‘Tell me again, what was it like, you know, when you—’
‘When I gripped her skinny neck in my hands?’
He nodded.
‘I felt it, her pulse, running through my fingertips and all through it, I thought of you, of us and I couldn’t stop. You felt it too, with Fran, didn’t you?’
‘Yes.’ A warm feeling rushed through his body as he thought of Cass, their shared kill. ‘We get to start again.’ They both had blood on their hands. He didn’t know if he could stop or if he’d want to. The final call was announced over the tannoy. Their flight was boarding. ‘We best go. No going back.’
‘I’ve been thinking about Kerry.’ Trevor knew their daughter would know everything before the day was out and that bothered him. Maybe he wasn’t as cold as he thought he was.
‘Don’t.’ She placed her finger against his lips. ‘We have to start again. We’re no longer Trevor and Alison. We’ve left her enough. If she blows it all, she’s on her own.’
‘We were never that close as a family were we?’ He held her tight and stroked her long fine hair, inhaling her flowery shampoo.
She shook her head. ‘Let’s go.’
As they waited in the passport queue, he smiled at the man checking their passports. Peter and Eleanor Hemming were about to board a plane. The new names would take some getting used to but he liked Peter and he thought Eleanor suited his wife. She could go with Ellie, Elle or simply Eleanor. ‘Goodbye, Trevor,’ he whispered as he passed and joined another queue of people. Their new life in Dubai was only a few hours away. ‘Come on, Eleanor.’ He kissed her on the cheek and grabbed her trembling hand.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Gina ran through the airport, flashing her identification at every checkpoint. A police officer wearing a cap and uniform hurried over and guided them through the barriers.
‘Duty Inspector Buckley? I’m DI Harte, this is DS Driscoll,’ Gina said as she tried to get her breath back.
‘Hurry, one of the constables has just this second radioed. He’s spotted a couple that might be them getting ready to board a plane to Dubai. I’ve asked him to hold back until backup arrives. Follow me. We’ll head through the staff gate.’ He pushed through a crowd that had huddled with trolleys and bags. Jacob and Gina remained close.
‘Tell me the plane doesn’t have permission to take off.’ She wanted to make the arrest on British soil, right now.
As they hurried along a corridor, the whiff of several different Duty Free perfumes caused Gina to sneeze. The police officer wasn’t slowing for anyone or anything, in fact, he’d sped up. They continued in a sprint, nearly crashing into a pair of airline staff. She kept his cap in sight, fighting through the stitch in her side that was aching like mad.
‘Straight down. Just keep going,’ the young male police officer called as they exited into departures and followed them.
‘Has the plane,’ she gasped for breath and continued as she reached the officer’s side, ‘been grounded?’
‘That’s them. They’re just heading onto the plane now.’ The young officer pointed. Gina spotted Mrs Reed as she disappeared through the door.
‘No.’ Inspector Buckley stood in front of the desk and the young man in a waistcoat stepped from behind it as he went to close it off. ‘This is DI Harte and—’ His face was a deep berry colour as he caught his breath.
‘DS Driscoll.’ Jacob caught up and stood beside Gina.
‘Who were the last people to join the queue?’ Gina tried to peer down the corridor but could no longer see anyone.
The waistcoated man held the list of names up.
‘Let’s get them.’ Gina smiled. This was for Holly, Francesca and now Cassandra. From the scene she encountered at the Reeds’ house, she wondered how much involvement Mrs Reed had. Cassandra had named Mr Reed before she’d passed out. How could Alison Reed have missed it all? She was arresting them both. At the very least, Alison Reed was trying to leave the county using a fake identification.
Gina hurried behind Inspector Buckley straight onto the plane. Jacob and several more airport police had joined them. The air steward let them board and stood aside. The man on row twelve turned to check what was going on and Gina recognised him immediately. ‘Mr and Mrs Reed, you are required to come with me immediately.’
They stood. Alison Reed tried to grab her case and the bag next to it from hand luggage. Shaking so much, she dropped her case on the head of the passenger in row eleven.
‘I’ll get that.’ Gina took the cabin case and the bag next to it and passed one to Inspector Buckley and the other to Jacob before leading the two of them off the plane. ‘Stand.’ Mrs Reed stood. ‘Turn around.’ Gina gestured for Inspector Buckley to cuff her. Gina moved her along and then took another pair of cuffs from the young constable. He was hers. The cuffs clinked into place.
Passengers glanced over, babies cried and children fidgeted. She saw the line of sweat running down Trevor’s face. She could see something in him, something Holly would have been attracted to. Not only was he in good shape, he looked younger than his years and exuded wealth from the way his hair had been trimmed to the smell of his aftershave. As soon as they reached the main building Jacob took Alison Reed to one side and Gina took Trevor Reed to another.
He went to speak but stopped and stared at Gina. ‘I want my solicitor.’
‘And that is your right. Trevor Reed, I’m arresting you on suspicion of the murders of Holly Long and Francesca Carter, and of the attempted murder of Cassandra Wilson. You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’
All he could offer her was a forced grin. Trevor Reed was clearly used to getting his own way in life but nothing was going to get him out of trouble now. As Gina cuffed him all she could hear was Mrs Reed’s loud sobbing. She stumbled on her pink wedge shoes as they were led away, brushing her hair from her sodden face. They had a lot of explaining to do and Gina was looking forward to hearing all about it once they had been transported back to the station. Her phone beeped and two messages flashed up. One from Hannah and another from Briggs. She had a stop to make on the way and it couldn’t wait.
Chapter Seventy
‘Her injuries aren’t as bad as they look but she is suffering with concussion, so go gently,’ the nurse said as Gina followed her through to a corner booth. The curtain was drawn. ‘Cassandra, the detectives are here. How do you feel about talking to them?’
The young woman’s face had reddened more with the bruising. Blood had congealed in her hair but the wound to her face and her one ear had been dressed. Gina walked around and sat beside her, smiling warmly. ‘You look better than when I found you. How are you feeling?’
Cassandra forced a smile but the tears that were forming in the corners of her eyes gave her sadness away. ‘Sore,’ she croaked.
‘We’ve arrested Mr and Mrs Reed at the airport, thanks to you.’
Cassandra scrunched up her nose and let out a small cry. She brought her shaky hand towards her face and traced her bloodstained fingers down the dressing. ‘You caught them.’ Her grimace turned into a smile.