The Next Girl(Detective Gina Harte #1)(55)

‘Was there anything else on her mind?’ Jacob asked.

‘I did tell you guys at the time. That bloody Avery bloke at the pub she played pool at, he attacked her. I’ve never seen her so jumpy at work. She was worried that Luke wouldn’t believe her and that Samuel would spin what had happened and say that Debbie was sleeping with him and coming on to him. Vile man, he was. I wouldn’t be surprised if that tosser had something to do with all this. He sexually assaulted her, you know.’

Despite being at the airport, Samuel Avery certainly was cropping up everywhere in this case. Gina realised she’d been so tense at the mention of Avery’s name, she’d made a hole in the paper with her pen.



* * *



‘Was the visit really worth it?’ Jacob asked.

‘We need to get back and find out where we are with all this. I didn’t expect to dredge up much that would be of any use, but that damn Samuel Avery keeps cropping up like a dose of herpes,’ she said as they both got back in the car. Hailstones began to fall, bouncing off the roof and bonnet of the car. A message came through on her phone. It was Wyre, telling her that Luke Jenkins’ DNA results were back.

She opened the email, read it and gave her a call. ‘We’re just leaving Deborah’s workplace,’ she said. ‘Can you call Callum Nelson in and interview him again? We’ve just confirmed he had a crush on our Deborah Jenkins. He also thinks he recalls seeing a white van on the night of her disappearance. While you’re at it, call in Toby Grove, Clive Henderson, Lukas Bosko and Vernon McGuire. I just want you to go over their stories. I didn’t want to disrupt the company any further during working hours… Thanks. See you in a short while.’

Jacob shivered. ‘I feel dog rough.’ Gina put the car into first and drove out of the car park.





Thirty-Four





Jacob went ahead into the station. Gina checked her phone as she sat in the warmth of the car. She had a text from Briggs.

Dinner later?





She didn’t reply. It would be hard for her to ever trust again. Terry’s memory flashed through her mind. She could hear the control in his sentences that she’d once mistaken for love. No way was she ever being scared little Gina again. She knew that Briggs wasn’t Terry, but then again, she thought she knew Terry – until it was too late.

Gina grabbed her folder off the back seat of the car and ran to the station door. As she opened her office door, she peeled her soaking coat off. Someone had left a hot coffee on her desk. She smiled and sat in front of her computer.

She looked over the DNA test results. Luke Jenkins was definitely not Baby Jenkins’ father. She’d known all along, but this could now be placed on file. Another email told her that there was no forensic evidence left at the scene following the attempted break-in at Luke’s house. That didn’t come as a surprise either. She picked up the coffee and headed towards the incident room. Wyre was sitting in front of a computer screen, alone in the room. Jacob soon followed. ‘Hope the coffee was welcomed,’ he said as he took a seat next to Wyre.

‘Thanks. It most certainly was,’ said Gina. ‘No O’Connor today?’

‘He booked the day off, but he’s coming in to help me with the interviews later. At your request, I’ve organised for them to come in after work. Nelson wasn’t best pleased,’ Wyre replied. ‘Unfortunately, we’re a bit understaffed today. I think this weather is making people take all their holidays. Who wouldn’t want a duvet day today?’

‘Can I have a duvet day?’ Jacob asked as he wiped his nose.

PC Smith walked in and took a seat next to Wyre.

Gina grinned and took a sip of coffee. ‘Duvet days aside, I have an update. We’ve got the results back on Luke Jenkins. He is definitely not the baby’s father, which we all knew, I suppose.’

Wyre walked over to the board and noted the results next to Luke’s name. ‘This is all so weird. I feel so sorry for them. I don’t know how they’re coping.’

‘I know,’ said Gina. ‘It must be hell for them. I’m going to pop by to speak to Luke in person in a while.’

Jacob sipped his drink. ‘Do you want me to come with you?’

‘No. I think you really should go home early and get some rest, maybe a hot bath and an early night. That poor family don’t need your germs as well. You were right when you said you looked dog rough. Maybe Abigail will come over and give you a bed bath or something.’

Wyre sniggered and nearly spat her coffee out.

‘I don’t need telling twice,’ he croaked as he did his coat up and headed to the door. ‘If you need me, just call. I’ll have my phone on and I’ll be working from home.’

Gina listened to Jacob’s heavy footsteps echoing through the corridor as he headed to his desk before leaving for home. ‘Any more news on the case?’ she asked Wyre.

Wyre looked at her computer and scrolled down her report. ‘Nothing new, I’m afraid. I can’t believe that no one has seen her in all these years but she’s alive and well somewhere. Even the calls have dried up on the baby appeal.’

‘Thank you. Is Briggs still in? I suppose I should update him before I head off.’

‘He left about half an hour ago. You just missed him.’