The Next Girl(Detective Gina Harte #1)(40)

Cathy pulled back and blew her nose. ‘What? You should’ve called me.’

‘There’s nothing you could’ve done. I was going to bring the kids round to yours in the night but they were tired and I didn’t want to alarm them.’

‘I know, but I could’ve been here, for you and the kids,’ she replied.

‘It’s okay. I called the police. Forensics came. He didn’t get in anyway. I think I scared him with the kitchen knife.’ Luke filled the kettle and switched it on. ‘So I have a lot to sort out today.’

‘Are the kids okay?’

‘They aren’t really aware of what happened. They were disturbed by the police being in the house but they were easily placated when I let them have my bed, hence why I’m so tired this morning. Sleeping in Max’s car bed for the last couple of hours wasn’t the best move.’ He yawned and spooned a couple of heaps of coffee into a mug. ‘Quick cuppa?’

Cathy looked at her watch. ‘No, I’ll have to leave in a couple of minutes. I’ll have it when I get back.’

‘Daddy, Heidi won’t let me in the bathroom to brush my teeth!’ Max yelled from the top of the stairs.

Luke took a sip of the hot coffee. ‘Every morning, same story,’ he said with a smile as he walked into the hall. ‘Heidi? Out of the bathroom now and get downstairs.’

‘But Dad,’ was the muffled reply.

‘Don’t “but Dad” me. Downstairs now.’

There was a knock at the door and he opened it to see Brooke, looking at him nervously. She tucked her hair behind her ears. He noticed the bags under her eyes and the lack of make-up.

Joe ran into the house and up the stairs, shouting for Max.

‘I’m so sorry I haven’t called. Do you mind if Cathy walks Joe to school with Max and Heidi this morning? I need to talk to you.’ She shook her head and stepped into the hall.

‘Morning, dear,’ Cathy called.

‘Morning, Cathy,’ she called back. Brooke hesitated in the hallway. He could tell she didn’t know where to stand or what to do. She began to bite her nails.

‘Do you want to sit for a few minutes?’

She nodded and went into the lounge.

The phone rang, and Cathy answered it in the kitchen. ‘Hello?’ She paused. ‘What?’ She paused again. ‘Maybe so, but this is just ridiculous.’ She looked down the hallway at Luke. ‘I’ll tell him.’ She placed the handset down.

‘What is it?’

‘The police. They want you to give them a DNA sample this morning. Asked if you could pop in as soon as possible.’

‘What the hell for?’

‘It’s just for elimination purposes, they said.’ She passed him his coffee from the worktop.

‘I bet they think I’ve done something to Debbie. Maybe they think I have her in the shed or something. Maybe they think I’m making all this up.’

He heard a thunderous stampede coming down the stairs. ‘We’re ready!’ shouted Max. The three children stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

‘What’s wrong, Dad?’ Heidi asked.

‘Nothing, sweetheart. I’ll see you after school.’

‘Come on then, you lot. Let’s get going,’ Cathy shouted. They ran to the door, laughing and shouting as they left the house. ‘See you in a bit,’ said Cathy, following them out.

Luke leaned against the countertop. They wanted him to go to the station and do a DNA test. It was just to eliminate him, he knew that, but he couldn’t help but feel like a suspect. He’d been questioned previously about the night Debbie disappeared, but he had an alibi. He’d been walking a client around a house several miles from where Debbie had vanished. So why were they putting him through this? Perhaps they thought he was in on her disappearance with someone else. His hands began to tremble the more he thought about all that was happening.

‘Luke? I don’t know what’s going on, but—’ Brooke crept through the door, startling him. He dropped the cup, spilling coffee all over the floor. ‘Oh God. What is it? Is it me?’

He shook his head. ‘No.’

‘The other day, I thought the time was right, but I’ve been thinking. Maybe you’re not ready to—’

‘It’s not just that,’ he said, as he began to shake and then burst into tears. She hurried over and hugged him.

‘What is it? I’m sure it can’t be that bad.’

‘I don’t know whether it’s bad or good, Brooke, I really don’t,’ he wailed as he stepped back onto the broken cup, cutting his heel. ‘Bloody hell. Can things get any more complicated?’ he said as he grabbed a tea towel. He stumbled back onto a kitchen chair and began to wipe the blood from his foot. ‘I can’t dress up what’s happened.’

‘Then don’t,’ she replied as she sat beside him.

‘You know the abandoned baby that they found? Did you read about it or hear anything?’

She nodded. ‘The one at the library?’

‘Yes. It’s Debbie’s. The police have confirmed it. She’s alive and she’s just given birth. I don’t know where that leaves us. I don’t know where that leaves me, and just to top it all off, the police investigating have called me in for a DNA test this morning.’