by Mel Sherratt
‘Watch the blood!’ he heard Steve say. ‘I don’t want the police finding evidence of his death all over this room. Use the knife when he’s in the car and get rid of that after too – and the car. No trace whatsoever.’
Steve went out of the office, along the corridor and into the members-only room. Even from behind the bar, he could hear Craig’s screams so he put some music on, turned it up. A few minutes later, he watched as they dragged him across the room and out of the building. He checked the screen on the television monitor until both cars were out of view. Then he pressed the erase button.
Only afterwards did he pour himself a whiskey and knock it back with satisfaction. A job well done, even if he did say so himself.
10.00 P.M.
With things becoming clearer in the case, Allie decided after all to go and see Karen. She wouldn’t be able to forgive herself if she left without visiting. As she walked to her sister’s ward, her mind kept going over the events of the past few hours. Once Leah Matthews was fit to leave the hospital, she would be taken to the station for formal questioning and charging. And then maybe they’d get to the bottom of this mess, find out where the money had come from – if it had been hidden in the hedge, if Leah was telling the truth about it after all her lies.
Had Jordan Johnson put the money there, she wondered? Was it anything to do with him and Sophie Nicklin? Had the money been payment for something else? Someone needed to see Kirstie Ryder and Ryan Johnson again.
After ringing Nick to keep him updated, she texted a quick message to Mark.
‘Hope you’re not too lonely. I’m just going to see Karen. Love you. X’
Visiting hours were over but due to the circumstances, she hoped they’d let her in. It was good to get a break. She’d been on shift for sixteen hours and still had to go back to the station before she would go home for the night.
She was surprised when Mark rang her back a few seconds later.
‘I ordered in a curry,’ he told her. ‘I still have a belly the size of Mount Everest.’
Allie laughed out loud and it echoed down the empty corridor. She loved him for wanting to make her do that, more so because it was only now she was realising just how much the past few weeks had taken their toll. He too must be close to breaking point with it all, almost as much as she was.
Apart from her, no one saw Mark when he cracked. He was placid until pushed and although it took a lot to get him to that point, once his temper exploded, he would tell her in a few words exactly what he thought. His words would sting, would break her heart in two, and then he’d feel regretful, say he was sorry and ask her if she wanted a cup of tea.
At times she hated him for it, especially when all she wanted was to have a real good slanging match, throw a few things and make up with frantic sex. But most of the time, she loved him for it. Because no matter what he said, she knew he was being honest and whatever he had said in temper had been meant to show how hurt he was and not to hurt her. Thankfully the arguments didn’t happen often because they took days to get over. Afterwards, they tiptoed around each other until they could get past the hurt and then the make-up sex was good. It grounded them again. Made them realise they were good together.
That’s what Mark did, Allie knew. In a way, he made her what she was. And she was far too selfish to see exactly what she had in him. Tears welled in her eyes and she sat down in a chair at the side of the corridor. There were only a few people milling around, the lights on dim.
‘Do you think I’m being callous, not being here with her constantly during her last days?’ she asked him.
‘No. I often think you don’t get your priorities right, but it’s what makes you what you are. You’re a stubborn cow at times, just like Karen, but who knows how long this will drag on for.’ She heard him groan. ‘Sorry, wrong choice of words, but you know what I mean.’
Allie squeezed her eyes shut tightly. ‘I think I’ve been expecting it for so long over the past few weeks that I’ve accepted it. It’ll be a shock when it does happen but we both know it will be a relief.’ A lump caught in her throat. ‘I want to be with her, Mark, but right at the end, you know? I can’t sit with her day after day watching her deteriorate until there is nothing left but skin and bones and a working heart.’ She put a hand to her mouth to stop a sob escaping. ‘Keeping busy is the only way I can deal with it. And this case is going to run on alongside it anyway.’
‘Allie, I –’
‘I won’t let her down this time though. Come what may, I’ll be there for her, no matter what I’m doing.’
She heard him gasp. ‘You can’t seriously still think that anyone blames you for being late when Karen was attacked that night?’
Allie shrugged. ‘You can’t seriously think that I won’t ever think that?’
‘You are a stubborn cow.’
Tommy had been keeping an eye on what was going on around Harrison House for most of the day, but more so he’d been watching what Jacob was doing. He’d seen Craig Elliott talking to him, seen Jacob on his phone, his eyes flitting around as if he was really important. Kayleigh had been at work so he hadn’t managed to speak to her until now. Unable to take or make personal phone calls, he knew a text wouldn’t be enough. Feeling better now he had seen her, she’d agreed to bend the truth a little. If questioned, she was going to say that he had been with Denton and gone to her at midnight rather than that he had been with her all night.
When he’d got home, the smell of curry greeted him. Jacob and Sandra were busy tucking into a takeaway.
‘Some in there for you, bro,’ Jacob said, shoving another mouthful in. ‘Chicken Jalfrezi, your favourite.’
‘Where did you get the money to pay for this?’ Tommy stood in the doorway. ‘You told me you were broke until your dole comes through next week.’
Jacob shrugged. ‘I have ways and means.’
‘What do you mean, Jacob?’ Sandra put down her fork.
But Jacob didn’t speak. He continued to eat his food, his eyes on the television screen.
‘What the fuck aren’t you telling me, Jay?’ Tommy asked.
‘Nothing! Chill out, man.’ He glanced up at his brother. ‘Did you go to see Kayleigh, get your story straight?’
‘There is no story. You were the one telling lies.’ Tommy folded his arms. ‘First you say you were with Diane, then you tell the police you were with me and then you cock up and tell them I was with Kayleigh and we were with one of my mates, landing us all in it.’
‘Leave it,’ Jacob warned. ‘It’s got nothing to do with you.’
‘It’s got everything to do with me!’
Jacob slammed his fork down on his plate and took it through to the kitchen, pushing past Tommy on the way.
Tommy grabbed his arm once he’d put the plate down. ‘I’m not doing jail for you again, do you hear? If you’re in trouble this time, you take it like a man and go inside for it.’
‘Are you saying you won’t stick by me?’
‘Tell me what you’re trying to cover up and I might feel better about it!’
‘But you’re my flesh and blood, Tommy.’ Jacob glared at him. ‘Blood’s thicker than water, right?’
‘That’s not fair. I can’t go to prison again!’ Tommy tried to plead with his brother. ‘I’m not going down for murder.’
‘Murder?’ Jacob scoffed. ‘Whatever gave you that idea?’
‘You know too much, man. And you’re trying to set everyone else up, keep the scent from you.’ Tommy grabbed the back of his brother’s neck and pressed his forehead to his own. ‘Was it you?’ He could feel Jacob’s eyes boring in to his, tunnels of hate. ‘You have to tell me!’ he cried. ‘Did you stick a knife in Jordan Johnson?’
Jacob drew back his head and butted Tommy. Tommy staggered back, his hands covered his face as he clutched his nose. Blood poured from it but he was more conce
rned that Jacob now held a knife in his hand.
‘You said you’d stick by me,’ he shouted, waving it about in front of his face.
Behind them, Sandra came in to see what the commotion was. She screamed at the sight of the knife.
‘Jacob! No, please. Put it down.’
Jacob turned towards her and waved the knife in her direction. ‘Stay out of this,’ he cried.
‘Jay.’ Tommy held out one hand as he wiped furiously at his nose with the other. ‘I have your back. You know I always will.’
‘Liar!’ Jacob waved the knife at him again. ‘You’re trying to trick me.’
‘I’m not.’ Tommy glanced furtively at his mother. ‘Just put down the knife, man.’
‘You remember what we said? Where we were?’
Tommy nodded.
‘You’ll lie for me?’
‘Yes.’
‘No, he bloody well won’t,’ said Sandra. ‘He’s not taking the blame for you again. I won’t let –’
Jacob came at her with the knife.
Sandra screamed and covered her face with her hands. Jacob pushed her to the side, into the wall, and ran out of the door.
‘Jacob!’ The front door slammed behind him.
‘He’s wrong in the head,’ said Tommy. His hands shook as he wiped off the blood.
Sandra put a cloth to his nose and leaned his head back. ‘We have to do something,’ she said.
Tommy shook his head. ‘We can’t.’
‘You can tell the truth.’
‘I have a record. They won’t believe me!’
‘You can try.’
‘No! You saw him, Mum. He’ll hurt me. And if he doesn’t hurt me, he’ll hurt you.’
10.10 P.M.
Allie buzzed to be let into the ward. One of the nurses, Sharon, recognised her and wagged a finger at her as she opened the door.
‘Sorry, I know it’s late,’ Allie spoke quietly. ‘Can I come in for a moment? I have two people in A&E I’m waiting to speak to and . . .’
Sharon beckoned her in. ‘You don’t have to make an excuse. Come on through.’
‘How is she doing?’
‘Her blood pressure dipped this morning but she’s stable again for now.’
Allie sterilised her hands and walked over to the side room where her sister was. Karen’s skin was so pale it almost looked transparent, yet it was flushed, too. Her eyes were closed, and it seemed like she’d lost even more weight in the past twenty-four hours. She looked like a skeleton lying in the bed.
Despite what she had said to Mark, Allie did wonder if she would be strong enough to be there when the time came. A tiny part of her, a part she could barely even admit to herself, was hoping that Karen would slip away while she wasn’t there, so that she wouldn’t have to deal with it.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She didn’t want to remember her sister like this – fragile, lost, a shell. Even though she had been unable to communicate with them for years, she still couldn’t bring herself to wish it was all over. Karen had been a part of her life for so long that she wondered how she would get by without her visits to see her. Would her life become empty all of a sudden?
She sat by the side of her bed for a few moments but she couldn’t settle. Her eyes flicked around the familiar room, bright but sparse, ready for whatever was thrown at it. Next week, it might hold another patient, yet Allie wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this one.
‘What am I going to do without you, Kaz?’ she whispered as she stood up to leave.
Perry was waiting for her back in A&E. ‘How is she?’ he asked.
Allie shook her head, still wiping at her eyes. ‘Did you bag up the money?’
‘Yes, boss.’ He handed it to her.
‘I’m going back to the station. Do you want to shoot off for a bit of shut-eye or are you staying on shift?’
‘Both,’ he grinned.
When they arrived back at the station, Nick was at his desk. The room was quiet as most of the phone calls had stopped coming in. Sam had her head down too. Allie grabbed everyone’s mugs and made them all coffee.
‘What did Ryan say when you questioned him earlier?’ Nick asked as she placed his drink down next to him.
‘Sorry?’ said Allie, her head too full of thoughts of her sister for her to be sure what he was referring to.
‘You were going to ask him about the CCTV footage. Even though we now know Jordan was at The Genting Club, he’d still be one of the last people to be with his brother.’
‘Oh, I –’ Allie lowered her eyes. ‘I didn’t ask him.’
‘Why not?’
‘I couldn’t.’
‘But he might have been able to tell us where Jordan was going. Especially since we now know he should have visited Sophie Nicklin.’
‘We knew that anyway,’ she snapped.
Nick raised his eyebrows.
‘He’d just been to identify his brother. He was really upset.’
‘And?’
Allie’s hand went up in the air. ‘I couldn’t just ask him questions that sounded like we were looking into him, too.’
‘We needed that information.’
‘He was laying flowers with his mother!’
Sam and Perry glanced at each other. Sam pulled a face.
‘You should have asked him.’
‘But, sir – I –’
‘I said if you became too emotional you needed to tell me that too.’ Nick’s arms flapped about. ‘If you’re not up to working on this case, then let someone else take over. I need your mind on the job. This is a murder investigation!’
‘For fuck’s sake, what do you take me for?’ Allie stood up. ‘I’m not an unemotional brick like you. I have feelings too and I . . .’ As all eyes fell on her, she ran from the room. Tears pouring down her face, she rushed into the ladies’ toilets and into a cubicle. She sat down on the toilet lid and gulped in big mouthfuls of air.
Although livid at being humiliated in front of her staff, Allie realised that Nick was right, and maybe she shouldn’t be working on this case anymore. Her mind hadn’t really been on the job for three weeks now but she couldn’t tell him every reason why. Last month, while working on the serial rapist case, she had interviewed a woman in her mid-twenties – tidy, yet ageing before her time, bags under her eyes telling the true nature of her life. Dark roots had been showing through her blonde-dyed hair, her nails bitten down to the quick. To Allie it had seemed as if she wanted to look nice but didn’t feel she should. Sarah had been raped when she was eighteen and the case had never been solved. She seemed old before her time, painfully reminding Allie of how she herself hadn’t really lived while her sister had been suffering.
‘Is there anything else you can remember, Sarah?’ she had asked her gently.
‘I – I don’t think so.’ The woman looked down at the table. ‘It was years ago now and it all happened so fast.’
‘Even something tiny might be useful to us.’
Sarah paused. ‘Strange though, because sometimes it was as if it happened only yesterday.’
Allie reached a hand across the table. ‘I’m sorry to dredge up old memories but we’re hoping that with new advances in technology we might be able to find the man responsible for this.’
Sarah looked up through watery eyes.
‘We will get him, Sarah. I promise.’
As she rested her head in her hands, thoughts swirled around her mind. She had regretted the words as soon as they had come from her mouth. Was she really so sure they would, after all this time?
She grabbed some toilet roll, wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Keeping busy, that’s what she needed to do. Because if she didn’t, she would be no good to Karen, just a gibbering wreck. No good to anyone.
The outside door opened and she heard foot
steps. A knock on the cubicle door.
‘Allie?’ Sam’s voice was soft.
Allie opened the door and went out to her.
‘Nick sent me to find you. I would have come anyway.’ She smiled. ‘Are you okay? Talk to me.’
Allie remained quiet, the lump in her throat making speech impossible.
‘You’re not invincible,’ said Sam. ‘No one thinks ill of you because you’re upset.’
‘But Nick thinks I wasn’t doing my job properly.’ Allie wiped at her eyes. ‘I – I wasn’t.’
‘It’s late, we’ve all been on shift for too long and we’re tired. And Nick is a thoughtless dick.’
Allie smiled a little through her tears. ‘I should have questioned Ryan Johnson. I let my heart rule my head. All I could think about was the fact that that’s going to be me soon. I just wanted to let them grieve, you know? I was stupid.’
‘It wouldn’t have made any difference, though.’ Sam placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘We’ll get them in the end.’
‘But will we really?’
‘With your expert interviewing skills and my expert camera skills, of course we fucking will.’
Sam’s reassurance did it. Allie burst into tears again.
‘I haven’t been straight with you,’ she said. ‘I haven’t been straight with any of you.’
‘What are you talking about?’
Allie moved over to the sink, held on to it for support. As Sam moved to put a hand on her arm, she glanced at herself in the mirror. She didn’t like what she saw reflecting back at her.
‘Last week I was at the hospital with Mark and another rose was delivered to Karen’s ward.’
Sam stared at her wide-eyed. ‘Why haven’t you told anyone?’
