The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2)(55)

‘I was only saying.’

‘Yeah, I know,’ Steve replied. ‘Like people were “only saying” about me when I was demoted.’ His voice grew louder as he moved around the room, taking the opportunity to make a point for himself. ‘You know, if something starts off as a mouse crossing the road around here, it’ll be an elephant by the time it gets to the other side.’

‘I can’t see how we can elaborate any more on Ma’am Winter’s story,’ Gary Wilkes replied. ‘I mean . . . fuck! Having the Beasts of Brentwood as your parents. It doesn’t get any worse than that.’

Amy bristled. She thought Gary would have had more empathy. Molly’s response didn’t surprise her, and she was most likely voicing what many thought. But Steve had shocked her most of all. She had not expected an ally in him, particularly given her frosty reception of him when he joined her team.

‘They aren’t her parents.’ Paddy’s voice boomed from the far side of the room. A sudden flurry of movement suggested that they had not seen him enter through the other door. ‘Our old superintendent, Robert Winter, was her father. Her mum, Flora, is as lovely as they come. I’m sure Winter would like to know that we all have her back. There are enough people gossiping about this without her own team sticking the boot in.’

‘Sorry,’ Molly replied quietly. ‘I wasn’t being mean. I find it interesting, that’s all.’

‘Yeah, like lots of people found my case interesting,’ Steve muttered. ‘It doesn’t make it any easier on the people involved. We should draw a line underneath it. If you want to gossip, this office isn’t the place.’

‘Particularly when the person you’re talking about can walk in at any minute,’ Amy replied, striding in through the door. ‘I wouldn’t mind you chatting if we could afford the time. I take it we’re still no further on with finding Luka.’ She looked pointedly at Molly, whose face was puce.

‘No, ma’am,’ Molly replied.

‘Right,’ Amy said, inhaling a deep breath as she looked around the room. ‘Then I’m going to say this only once. As you’re aware, journalist Adam Rossi saw fit to publish a story with details of my biological parents which have recently come to light. I do not consider Lillian Grimes to be my mother, I’m glad Jack Grimes is dead, and I have no ties with Mandy or Damien Grimes.’ Amy exchanged glances with Paddy. Coming out in the open about Sally-Ann would leave officers tempted to share the story, and she had taken up enough headlines for now. But Pike was right. She had to face it full on or not at all.

‘Can you all do me a favour? Don’t speak to the press. They’re quick to condemn and will twist your words if it creates headlines trashy enough to sell papers. There are lots of decent reporters out there, but this was written by someone with an axe to grind.’

Amy glanced around the room again, preparing to replace speculation with fact. She was grateful that her team could not hear the pounding of her heart as it reverberated behind her rib cage. ‘I was adopted by Robert and Flora Winter at four – almost five – years of age. Robert found me living in appalling conditions when he came to Jack and Lillian’s home. He put in a request to foster me with a view to adopt, and he and Flora were approved. I totally understand why they felt it was in my best interests not to focus on it during my youth. Unfortunately, it has come to light at the worst possible time. I’m still the same person I was before these headlines, and just as determined to make this team the best it can be.’ She turned to Molly, whose temperature seemed to be reaching normal levels. ‘Has anyone got any questions before we go into briefing?’

‘How has DCI Pike taken the news?’ Molly asked.

Amy raised an eyebrow. ‘Why?’

‘Well.’ She squirmed in her chair beneath Amy’s stern gaze. ‘I don’t want anyone else managing our team.’

‘Why would anyone else manage our team? What have my managerial skills got to do with a newspaper story?’ Amy didn’t mean to sound so aggressive, but she couldn’t help herself. She sensed that those who had wanted to ask questions had now decided against it.

‘If DCI Pike has any sense, she’ll support Ma’am Winter all the way,’ DC Steve Moss replied. ‘Best we leave the gossiping to the newspapers and the fishwives that read them.’

Amy watched as Steve rolled up his sleeves, ready to go into the briefing room. ‘Any more questions before we close the door on this?’ she said, wanting to move forward too.

‘What about the appeal? The paper said that Lillian Grimes hopes to be freed.’ DC Gary Wilkes’s voice rose from the corner of the room.

‘That has nothing to do with me.’ Amy eyed the clock on the wall. ‘The blood on the nightdress has been identified as Ellen’s. I want all our focus on the case.’

As the officers filed in before her, Paddy caught her eye. ‘Well said. You got through it.’

Amy acknowledged his words with a sharp nod of the head. Ellen’s case could soon be progressing to a murder investigation. There was nothing to smile about.





CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Sighing, Dr Curtis pulled out a plastic bucket chair and took a seat next to Nicole’s hospital bed. He was breaking the terms of his bail just by being here and it was only thanks to his supporters in the medical profession that he had been able to sneak in.