by Vicky Jones
“OK, Robbie. I’m going to need you to do a formal statement. So we can exonerate Katie,” Rachel said.
Robbie nodded and broke down in inconsolable sobs. His nightmare of holding the truth inside all these years was finally over.
But Rachel knew now that there were so many more out there, like Robbie, who had gone through and were going through unimaginable horror. She exhaled at length, realising she had only just scratched the surface.
Epilogue
Tom brought Katie her third cup of tea in the space of an hour. He had brought her home from the hospital that morning, a bump on her head the only tangible injury from her car accident. He sat next to her on the sofa and wrapped a purple fleece throw around her legs.
“I’m fine, Tom. Stop fussing,” Katie said, wriggling under his touch.
“You gave me a right scare before. Of course I’m going to fuss.”
“No harm done, really. Just a little cut. The car’s fine.”
“Sod the car.” He broke off as Katie’s mobile phone rang. It was Rachel.
“Hello?” Katie said. She listened in silence until Rachel said the magic words she’d been waiting the last few weeks to hear. Crying with relief, she thanked Rachel and hung up the phone.
“What is it?” Tom asked, his eyes wide.
“It’s been confirmed, Tom. I didn’t do it. I didn’t kill Mollie.” She sank into his arms and sobbed.
Katie was convinced Jenny still wouldn’t believe her, so had asked Rachel to ring her and confirm the news. A week later, Katie’s whole world felt brighter. Raising her head to breathe in the warm, salty Brighton air, she stood in her front garden and set about watering the new plants she’d bought. They were blooming now, with bright pink and red petals, but her attention was drawn to the taxi that had pulled up outside her house. Her jaw slackened with shock when she saw who stepped out of it.
“Jenny? What are you doing here?” she said, staring at her sister. She was wearing a light summer jacket, blue jeans and a pink t-shirt. Crawling out of the car seat next to her was Charlotte, wearing a beautiful lemon yellow summer dress. She was still holding on to the black and tan dog teddy she’d had the last time Katie saw her. Jenny’s face melted into tears.
“Oh, Katie. I am so sorry.” She rushed over to throw her arms around Katie, with Charlotte running behind to hug Katie’s legs. “I don’t know how you can ever forgive me for the way I’ve been. I know the truth now.”
Katie prised her face away from Jenny’s shoulder. “It doesn’t matter now. All that matters is that we try and be a family. Can we?” Katie’s eyes filled with hope that, for once, Jenny’s smiling face confirmed.
“What’s going on?” Tom asked. He stood in the doorway looking confused at the embrace Katie, Jenny and Charlotte were wrapped up in. Timmy appeared behind him and ran over to Charlotte, who bent down and patted him. She showed him her dog teddy.
Katie hugged Jenny closer to her and looked over to Tom, who was watching and laughing at Charlotte’s strange little conversation with Timmy. He smiled back at her and mouthed, I love you.
Katie looked to the heavens and smiled, with one thought in her head. I just wish you were here, Auntie Joan. But I’m going to be OK now.
Chloe Sharp stood at Rachel’s office door. She was sitting staring down at her phone.
“You OK?”
“Yeah. Just been looking at that photo on Adam’s Facebook again,” Rachel replied, frowning. “I mean, they could just be friends.”
Chloe gave her a sympathetic smile. “I don’t pose for photos like that with my friends. You shouldn’t torture yourself. He’s the arsehole.” Realising who she was speaking to, and where she was, Chloe stopped talking. “Sorry, boss.”
“No, it’s fine. You’re right.”
Rachel threw her phone down on the desk, hitting a large plastic evidence bag, full of charred remains of what looked like paper that took most of the space in front of her.
“What’s all that?” Chloe said, wrinkling her nose at the weird smell.
“The stuff Bill Thompson was attempting to destroy in that barrel fire. Forensics have just brought it up for me.”
“What did they find?” Chloe asked, stepping closer and poking the bag with the end of her pencil.
“Nothing I can make out. Just loads of half-burned photographs. The faces have been cut out, though, so there’s no way we can identify any of the abuse victims. The background is definitely some kind of shed, though. You can tell by the wooden slats. But not much else to go on.” She sighed and sat back in her chair.
“I thought this case was closed?” Chloe said, confused by the look of defeat on Rachel’s tired, strained face.
Rachel looked up at Chloe, her brown eyes fixing her with a sharp stare. “After what Robbie told us, God knows what we’ll find in this mess.” She paused and shook her head.
“Get that coffee on, Sharp. We’ve uncovered a monster.”
FREE BOOK FOR YOU!
Just about to read the first book in the DI Rachel Morrison series The Burying Place?
Want to know the backstory of the three mysterious characters we meet in the lighthouse?
Click HERE for your FREE digital copy of the prequel to The Burying Place, to find out more about The Nurse, The Teacher and The Gardener.
The DI Rachel Morrison series
Book 1: The Burying Place
One high-profile case. No leads. No witnesses. No body. Amanda Walker’s mother is missing. Detective Inspector Rachel Morrison has no leads on the case and time is running out. Amanda appeals to the public, but when no one comes forward, she chooses to immerse herself within a murderous underground group she believes is responsible for her mother’s disappearance. But will the group believe Amanda’s cover story?
The DI Rachel Morrison series
Book 3: Wolves
Would you ruin your chances of a normal life… to save others?
Join in!
We’d love to invite you to join in with our ongoing adventures. In our newsletter, you will receive regular behind-the-scenes updates, beta reading opportunities, giveaways and much, much more!
Simply click on the link below and enter your email address so we know where to send your newsletter:
http://hackneyandjones.com
Also by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney
Chloe - A prequel to Meet Me at 10 - FREE DOWNLOAD
A family tragedy forces Chloe Bruce to rethink her future.
Also by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney
Shona: Book 1 - A prequel to Meet Me at 10
Everyone has a secret. Hers could get her killed… Mississippi, 1956. Shona Jackson knows two things—how to repair car engines and that her dark childhood secret must stay buried. On the run from Louisiana, she finds shelter in the home of a kindly old lady and a job as a mechanic. But a woman working a man’s job can’t avoid notice in a small town. And attention is dangerous, especially when it comes from one woman in particular…
Also by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney
Meet Me At 10: Book 2
Four lives inextricably linked. Will tragic events part them forever? Shona Jackson is on the run again, forced to flee Mississippi. Arriving in Alabama, to continue her journey to safety, she convinces Jeffrey Ellis, the wealthy co-owner of a machinery plant, to give her a job. But when Chloe Bruce returns from college and is introduced to the workforce, there are devastating consequences for all those involved.
Also by Vicky Jones and Claire Hackney
The Beach House: Book 3
New town. New life. Old enemies. With the past and present colliding and threatening their future together, can Shona protect her new life and the lives of those closest to her?
Also by Vicky Jones
How to Create a Killer Profile Page
Are you a Counsellor or a Therapist? Are you wondering why you aren't getting more enquiries from your Counselling Directory profile page? Are you now having to consider paying o
ut for expensive advertising, as nothing seems to be working? This book will reveal all the secrets you'll need to create an irresistible Counselling Directory profile page. Alternatively, I lay it all out in an online course. CLICK HERE to access.
Also by Vicky Jones
Bucket List Book 1: Project Me, Project You
“Writing this book changed my life. Reading it could change yours.” Looking to kickstart your life? Want to add more excitement to your day? Start with this book, where bucket listing and achieving your goals becomes addictive.
Acknowledgments
This book has been a passion project, but we couldn't have done it without all our friends and family supporting and believing in us every step of the way.
Special mention to Sharon Atkinson for being so supportive in the writing group where it all started.
Many thanks to all of our beta readers, and for all the amazing support we’ve received from our Hackney and Jones Facebook group.
Our Team
Virtual Assistant:
Erin Hodgson
[email protected]
Book Covers by:
WooTKdesign
[email protected]
Edited by:
Gary Smailes
Bubblecow.com
Proofread by:
Melanie Bell
[email protected]