BLOOD STAINED an unputdownable crime thriller with a breathtaking twist (Detective Claudia Nunn Book 1)

by Rebecca Bradley

‘I’m not much of a fan to be honest. I hate to admit it in front of the lads, but for some reason it never appealed to me.’

  ‘How did I not know this about you after working with you all these years?’

  Dominic smiled as he sipped at his drink.

  ‘How long has it been anyway?’ she asked.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘How long have we worked together?’

  ‘You know you’re asking a bloke, don’t you? We’re not known for remembering dates and suchlike.’

  Hayley knocked back her drink.

  ‘You thirsty tonight?’

  ‘Like you I’m feeling the strain of the job, I think.’

  Dominic went quiet at the mention of the case again.

  ‘So, how long?’ Hayley asked again.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Us?’ She slapped his arm.

  ‘Oh.’ He tried to think back. ‘Five years? Yes, it will be. You were already on the unit when I joined as a DS and that was a little over five years ago.’ He grinned. ‘See, I can remember stuff.’

  ‘I’m impressed.’ She returned his smile. ‘I’m going to get another round.’ She lifted her glass to show him it was empty. ‘Are you staying for another?’

  ‘I should get off. We have another early start tomorrow.’ He tipped the remains of his drink down his throat.

  Hayley looked at him and waited.

  ‘But as you’re buying I suppose I could have one more.’

  Chapter 39

  Claudia

  Twenty-three hours since Ruth’s attack

  There was a knock on the interview-room door. Claudia, Dominic and Kane all looked at one another then at the door as though they’d get the answer to their unspoken question without getting up to answer it.

  Eventually Claudia spoke and suspended the interview for the recording, then stood and opened the door. Sharpe was standing in front of her. Face pale and drawn, her lips pinched.

  ‘What is it?’ Claudia asked.

  ‘With me.’ Sharpe clacked down the bare corridor not waiting to see if Claudia was following her.

  Claudia didn’t like this, she didn’t like it at all. Sharpe knew better than to interrupt an interview. Especially this interview. It had been at her behest that Claudia was in this one in the first place and now Sharpe was here knocking on the door and pulling her out of it. It could only mean one thing.

  Bad news.

  She turned back to Kane. ‘Can I ask you to put Dominic back in a cell temporarily as I don’t know how long this is going to take and we can resume as soon as I know more. Come and find us when you’ve done that.’

  ‘Sure.’ Kane stood. The strip light above shining on his head.

  ‘Claudia?’ Dominic rose, anxiety oozing from him.

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said, closed the door on them and followed the direction Sharpe had walked off in. Sharpe was nowhere in sight and she had to find her. An emptiness gnawed at the pit of Claudia’s stomach and nausea rose in her throat. Claudia walked into the open custody area and couldn’t see Sharpe so doubled back and reviewed the closed doors she had passed. There was a consultation room. She placed her hand on the door handle. A prickle of sweat slicked over the metal shaft as nerves made her palms damp. Then she pushed down and entered the room.

  Sharpe was standing with her back to the door. She didn’t flinch as Claudia entered the room and quietly closed the door behind her. Her arms were crossed in front of her, her face still rigid and stern.

  ‘What is it?’ asked Claudia, wanting to get straight to the matter at hand.

  ‘Have a seat.’ Sharpe waved to the table and chairs in the middle of the room but made no move herself to sit.

  Claudia stayed where she was in front of the door. ‘Tell me why you’ve dragged me out of the interview you pushed me into.’

  Sharpe turned her back to Claudia for a moment, paused, then turned back to her. ‘I’d rather you had a seat, Claudia,’ she said. ‘Stop being so stubborn.’ This last was pushed out emotionally. Claudia was not used to seeing this side of Sharpe and she took an involuntary step back.

  ‘Sit,’ said Sharpe again. This time she pulled out a chair herself and looked Claudia in the eye, daring her to go against her.

  Claudia stepped forward, her stomach swirling, and pulled out her own chair. They both sat, each mirroring the other. Sharpe let out a small breath as though the hardest part of the job had been done.

  It was far from done. This was just the beginning. She was tense. Her muscles clenched in fear of what was headed her way. She bent her head from one side to the other in an attempt to relax herself, but it was no good. The one thing she needed right now was to hear why Sharpe had interrupted the interview. Whatever the reason, it wasn’t good.

  ‘What is it?’ Claudia asked again.

  Sharpe placed her hands on the table and clasped them tightly together. ‘We’ve had the results back on the blood recovered from the Harrisons’ garage this morning.’

  The swirling in Claudia’s stomach flipped over and she had to grit her teeth to stop herself from vomiting up her breakfast. She had expected this and yet hearing the news as a definite with no hope left scooped out her insides.

  ‘Did you hear me?’ Sharpe was peering at her over the table. Her lips pursed in concern.

  Claudia shook herself free from the darkness that was circling her. ‘Yes. Yes, I heard you. I take it . . .’

  ‘I’m afraid so. It was a match for the DNA of Ruth Harrison. I’m so sorry, Claudia.’ Sharpe did something Claudia had never seen her do in her career, she reached out a hand and placed in on Claudia’s. It was warm and soft. All unexpected. Claudia looked up at her in shock.

  ‘Even though we suspected as much, it’s not easy to hear, is it?’ Sharpe added. Tears pricked at Claudia’s eyes but she refused to let them fall. She was working, she was responsible for trying to identify what had happened to Ruth. Breaking now was not an option. She blinked hard.

  ‘Is there anything I can do for you?’ Sharpe asked.

  Claudia shook her head, unsure of what she was supposed to be thinking. Everything had been twisted inside out. She’d been interviewing her father all morning and now this — it had been confirmed that it was Ruth’s blood in the garage. How could this be? If it was her father, it would be stupid to have left it there . . . She mentally shook herself. She needed to focus.

  Sharpe withdrew her hand as quickly as she’d placed it there. ‘This doesn’t mean she’s dead, Claudia. Ruth is a strong woman. Yes, there’s massive blood loss, but she could survive it. We need to get to her quickly. How’s the interview going?’

  ‘He’s saying he didn’t do it, of course. That he’s being set up. He believes it’s something to do with the case he’s been investigating for the last six months.’

  Sharpe was all business again. She straightened in her chair. ‘And what do you think?’

  Claudia shook her head. ‘You do know that’s my father in there, don’t you?’

  Sharpe tutted. ‘I’m well aware of who he is, Claudia. We had this conversation this morning. If he’s had something to do with it you’re the best person to rattle and unnerve him and get relevant information out of him. Yes, of course we know your relationship, that’s why you were chosen. We’re as invested in finding Ruth as you are. She’s one of us.’

  Conflicting emotions raged inside her. She had mostly managed to box them off so far today, but now the blood type had been confirmed everything had come crashing in.

  ‘Do you think this is the Sheffield Strangler?’ Sharpe asked. ‘And if so, for what reason?’

  Claudia tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. ‘I don’t know yet. I don’t know if it is the Sheffield Strangler or what the reason would be, we’re still talking about it and getting to the point of all this.’

  ‘Well you need to get to the point a whole lot quicker. Ruth doesn’t have time for you to be messing about in there because he’s your father.’

&n
bsp; Claudia jerked to her feet, pushing the chair backwards with her calves, the feet of the chair grating on the floor and squealing loudly in the small box room. ‘I’m not slowing this down because he’s my father! I want to find Ruth and if he did this I want him to pay for it. But I want the truth. I don’t want a witch hunt. We need to find Ruth, not target someone because of where the blood was found. Interviews take time.’ She paused for breath, lowered her voice. ‘And we don’t have time.’ She ran a hand through her hair, exasperated. ‘I don’t know what you expect me to do.’ The nausea of earlier circled her stomach.

  ‘Calm down, Claudia.’ Sharpe’s voice was cool. ‘You’re doing a good job so far. I just wanted to make you aware of the time issue for Ruth of which you’re obviously mindful and I’m sorry for bringing it up. I’ll leave you to continue your investigation.’

  Claudia lowered her voice, ‘Talking of the investigation, how is the rest of it going? I haven’t had a chance to catch up with my team because you’ve forced me into the interview room.’

  ‘House-to-house enquiries have been conducted but nothing has come of it. No one has seen anything out of the ordinary. No strange vehicles, no sounds of screaming, not even from the neighbour who heard the argument before. CCTV is being seized and trawled through to check Ruth’s movements from leaving the station last night. Though with her blood being at home we fully expect to find her heading there. We need to make sure she didn’t pick anyone up on her way home or divert somewhere that could give us a lead. A separate life somewhere else that is impacting on her now, that kind of thing.’

  Claudia understood the process. Investigate the victim as much as any potential offender. ‘You’ve seized Dominic’s car?’

  ‘We have. It’s being examined as we speak. If there’s a drop of blood that belongs to Ruth in there, we’ll find it.’

  Claudia was nauseated.

  ‘Are you okay to continue with this, Claudia? We want you to do it, we think you’re the best person for the job in such dire circumstances, no matter how unusual it is, but we’re aware of the effect it must be having on you. Don’t misjudge us. We’re desperate and that’s why we’ve taken such unconventional action, but . . .’ Sharpe rose from her own chair. ‘I’m not prepared to recover one officer at the expense of another.’

  Claudia smiled. It was weak, a half-attempt, but a smile nonetheless. ‘I think Ruth’s life is more important than my currently fragile mental health, don’t you?’ And with that she turned and walked back out of the room.

  Chapter 40

  Claudia

  Claudia found Kane and updated him. His shoulders drooped at the confirmation they’d been dreading. He had previously worked with Ruth on a job and, as with everyone, had got on well with her. She was kind and generous with her time and energy.

  ‘Back into interview with your dad then?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, we have to update him on the blood as well as progress the interview.’

  ‘How are you bearing up?’ They were in the custody block kitchen which was a small affair. It wasn’t meant for gathering in, it was meant for making a drink for detainees and microwaving their meals and nothing else. They were both leaning on cupboards and the kitchen felt busy and overwhelmed with people even though there were only two of them.

  Claudia’s stomach gurgled. ‘I could do with some chocolate, I can’t remember the last time I ate.’

  Kane fished in his pocket and pulled out a couple of coins. ‘I have some cash for the machine.’

  Claudia held out her hand and he dropped the coins into her palm.

  ‘Other than chocolate?’ Kane pushed.

  ‘This is my dad we’re talking about. We might have a strained relationship because I outrank him but he’s still my dad and I can’t believe he would kill someone. Never mind Ruth.’

  ‘And Ruth? I know you two were . . .’ Kane paused. ‘I’m so sorry, Claudia, I didn’t mean to talk about her in the past tense. Of course I mean I know you two are close. This must be incredibly difficult for you.’

  Claudia fiddled with the coins in her hand. ‘It’s okay, Russ, I know what you meant. We are close. Today is hard in multiple senses of the word. I keep expecting my phone to buzz in my pocket and Ruth to send me a text with laughing emojis telling me this has all been one big joke and she’ll see me for a glass of wine later and catch me up on what’s been happening. My phone doesn’t buzz and the text doesn’t come. Interviewing Dad for killing her . . .’ She stumbled over the words and Kane looked at his feet. Claudia was aware he’d never seen his boss so fragile. It was so damn hard to keep herself together.

  ‘Interviewing Dad for killing her is like some sick joke and there’s no amount of emojis that can make that right.’

  ‘How do you think he’s going to take the news about the blood?’

  ‘If he’s innocent, then he’s going to be more driven to find her. Knowing for definite how hurt she is. He’s going to want to be out there helping to look for her. Hell, it’s where I want to be, not stuck inside like this.’

  ‘Yeah. And if he’s . . .’ Kane let the rest of the sentence trail off.

  Claudia finished it for him. ‘If he’s guilty—’ she gave Kane a rueful smile — ‘then he’ll pretend those things. I would. So who knows what it’s going to look like in there when we get him back in.’

  ‘You go and grab some chocolate and I’ll get him from his cell and we’ll wait for you in an interview room.’

  ‘Thanks, Russ.’ She bounced the coins from her palm into the air and walked out of the kitchen.

  With her fill of chocolate Claudia waited a beat outside the interview room and listened. She could hear murmurings but not what they were saying. Russ couldn’t talk about the case with her dad while the recording equipment was off so any conversation had to be small talk. Difficult in the current circumstances. But both Russ and her dad would make sure they stuck to the rules so as to not jeopardise any potential trial. What would Ruth think of them all now if she could see them? It was the six million pound question that her best friend was at the centre of today and she held all the answers. Answers Claudia was desperate to know.

  Claudia walked into the room and the minute she had she wished she had waited a little longer. Her dad was sitting facing her and he looked up at her expectantly, waiting for information on what Sharpe had wanted. Like her, Dominic knew Sharpe had only stepped into an interview midway through because there was news of some description. He was desperate to know what that news was. He cut Russ off immediately, his focus targeted in on Claudia.

  She closed the door behind her and started the recording again, repeating the introductions and interview procedure. Dominic waited but it was far from patiently. He was twitching in his seat. A knee was bouncing up and down and fingers were drumming hard on his crossed arms.

  As soon as she had finished the necessary verbals he spoke. ‘So?’

  Claudia didn’t want to tell him yet. She needed to get on with the rest of the interview. She needed to get his account from him before she gave him information. ‘Can we continue from where we were before we get side-tracked?’

  ‘It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think? We were side-tracked the minute Sharpe barged her way into the interview.’ He leaned forward on his chair, hands on the table. She could see he wasn’t going to let this go.

  Claudia closed her eyes and thought through the consequences of telling him at this juncture. As already discussed, he would flare up. Whether it was real or he was putting it on, they would have to deal with it and that would delay the rest of the interview and delay the gathering of information from him which could ultimately help in recovering Ruth, whatever state she was in.

  ‘Claudia.’ His voice was firm.

  She opened her eyes. He was her dad. Telling her off. She looked to Russ for a reminder of where she was and who she was. A DI of higher rank than the man in front of her. She had the upper hand and she had the right to make the decision she was
currently contemplating. She would not be bullied into making the one which was best for him.

  Russ looked hard at her and nodded. He was trying to convey that she had this. That she was in control. She inhaled.

  ‘If the news was something to do with Ruth then I have every right to know.’ Dominic was still pushing her to talk.

  ‘To find Ruth we need to progress this interview,’ she said.

  ‘I won’t talk any further until you tell me what you know.’ He folded his arms across his chest.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. Furious at his stubborn streak and at how he was derailing the investigation. ‘You know you’re putting Ruth more at risk by doing this?’

  ‘You’re the one doing it by refusing to share what you know. As her husband I have every right to be updated.’

  ‘As the arrested suspect you lost that right.’ Her jaw was set like stone. Her anger at him was building.

  ‘It seems like we’re at an impasse then, aren’t we?’ He leaned back, arms still crossed.

  Claudia glanced at Russ and then back to Dominic. She was cornered. She had to go through this if she was to move forward, much as she hated it, especially as she was being forced into the decision when she had wanted to wait until the interview was over to inform him. ‘We’ve had the results back from the blood in the garage,’ she said at last.

  Dominic’s arms dropped to his lap, his jaw gaped slightly. As Claudia had when Sharpe had said the same to her, it was obvious he had come to the same conclusion. ‘No.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘It’s a match for Ruth.’

  ‘No,’ he said again, his eyes like saucers.

  ‘I’m sorry, Dad.’

  He stared at her. Claudia couldn’t tell if he was looking at her or if he was looking through her or was somewhere else altogether.

  ‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

  ‘Is she still alive?’

  ‘I don’t know. There was a lot of blood but I’ve been told it’s borderline if a person can survive with the amount lost. She desperately needs to be found which is why I want to get on with the interview. I know it’s hard, but it’s in her best interests that we carry on.’