The Next Girl(Detective Gina Harte #1)(37)

‘I understand. It’s not easy, I know that much. Especially being in your position, with a strange man trying to get into your home in the night, with your children upstairs.’

Luke stared into his lap. ‘I can’t cope with all of this. I don’t know what I’m going to do,’ he said, and burst into tears. His hands began to tremble and his coffee lapped over the edge of the cup. Gina took it from him and placed it on the hearth, catching a glimpse of the photo of Deborah.

‘Something strange happened the other day,’ he said. ‘I thought nothing of it until tonight. It probably has nothing to do with what happened, but it might also have everything to do with it. I’m rambling, I have no idea, but I think it’s the same man.’ He picked up his coffee again and took a long swig.

‘What happened, Mr Jenkins?’

The man wiped his eyes and walked towards the bay window. ‘Yesterday morning, about eleven, I was standing here, looking out of the window, and there was a man sitting on the wall, over there. That’s number fifteen.’ He pointed. As Gina walked over, she made a note of the house number. ‘He was just staring at me. It only lasted a few seconds and then he walked off. He was wearing a dark hoodie. The hood was up. I can’t recall anything about his features. He was a fair way off, as you can see.’

‘You’re doing really well,’ said Gina, quickly taking notes.

‘I can’t believe so much has happened since then.’ He sat on the window ledge and began to cry. ‘I was here with Brooke, a friend. We’ve become close and I don’t know what to do. What does a person do in this situation? My missing, presumed dead wife has been gone for four years. Only now do I allow myself to move on. I meet someone I really like and just as we’re getting close, my missing wife’s baby turns up – without my wife. The woman I’m involved with has no idea. I have to tell her. Very soon, I have to explain to my kids that they have a new sister. What do I do?’

Gina stared at the wall. She wished she could wave a magic wand and make things better for the people she came across who were suffering, but she couldn’t. The world wasn’t a good place. It wasn’t all roses, cake, parties and nice things. It was a dark place, a place that she’d yet to fathom. Luke sat there, rubbing his eyes, broken. ‘I’m so sorry for everything that has happened to you. You can rest assured that I’m doing all I can. Is there anywhere else you can stay for a while?’

Luke sniffed. ‘I think I’ll send the kids to my mother-in-law’s tonight. I don’t feel it’s safe for them here and it’ll give me time to think.’

‘That’s probably wise,’ Gina replied. In a normal case of attempted burglary, she’d have thought it unnecessary, but they both knew this was different. She watched as a van pulled up. The crime scene investigator had arrived.

‘I’d best let them in,’ Luke said as he walked to the door. Gina went back into the kitchen. She made a mental note to arrange for Luke to attend the station to give a DNA sample as soon as possible. His involvement wasn’t likely, but they still had to officially eliminate him.

‘I’m finished here, ma’am,’ said Smith. ‘Good thing is, no one has been in the garden since the incident so let’s hope our unwelcome visitor has left something behind.’

‘I’m not holding my breath. He was wearing gloves and a hooded top, and it’s drizzly and blowing a gale out there. You never know though. Can you stop by at number fifteen across the road in a while and ask if they saw a man sitting on their wall yesterday morning? It was around eleven. This man matches the clothing description that has been given to us tonight.’

‘Will do.’ Smith placed his notebook in his pocket.

‘I’m going to head back to the station for an hour then I’m going home for a shower.

Gina yawned and walked towards the door. As she stepped out into the cold, she nodded at Dr Freeman as he hobbled along the path. ‘You look tired, Keith.’ A strand of his combed-over hair flapped in the wind.

‘My back’s been playing up, been keeping me up all night. I’d just dozed off and the phone went.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. Anyway, we’ve spoken to Mr Jenkins. The perp tried to get in through the back door after gaining entry through the back gate and no one has been in the garden since. The perp was wearing gloves and a hoodie so I’m not expecting much, but you never know. Can you call me when you’re finished here?’

He nodded back as he passed her with his toolbox. ‘Will do.’

‘Thanks,’ she called as she reached her car.





Twenty-Five





She heard a dog barking in the distance. He was back. She went to turn but flinched. The pain from her tear burned and throbbed. She hoped he’d stay at the house with his mother but she heard his footsteps approaching. The key turned in the lock and he entered. She listened as he stomped up the stairs.

‘He was looking, he had a knife, that bastard had a knife and he’d have used it,’ he yelled as he slammed his hand into the door she lay behind. She remained as still as she could. She had to look like she was sleeping, that way he might just talk to himself for a couple of minutes then leave.

He unlocked the door and a shaft of light entered her cell. The oil lamp flickered and lit up the room, casting elongated, moving shadows over the walls. The last shape looked just like a rabbit. She’d played puppet shadows with both of her children. She closed her eyes and tried to think back to better times. If she thought hard enough and looked like she was asleep, he might go. She swallowed. He stopped still. Had he heard her? ‘What to do, what to do,’ he whispered, beginning to pace, taking the lamp with him. Through closed lids she could see the light flickering. The shapes, concentrate on the shapes, she thought.