He shrugged his shoulders and gazed into the fireplace for a few seconds before looking back up. ‘I have no idea what that was about. I don’t remember anything being odd or out of place. I was a bit drunk though. It was my wedding night and the wine had been flowing freely all day long.’ Gina watched as his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed.
‘Thank you.’
‘Is that it?’
‘Unless you have anything else to tell us.’ Gina knew that, since a murder had occurred in the council park in recent years, they had installed a CCTV camera to the car park. If he was where he said he was, his car would show up. ‘Here’s my card. If you remember anything that might help or you think of anything else, please call me straight away.’
He went to speak but closed his mouth again. ‘Did you want to tell me something?’
‘No.’ He shook his head and smiled as he placed her card in his pocket before doing his tie up. ‘I just need to get to work.’
‘Thank you. We’ll be in touch,’ Gina said as they left.
‘What did you make of him?’ Gina opened the car door and got in.
Jacob pulled a sweet from his pocket and popped it into his mouth. ‘I think he’s concealing something. He seemed a little nervous. I mean, who spends all evening sitting in a park on their own? How old is he?’
‘Late twenties. If we gave him the benefit of the doubt, what did he have to think about that made all those hours pass so easily on a park bench? One other thing, the park is about a thirty-minute walk to Francesca Carter’s house. If his car does show up on CCTV, there is still a chance he could have got to her house, murdered her and walked all the way back. When we get the CCTV, we need to use the car registrations to find out who else was at the park while he was there. If these joggers and dog walkers didn’t see him, we have to consider him a person of interest, that’s for definite. We could do with finding the owner of the Red Setter. Give the council a quick call. Tell them we need yesterday’s CCTV, then we’ll head over to Lilly Hill’s house.’
Chapter Forty-Three
As he gripped her around the neck, she emitted a choking noise not like any of the others she’d made before, but he couldn’t stop. He imagined her to be the other one as his clutches tightened. It’s no longer about self-preservation. It’s more for pure enjoyment. The police were going around in circles and it had been hilarious to watch.
About the other one – he’d been watching her and the more he thought about what he’d do to her, the more turned on he got. He liked a bit of variation and she was different. As he yelled out with pleasure, she pushed him away, giving him the look he hated to see. He’d overstepped the mark this time. She wasn’t happy with him, he knew that much. ‘I’m sorry,’ he whispered as he rolled off her. She ignored him and grabbed her dressing gown. ‘Look, I said I’m sorry.’ She wasn’t going to ignore him – how dare she? That’s not how all this worked.
‘Keep your voice down or you’re going to be even more sorry.’ She kneeled on the bed and placed her index finger across his lips before swiping the back of her hand across his face. ‘Don’t you ever grip me like that again.’
A tingle flushed through his body. Now was the wrong time to say that he’d actually enjoyed her slap. He loved it when she got angry. It was a side of her that their friends never saw and he felt privileged that she’d put on this show, just for him. She tied up her robe, covering her nakedness. For now, she would get on with things and he’d go about his day. Work beckoned and he didn’t have long to get onto his scheduled plans – he was now officially in a rush. He’d smooth things over with her later. He always did.
She stared at her reflection in the wall to ceiling mirrored wardrobe as she rubbed her neck. Maybe he’d gripped her a bit too hard. She pulled out a silk scarf and wrapped it expertly around her neck and posed, taking in the look from all angles. Holly was so far in the past now. A distant memory. Francesca would also be nothing more than a memory soon. He hated the way such beautiful memories faded within no time.
He glanced at the bedside clock. He was going to be late for his meeting. But first, his target may be on the move and he didn’t want to miss her. He could fit her in before he started his day. He grabbed his phone and sent his apologies. The meeting would have to be rescheduled.
Chapter Forty-Four
Gina placed the memory stick containing the CCTV into her bag as she and Jacob prepared themselves to have an unsettling conversation with Lilly Hill, the last bridesmaid.
Jacob eyed the street as they approached the end of terrace house. ‘So, this is it. 12 The Fallows. I have it down that Lilly and Brendan Hill live here.’
The Fallows sat in the middle of the old Cleevesford Estate, a mixture of council and privately-owned houses. A block of flats welcomed visitors at the entrance to the street and a corner shop was located at the other end. Several teenagers leaned against a large bin outside the shop, shouting and laughing as one of their friends did a wheelie on his pushbike.
‘Shouldn’t they be at school?’
‘They look older than school age.’
‘I’m seriously getting old then. I thought they were about twelve.’ He knocked on the red door and waited.
‘O’Connor called Mrs Hill to make sure she was in so hopefully she hasn’t gone out.’ They waited a few more seconds and she opened the door. The twenty-five-year-old had one hand on the door catch and the other on the end of a blonde plait that hung like a rope over her shoulder.
A loud crash followed by crying filled the house. ‘You best come in. Ben, what have you done?’ She picked up the crawling child and gave his teary eye a kiss. ‘He’s just learning to walk. You fell over. Didn’t you, poppet?’
She gestured for Gina and Jacob to sit on the settee as she sat on the chair. The little boy’s intermittent screams were met by cuddles and baby talk. ‘Sorry about all the toys.’
Gina placed the activity mat and the stuffed animals to one side. ‘That’s okay. Hello, little man.’ Gina smiled at the toddler. ‘How old is he?’
‘He’s one next month, aren’t you, Ben?’ The red-cheeked boy slid off his mother’s lap and began playing with his toys once again, his tears a distant memory.
He grabbed a large blue cube and passed it to Gina. She swallowed as she thought of Gracie. Her own granddaughter was a few years older but she remembered all of her developmental stages so well. ‘Thank you.’ She smiled and took the brick. He fell onto the floor and half walked and crawled over to his toys. ‘I know you’ve heard about what happened to Francesca last night. My colleague, DC O’Connor called you.’
She nodded and fanned a hand in front of her eyes as she forced back her tears. ‘I haven’t stopped thinking about what happened all night. The police knocked a couple of times, telling us that they’d drive-by our house now and again. Am I in any danger?’
‘We hope not but just to make sure, I’d like the drive-bys to continue.’
The young woman stretched her long jumper over her knees as she leaned forward in the huge chair. ‘I don’t know if I’m being paranoid but I keep thinking someone is watching me. I’m the only other living bridesmaid from Kerry’s wedding and I keep thinking I’m going to be next and the worst of it is, I keep mulling over everything. It has to be someone we all know and for the life of me, I can’t work out who would want to kill Holly and Fran. They were both such lovely people and I’m going to miss them terribly.’ She wiped her eyes on her sleeve. ‘Brendan had to go to work today but I wanted him to stay here with me. We’re not like Kerry and Fran. We can’t afford for him to miss a day and his manager hasn’t been so sympathetic.’