‘Good.’ The professor jumped to his feet. ‘In the meantime, you’ll think about the people in that sketch – see if you can come up with any names. I need details of the school you were at, anything that will help us locate some of these people’s present whereabouts. I’ll be in touch.’
‘You don’t think one of these people is responsible for sending me these sketches do you … of killing that poor girl?’
With a shrug and a wave, Carlton began trotting off down the yard back to Alice’s Mini, leaving Alice to reply. ‘We don’t know, Corrine – we’re still just exploring every lead open to us. You being sent those sketches and then one being placed at the crime scene is too much of a coincidence to be ignored.’
Corrine grabbed the younger woman’s hand. ‘How is he, Alice. How is Angus?’
Alice shrugged. ‘Not good, Corrine. Not good at all. He needs time.’ She turned to go, then turned back. ‘He’ll be removed from the investigation, you know. He’ll hate that.’
Corrine nodded, understanding the unspoken inference of Alice’s words. Gus would react even more badly to being removed from the case and that would mean more … possibly much more, time before he’d feel able to process his mother’s revelations. More time for the hurt to concrete itself in his heart.
Chapter 20
Bradford
‘I just can’t risk it, Gus. That’s all I’m saying. We’re under too much scrutiny after the scandal last year with DCS Bashir’s sudden resignation and the scrutiny that elevated you from a bog-standard plod to the sex symbol of Bradford Police.’
Gus wasn’t quite sure which of Nancy’s statements to address first. He’d never considered himself a bog-standard plod – not even when he’d still been in uniform – and he certainly didn’t think the leaked photos of him and Patti on social media the previous year made him a sex symbol. But those assertions were secondary to what was coming. He’d not considered the possibility of being removed from the case, so wrapped up in all the sketches and possible serial killer stuff as well as his mum’s huge secrets that he hadn’t taken the link to its logical conclusion. Not until Alice had sat with him last night over a glass of his finest malt and in a roundabout way pointed out the inevitability of it. Still, he’d hoped for a few more days before Nancy trounced him from the case. He remained silent. The Nancy he knew – the one who was his friend rather than his boss would hate doing this, but that didn’t mean he’d make it easier for her.
Exasperated, she slammed her hand down on her desk and padded bare foot round to the chair that sat adjacent to Gus. Leaning forward, her action giving Gus more of a view of her décolletage than he was comfortable with, but well aware that this was not a distraction tactic. Nancy was wholly unaware of her appearance; she simply chose not to succumb to the grey suit brigade that younger female officers adopted, but revelled in bright colours and feminine flowing dresses, even if her style seemed out of place in a police station. ‘Look Gus. I can’t say it any other way – I can’t make it any clearer – You’re off the case. Alice will take over as SIO – she’s more than ready for the experience…’
Gus opened his mouth to make a protest. He was resigned to being ignored, but as expected, Nancy wafted his words away before he’d even uttered them. ‘Give in gracefully, Gus. I’m officially taking you off the case.’
She shrugged and allowed the emphasised word to sit between them before continuing. ‘I’ve given the same instruction to DS Cooper. That you are officially off the case. I don’t want your name appearing on any – I repeat any – documentation other than your hand-over report to the new SIO. Got it?’
Aware that this was the best he was going to get, Gus got to his feet, and made to leave the room. With his hand on the door, he paused, as Nancy, in her ‘friend voice’ spoke again. ‘Cut your mum some slack, Gus. She loves you and like any of us, she’s allowed her secrets … doesn’t mean she’s betrayed you because she didn’t let you in to a horrid part of her life. As ever, she was protecting you. Phone her. Let her know you love her.’
The muscles on Gus’s jaw worked and he hesitated. Then, without responding, he opened the door and walked out.
Chapter 21
Bellbrax Psychiatric Facility, Scotland
Iwonder what that woman wants – sniffing around like a hunting dog – a bitch! Something’s happened and I need to do something. It’s been weeks since his last visit and now she’s here – all the time smiling and chatting and pretending to be on our side. I keep remembering the photo with her eyes scored out and I know something’s wrong. But I’m stuck in here. I can’t help her. I just can’t help her – I can’t even help myself. It’s a
