A few minutes later, they were sitting in The Daily Grind, a short walk from the police station, towards the town centre. They’d found a quiet corner, and sat down with their drinks.
‘Sometimes a change of scenery can help refresh the mind,’ Caroline said. ‘I mean, anything’s better than staring at a toilet cubicle in the police bogs.’
‘Oh, there are definitely some places round here that aren’t,’ Sara replied, smiling.
‘How are your parents? I imagine it must be pretty weird for them hearing that news, not to mention having to pass it on to you.’
‘Yeah. They’re okay, I think. Like you say, weird situation. I got the sense they were relieved, in a way, but that their main concern was for me. It always has been.’
‘They sound like good people,’ Caroline said.
Sara smiled. ‘They are. I’ve been very lucky. Just got to take that next step now, I guess. Not easy in this line of work, but hey.’
‘You mean a partner?’
Sara nodded. ‘Yeah. I know they always say coppers’ relationships fall apart. The job owns you. Things like that. Sometimes I can see how true that is. But then again, other times I wonder how much the job has already taken over and stopped me from finding someone. It’s not like I get much spare time.’
‘I hope this isn’t you telling me you’re thinking of leaving.’
‘Oh no. No, don’t worry. Nothing like that. I just mean… Well, it’s what I’ve always done. It’s what I’ve always known. Seeking a sense of order and justice, maybe. Helping people and trying to give them the second chance I was given. I dunno. Between you and me, I’ve never really had a boyfriend. Not a proper one, anyway. Sometimes I look forward a few years and wonder how long I’ve got left before it’s too late.’
‘I dunno,’ Caroline replied. ‘I don’t think it’s ever too late.’
‘It is for some things.’
‘Kids?’
‘Well, yeah.’
Caroline tried to rein in her thoughts. Concentrating on her own stresses in that area wouldn’t help Sara in the slightest. Besides which, she already had two wonderful kids — the only two she’d ever wanted, she told herself. ‘I’m sure it won’t take you long to find someone. There are websites and apps and all sorts these days. You don’t need to spend half as long at work as you do, either. You put far more in than you need to. I mean, maybe wait until we’ve charged on Operation Cruickshank, though.’
Sara laughed. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t start knocking off early just yet.’
‘I wouldn’t blame you. You’ve earned it.’
‘Besides, I still wonder whether the best option might be right under my nose.’
‘Aidan?’
Sara nodded. ‘Yeah. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.’
Caroline bit her lip and tried to find the right words. She couldn’t break the girl’s heart by telling her Aidan was gay. But, then again, wasn’t it worse to keep stringing her along with false hope? ‘I… I’m really not sure he’s interested in that way,’ she said, finally.
‘Oh. Oh. Okay. Has he said something to you?’
Caroline sighed. ‘Sort of. I brought the subject up with him. Maybe it’ll just take him time. I don’t know. But I don’t think it’ll happen. Sorry.’
Sara looked at her. ‘He’s gay, isn’t he?’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I’ve had my suspicions for a while. A sixth sense, maybe. And I can see the way you’re floundering about now, trying not to tell me.’
‘Well, I…’
Caroline was saved by the ringing of her phone. She took it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. It was Dexter.
‘Dex. What’s up?’
‘Guv, we’ve had a breakthrough on the Russell Speakman thing. You were right. He didn’t fall down the stairs alone. We’ve just had a confession.’
42
Caroline stepped into the incident room with renewed energy and enthusiasm, Sara Henshaw trailing a few steps behind her.
‘Dex,’ she said, trying to catch her failing breath.
‘You okay?’ Dexter asked.
‘Fine. Come on. Tell me.’
‘Come here, sit down,’ he said, giving her his seat. ‘Okay. We had a woman come in at the front desk while you were out. Name of Ruby Clifford. She says she was there when Russell Speakman died. Said she’s been racked with guilt for years, but managed to hide it. But she saw some stuff in one of the local Facebook groups about Martin’s death and Amie being arrested.’
‘Are you serious? We didn’t release her name.’
‘I know. It’ll be the usual routine — nosy neighbour sees her being bundled into a police car, someone mentions it in passing to the local busybody, next thing you know there’s some idiot gobbing off on social media thinking they’re Roger Cook. Either way, it descended into the usual pile of dung, and someone mentioned she’d been linked with Russell Speakman’s death a few years earlier.’
‘Who the hell would do that?’
Dexter shrugged. ‘We haven’t looked into the details yet.’
‘We’ll need to. That stuff needs to be removed. I know they think they’re being helpful, but if a defence brief gets wind of it, that’s everything finished.’
‘I know. We’re on it.’
Caroline felt an unnatural rage boiling inside her. ‘Do these people not realise their inability to keep their gobs shut can literally cause murderers to walk free?’
‘I don’t think they care about anything other than scoring internet points. But don’t worry. We’ll sort it. Either way, there might be a diamond buried in that steaming dog turd. Ruby Clifford says what she read brought it up to the surface and she wants to tell all.’
‘Christ. Did she seem authentic?’
‘Very. But she wants to deal directly with you.’
Caroline nodded, her breathing starting to return to normal. ‘Okay. She still here?’
‘Waiting in our finest suite as we speak.’
‘Alright. Bring her through to an interview room.’
Having taken a few minutes to regain herself, Caroline made her way down to the interview room with Dexter. As they opened the door and stepped inside, they got their first look at Ruby Clifford. To Caroline, she
