’s the key thing. And… well, we understand why you were reluctant to, at first.”

  Maddie gave a small nod. “Thank you. I really am grateful for all you’ve done.” She looked at me. “And my dad told me that it was you who found me, at the bottom of the stairs.”

  I pulled back slightly, surprised that this was coming up. I’d not thought so much about the horror of finding her lying there recently; the ending of the case and knowing that Maddie was awake and healing seemed to have helped me move on somewhat.

  “I only did what anyone would,” I said helplessly, when Maddie left space for me to answer.

  She gave me a slight smile. “I’m glad you did.” She looked down at her lap. “I might not be here otherwise.”

  I couldn’t help but lean forwards, wanting to comfort her. “But you are,” I said firmly. “You’re here, safe, with your family. And you’re getting better.”

  A flicker of pain crossed her expression. “I might not ever be the same, though.”

  “No,” I agreed quietly. “But you’re strong and determined, and I know you’ll find a way to achieve what you want to. You’ve got your life ahead of you, still.”

  “I know,” she said, slightly strained. She lifted her head and looked at me steadily, though her eyes were watery. “I wanted to say that I appreciate it, that’s all.” She turned to Stephen too. “What you’ve both done.”

  Stephen gave her an easy grin. “You’re welcome,” he said. “It’s all part of the job, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

  We stayed a short while longer, the talk between us moving into lighter territory by the time Annabel came back into the room. Maddie had another visitor coming later, and she needed to rest before then, Annabel told us. Maddie looked split between embarrassment and fondness at this mothering, and she looked at us apologetically.

  “It was good to see you again,” I told her. “Look after yourself, okay?”

  She smiled. “I’ll do my best.”

  We saw ourselves out, stepping out into the autumnal chill. It had been raining lightly but steadily all day and the heavy, grey ceiling of cloud overhead didn’t suggest that it’d ease up any time soon.

  “It really feels like we’re getting into winter now,” Stephen said, fumbling with cold fingers to turn up the heating.

  “Sure does.”

  “The marathon will be the next thing,” he said, shooting me a sideways smile.

  “I haven’t forgotten,” I said with a laugh. “How could I?”

  We sat in a companionable silence for a while, Stephen taking it easy in the wet weather as he drove us back to the station to finish off our paperwork.

  “She seemed okay, didn’t she?”

  “Aye,” I said after a moment’s thought. “Daunted by the future, maybe, but she’s a fighter, and she’s got her family by her side. Whatever happens, she’ll work it out.”

  “A job well done, then,” Stephen said, his tone teasing but with an undercurrent of genuineness.

  I hummed. “We did our best.”

  With the main difficulties of the case beginning to recede into the rearview mirror, I turned my attention towards what the rest of the year would bring and found myself looking forward to it. There would be the run, of course, and then there was Sam. Where our relationship would go, I wasn’t yet sure, but it made my chest tight and warm to think of her by my side. No doubt work would throw up more difficult cases for Stephen and me before the year was out, but I had no doubt that we would be able to tackle them just fine.

  Excitement fought with nerves as the marathon approached, the day rushing towards me like a flood wave. I did my best to balance getting myself fit with easing carefully back into things after my injury and, by the time the day rolled around, I was feeling about as ready as I was going to get.

  “You’ll ace it, mate,” Stephen assured me, patting me none too gently on the back.

  I huffed a laugh. “I hope so.”

  We were standing close to the university, where the race would start, and energy in the air was electric. There was a significant crowd of people, all checking in and getting ready to put all of their training into practice and run the whole twenty-six miles. The thought sent a fizz of anxiety through my stomach, but it was hard to be too worried about all the positive feelings surrounding the start line.

  And then there was Sam. She had an arm looped around my waist and had tucked herself close to my side.

  “Just take it easy,” she said, turning her head to smile at me. She was wearing heeled boots that brought her height up so that we were
almost eye to eye, and I leaned in to give her a gentle kiss.

  “I will,” I promised. “Finishing is the most important thing, not the time.”

  She rolled her eyes at me with a look of fond exasperation. “You’re the most important thing, y’idiot. Look after yourself, okay? There’ll be another race next year. There’s no point doing yourself a permanent injury through your own bullheadedness.”

  “Okay, okay,” I said, touched that she cared. “And I’m not bullheaded.” She and Stephen gave me identical looks of disbelief, and I had to laugh. “Alright, maybe a little.”

  Annie, Stephen’s wife, came over with their two kids and sent me a smile. Stephen scooped up his youngest, an adorable little boy, and I watched him with a pleased feeling in my chest. I knew Stephen to be a loving father, but I’d not seen him actually interacting with his littluns until today.

  The crowd started to shift towards the start line, and I checked my watch. “Better get going,” I said.

  Sam gave me a squeeze before stepping back, and her, Stephen, and Annie gave me some last words of encouragement before waving me off. I was wearing the running shirt Stephen had given me as a birthday present earlier in the year, and Sam had bought me a pair of rainbow-hued lucky socks, which always made me smile when I looked down at them. Knowing that they were standing there, cheering me on and wishing me well, I thought how lucky I was that things had turned out so well. I’d been at Hewford for over a year now and whilst I occasionally missed my old place, and the friends I’d left behind, I’d made just as strong connections here in York, too. The work could get hard and intense, it was true, but I felt like I was making a positive difference here and I couldn’t imagine going back.

  I got lined up for the race, doing some last-minute warming up as we waited for the whistle to blow and the run to start. There was a whole mix of people here, with lean-looking, stern-faced folk up the front, a good number of enthusiasts and amateurs like me in the middle, and spread throughout were a bunch of people in elaborate fancy dress, with everything from dinosaurs to Frozen’s Elsa.