She took a deep breath and looked inside. Riley lay motionless on the mattress. His face was pale, his eyes wide open, his lips blue.
Matilda felt herself being pushed aside as the paramedic stepped forward and began the futile task of attempting to revive him. Matilda couldn’t take her eyes from the poor boy. There was something otherworldly about looking into the eyes of a dead child. It was an image Matilda would never forget.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said to herself as warm tears pricked her eyes.
Chapter 58
In the ambulance to the Northern General Hospital, Sian’s heartbeat began to slow and she went into ventricular fibrillation as the ambulance pulled into the bay outside A&E. There was nothing Matilda could do but watch as she was rushed into theatre.
Matilda stood in the entrance, watching the doors close on her colleague and friend. She couldn’t lose Sian. She was one of the good guys.
‘Matilda, what are you doing here?’ Christian came out of nowhere, making her jump. He saw her hand hastily wrapped in a makeshift bandage. ‘What happened to you?’
‘Long story. Sian’s been stabbed.’
‘What?’
Matilda couldn’t speak as tears began to fall down her face. Christian placed his arm around her shoulders and led her to the waiting area. Between sobs, she filled him in on everything that had happened at Acorn Drive.
‘I should call Stuart. He should be here with Sian.’
‘I’ll do that.’
Matilda nodded and fell silent. ‘Shit, how’s Ellen?’
‘Concussed. She also inhaled a great deal of dirty water. They’re going to keep her in for observation. She’ll live, that’s the main thing.’
‘And Ranjeet?’
‘He’s fine. He’s had to have his stomach pumped and he’s broken his ankle. Kesinka’s with him reading him the riot act.’
Matilda briefly smiled. ‘I’m not surprised.’
‘He did well. They all did. Scott and Natasha. They should get a commendation for this.’
‘I’ll have a word with the ACC when … oh my God, I haven’t spoken to her for ages. I don’t know how Arthur is. What time is it?’
He looked at his watch. ‘Just coming up to midnight.’
‘Is it still Saturday?’
‘For a few more minutes, yes.’
‘It’s been a long day.’
‘Let’s go and get your hand seen too. You’re starting to drip.’
‘I feel sick.’
‘That’s what happens when you lose blood. Come on.’
***
Matilda’s wound had been cleaned up. She’d been given a tetanus injection and something for the pain. She lay back on the bed, her palm facing upwards waiting for it to be dressed. She closed her eyes. She was shattered and wanted to go to sleep. Everything was a mess. She’d assumed Craig had been abusing Keeley but hadn’t had the evidence to charge him. She’d had no idea how deep his vile vindictiveness ran. Poor Jodie. She’d been used, brainwashed into thinking she was in a loving relationship. Had the signs been there? The more Matilda thought about it, yes, they had been. Why hadn’t she seen it?
The curtain was pushed back and Adele stepped into the cubicle.
‘I’ve put in a request with Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to have one of these cubicles named in your honour.’
Matilda looked up and smiled dopily. ‘Injured in the line of duty.’
‘You shouldn’t be, though. You’re supposed to send the younger ones out to do the leg work. You’re supposed to be behind a desk pulling your hair out about overtime and arrest targets.’
‘That sounds dull.’
‘Safer than getting stabbed,’ she said, looking closely at her injury. ‘That doesn’t look too bad. I don’t think it will affect you holding a glass of wine.’
‘Can you check up on how Sian’s doing?’
‘She’s in ICU. Her stomach wall was ruptured. She’s lost a great deal of blood. The next twenty-four hours will be critical.’
‘Jesus. Is Stuart here?’
‘Yes. He and the kids are in the relatives’ room.’
‘I should go and see them,’ Matilda said, trying to climb off the bed.
‘Don’t even think about it,’ Adele pushed her back down. It didn’t take much effort. ‘Listen, do you want me to call Daniel?’
‘What for?’
‘To tell him what’s happened.’
Matilda thought for a moment. ‘No. Don’t call him.’
‘He’ll be concerned.’
‘I know. That’s why I don’t want you to call him.’
The curtain was pulled back again and a nurse stepped in. ‘Right then, Mrs Darke, time to get your wound dressed then you can go home.’
‘I’ll wait outside,’ Adele said.
‘Is she your sister? She can wait if she wants.’
‘No. We’re not sisters,’ Adele said.
‘No. She’s my lesbian life partner,’ Matilda said with a grin.
Chapter 59
Sunday 16th September 2018
Matilda sat at her desk with a forlorn expression on her face. She had hardly slept, despite the number of painkillers she’d taken for her hand, and the two glasses of wine she had been advised against drinking when she arrived home. Wide awake at seven o’clock, she’d quickly showered (with her hand wrapped in a plastic bag) and headed for South Yorkshire Police HQ. Jodie Armitage was being interviewed this morning and Matilda had plenty more questions for her to answer. What had happened to Keeley on Monday night? How had Riley died? What had caused Linda’s illness? It was far too much of a coincidence for Linda and Riley to have died so close together for it to be natural causes.
There was no doubt in Matilda’s mind that Jodie had murdered her little sister. In her warped and twisted mind, Jodie would have seen that Craig was trying to replace Jodie as his “lover” with Keeley and she would have done everything in her power to stop that from happening, even if that meant killing a defenceless child.
***
Matilda Darke sat in the observation room overlooking interview room one. Next to her was DC Finn Cotton.
‘How’s the hand?’ he asked.
‘It’s fine, thank you,’ she smiled.
‘Is there any news on DS Mills?’
‘She’s had a comfortable night, apparently; whatever that’s supposed to mean.’
The door in the interview room opened and Jodie Armitage was led in. She was wearing a grey jogging suit which was a size too big for her. Her hair was pulled back firmly in a ponytail. She walked with her head down and shoulders hunched. She was shown where to sit by a uniformed officer. An appropriate adult sat next to her. They didn’t speak to each other.
Matilda observed Jodie’s behaviour. Her eyes were red with heavy bags beneath them following a night of crying and very little sleep. She looked scared and played with her fingers on her lap.
DCs Scott Andrews and Rory Fleming entered. They started the recording of the interview and stated who was present.
‘Finn, is there any word on Craig Armitage yet?’ Matilda asked while the formalities were taking place.