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

  ‘Cass.’

  She undid his jeans while catching his reflection in the shaving mirror.

  ‘Cass? Stop it.’

  She snatched her hand back and stepped away, grabbing a towel to wrap around her body. ‘What?’ She tried to swallow but a mass was forming in her throat, a familiar lump. Tears began to spill down her cheeks. ‘I thought you loved me.’

  ‘For heaven’s sake. Let’s not do this now. I have to go to work and I feel like utter shite. I don’t know why you’re acting so weird, but not now.’

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘What now?’ He gelled his quiff and took a swig of mouthwash before spitting it into the sink.

  ‘The love bite on your shoulder. Who is she? Was it Holly?’

  ‘It’s a bruise, you idiot. We moved barrels and boxes all day yesterday.’

  ‘I know a love bite when I see one.’

  ‘You clearly don’t. And Holly was murdered last night. Your comment, it was in bad taste.’

  He didn’t want her, she knew it. She glanced at his shoulder again. Maybe it was a bruise. She stared at it. It could be a bruise. As he stormed out of the bathroom gripping his phone, he almost pushed her over.

  ‘Ouch. That hurt,’ she yelled as she let out a sob. She was getting no sympathy from him. If Holly had been standing there naked with her hands in his pants, he’d have called in sick.

  She gazed in the mirror tiles above the bath as the front door slammed. She was no looker – no wonder he was straying. Elvis was the karaoke king and had become a bit of a local celebrity. She saw how some of the women watched him perform. She slapped her face hard, once and then again. ‘You’re ugly, ugly—’

  Crumpling to the bathroom floor tiles, she clung to the towel and wept. She hated herself and all she’d become. Maybe she wouldn’t eat today, at least try to lose a few pounds. It was all her fault. But she could change, be more like them. Be more like Kerry, especially if she stood a chance of becoming best friends with her again. Gaining her trust was one thing but she had to show herself to be worthy.

  She crawled along the floor and pulled herself onto the bed, which is where she would stay. Elvis didn’t want her and Kerry hadn’t messaged back. The repulsed look in her boyfriend’s eyes would stay with her for the day. It wasn’t just a rejection; he was sickened by her. She squeezed her flesh and poked it as she yelled, wanting nothing more than to slice it away. ‘Revolting. You’re ugly, you’re disgusting. You can change things but you don’t. You’re ugly.’ She wouldn’t eat today. No food, not a morsel.

  A message flashed up. Kerry was back. She wiped her face on the quilt and her heart rate sped up.

  Cass. Thank you, but I’m fine. Take care, mate.

  She threw the phone to the floor. You do not get to dump me again Kerry Reed, or should I say Kerry Powell now?

  Chapter Thirteen

  ‘Guv, I’ve arranged the viewing at the morgue for midday so we haven’t got much time.’ Wyre dried her face on a paper towel. ‘I feel a bit more human after a quick wash.’

  ‘Thank you for being there. I know it’s been a long night. Have you called Marianne Long to let her know?’ Gina asked.

  ‘I have. She’ll be there.’

  As they entered the incident room, Gina grabbed a Danish pastry and bit into it, enjoying the buttery pastry that oozed apricot jam.

  ‘I’m so sorry, guv. Mrs O and I had had a few to drink last night and I didn’t hear the phone.’ O’Connor grabbed the last pastry. ‘I’m here now.’

  ‘Good. Wyre, after the morgue, you can head back home and have a nap and O’Connor, you can take over. We’ve been up all night. I’ll plough on as long as I can and I want to make a dent in this case today. That means I want you all on it. Go through the interviews. O’Connor?’

  He rubbed his shiny head and adjusted his tie. ‘Guv.’

  ‘CCTV. How have you got on?’

  ‘Not good. The only camera working is the one pointing over the front door. Oh, I tell a lie. Lord of the Manor himself, Nigel Harris, has one more working camera pointing at his safe in an office on the bottom floor. No one went in that room all night and nothing was stolen, so that camera tells us nothing.’

  ‘Damn, I was hoping to see some of the gatecrashers but they all infiltrated the party through the back terrace after sneaking in through the garden. Did we get Holly on any of the footage?’ She popped the last of the pastry in her mouth and rubbed her gritty eyes. All the coffee in the world wasn’t going to cure the heaviness that had infected her body, spreading from limb to limb. She needed sleep and she needed it soon.

  ‘She shows up on it twice. Once on arrival in the afternoon at thirteen thirty-six, then once again at twenty-one, zero five. I’ll show you.’ O’Connor clicked his mouse and his laptop screen came alive. He pressed play and the isolated slice of video began. ‘It’s a bit grainy but you can tell it’s definitely Holly.’

  Two people finished smoking and entered the building. One of the members of staff came out and took the ashtray from the bench out the front. They all watched, waiting for the moment. Holly appeared, lifting the hem of her long dress as she stepped carefully towards the steps, alone. She glanced back and fluffed her hair up while looking at her reflection in the door, then she stopped and turned, taking a moment before going in through the main door.

  ‘That’s all we have.’ O’Connor pressed stop on the recording. ‘After that, a few people come out to smoke, then they go back in. No one else comes from around the side of the building like she did.’

  ‘Rewind that clip, back to the two smokers.’

  O’Connor clicked his mouse again.

  ‘That’s Samuel Avery out there smoking just before Holly appears. Then he goes inside. Go through Avery’s statement again and all the others. Was he back at his bar all night or did he leave for a while? Also, Francesca Carter, one of the bridesmaids, said that she saw Holly talking to a man on the terrace. They were tucked away in the corner. It could be that she left him there and walked around the building. I haven’t had the chance to go through all the interviews yet. Did anyone see Holly after the terrace or walking through reception?’ Gina gazed around as O’Connor flicked through his notes and Wyre checked the system.

  ‘Smith, you were there too.’

  PC Smith poured a sachet of sugar into his coffee. ‘I took a fair few statements and I have read through Kapoor’s too. There are absolutely loads of them. One hundred and twelve to be precise.’

  ‘Anyone?’ Gina needed the team working quicker on this but she knew that analysing the contents of over a hundred interviews wouldn’t be an easy task.

  O’Connor rubbed his head. ‘From what I’ve read, no one saw Holly after she went back in through the front. It could be that she went straight up to her room. A lot of the guests couldn’t be sure that she wasn’t around, they just didn’t see her. There were a lot of people there, then add the gatecrashers to that – possibly another ten of those – and add to the mix that a lot of them were off their faces, we have a lot of unreliable witnesses. There’s a lot of “not sures” and “maybes” in the mix. No one can say for definite that they saw Holly after nine fifteen.’

  ‘I just hope forensics come up with something.’ Gina placed a finger over her lips as she thought. ‘Anything back yet?’

  Wyre leaned back in her chair. ‘No. There was so much taken away, I’d be surprised if we hear soon. Bad news though, guv.’

  Shoulders slumped, Gina sighed. ‘Go on.’

  ‘I read Alison Reed’s interview notes. She’s the mother of the bride. Holly’s room was used for getting ready. The hairdresser came. They all did their make-up in there. The table props were stored there, looking after those had been Holly’s job. People came and went all day.’

  ‘That’s all we need. Was there a photographer or videographer?’

  Briggs entered with an empty cup. ‘Yes, the photographer left about eight. Her details were taken last night from Alison Reed,
the mother of the bride.’

  ‘And the photos?’

  ‘They’ve been emailed to me, all of them. Over eight hundred raw photos. I’m just downloading them now then I’ll get them uploaded onto the system. The Warwickshire Herald has been onto me already. I’m just preparing a statement.’ Briggs passed them and headed to the kitchen.

  PC Smith, O’Connor and Wyre all waited for further instructions.

  ‘We know what we have to do. So much work, so little time. I want all of those photos scrutinised. Anything that looks out of place, any of Holly, I want them flagged up for my attention. Another thing. Smith?’

  ‘Yes, guv.’

  ‘Take Kapoor back to the manor. Phillip Brighton, our man in custody who has been charged with supplying drugs, claims to have seen a man masturbating in the woods. He gave us the location of the clearing. I want this checked out and want forensics to go in first. I think we can all agree that this is unusual behaviour and I want this man found. His description of this man was poor. Brighton claims it was dark and he was stoned. Not much to go on but we may just have a shoe print, a cigarette butt, anything. We have to consider this person to be a person of interest. Also, Brighton’s clothing has been taken and has gone to the lab after we spotted what looks like blood on his jumper. If this turns out to be Holly’s blood then he’ll be high up on our list of suspects.’ Gina glanced at her watch. ‘I’ve got to get to the morgue.’

  Wyre stood up, ready to accompany her.

  ‘Any word on Holly Long’s phone? Bernard didn’t find one at the scene.’

  Everyone shook their heads.

  ‘To me, that’s strange. People are glued to their phones. She must have had one. I’ll ask her mother when we see her.’

  As Gina packed up her notebook and laptop while finishing her coffee, DS Jacob Driscoll walked through the door and dropped three packets of chewy sweets onto the central desks. ‘Bloody airports. I’ve had my fill of lying on a floor while waiting for the dodgy plane to be replaced.’ He yawned. Gina stepped back and held her breath. The sweaty smell coming from her colleague told her he hadn’t even been home to freshen up. ‘I came straight away. Emergency, you said.’ His short hair shone on his head, the precise cut around his ears giving him a well-preened look.

  ‘Have a wash and be ready to go to Furnace and Blower Ales this afternoon.’

  ‘I gather you’re not taking me for a pint?’ He lifted up his armpits and grimaced as he inhaled.

  She left him with a telling smile as she snatched her coffee cup from the desk. ‘I’ll meet you by the car,’ Gina called across to Wyre as she hurried to the kitchenette.

  Her phone beeped as she almost collided into Briggs. She pulled it from her pocket.

  Gracie and I have left. At least we know where we stand at the Cleevesford Cleaver B&B. We’re off to Cadbury World – alone. Not even a message or a phone call. Thanks again.

  Gina threw the cup into the sink, breaking it. Her daughter had checked into a bed and breakfast for the rest of her stay. Hands shaking, she steadied herself on the small strip of chipped worktop. ‘Why the hell didn’t I call my daughter?’

  ‘Don’t worry, I’m fine.’ Briggs brushed his fingers over his crumpled shirt and a bit of his usually tidy hair flopped forward. It had been a long night for them all and there was no chance of popping home for a sleep.

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘We haven’t spoken for ages. In fact, we haven’t spoken properly since—’

  ‘I can’t talk about that here. You know I can’t.’ A flash of pain shot through her head. Briggs knew her secret. He’d known it for a while but she couldn’t think about that right now. Not yet. He said he’d understood but now it felt as though he was badgering her for more. Not satisfied with what she’d given already.

  ‘We need to talk soon. Really, Gina, we do.’

  A look passed between them. The kindness in his eyes that she’d been so familiar with wasn’t quite there. He gave her nothing but a vacant expression to fathom.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ This is exactly how she didn’t want to feel. That’s why secrets were best being kept and she’d blown it.

  He placed a hand over hers. ‘Stop saying you’re sorry.’

  As he left, all she could feel was the warmth he’d left behind on her fingers and that would soon be gone. He’d read her well. She’d wanted him to touch her. She felt the frostiness within spreading through her body as she thought of Marianne Long and her next appointment of the day.

  The morgue – she was going to be late.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Gina headed along the corridor and was met by a suited woman, her hair in a tight bun and her glasses dangling over her chest on a piece of cord. ‘Come through.’ She opened the door leading to a small, whitewashed waiting room where Marianne Long was sitting.

  ‘I have to see her, I have to,’ the woman repeated in a quivering voice.

  Gina nodded to Wyre who took a seat.

  ‘I can’t believe someone hurt her like this. She’s such a gentle girl.’ Marianne paused. ‘Was. Someone has taken her from me and if I find out who they are, I swear I will kill them.’ The teary woman began to seethe, breathing rapidly as she slammed her fist into the wall. She stood back and shook her hand out.

  ‘Ms Long. Are you ready?’ Gina placed a hand on her shoulder and the suited woman used her pass card to open the door.

  ‘Have you got children?’

  Gina nodded. ‘I have a grown-up daughter.’

  ‘You understand then.’

  Gina was glad she didn’t. She couldn’t begin to understand what it would be like to lose Hannah in this way; in fact, even though they weren’t speaking again, she couldn’t imagine losing Hannah at all. She swallowed the mass that was forming in her throat as the door closed, leaving Wyre behind in the waiting room. Her colleague was exhausted. Gina was shattered too and it was setting her emotions alight. Gina looked away, unable to observe Marianne’s expressions as they took the long walk to where the bodies were stored. This was no place for her to crumble.

  ‘Through here.’ The suited woman opened another door. Holly had been laid out ready, a sheet brought neatly over her shoulders on a stainless steel table.

  ‘Thank you.’

  Gina guided Ms Long through, feeling her quivering beneath her coat. The woman almost crumpled. Gina hurried beside her and helped her remain standing. The woman nudged her away and leaned over, kissing her daughter once on the forehead before standing back.

  The wound to her head had been cleaned and she looked almost angelic. Long red hair neatly framed her face and her pale skin made her look completely drained of blood.

  ‘I don’t want to leave her. It’s cold in here. Holly hated the cold.’ A tear streamed down her cheek and the woman turned to the wall. ‘You have to get the animal who did this to her. You have to.’

  Gina closed her eyes and tried to imagine different things. Gracie, her cat sleeping in her bed. Briggs – his warm hand over hers. Anything but the young woman in front of her, triggering something of her own past that she couldn’t bear to think about. Her own wedding night, the gasping and pain. A shiver started in her legs as she tried to evict her horrible memories and think of Gracie. Her granddaughter, the little girl she loved so much, even though her daughter thought she had no time for either of them.

  ‘Goodbye, my love. Sleep peacefully.’ Ms Long pressed the exit buzzer and hurried back into the corridor.

  Grateful of the distraction, Gina followed. ‘Ms Long – Marianne – we haven’t managed to locate Holly’s phone.’

  ‘I always make jokes about that. She was never without it. Either that or her trusty pink tablet.’ Marianne smiled as a tear ran down her cheek. ‘I moaned at her sometimes for ignoring me while she was texting or browsing Facebook. I’d do anything to be able to moan at her again.’

  ‘Again, please accept our sincerest condolences. I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through.’ Gina swa
llowed the lump in her throat.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘We want to catch this person more than anything. To do that, we need to learn all we can about Holly. Would you have a key to her apartment?’

  Marianne nodded. ‘I was meaning to go there. I just wanted to feel close to her.’

  ‘Could we please meet you there so that we can take a look too?’

  She sniffed and pulled a tissue from her pocket, wiping her sodden eyes. ‘Of course.’

  Gina made a note to catch up with Marianne later that day. For now, she needed to find out who Holly was arguing with at her workplace.

  As Gina and Wyre left the building, Gina took a couple of deep breaths.

  ‘That bad?’

  ‘Yes. I don’t know how Marianne Long is going to get through this. I couldn’t even tell her when her daughter’s body would be released.’

  Wyre yawned again.

  ‘I need to find out who Holly was arguing with at work and why. I’ll drop you back and take Jacob with me. You need to get some sleep.’

  ‘How about you, guv? You look like a walking corpse.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  ‘I meant, you look tired.’

  Gina smirked. ‘I was just having you on but I agree, I do look like a walking corpse. When I’ve been to Furnace and Blower Ales, I’ll head home for a shower and rest. I’ve checked. They are open today which is good for us.’ She could send O’Connor and Jacob, or PC Smith and either detective, but she wouldn’t. She had to be there. She had to interrogate this person with her eyes as well as her questions. Going home wasn’t an option. Holly had some sort of disagreement or argument at her workplace and Gina needed to know what that was about and if it led to her murder.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Staring at her phone, Cass began spreading several slices of bread with peanut butter and chocolate spread. That would follow the multipack of crisps and half jar of jam, scooped straight out with a spoon. Nausea swept through her. They hadn’t been shopping and she hadn’t cared after promising herself she wasn’t going to eat today. Elvis would get a meal of some sorts at work and he wouldn’t ask if she’d eaten or not.