George frowned as he opened his eyes. ‘You’ve lost the plot, mister. I’d never leave me little Tinker to fend for himself.’ He rolled the idea around in his head before commenting further. ‘And I don’t agree with suicide. Every day of life is a gift, and it’s a slap in the face to your creator if you bail out without very good reason.’ George gave an imperceivable nod as he agreed with himself. ‘Lots of people are lonely. It’s not a good reason.’
Bert regarded him comically. The reactions were always the same. They ask for the truth then get mad when it’s delivered to them.
‘I read what I see,’ he said, picking up his cards and sliding them into his pocket.
‘Well I wished I never asked now, you’re after putting me in bad form.’
Bert smiled and handed him what was left in his mug. ‘Here, I’m done with this. You want it?’
George nodded gratefully and outstretched his hand to grasp the neck of the bottle.
‘I’ll leave it with you. I’m heading off now, places to go, people to see.’
‘You don’t have to go, mister, I’m not vexed really. I can stay downstairs if you like.’
‘No, it’s not that, this was just a stopgap until the rain eased. I really do have somewhere to go.’
George raised the bottle, ‘In that case, sláinte, and no hard feelings.’
Bert tipped his hat and gathered up his belongings. ‘We’ll meet again I’m sure.’
Chapter Thirty-Four
Jennifer could tell by the way her sergeant was drumming her pen on her table that Claire did not believe her in the slightest. She had meant to tell the truth but she was too embarrassed when under scrutiny, and the last thing she wanted was to be told off for taking stupid risks.
‘Are you sure nothing else happened?’ Claire asked, lifting the pen and clicking on the head in the most irritating fashion. The clicking seemed to permeate Jennifer’s brain. If it weren’t for the murder enquiry, she would have taken some time off work to clear her head.
‘No, honestly,’ Jennifer said in her most convincing voice. ‘It was a stupid accident. I don’t know what I was thinking, going snooping in the woods when it was so muddy.’
‘Perhaps if you wore some suitable footwear?’ Claire said, pointing at her heels. ‘Although they’ve certainly reduced in height. Seeing someone new?’
Jennifer spluttered on her coffee. ‘How do you relate my heels to being in a relationship?’
Claire stopped clicking her pen and rested it on the table. ‘Experience. My first husband wasn’t much taller than me. He hated being overshadowed. The day after he left, I went out and bought a five-inch pair of red killer heels. They’re still in the back of my wardrobe somewhere.’
Jennifer crossed her legs. She had worn her navy kitten heels because they matched her pinstripe trouser suit. Skirts were off for the next few days, at least until the bramble scratches faded from her legs. ‘I’m afraid you’re off kilter on this one. I’m just being kinder to my feet.’
‘Of course, because you’d be the first person to fill me in, wouldn’t you? Remember, I have no life, I have to get my kicks through you.’
You wouldn’t want to live through me, Jennifer thought, before giving her sergeant a half smile and rising from her chair.
She jiggled her mouse as she powered up her computer. The Rivers mental health institution had finally sent her a picture of Bert Bishop. She clicked the link and gasped as the face of a bristly faced old man stared back at her. His wiry grey eyebrows jutted out over black beady eyes in an intense gaze. The pouches under his eyes combined with the weather-beaten face fitted the witness descriptions exactly. Jennifer put her hand to her cheek, recalling the contours of his bristled jawline when she made contact. There was no doubt about it. This was the face of the killer.
She chewed the lipstick from her bottom lip as she clicked on the confidential report accompanying the email. Her eyes greedily scanned the computer screen as it flickered into life. Bert had been assessed several times for making continuous calls to Christian Bowes. The source of the phone was unknown, although, like prisons, patients were known to smuggle items through visitors and use them as currency. Jennifer flipped open her journal, scribbling times, dates and the name of the doctor listed. A dart of pain from her bandaged hand reminded her of the urgency of the enquiry. Dr Lionel Carter. After further digging, she found his number and punched it into her phone.
[#]
‘Hey you,’ Will said, dropping a thick file onto his newly cleaned desk.
Jennifer swivelled her chair to greet him, opening her top drawer and rolling a Cadbury’s Creme Egg across the desk. ‘Here you go. I’ve cleaned your desk and given you chocolate, what more could a bloke want?’
The look in Will’s eyes relayed he could come up with several suggestions. ‘How are you feeling?’ he said, pushing aside the paperwork to unwrap the chocolate egg.
‘Fine. My hand’s a little stiff and I can’t do much typing but it’s better than it was.’
Will frowned, but Jennifer had already told him what to do with his suggestion that she should be at home resting.
‘You’ll never guess what I’ve found out about Claire,’ Will said, keeping his voice low.
‘As long as it’s not gossip,’ Jennifer said. ‘I like Claire, and she’s had enough mud slung in her direction over the years.’
Will looked affronted. ‘What do you take me for? It’s about her abilities. Haven’t you ever wondered what they are?’
Jennifer wondered all the time, but Claire didn’t seem comfortable talking about it so she figured she’d find out for herself. This seemed as good a time as any.
‘Go on then, what is it?’
‘Zoe said she can read auras, you know, the coloured energies people have around them. They change according to your moods. She can even tell if you’re lying. I wish someone had warned me, I’ll be on my guard from now on.’
Jennifer clasped her hand to her mouth, her earlier chat with her sergeant coming back to haunt her. ‘You’re joking me.’
‘Afraid not,’ Will said. As he chatted animatedly about his discussion with Zoe, two things crossed Jennifer’s mind. One was that she could understand why Claire would be cagey. Everybody lied, and people were bound to treat her differently once they knew. The second thing Jennifer noticed was how quickly Will accepted Zoe’s explanation. There was no mention of rational thought or not getting carried away; Zoe’s word was taken as fact.
‘Are you all right? You’re looking very miffed,’ Will said, throwing his chocolate wrapper into the bin.
Jennifer reddened, relieved that Will couldn’t read her thoughts. ‘Huh? Um no … I just need to have a chat with Claire. I wasn’t entirely truthful this morning and I think it’s time I came clean.’
‘Sounds ominous,’ Will said. ‘Nothing bad, I hope?’
‘I’ve had a breakthrough with the Raven case. Zoe and I have accessed the Facebook group Emily Clarke was using before her death.’
[#]
Claire did not look surprised to see Jennifer return to her door. Jennifer began with an apology, followed by admissions of what happened in the woods, her relationship with Will, and her progress on the Raven.
‘I take it someone has told you, then,’ Claire said, folding her arms.
Jennifer opened her mouth to speak then paused, measuring her words. ‘It just came up in conversation. Apparently you know when people are lying.’
Claire smiled. ‘That’s one way of putting it. I’m an empath. I can read people’s energies, see their auras, and take on other people’s emotions. Sometimes I can determine if they’re telling the truth or not. Just like with you earlier today. I knew you were hiding something, but I trusted it was for a good reason, and if it were important, you’d tell me. Everyone is entitled to their privacy, Jennifer, and as thrilled as I am that you’ve got it together with Will, who you see in your own time is none of my business.’