Her Last Mistake - Detective Gina Harte Series 06 (2020) Read online

  The music blasted out. She didn’t feel like celebrating at all despite the happy dancers and drinkers surrounding her. The room had filled even more since the evening guests had arrived. She flinched as a group of men nudged her to get to the bar. As Samuel Avery, the landlord of the Angel Arms, pulled one of the guest ales at the secondary pop-up bar, he winked at her. She broke their eye contact. The other men at the bar began to shout and laugh, their rowdiness standing out from the crowd as they ordered a tray of free drinks. The father of the bride danced with his daughter as Ed pulled his new mother-in-law onto the dance floor. Francesca, one of the bridesmaids, re-entered the room and slowly turned in the middle of the dance floor, sporting a look that suggested she might be sick at any moment.

  Hot and sick, that was how Holly was beginning to feel too. The venison followed by the lemon pie dessert was beginning to turn her stomach. She regretted following all that with the petits fours. A lot of things sickened her lately and the smell of fried onions coming from the hot buffet weren’t helping. She lifted the hem of her sage green satin dress and made her way to the terrace of Cleevesford Manor where she hoped that fresh air and the expanse of woodland beyond the stunning gardens would ease her queasiness. Claustrophobia and pregnancy had got the better of her.

  Gasping, she backed onto the cold wall, the music thudding as Kool & The Gang faded into ABBA’s, ‘Dancing Queen’. Her life as she knew it would soon be over. Today had been a façade as she watched her friend commit to the love of her life. All this happiness would soon end. There were lies, lots of them and those lies were coming out soon and people were going to get hurt. She wondered if her friends would ever forgive her betrayal. She, Lilly, Kerry and Fran had named themselves the Awesome Foursome when they were at school. Was the end of an era on the horizon?

  His words swirled through her mind. Say a word and I’ll kill you.

  He wouldn’t kill her. He wouldn’t kill her baby. Words can be said in temper, they can be empty, and can be shouted on impulse. That’s all it was. He wasn’t going to kill her. Pinning her up against the wall was nothing more than an empty threat. Yes, he’d scared her, yes he was rough in bed, but kill her? People use that term all the time, they don’t mean it and that gave her comfort.

  Holly turned her head as she heard a rustling in the distance. Two men emerged from the dark foliage at the back of the garden followed by someone she recognised all too well. So that’s how the extra guests were getting in. The whole of the Angel Arms were sneaking in for free drinks.

  She flinched as the DJ’s microphone squealed. Tables started to crash and glasses smashed as the DJ switched to ‘I Predict a Riot’. Several men spilled out of the function room fighting as she ducked just in time to miss a flying bread roll. Kerry screamed as her mother, Alison, tried to pull her back. One of the buttonhole flowers landed at her feet as the scuffle passed by her. A carnation, just like those he used to buy her. She kicked it out of the way.

  ‘I need to speak to you, now.’

  Where had he come from? She hadn’t heard him creep up on her.

  ‘Your room, half an hour.’

  ‘I’ve got nothing to say to you.’ Tonight wasn’t a good time. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of their last proper face-to-face conversation. He’d done a good job of keeping out of her way ever since that night in her flat. There was no way he was getting another opportunity to pin her to a wall and bully her into getting rid of her baby. He’d also taken his obsession with gripping her neck a bit too far – no longer was it slightly playful during their lovemaking, he’d gripped her like he wanted to suck the life from her. She rubbed the back of her neck, her fingertips touching the scar that he’d left.

  ‘You’re being stupid. We need to talk. Please?’

  A gentle breeze filled the air, providing her with the clarity she needed. She was being stupid? It was he who had refused to talk any more about the matter of their baby. She glanced up at him, taking in his pleading expression. He wasn’t the man who’d been so angry at her apartment, he was the man she knew and loved. Maybe he’d finally seen sense. She brought her hands down from the scar. Maybe her baby would have the father he or she deserved. His hand brushed against hers as he checked over his shoulder.

  Francesca stumbled out of the function room through the bi-fold doors, one arm outstretched and her other hand across her mouth. Looking at her, she’d already been sick once down her bridesmaid’s dress and Holly wasn’t going to stick around to watch what was coming. Seeing Francesca throw up would be the very thing that would tip her over the edge, no matter how soothing the breeze was.

  The gatecrashers fought, the staff tried to break things up, the mother-in-law ran out and began yelling across the garden like a banshee, and Holly felt numb to it all. Could she trust him? That question was filling her mind as chaos broke out.

  As Francesca turned, he shifted his position so that she would only catch sight of his back. ‘I’ll see you in a bit. I’m just going to sort out this mess and I’ll be up.’

  Holly turned away from him, tearing a handful of flower heads from one of the table decorations as she hurried to her room. As she slammed the door behind her, she noticed the squashed carnation petals spilling from her clenched fingers. She sat on the bed and began picking out the petals and dropping them to the floor. Confused is how she felt. She’d wait and she’d see exactly what he had to say.

  Half an hour had passed, then an hour. If he turned up, he turned up. She brought her knees up to her chest and pulled the quilt up to her chin. He wasn’t coming. She switched off the light and closed her eyes, ignoring the revellers on the terrace below her room. She applied a light amount of pressure to her stomach hoping her baby would move again, but he or she didn’t. The gentle beat of the music was hypnotic and soon she lost the battle with her heavy lids as sleep took over.

  Heart in mouth, Holly jolted up in bed as a knock broke her dream. She almost tripped over her dress while stumbling across the unfamiliar room in the dark. She can’t have been asleep for more than a few minutes, at least it felt like that and the music was still playing. As she opened the door a white flash of pain filled her face. Through peppered vision, all she could see was the dark outline of a head, backlit by the fading light from the corridor. That soon disappeared as the intruder closed the door.

  Her nose stung as blood sprayed out. Why had he hit her? He’d come to talk. She tried to focus but her eyes had teared up from the blow to her nose. Was it even him? She tried to focus but all she could see were blurred dark images. Another flash of pain hit as her attacker grabbed her wrist and thrust her onto the bed.

  ‘Don’t hurt the baby,’ she whimpered. Maybe he’d come to act on his promise. ‘Don’t kill me. I didn’t say anything.’ She had been naïve to doubt him. Another blow to the head came from nowhere. She had to get away.

  Fight. Hit out. Thrash and run away. If only she could get to the corridor and shout like mad. Someone would wake up.

  She opened her mouth to scream and her attacker thrust a pillow over her face, pushing hard. Winded by her attacker, she tried to wriggle beneath. Dark – she couldn’t open her eyes. Dry material that tasted freshly laundered filled her mouth, along with the blood that was slipping down the back of her throat, drowning her.

  Trapped and voiceless, two feelings that she was more than familiar with.

  Panic rose as she tried to gasp but her attempt was fruitless. The sound of her own heart booming filled her ears as she continued her interrupted dream. The one in which she was walking her newborn in the park and people stopped to say how beautiful she was. In her mind it was a girl. As she slipped away, she kept thinking. He wouldn’t kill her. He’d bring her around. Like at the apartment when he’d gripped her throat, it was just a threat.

  The pulsating heartbeat in her ears faded as she slipped into another world. She strolled over to the calm lake, baby in her arms looking out at the ducks. Then it stopped, everything stopped for a second. I
t was as if time had stood still. No breeze, no trickling of water, the people stood like statues. What was happening? The shining sun got brighter and brighter, dazzling her, filling the whole landscape until she could no longer see as she entered her new serene world of nothing.

  Chapter Two

  The sound of the ten o’clock news finishing filled the room as Detective Gina Harte pressed stop on the film she and her daughter, Hannah, had been watching. The NeverEnding Story had been Hannah’s favourite movie as a child and they’d both watched it a million times but it still brought a smile to their faces. Hannah was sprawled out on the settee, hand half hovering over the tub of popcorn.

  ‘I still love that film. It’s a shame Gracie didn’t get to see the end.’ Hannah pulled the settee throw over the little girl who had fallen asleep on the floor. Strands of her long light brown hair reached over the cushion and a trail of dribble slid down her cheek.

  Gina smiled. ‘How’s she getting on at nursery?’

  ‘Good. She loves playing with the other kids. Every day I come home with another work of art for the fridge, which is why I brought a few over for your fridge.’ Hannah paused. ‘It broke my heart the first day I left her there.’

  It had been well over twenty years ago when Gina had taken Hannah to preschool but it was a memory she’d never forget. Her little girl had immediately wanted to play with all the other children and Gina had hidden the lump in her throat and the tears in her eyes until she’d driven off to attend police training.

  ‘They grow up so quick.’ Gina paused. Her relationship with Hannah hadn’t always been this good but they’d been talking more over the past few months. ‘I’m glad you both came to visit. I mean it. It’s lovely to have you here.’

  ‘I’m glad you took some time off to be with us. Gracie always jibbers on about you. You’re her hero.’

  A lump formed in Gina’s throat as she kneeled on the floor and gave her granddaughter a kiss on the cheek. ‘I don’t say it enough but you really have done a brilliant job with her. She’s perfect.’

  Hannah uncomfortably looked away. Gina knew she struggled to take a compliment.

  ‘How’s Greg?’

  Hannah bit the skin on the side of her finger. ‘Fine. Work is good. He’s got a job for a building company now. New builds. He’s away for the next week.’

  Her smile was forced. Gina knew the effort it took to pretend. A smile that is natural takes little effort but Hannah had a grimacing line on her forehead and a smile that didn’t match it. The light twitch in her temples showed Gina that she was subtly clenching her teeth together.

  ‘So all is good with you both?’

  ‘Couldn’t be better.’ Hannah placed the lid on the popcorn and swung her legs off the settee before stepping over her sleeping daughter and stretching.

  ‘You know you can talk to me about anything.’

  Hannah shook the crumbs from the snuggle blanket. ‘I don’t need to talk. Gracie and me, we’re happy. Greg is doing well. My job is good and now that Gracie is at nursery, I’ve upped my hours.’

  Gina waited for the next clue.

  ‘Stop staring at me like I’m one of your victims or suspects, Mum.’

  ‘I’m sorry. Bad habit.’ She’d almost pushed it too far – almost. ‘What are we doing tomorrow?’

  Hannah shrugged. ‘I know Gracie would love to go to Cadbury World.’

  ‘Sounds like a plan.’

  Gina’s phone began to buzz across the coffee table.

  ‘That’s if you’re available.’

  DCI Chris Briggs’s name flashed up and he knew that she’d booked the week off. She tensed up as she took the call. ‘Briggs?’

  ‘Sorry to call you. I know you’ve booked holiday but DS Driscoll’s plane has been delayed. He’s still stuck in Portugal and Wyre is visiting a friend in Staffordshire. She’ll be here soon, but I need someone to meet me at Cleevesford Manor, now. We have the body of a young woman, looks like murder and we can’t afford to lose any time. Forensics are on their way now. Please tell me you can be there.’

  Hannah slumped back onto the settee, her gaze fixed on Gina. The expression she was reading on Hannah’s face now was one of disappointment.

  ‘I’ll be there in about half an hour.’

  ‘See you soon.’ Briggs ended the call.

  A shiver ran through Gina’s body. She wasn’t sure if it was a result of Hannah’s reddening face or having to work that closely to Briggs again. Once her lover, now he was the keeper of her deepest darkest secret. She’d avoided being too close to him for too long, but now she was going to be working the next case with him until the other detectives in the department were back on the scene soon.

  ‘Come on, Gracie. Looks like we’re on our own tomorrow. I don’t know why I expected it to be any different.’ Hannah lifted the sleepy girl up and wrapped her in a blanket.

  ‘I’ll make it up to you, I promise.’ Gina went to give Gracie a peck on the forehead but Hannah turned away. ‘Don’t be like that. I can’t help it that a case has come in. Everyone else is on holiday or away. There’s only me.’

  ‘This was meant to be our time; you, me, and Gracie. You promised. Aren’t there any other detectives?’

  Gina shook her head. ‘None that can get there now. It’s a big case.’ She turned away and dropped her hands in frustration. ‘Hannah, it looks like a woman has been murdered. I have to be there because at the moment there may be a killer on the loose. I’m doing my best. I love you and I love Gracie, more than anything.’

  ‘No, you love your job more than anything!’ With that, Hannah was already halfway up the stairs.

  ‘Goodnight, chicken,’ Gina called out to Gracie up the stairs.

  The door to the spare room slammed. Gina flinched as Ebony, her little black cat, began rubbing its head against her leg. ‘At least you’re not angry with me.’ She glanced at the clock – if she hurried, she’d make it by half past midnight.

  As she grabbed her bag and keys, Cleevesford Manor ran through her mind. She’d been a couple of times, once following a burglary and another time she took Gracie for an afternoon tea. The grand building had been there for centuries, owned by the same family. Its land, spread over acres, was the place to book for any extravagant celebration. She shivered, wondering who the woman was and why anyone would want to harm her.

  She knew Hannah was right, she did love her job more than anything. She didn’t love the people she came across all the time but she loved the fact that she was taking bad people off the streets. She wanted this killer in a cell. Maybe then, she and Hannah would be able to carry on with the week they had planned.

  Chapter Three

  Sunday, 10 May 2020

  He crossed his thumbs over her jugular as he reached his end. Her moaning below him only moments earlier had been all he needed to finish off.

  ‘You can let go now.’ Removing his hands, she rubbed her neck, stood and pulled her dress back down.

  They wouldn’t talk about this. Not because he didn’t want to, it wasn’t part of the unwritten agreement. He did what he was meant to do and he’d enjoyed it, but was it enough? He had a taste for something more, an intensity he couldn’t explain or expect anyone to ever understand.

  Was it enough? He asked himself the same question over and over again as he lay there in the darkness, staring out of the window at the stars in the clear May sky. Was it enough? That question was going to haunt him. It had to be enough. He rolled off the bed and slipped his trousers back on.

  Nothing was ever enough. He needed more now, there was no going back.

  A star twinkled. Maybe it was a planet. It was bright enough. She’d already left the room and he funnily missed her presence.

  He exhaled. It wasn’t enough.

  Chapter Four

  Gina drove along the half-acre long tree-lined drive, a string of fairy lights leading the way, and pulled up behind Briggs’s car. An ambulance surrounded by three police cars was parked near the
entrance.

  PC Kapoor stood next to a paramedic who was hunched over a woman sitting in the back of the ambulance.

  The nineteenth-century manor house stood proudly on the vast landscape and its gardens were the envy of many similar properties. This one had survived agricultural depressions and increased taxation during the early twentieth century. It had not only survived, it had been owned all this time by the Harris’s of Cleevesford. Since the renovations, it had been a hub for the local community, a place for the well off to get married and the best venue for an award-winning cream tea. Gina wondered if numbers of people coming for a cream tea would drop for a while when news of a murder got out.

  ‘Bernard is just sealing off the scene and PC Smith is herding everyone into the function room,’ Briggs said as he stood by her car door.

  ‘Who’s that?’ Gina pointed to the woman in the ambulance.

  ‘That’s Francesca Carter. She’s one of the bridesmaids.’

  ‘So it’s a wedding?’

  ‘A wedding reception. The couple got married in Crete and were having a party at the manor for everyone that didn’t go abroad. We’re trying to find out more and PC Smith is collecting a list of names, while finding out how everyone is related to or acquainted with the bride and groom. The couple are Kerry and Edward Powell.’

  ‘And the victim? Do we know who she is?’

  ‘She’s been identified as twenty-five-year-old Holly Long. She was one of the bridesmaids. We should be able to go up as soon as the scene is secure.’ He rubbed his emerging five o’clock shadow. ‘How are you doing? I haven’t seen much of you lately.’

  ‘Good.’ That was all she had to say. Now wasn’t the time to share her thoughts. She wasn’t going to go into the fact that she felt like she was balancing on a tightrope now that he knew some of her most intimate secrets, she wasn’t going to tell him that her daughter was probably going to give her the silent treatment for cutting short their time together and she wasn’t going to tell him how much she hated weddings. The thought of them made her teeth itch. The commitment, the feeling of suffocation as the words ‘I do’ are uttered. She scratched away the nervous prickles that were forming under her scalp.