Dead Secret

by Noelle Holten

  The pulsating in her head increased when she stood up; she rubbed her temples. She didn’t think she had had that much wine, but she was probably dehydrated. She opened the door, grabbed her mobile and was greeted with two meows in perfect sync.

  ‘Okay. Okay. A little quieter please.’ Maggie nudged the pair out of the way with her toes and walked to the bathroom. She opened the cabinet and found the ibuprofen. Filling a glass from the tap, she threw the pills in her mouth and washed them down with the cold water. Her eyes were bloodshot – she’d need to think about late nights when she had work the next day, as she looked like she had been on a bender. She was glad she had some time to straighten herself up and could kick herself for being so reckless when she knew how important today would be.

  Maggie headed downstairs and fed the cats. Her phone beeped.

  Who the hell would be texting at this time?

  A smile crept over her face.

  I’m not sorry for anything that happened last night. I had a great time. Just for the record though, I’m going to tell people that I put the brakes on things. I have a reputation to keep, you know. ;) Anyway, I guess I’ll see you later at the press conference. Looking forward to it in fact. Speak later. X Jules.

  Maggie put the kettle on and scooped a spoonful of coffee into a mug.

  She opened her iPad and browsed Facebook. She hardly went on the social media site but now and again she’d check in to see what her friends were up to. It was mainly pictures of their partners, children, or exotic holidays – they had a life. Maggie’s timeline was filled with Scrappy and now a few pictures of Salem. She had a friend request. It was from Julie Noble and when Maggie looked at her profile picture, her breath caught. Julie’s profile picture was stunning and as much as the reporter could frustrate her at work, she was drawn to her personality as much as her looks – if not more. Julie was bold, sassy, and not afraid to speak her mind. But underneath it all, Maggie saw something else – and it made her want to know more about the journalist. The way Julie was when she glossed over her past relationships made Maggie wonder what secret she was keeping close to her chest.

  In a different time, Maggie may have pursued more than friendship, but she realized that she was looking for something to fill a void she thought she had in her life. But there was no void. Maggie realized she had been putting pressure on herself, thinking she needed to be in a relationship when, actually, she was okay on her own. Her family was part of the problem. Only Andy knew who she really was and accepted her for that. Her parents were not so understanding and because of this, Maggie had spent a lot of her adult years living a lie.

  Maggie gulped down the now lukewarm coffee and after rinsing the cup, went upstairs to have a shower. The hot water released the tension that had been building up – though a cold shower would have been more appropriate. She rinsed the shampoo from her hair.

  After getting dressed, she checked that Salem was in the spare room before going downstairs to let Scrappy out. He didn’t look impressed that she had made him wait. She gave his head a rub. ‘Sorry Scraps.’ She locked the cat flap behind him. She left Andy a note to make sure he unlocked the flap for Scrappy when he got in.

  Maggie put on her coat, grabbed her bag, and headed to the train station. Today could turn out to be very interesting for many reasons.

  Chapter Forty-Seven

  The MOCD office was busy when Maggie arrived, with the team in early, prepping for the press conference later that day. Maggie wasn’t looking forward to what the press would be asking once they learned more details about how DCI Hastings was missing and now wanted for questioning.

  Nathan had left a Post-it note on Maggie’s desk asking her to go to the briefing room as soon as she arrived. She threw her coat over her chair, dropped her bag into her bottom drawer, and made her way down the hall. Nathan and DI Rutherford looked like they were deep in conversation. Maggie tapped on the door and Nathan waved her to come in.

  ‘Thanks for getting here so early. We just want to get your thoughts on a few things before the team join us in a bit.’ DI Rutherford’s voice was shaky and the creases around her face spoke volumes. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Maggie liked the fact that although she was a DC, Rutherford had always sought out her opinion on cases – Maggie knew her boss still wanted her to take up a DS role, as she had passed the exam at the same time that Nathan had, but management was just not her thing. Having one less pressure in her life was appreciated and the reason why she was always straight to the point with her senior officers. It was a mutual respect.

  ‘How are you today, guv? You look exhausted.’ Maggie rested a hand on her hip.

  ‘You’re not looking too great yourself. Late night?’

  Maggie’s eyes widened. She hadn’t expected her boss to snap at her.

  ‘Sorry. That was uncalled for. Please, take a seat and let’s start again.’

  Maggie pulled a chair out beside Nathan and looked at the evidence board. The picture of DCI Hastings with SUSPECT written in red underneath stuck out like a sore thumb. She still couldn’t get her head around the fact that he was possibly involved in all this and that he had moved from being a person of interest to a viable suspect despite the other people who could easily fit the bill too.

  Nathan turned to her. ‘Could you use that brain of yours and go over the day we found Timothy’s body at the industrial site? Talk us through everything.’

  Maggie felt like everyone had gone over this a million times but appreciated that her colleagues wanted to make sure that they had not missed the tiniest shred of evidence that could clear Hastings, especially before the press conference. One of the things they valued was her ability to visualize a scene as if she was there at the time – it could be a burden at times, as she relived cases in her mind even after they had resolved them.

  ‘Sure.’ Maggie closed her eyes and began to recount the details to her colleagues. They listened intently as she spoke. ‘Tim was lying face down on the grass, halfway between the edge of the forest and the grassy field …’ Maggie paused, squeezing her eyes tighter to focus her thoughts. ‘I still can’t get the hammer out of my head … When I first saw it, I thought it was odd. Something is off … I know that Dr Blake said Hastings’s prints were on it, but she also mentioned that the forensics team noticed a hammer missing from the toolbox in the shed – it could easily have been planted. The killer wearing gloves so that the only prints on it were the DCI’s …’ A thought came to her just then. ‘I’d be interested to know from Dr Blake how tall she thinks the killer is.’ Maggie opened her eyes.

  ‘What difference will that make? I know you don’t want DCI Hastings to be involved in this, but at the moment it’s hard to rule him out.’ DI Rutherford leaned back in her chair.

  ‘My gut tells me we are wasting time focusing on Hastings as our prime suspect. He may well be involved – maybe he argued with Tim about his relationship with Olivia? Maybe they fought. But can you really see him following our victim into the woods, creeping up on him, and then hitting him over the head … twice? After allegedly driving him there? Can you see him standing there, watching Timothy drag his body to the edge of the forest and bleed out without feeling remorse or calling for an ambulance? Picking up the mobile phone and dropping the murder weapon beside a dying teenager? That’s just not Hastings – he was so involved in helping people – the person we’re looking for is more concerned about themselves rather than others. But even if we did accept all that, he’s a police officer. He’d have known that would be too easy for us to trace.’

  ‘That may be true, but it would explain why he is missing right now. We don’t know what happened between the family prior to their disappearance – an argument that ended up in murder is also a possibility. We still haven’t found Olivia; with the amount of her blood found at their home, she’s unlikely to be alive and there’s also the question of how her mobile phone was found down the road from the family home. Although most of the information had
been deleted, the messages found are concerning. Was she asking for help or covering her tracks? Mrs Hastings’s car is still missing. He could be planning his next move as we speak.’ Nathan rubbed his chin.

  ‘Yeah, those messages are a mystery but the tech team don’t seem to be able to find anything else. So frustrating. What about the markings on the victim’s bodies – the dots? You think Hastings is trying to get us to look at Craig Nolan? He would have had to have been planning all this from before Nolan was even released on parole. It just doesn’t make sense – but I guess it could be another theory …’ Maggie tapped her pen on the table. ‘How are you going to play this with the press?’

  ‘That’s kind of why I wanted you here … Nathan will explain in more detail.’ DI Rutherford turned to Nathan and nudged his arm. A movement Maggie didn’t miss, no matter how subtle her boss thought she was being.

  ‘First, don’t make any assumptions or jump to any conclusions. I’d like you to listen to what we have to say first and take a few moments before responding.’ Nathan’s eyes pleaded with Maggie.

  ‘Why do I have the feeling that I’m not going to like whatever it is?’ Maggie crossed her arms.

  ‘I’m just going to come out with it. We’re going to be vague with the press. We’re going to push the missing persons /abduction angle and ask for people to come forward. Bethany hasn’t had any luck locating any relatives – well, she did locate an aunt, but she refused to speak to us and now isn’t answering her phone.’

  ‘Okaaaaay. I still don’t see how I fit in with this.’ Maggie clasped her hands together and waited for the hammer to fall.

  ‘We know that you and Julie Noble don’t have the most amicable relationship, but we’d like you to speak with her and see if she can do a special report on DCI Hastings – pushing the abduction angle. The Police and Crime Commissioner is offering a reward for any information that leads to finding the family – well Hastings and Olivia. But we have to be careful and not spook Hastings. If he is responsible for all this, we don’t want him freaking out and harming someone else.’

  Maggie felt herself blushing and tugged at her collar. ‘I’m not sure that’s a great idea and I can’t really see how it’s going to help.’

  Rutherford looked directly at her. ‘Our thinking is that if the public learn Hastings, a police officer, is a murder suspect – one of our own – well how do you think they are going to react? We need you to be a buffer between the public and the press. Julie Noble has a lot of clout both in the community and at the Stafford Gazette. She’s instinctive. Make sure she doesn’t find out all the facts – steer her if you need to.’

  Maggie stood and paced the room. ‘I don’t like it. You know what she’s like. She’ll immediately suspect something if all of a sudden I’m willing to work with her or if I start feeding her information. She’s too clever and even if she did buy what I was saying, she’d twist it for her own purposes. Don’t underestimate what she’s capable of.’

  ‘You’re clever too. Don’t underestimate your ability to do this. We wouldn’t ask you if we didn’t think you could. You don’t have to be best friends. Play the antagonistic part if you prefer, just monitor what she knows … and what she shares with the community.’ Nathan wiped his brow.

  DI Rutherford stood. ‘I’ll leave you two to work out the details. I have to go over a few things with the Comms Department before the press arrive.’ Before she walked out the door, she stopped and turned, looking directly at Maggie. ‘Don’t let us down, Maggie. We’re counting on you.’

  ‘Christ. No pressure then? Nathan, this really isn’t a good idea.’ Maggie’s foot shook under the table. She didn’t want to have to tell him about Julie. Not yet. She didn’t know where they stood after last night and moving from the professional to personal, it could be interpreted as a conflict of interest on all levels. ‘Fuck.’ She ran her fingers through her hair and took a deep breath before she spoke again. ‘Can I trust you to keep something between us? Just for the time being? I’m speaking to you as my friend, not my boss.’

  ‘What have you done?’ Nathan crossed his arms.

  ‘I haven’t done anything … well … it would be nothing but now it might be something – shit. Okay, between us, right?’ Maggie was flustered and her words were getting tied up in knots.

  Nathan sighed. ‘Spit it out, Jamieson.’

  Maggie sighed. ‘I’ve been out … socially with Julie a few times and well … last night, we kissed.’

  Nathan’s eyes widened and he ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Oh! I’m not exactly sure what to say.’ He rubbed his neck and Maggie could have sworn he was blushing.

  ‘You’re acting like I was a virgin and just told you I finally popped my cherry.’ She laughed awkwardly, intending to break the tension but perhaps adding to it more.

  ‘Well, I guess I’m not surprised but jeez … I suppose I didn’t think you’d pursue anything with her; she’s a bit … full on and I know how you struggle to open up with people.’ He leaned forwards and Maggie moved back.

  ‘Do you see why what you’re asking is really difficult? We kind of left it that we’d focus on a friendship first, as I’ve no time for anything else, regardless of how I feel.’

  ‘Damn. You actually like her; it’s written all over your face! I just thought you pair were flirting a bit before, but damn … this does change things. I think for the time being, it’s best you forget about attending the press conference. Let me think more about this.’

  Relief washed over her. ‘You see the problem then.’ Maggie sat back in the chair and crossed her legs. ‘Thanks for understanding.’

  She hoped Nathan didn’t share the information with DI Rutherford. He may be her friend, but he was also her boss.

  Did I do the right thing?

  Time would tell.

  Chapter Forty-Eight

  When she left the conference room, she didn’t know how she felt. She trusted Nathan would take her feelings into account and weigh the options, but she knew that no matter what she felt, she could be put in a position where her personal and professional life might collide one day – and she hoped it was not any time soon. She went downstairs to catch up with the field team; she wasn’t expecting to bump into Julie. It was almost like the journalist was waiting for her.

  ‘You freaked out about what happened last night?’ Julie stood with her hands on her hips, and Maggie immediately felt defensive.

  ‘No … well … no. Why would I?’ Maggie looked away.

  ‘Exactly. We’re two consenting adults. It doesn’t have to mean any more than that. It was only a kiss. Why complicate by overanalysing one evening?’

  Maggie tried to smile but inside she felt all sorts of uncertainty. Julie was absolutely right, so why did she immediately start to worry about what her colleagues might think? Not about her being bisexual, she knew they wouldn’t give a rat’s arse about that. More about the professional side of things – that she was sleeping with the enemy, even if that wasn’t actually the case. If the news got hold of any privileged information, she’d be the first person the finger was pointed at. She didn’t need that kind of grief.

  ‘What are you thinking? You look miles away.’ Julie reached across to touch her hand, but Maggie pulled it away.

  ‘Look, it’s not …’ Maggie’s eyes dipped to the floor.

  Julie held her hand up. ‘Stop right there. Please, for the love of God don’t give me that it’s not you it’s me bullshit. I don’t need an explanation. You’re uncomfortable or ashamed, whatever.’

  ‘Don’t pretend you know what’s going on in my head. That’s not how I feel at all. It’s a bit more complicated than that. I’m a police officer. You’re a journalist. We’re in the middle of a murder investigation. Think about that for a moment. What do you suppose people are going to be thinking if you happen across some information that you shouldn’t be privy to?’

  ‘Ah.’ Julie smirked. ‘So, you’re going down that route.’ Her lips twist
ed. ‘Well, maybe you’re not giving your colleagues enough credit. Or me for that matter. I have my own sources and since when did the finger ever point at you when I reported something?’

  ‘Well … that was before this …’ Maggie’s hand waved between the pair of them. ‘Work is stressful enough without having to explain my personal situation.’

  ‘Why does anyone have to know at all? We could keep it between ourselves. It’s early days, Jamieson. We’re not getting married, just two people who want to get to know each other better. Isn’t that what friends do? Where’s the crime in that? It’s a wonder you have any friends at all.’

  Maggie stayed silent. Julie was right, and she wanted to follow her logic, but if anything did develop between the pair, she’d eventually have to disclose it to her seniors formally. Would they even care? She shook her head … she’d made up her mind.

  ‘There you go again. Off in your own thoughts.’ Julie’s arm slackened. ‘I’m going to leave you alone now. You have a think about all this …’ Julie exaggerated looking around, leaned over, and kissed Maggie on her cheek. ‘But mark my words, Jamieson, you’ll be back.’ She waved her hands up and down her body. ‘How could you resist this!’ Julie winked and walked towards the conference room.

  Maggie watched her leave. A smile crept up on her face. The journalist wasn’t wrong – but it still didn’t sway her view. At least the experience showed her that one day, when she was ready to pursue a relationship, she didn’t need to fear rejection. A change was on the horizon, she just didn’t know what that change would be. Yet …

  Chapter Forty-Nine

  Lucy watched Ronnie out of the window as she walked laps around the front area of the property. Lucy loved the expanse – a large field out back, trees surrounding the property like an overgrown evergreen fence, and a massive front lawn hidden by shrubbery and a wrought-iron fence. When she had happened upon the property, she’d known it would be perfect.