‘You see, Cissy, we’re having a bit of a problem piecing all this together.’

  Cissy looked at him but didn’t answer, just nodded in acknowledgement.

  ‘At the hotel, we checked and there were three of you.’ He was looking straight into her eyes now. ‘There was you, your mate Bella. But there was also Ruby. Ruby Kelly. She was a guest in the hotel with you, all three of you together. And you left together. But you haven’t mentioned Ruby, Cissy. Why is that?’

  Cissy felt her cheeks burn a little and she swallowed. She had to say something, but she was terrified to say the wrong thing.

  ‘I don’t know. Honestly. I’m all over the place. I’m confused. Yes, Ruby was with us. But I haven’t seen her. Is she in the hospital too?’ She hoped her voice and innocent look were convincing.

  The detective looked at her then glanced at his DC, a tall, lean woman in a trouser suit with her hair scraped back, giving her a strong look.

  ‘No, Cissy. Ruby is not in the hospital,’ he said. ‘Only you and Bella were found at the crash scene. Did you not know that?’

  Cissy shook her head, tightened her lips.

  ‘I just don’t know. I feel like things are a blur. I can’t really remember.’

  The DI took his hands out of his pockets and folded his arms. He stood for a long moment for effect as though he was building up to something. Then he took a step closer to the bed.

  ‘Cissy, listen to me. You need to understand that there is a police investigation now into the crash, and the scene, and the death of the driver. But there is more to it than that, and it’s important that you are completely honest with us.’

  Cissy nodded and swallowed a ball of dryness in her mouth, but didn’t answer.

  ‘You see, Cissy, we have forensics officers all over the car and, well, it wasn’t just a crash. It wasn’t just a trip to see the sunset, was it?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘We’ve taken the car apart, and the doors and under the boot was full of blocks of cocaine.’

  ‘What?’ Cissy’s shock was genuine. ‘What do you mean? Cocaine in the car? But how? It was a fancy car to Manchester.’

  ‘Well, it was a bit more than that.’

  ‘I don’t know anything about this. Honest to God. I . . . I’m shocked.’

  ‘And the thing is, where you girls were lying nearby somehow when the car turned over, things spilled out of it, and there were also wads of cash and some more packets of cocaine.’ He paused. ‘What do you think of that? Are you shocked at that too?’ Then he took a step and paced the room and went on. ‘Oh, and there were two bodies beside the car. Two males, dead, from gunshot wounds. You shocked at that as well?’

  ‘What?’ Cissy blurted. ‘Christ almighty! Dead bodies? Of course I’m bloody shocked! Cocaine? Wads of cash? I don’t know what you’re on about. I don’t know anything about this. There was a car following us, and I think for some reason the driver was trying to get away from him and that’s when he crashed. It all happened so quickly. But I didn’t see any men. Or drugs. Or money. This is unreal.’ Her voice was creeping up an octave with every sentence in genuine shock.

  He sucked in a breath and shook his head as though bored, as though he’d heard all this shit before too many times from thugs and scallies from here to London in a long career fighting crime. They all said, Honest, guv, I haven’t a clue. And women, in his long experience, were just as big liars as the men.

  ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Supposing you don’t know anything about it then, Cissy. Let’s just suppose you were on a jolly with the girls and suddenly someone is out to kill you. Can you think of any reason why that would be?’

  Cissy tried desperately not to blush. She shook her head, but said nothing.

  The cops stood in silence for a few moments and Cissy was panicking in case they would ask her any more, terrified that she might just throw in the towel and confess to everything about Terence. Finally, the DI spoke.

  ‘Okay. Well, the thing is, this investigation is now a major case. Murder, drugs and a missing person. So I need you, and I will need your friend Bella when we speak to her in the next few minutes, to tell us what you know. You are with the police now. If you know more about this and the drugs, or the killings, you’d be best to come clean. Because the bottom line, Cissy, is that right now, you are at the scene of a crash surrounded by drugs and two dead bodies. So you might want to think about what you want to say, because you could be facing some very hefty charges. You could end up in jail.’

  ‘Jail? For what? I . . . we haven’t done anything. Look at me.’ She held her arm and pointed to her head and the bandage on her leg. ‘Do you think I’m a bloody drug dealer, a gangster? Don’t you think I’d be more clever than this? We were in a crash. We don’t know. End of story. Please believe me.’

  The DI gave her a weary look and pulled his lips back, nodding.

  ‘Okay. We’ll leave you to rest up for a bit, and we’ll be back. An officer will be in to take your statement in a few minutes, chapter and verse. I’d advise you to tell them everything. Every single bit of everything. You understand?’

  Cissy just looked at him then away. This must be a nightmare, she thought, and she’d wake up any minute and she’d be in a posh hotel in Manchester ready to get up, have breakfast and hit the shops. But a grim reality beginning to sink in: she was already thinking of charges, of courts, of jail.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Bella was still groggy and lay watching the nurse move around the room, checking the machines and filling a jug of water.

  ‘You all right, Bella?’ the nurse said, giving her a sympathetic look. ‘How’s the pain?’

  Bella nodded.

  ‘Sore,’ Bella said, indicating her shoulder.

  ‘Yes, it will be for a while. You’re lucky you didn’t break your shoulder, though, so it will heal in time. Apart from that and some heavy bruising, you’re doing well really.’

  It didn’t feel that way to Bella, who felt a sense of doom, given where she was right now.

  ‘The police are coming in to have a chat with you about the accident. Are you fit enough to talk to them?’

  Bella nodded. It wasn’t as though she had a choice. She would tell them the truth – that she had no idea what happened. And she didn’t. There was a knock at the door.

  ‘That’ll be them now,’ the nurse said, going across and opening the door.

  A tall, middle-aged, dark-haired man entered. His florid complexion telling of a life of too many late nights boozing. The other was a young woman, smartly dressed, her hair in a high ponytail.

  ‘How are you, Bella?’ The big cop sounded cheery.

  ‘I’ve been better,’ Bella said, trying and failing to pull herself up.

  The nurse went across, put another pillow at her back and pulled her up a little before leaving the room.

  ‘We need to ask some questions, Bella. About the crash. You’re okay with that?’

  ‘Yeah,’ she said, ‘but I can’t really tell you anything other than what I remember. Like the car rolling over out of control and suddenly we were upside down. In a river or something. That’s all I know.’

  ‘Have you any idea who might have caused this crash?’

  Bella made a ‘don’t know’ face.

  ‘Well, I know there was a car behind us at one point that kept jolting and bumping us, so something was definitely going on.’

  ‘Would you have any idea why?’ he asked.

  ‘No, of course not. It was a girls’ trip away, that’s all. We were going to Manchester for the shops.’

  ‘You know about the drugs?’

  The detective’s stark question confused her.

  ‘What drugs?’

  The detective took a step closer and fixed her with his stare.

  ‘The drugs, Bella. They were in the car – in the walls of the doors and the glove compartment, and in a concealed area of the boot. And also, where you were found, they were scattered around the grass verge.’

  Bella’s head had been spinning from the first mention of drugs. What the hell was he talking about? There were no drugs in the limo – there couldn’t have been.

  ‘I don’t know what you mean. I didn’t see any drugs in the car. I don’t understand.’

  The officer let out a sigh.

  ‘Yes, cocaine. And cash.’

  ‘I don’t know anything about that. Are you sure?’

  The officer almost smiled and glanced at the young woman detective, who rolled her eyes.

  ‘Er . . . yes. We’re sure. Forensics are all over it.’ He paused. ‘And Bella, two men were shot and killed by the side of the limo. Face down in the stream.’

  ‘What?! You’re kidding? What men? I don’t have a clue about anything you’re talking about.’

  ‘Okay. And the other lady who was on the trip – Ruby? What happened to her?’

  Bella could feel her stomach tighten. She had to get this right. She concentrated.

  ‘I don’t know. She was in the car. And then I was in an ambulance. I don’t know what happened to Ruby.’ She looked pleading. ‘Please tell me she’s not dead.’

  He gave her a long look.

  ‘No, she’s not dead. Well, not that we know of. But she wasn’t at the crash scene when the ambulance arrived. You and Bella were barely conscious. So unless these men decided to shoot each other, then maybe it was your friend Ruby who shot them. Then she did a runner.’

  Bella screwed up her face.

  ‘That’s ridiculous. Ruby wouldn’t shoot anyone. Look, what’s going on here?’

  ‘What’s going on, Bella, is that I have a feeling in my water that you are not telling the truth right now, so that leaves you in the very dodgy position of being at a crash scene surrounded by drugs and two dead bodies. With a missing mate.’

  ‘This is nonsense. I haven’t a clue what’s going on. I don’t know what happened to Ruby. That’s the truth. Drugs and dead bodies? It’s like something out of a movie, and I’m definitely not in it.’

  He was quiet for a while and she watched him pace the room, then turn to face her.

  ‘You live in Spain, don’t you? Costa del Sol?’

  ‘Yes, I do. That’s not a crime, is it?’

  ‘No. Have you contacted anyone to tell them about the crash?’

  ‘No. I’ve been just lying here in a mess, not knowing what to do next.’

  ‘We made a couple of enquiries, Bella, out in Spain. Your man out there, your boyfriend or whatever – Billy Dalton. Is that right?’

  ‘Yes. He’s my husband. What’s that got to do with anything?’

  ‘You know who he is, don’t you?’ His eyebrows went up for emphasis.

  ‘Of course. I live with him. He has businesses out there. Has done for years.’

  ‘Yes, I know that too. We have eyes over there, and Billy Dalton is well up on our radar.’

  Bella gave him a look and she really didn’t want to say anything more at all or she might get herself tied up in knots. Her only thought was for Cissy and how she was – and Ruby. Where the hell was Ruby? It must have been her who shot these guys. It couldn’t have been anyone else. She had a million questions she could ask the cops but she knew better than to open her mouth.

  The cop put his hands in his trouser pockets and turned to go.

  ‘We’ll be back to have another talk tonight, or in the morning.’

  ‘When am I getting out of here?’ Bella asked. ‘I want to go home.’

  ‘That’s up to the doctors. But you might not be going home for a while. We’ve got a murder and drugs inquiry on the go here and you and your mates are at the centre of it. One of you is missing. So don’t be booking any flights anywhere.’

  He gave her a stern look then turned to his sidekick and they left.

  Bella lay back on the pillow and breathed a sigh of relief. For now. But she sensed trouble was just beginning. The nurse returned and Bella asked if she could have her mobile phone. The nurse said it would be in her belongings at the receiving room when they brought her in but she would go to look for it. She returned a few minutes later with Bella’s phone and handed it to her. She pushed the power button and it lit up, but there was only ten per cent battery in it. Bella quickly scrolled for Ruby’s number and pushed. It rang and rang, but no answer. She typed out a text: Ruby, are you all right? Where are you? Cops been here. Then she deleted it before sending. If police were investigating, they’d take her phone and check her recent activity. It was fine to phone Ruby because they’d have to accept that she was worried about her mate, but that was it.

  She looked to see any incoming calls or messages. None. It was nearly twenty-four hours since the crash, so by now if it had been on the news, and she was sure it must have been, then Billy would know about it. Why hadn’t he phoned? It had to be because he knew all about it, he knew it was a set-up to get rid of her and Cissy and Ruby. She thought about phoning him, but decided not to. The realisation hit her that Billy, the man she supported, and yes, actually loved – well, to an extent – had been part of this. How could he do that to her? And what about the drugs? How the hell would she be able to explain the drugs and dead bodies at the crash scene? She was trapped, sinking by the moment, and this could only end one way. She bit the inside of her jaw and waited for the inevitable visit from the police to arrest her. And as she closed her eyes, she pictured her son that day when she secretly watched him coming out of school and crossing the playground, laughing with his mates. He had no idea she was there, but she was longing to see him, to hold him and to tell him she was sorry, as he came out of the school gate and into the waiting car of his grandparents. If anything happened to her because of this crash, how could she ever convince anyone that she was worthy of having her son back?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Ruby sat at the big farmhouse table, hypnotised by the log fire crackling and flickering in the hearth. She turned up the cuffs of the green woollen sweater the woman had given her, once she’d followed her into the house and told her to have a shower and get out of her soaking clothes. Ruby had done what she was told and the woman had left the sweater and socks and a pair of baggy jeans on the single bed when she came out of the bathroom. The warm water on her freezing skin had felt like heaven, but on her face it had stung like a bitch, and she winced as she washed and cleaned the wounds. The woman hadn’t told her anything about herself as she moved around the kitchen and silently stirred a pot of something that filled the place with a delicious aroma. Ruby was starving, and had been so cold and terrified that she’d forgotten how hungry she was. The woman picked up the bowl in front of Ruby and took it to the pot and she watched as she put two or three ladles into it, then set it down and, went into the oven and brought out a tray of roast potatoes and vegetables. Ruby waited until she sat down, then Ellie glanced at her.

  ‘Get that down you then. You’ll feel better,’ she said, unemotional.

  ‘I feel better already,’ Ruby said, and running her hand down the arm of her sweater, added, ‘Thanks for the warm clothes as well. Honestly. I so appreciate it. My name is Ruby, by the way.’

  Ellie half nodded and spooned potatoes and veg onto her plate. She pushed the dish across to Ruby, who helped herself. Ruby took a bite of tender beef.

  ‘Jesus! This is such amazing food.’

  She glanced at her, acknowledging her approval.

  ‘My mam made this for us growing up. Comfort food.’

  Ruby didn’t know how to make conversation or even if she was expected to. This woman had taken her in and saved her from whoever might be after her. But she hadn’t asked any questions and she didn’t know if she wanted to know anything other than what she’d told her when she was looking down the barrel of the shotgun. After a moment she poured both of them tumblers of milk from the fridge and they ate quietly, both a little awkward in the silence, but Ruby was glad to be here, grateful to be alive. Her thoughts were of Cissy and Bella, and she knew by now they would be in a hospital and in safe hands. They would be facing questions over the dead bodies, though she was glad she managed to take the bag of drugs and money, so at least they wouldn’t be implicated in any of that. The cops had nothing on them, no evidence.

  Ruby thought of Tommy. She’d checked her mobile but the last call was from him the night before, telling them about the car and that it was no more than they deserved. It had to be him. She couldn’t even phone him, but the fact that he hadn’t phoned her made it all the more convincing that he was behind it. She had to work out where she would go from here. Eventually, the woman broke the silence.

  ‘So,’ she said, stabbing a roast potato with her fork. ‘Are you going to tell me what happened? It was on the news. The crash and the two men shot. That’s all the police said. They didn’t say any more. Only that two women were injured. I suppose that’s your mates. But they didn’t mention you.’

  Ruby listened and took the information in. The cops wouldn’t want to show all their cards straight away, but they would already have been to the hotel to establish who the guests were, their names and credit card details, and by now they would know they had travelled from Spain, and would be gathering intelligence on exactly who they were out on the Costa del Sol, who they lived with, what business they were involved in. If Tommy had organised this – and she was certain he had – then he wouldn’t have just phoned any random car company to pick them up at the hotel. He would have confided in a mate in this neck of the woods to set up the whole thing, including whoever was behind them in the car to try and steal the drugs, she presumed. Tommy’s own hands would never get dirty.

  ‘They’ll be looking for me, I suppose,’ Ruby said. ‘But they’ll have a lot on their plate with the two men killed.’

  There was silence for a couple of beats, then she asked, ‘Was that you? Did you really do that?’

  Ruby looked at her for a long moment then answered.

  ‘They were both pointing guns at Cissy and Bella. They must have been sent to kill the three of us. I had no choice.’

  The woman didn’t answer, took in what she was saying and eventually spoke.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28