Dead Memories (D.I. Kim Stone #10)(81)

‘Why do you do that?’ Kim asked, pouring two coffees from the pot.

‘What?’

‘Recite your education and qualifications whenever we talk?’ she said, pushing one mug towards the woman. ‘You spend a lot of time quoting your CV when all I want is a bloody conversation.’

‘You don’t trust me,’ Alison blurted out, coloured and looked away.

‘I do,’ Kim protested. ‘Well, as much as I trust anyone… actually… okay… you got me.’

To her surprise Alison laughed out loud but it wasn’t the derisive sound of a few moments earlier. This was hearty and came from her stomach.

‘Okay, look, it’s not that I distrust you completely. It’s just that I object to the assumptions that are a staple of your profession. Works well for TV shows like Cracker but not so much in the real world.’ Kim held up her hand as Alison opened her mouth to protest. ‘However, on this occasion you’ve been involved in the case for almost as long as the rest of us. You’ve built up a knowledge of the people we’re dealing with and the crimes committed. Putting that information together with your expertise is something I can live with; so now will you answer my question?’

‘Did we just bond?’ Alison asked with amusement dancing in her eyes.

Kim narrowed her gaze.

Alison took a breath. ‘Okay, this new information does change things but also doesn’t change a thing.’

Kim threw her hands in the air as Alison took a sip of her drink.

‘I’ll explain. You didn’t kill Duggar’s sister but you didn’t save her either. They were not close and hadn’t grown up together strengthening that sibling bond. He didn’t know her. We think that the person behind these crimes hates you because you irrevocably changed their life. You didn’t change Duggar’s life by not saving his sister.’

‘So you don’t think it’s him?’

‘I didn’t say that. If Duggar is a fantasist and had invested a great deal of emotion into the life he might have if he connected with his sister then he could still hate you enough for having taken that option away from him.’

‘I sense a but in your voice.’

‘We need to know more about his dominant personality traits to put it all together, which I hope we’ll be able to do after you’ve talked with his probation officer tomorrow. We have no evidence of prior violence against Billie but her injuries were—’

‘Horrific,’ Kim finished for her.

‘Exactly.’

‘But doesn’t his lack of violence rule him out completely?’ Kim asked, trying to get her head around it all.

Alison considered. ‘I’m afraid not. Traumatic events or triggers can incite different behaviours and inspire people to act against type.’

‘To this extent and over a prolonged period of time?’

‘Absolutely.’

‘So basically, you’re saying that…’

‘I can’t give you the answer you want. I can’t say for certain whether Duggar is or is not your man, but with each new piece of evidence or information it becomes easier to suppose one way or the other.’

Kim felt as though an awful lot of words had been used to tell her nothing at all.

‘Okay, Alison, thanks for your time…’

‘But you’ve been no help at all,’ she finished, raising herself to a standing position.

Kim returned her smile. ‘I appreciate the insight you’ve given me.’

‘Okay, I’ll take that,’ she said, heading towards the hall. ‘And on that note, I’ll see you tomorrow.’

Kim shouted good night as she disappeared out of the house.

‘Yeah, sorry, boy, it’s just you and me again,’ she said to Barney who was still staring at the front door. It appeared he liked Alison more than she liked him, and despite her chat with Alison she still didn’t know how she felt about John Duggar. The revelation from Stacey about his sister being the victim of the Sutton Road house fire had been a complete shock to her. She could still remember the guilt both she and her old partner Travis had felt upon learning that the children’s mother had perished in the fire, despite the fact it had not been possible for either of them to re-enter the property.

But John Duggar had been open, friendly and apparently helpful when they’d spoken to him and he’d known this all along. It made no sense to her.

And then she thought about what Alison had said earlier in the week about the end game: that it was the only thing left for him to do. Was he watching her right now? Was his disappearance linked to his preparation for her death?

‘Jesus,’ she cried as her phone rang, startling her.

‘Evening, sir,’ she said to her boss.

‘Bryant’s just updated me. You really think it’s this John Duggar?’

‘Everything is pointing that way,’ she admitted.

‘Well, you’ll be pleased to know that the insect problem in the office has been resolved and the team is free to return to the squad room in the morning.’

‘The team, sir?’ she asked.

‘The whole team, Stone. Seems it was a whole lot of fuss about nothing, but I trust your day away from the case has given you time to cool down and reassess your actions.’