Kerry let out a snort and poured another Sambuca. ‘You’re falling behind.’
It looked like Kerry wasn’t going to say anything. Maybe Cass had got it wrong about Elvis seeing Holly. Cass knocked the rest back, taking her breath away as the liquid burned her gullet. ‘Fill it up.’ A rosy glow flushed up her neck and her face burned up a little, in a nice way.
‘What can I say? Ed and me. I think Ed enjoys the lifestyle.’
Cass could understand that. She’d once enjoyed the lifestyle that came with being Kerry’s best friend. When that went, she’d felt so ordinary and it had stung even more when the beautiful people – Holly, Fran and Lilly – had stepped into her shoes.
‘We had an argument today.’ She paused and stared out of the window into the darkness that spanned acres of fields. No doubt one of them would house the stables for all her horses. ‘He thinks our life isn’t exciting enough. I mean, we have everything we flipping well want. Holidays, cars. How can it not be exciting? I was obsessed with him, couldn’t bear to let him go at whatever cost, so we got married. My dad wasn’t happy about it. I mean, we’d only been together a year and we rushed it. My dad wanted me to get a prenuptial agreement but I couldn’t ask him. It just felt so… cold. I wish I’d listened because since the reception, I’ve barely seen him. Holly died a few days ago. I need him to be here and he—’
Tears began to spill from Kerry’s eyes. Cass was almost relieved that the drinking had ended. Another Sambuca and she’d be hoping Elvis would call her back just so that he could come to rescue her. She scraped her chair on the heated floor tiles and placed an arm around Kerry. It was just like old times.
‘I was thinking of staying with my parents while I cleared my head. What a failure! Twenty-five and going back home.’
Cass was never going to lose her best friend again, whatever it cost. She gripped Kerry a little closer, closing her eyes as she comforted her broken friend.
‘Ouch,’ Kerry said as she pushed her away and wrenched one of her hair extensions from the crease in Cass’s coat. ‘Do you mind if we call it a night? I could do with being alone with my old friend, Sambuca.’
A message flashed up on Kerry’s phone and the name lit up. It was from Lilly. Kerry scooped it up and paused while she read it.
Something had changed. Kerry was withdrawing.
‘But… I want to be here for you.’
‘I know and I’m grateful. Maybe another time. I’ll message you, promise.’
Kerry really was desperate for her to leave. Her phone rang. It was Ed’s name flashing up this time.
‘Do you need a taxi? I can get you one.’
Cass shook her head. She wasn’t after Kerry’s money or help. ‘No, I’ll be okay. The bus stop’s just down the road.’
‘Message me tomorrow?’ Kerry smiled. ‘I really am grateful that you came. Thank you. I may be better company another day; my head is everywhere at the moment.’
Kerry stood to see her out and before Cass knew it, her friend gave her a light hug before closing the door, leaving Cass wholly unsatisfied by the whole experience. She looked up and then it hit her. The friend that had it all didn’t really need someone like Cass, but she did need a confidante and tonight had been a start. Perseverance was all she needed.
Her stomach rumbled and the alcohol on an empty tummy began to churn. She couldn’t resist the urge of food any longer. She almost wished she’d eaten the cake at work. Cass checked her phone as she followed the windy drive all the way back to the main road. No reply had come through from Elvis. She checked her watch. He was scheduled to finish work a few hours ago. She tried to call him but his phone went straight to voicemail.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Gina tapped the window again, the one left of the communal door that was firmly locked. After ringing his buzzer several times, they soon realised that Phillip Brighton wasn’t in. ‘I wonder where he went?’
A twig snapped beneath her foot as Jacob shone his torch in her direction then through the window. ‘He’s probably back out there selling drugs. I doubt people like him change overnight.’
She nodded as they peered through his window. A pile of washing filled almost one half of the room. This was mixed with several pizza boxes, odd shoes and a mangled umbrella. His bed was pushed against the wall in front of the tiny worktop that displayed the microwave. His soiled bed sheets had been pulled back to reveal a stained mattress.
‘No wonder he doesn’t want to stay in. Dammit. I really needed to speak to him. Maybe he’s gone.’ Gina pressed her face against the glass and peered through again. What Phillip owned wouldn’t be much to leave behind. He had a past record of drug abuse and dealing, and not all of his crimes had taken place in Cleevesford or even Warwickshire. He was a drifter, travelling from town to town. ‘What were you doing at Holly’s apartment, Phil?’ The sound of an argument coming from a house a few doors away filled the night air and was soon followed by the barking of several dogs.
Jacob stepped back. ‘It’s no use us staying here. Shall we go and get a bite to eat?’
Gina thought of the cake in the fridge at the station but a takeaway was sounding far more appealing in her head. ‘Sounds like a plan. We can grab some food and head back to the station. Let’s hope our bailed drug dealer turns up at the station for his ten in the morning appointment. Something is telling me he’s scarpered.’
‘You have little faith, guv, but then again, I was wondering that myself.’
Gina’s phone buzzed. She snatched it from her pocket as she followed Jacob back to her car. ‘O’Connor?’
‘It’s Francesca Carter, guv.’ The line crackled slightly as her signal dipped. She took a step back and it cleared.
‘What about her?’
‘Her body’s just been found at her house. Forensics have been called and are already there cordoning the place off.’ He reeled off a summary of what he knew.
Gina checked her watch. ‘Dinner will have to wait.’
Jacob glanced back.
‘Francesca Carter is dead. She appears to have been drowned in her own home.’ Gina grabbed the door handle and slammed the car door shut with full force. ‘We spoke to her today and she was fine. She was alive. Phillip Brighton and Samuel Avery were released and this happens.’
‘We best get over there.’
She clipped her seat belt in and started up the engine. Another violent murder in less than a week. The pressure to get results had just been turned up to full. ‘How many bridesmaids were there?’
Jacob flicked through his notes. ‘Three.’
‘So only Lilly Hill is still alive. Give O’Connor a call back. Get someone to check on her.’
Two out of three bridesmaids was a bit too much of a coincidence. There had to be a connection.
Chapter Thirty-Five
He walked over, wearing only his boxer shorts, to the bed where she eagerly awaited him. Enthusiastic as ever, she bent her leg up and teased a few curls over her shoulders. She knew what was coming and she wanted it. Frannie hadn’t realised what a gift he’d given her and if she hadn’t have known things about him, it could have been so different. Frannie could have enjoyed this as much as the woman in front of him did.