‘Yeah, for sure,’ Zoe said, logging onto the computer to open her corresponding Facebook account.
[#]
Jennifer was a small spoke in a very big wheel of officers investigating the murder, but she was grateful to be at briefing at all. Op Moonlight was limited and could not facilitate a complete murder investigation, but they provided invaluable advice and leads when it came to the investigative element of the case. She had access to the investigation without the burden of all the paperwork – or at least that’s what Jennifer told herself as she entered the briefing room. The truth was, she wanted everything. Her need for control had always been there, but she managed it by keeping a professional distance. Now all of that was forgotten, as the Raven crept under her skin. The briefing location was a stifling windowless room without the luxury of air conditioning, but the whiteboard that took up one full wall left Jennifer in no doubt that no stone would be left unturned in the hunt for Bert Bishop.
Those who could not find a seat had to stand, and Jennifer was pleased to see a seat reserved in her name. Her position in the team had been elevated, and for once, people were interested in what she had to say. Officers hastily scribbled notes, as tasks and handouts were passed among them. Lexton’s DCI Jamieson talked through the investigation to date. He was a thickset Scottish man, who took no bullshit but had a reputation for being fair. Jennifer was relieved to hear him announce that Christian Bowe’s ex-wife was off the hook. As outlined on the board, their prime suspect was now a killer who created self-fulfilling death prophecies. Jennifer may have been tempted to shoot a smug grin across to DC Hardwick, if she had not been furious at the needless deaths of Emily Clarke and her predecessors. Her anger was fuelled by the discovery of a scrunched-up flyer from a recent psychic fair, found in the bin in Emily Clarke’s bedroom. Jennifer’s eyes widened as the evidence bag was passed around the room.
‘I don’t believe this,’ she said, re-reading the same line of the flyer over and over again, through the transparent bag. ‘I was there that day, I must have just missed him.’
DCI Jamieson unbuttoned his suit jacket and hung it on the chair. ‘Probably. So far, this man has passed through Haven unnoticed. But to quote Doctor Locard, “every contact leaves a trace”.’ As if to assure himself more than anyone else, he added, ‘It won’t be long before we catch up with him.’
But Jennifer wasn’t so sure. She believed that the best way to find Raven would be through The Reborners. While she relayed everything she knew in briefing, she fell short at giving them the name of the Facebook group. She justified her actions by telling herself it was the right thing to do. Operation Moonlight would investigate the Second Chance Group, and she’d infiltrate it herself if she had to.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jennifer did not normally telephone her sister before calling over, but her gut told her not to drop by without checking first. She was grateful for Will’s invitation of a late supper, and would have just enough time to drop over the kids’ Easter eggs if she left soon. Having to work a rest day on such a harrowing case had heightened her stress levels, and she needed some normality to ground her, before going to see Will.
She switched on the house lamps as the dark closed in, and clicked up the heating dial a couple of notches. It may have been spring, but a chill was still capable of descending, and the high ceilings in her Victorian semi devoured the heat. The underfloor heating warmed the soles of her feet as she waited for her sister to pick up the phone. She was about to hang up when Amy answered, and Jennifer detected a slight edge in her voice in her greeting.
’Hey sis, I was thinking of popping over with Josh’s Easter egg, will you be in?’
Silence descended on the other side. Jennifer was about to speak when her sister piped up.
‘Em, sorry, could you leave it until tomorrow? I’m … not free this evening.’
Jennifer’s fingers wrapped tightly around the phone as her stomach clenched. ‘It’s dad, isn’t it, you’re meeting up with him.’
Amy spoke in a flat voice. ‘I don’t want to argue with you, just come tomorrow instead, all right?’
Jennifer bit her bottom lip, holding back the words that would only hurt her later. ‘OK. I’ve … I’ve got a toy for Lily, I didn’t think you’d want her eating chocolate yet.’
The relief in her sister’s voice was audible. ‘I’m sure she’ll love it. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?’
Jennifer rested the house phone back into its cradle. Pulling the clips from her hair, she allowed the glossy strands to tumble down her back. She threaded her fingers through to her scalp, massaging where the clips had dug in too tightly. She needed a day in a spa, or somewhere nice, where she could relax and forget all about family, work, or the Raven. But who was she kidding? Having to sit and relax for hours at a time would drive her crazy. It was just like now, when she was trying to think of anything except her father. Yet the more she tried to drive him from her mind, the more space he occupied.
Jennifer eyed the children’s presents. The purple and yellow Easter egg packaging looked out of place in her minimalistic home. She could put it in the boot of the car, in preparation for her visit tomorrow night. She stroked the fur of the soft bunny rabbit she had bought for Lily. Thumper was becoming her favourite Disney character, and she could imagine her niece’s chubby little fingers enveloping the toy in a hug.
Jennifer grabbed her car keys and locked her front door behind her. The street lights flicked on and a cool breeze played with her hair as she shoved the presents in the boot of her car. She toyed with the car keys. Dad was probably at Amy’s right now, having made the journey from wino city or wherever he lived. She snorted. Just what business had he, going around to her sister’s and breaking up a happy home? She found herself climbing into the front seat, and placing her keys in the ignition. Clicking her safety belt she adjusted the mirror, catching sight of her harassed reflection staring back accusingly at her. Just what the hell are you thinking? Going to see your father when you tore a strip off your sister for doing the same thing.
‘It’s not as if I’m going to talk to him,’ Jennifer mumbled to the mirror. ‘If he turns up pissed, I’ll call for backup and have him taken away.’
Jennifer parked her car behind a van next door from her sister’s. Amy was unlikely to be looking out for her, and the housing estate streetlights offered a certain camouflage as they tinged the parked cars in the same orange hue. It reminded her of some of the covert jobs she had been on, camping out in some old dear’s home to watch the neighbours from their bedroom window. They had been so obliging, laying on ham sandwiches and a pot of tea before making themselves scarce. Jennifer was not so sure she’d be as accommodating if a couple of police officers wanted to intrude on her privacy. The blinds were closed in Amy’s home, with the usual flash of blue and white filtering through the curtains as their television entertained the children. She turned off the car radio as the seven o’clock news ended. Joshua would be in bed soon, and she longed to give him a goodnight cuddle.
She checked her phone for the tenth time. She had not heard anything since Zoe’s call earlier in the day. Pleased she had gained access to the group, she was spending her evening scrolling through old discussions. There was lots of talk of second chances and starting again, but members were warned not to give away the location of their meetings online. Such activity would result in an instant ban, and Zoe mused that much of the information was exchanged through private messaging. For now, she was integrating herself as a troubled teen seeking help.