Page 92 of First Blood

‘We’re full, Inspector, I had nowhere to put her.’

‘There wasn’t a sofa spare she could have used?’ Kim asked. This response to a woman in need did not quite match the description they’d just had from Louella the counsellor.

‘We have regulations. I couldn’t.’

‘I’m sorry, Marianne, but I’m not buying that. I think you turned her away because you were angry with her for going back to Luke Fenton after all the time and effort you put into her,’ Kim said, feeling her anger rise. ‘It appears to me that your help comes with conditions, that beneficiaries of your charity are held to your standards and expectations and if they fail to do so they’re cut loose. That girl came to you for help and you turned her away. Surely you could have referred her somewhere else, made a few calls. She was scared and alone, beaten down and begging for help and you decided to make a point because you disapproved of her choices. You could have done more but you were punishing her.’

Marianne shook her head in denial but Kim could see the truth in her eyes, and there was nothing Kim could or would say to make her feel better. Hayley Smart might still be alive if Marianne hadn’t turned her away.

She tried to keep the disgust from her voice. ‘Did she say anything at all that you haven’t told me?’

Marianne hesitated before nodding. Her voice was low and full of regret.

‘She said she needed to be somewhere safe.’

‘And you didn’t think to call the police or do anything at all to help her?’

Marianne looked away.

Hayley had been cold, frightened and alone, almost begging this woman for help. And still she had been turned away.

But that didn’t make sense, Kim realised. Hayley had received the message from Luke Fenton’s sister. She knew her ex-boyfriend was dead.

Unless that wasn’t who she’d been hiding from at all, Kim realised, as her phone began to ring.

Her stomach turned when she saw that the caller was Keats.

Chapter Eighty-Four

Marianne grabbed the envelope from her drawer and headed out of the office. She had no idea what had caused the detective inspector to leave in such a hurry but she was just pleased that she had.

She could not tolerate the woman’s judgement of her actions. Yes, she had managed to summon the tears at Hayley’s passing, but in truth she felt little for the girl who had taken her help, her resources, her time and thrown it back in her face. Whatever her reasons she had chosen to return to an active abuser with her own child. It was inexcusable and unforgiveable and Hayley had learned the hard way that there were consequences to her actions.

She put Hayley out of her mind and barrelled down the hallway. She had more pressing matters to attend to.

‘What the?…’

‘Sorry, I…’

The envelope fell from her hand as Diana Lambert stormed out of the bathroom and they collided.

Marianne bent to pick it up.

‘Sorry, I was just in a rush to get…’

‘It’s okay,’ Marianne said, with a smile. ‘And calm down. Your meeting with Child Services will be fine and you’ll be reunited with your daughter in no time.’

‘I hope so, Marianne,’ she said, her brown eyes soft with fear. ‘But I know that bastard will lie through his teeth to stop me…’

‘You’ll be fine,’ Marianne reassured. ‘Just relax and tell the truth. You’ll get her back, I know you will.’

‘Thank you,’ Diana said, before tearing off in the direction of the front door.

Marianne continued her search of the premises until she found Carl in the tool shed just outside the back door.

She held out the envelope.

Carl looked down at her hand and began to shake his head.