Page 16 of Deadly Cry

I saw your face again. I see it every time I take a life. I pretend that I’m killing you instead of the victim, and that’s okay because I can continue to kill you a million times – over and over again.

Yes, every single part of murder is enjoyable to me. But nothing compares to my favourite part.

The best is yet to come, I think to myself as I take out my phone.

Thirteen

‘Run that by me again,’ Kim said once Stacey had updated her on the shuffle case.

‘She has some kind of sympathy for her attacker,’ Stacey repeated. ‘She was even grateful that he pulled her shorts up and covered her once he’d finished. I get why they couldn’t use her,’ she admitted.

Kim got it. ‘She’d have been more like a witness for the defence. His barrister would have gone to town and twisted the whole thing so it would have appeared consensual.’

‘Exactly, boss, which would have weakened the case for the first victim, Gemma Hornley. It’s likely he’d have walked and paid for neither crime.’

Kim agreed. ‘Well, given that we’ve got a murder investigation to—’

‘Can I stay on it, boss?’ Stacey asked. ‘She’s still a victim and she’s being denied justice for telling the truth.’

Kim opened her mouth to refuse until the irony of Stacey’s words hit home. Truth and justice didn’t always go hand in hand, but they had to give it their best shot.

‘Okay, but if I need to pull you off while Bryant and I—’

‘Err… present and fit for duty, boss,’ Penn said, throwing his hand in the air to indicate he could pick up any slack on Stacey’s behalf.

‘Noted,’ Kim said.

Despite his offer, she was not prepared to let him spread himself too thinly. She couldn’t help going a bit easier on Penn given his recent loss, even though he didn’t request it. He was now sole carer for his brother, which would include a period of adjustment for both of them.

‘Okay, guys, there’s little more we can do tonight on Katrina’s murder, so go home, sleep well and be back at seven o’clock sharp.’

It was almost eight now, so that gave them all a good eleven-hour turnaround.

Not so much for her. She had yet to brief Woody on the INEPT meeting, but once she’d done that her involvement with the event at the end of the week would be well and truly over.

Fourteen

Penn opened the door of his home and took a good long sniff.

He swallowed his disappointment. He’d hoped to be greeted by the delicious aromas of baking that filled the house when Jasper was cooking. Jasper hadn’t been allowed to cook alone since the time he’d allowed a pan of melting butter to burn when his best friend, Billy, had sent him a link to some YouTube videos. The pan had caught fire, and Jasper had had the sense to run next door for help.

Lily, a retired schoolteacher, had put out the fire and told Jasper that any time he wanted to cook without Penn she’d come round and be chief taster.

Every night when he phoned to say he was going to be late, he hoped his brother had taken Lily up on her kind offer and returned to what he loved to do.

Looked like Stacey was going to be disappointed again tomorrow. His brother hadn’t set foot in the kitchen since their mother’s funeral. In fact, he’d barely left his room at all.

Penn headed up the stairs and knocked gently on a door that was now permanently closed.

He received a grunt in response.

Penn fixed a smile to his face before he entered the room.

‘Hey, bud, fancy trying out a new recipe I found for cheese scones?’ he asked, ruffling his brother’s hair.

Jasper pulled away and shook his head.

Penn tried not to let the gesture hurt him. His brother was in pain and it was up to him to keep things as normal as he could.