Page 46 of Killing Mind

Bryant made it to the Crossley house in record time. The guv would have been proud.

Outside the house was an ambulance, two squad cars and a group of people bathed in the flashing blue lights.

Bryant pushed his way through and flashed his badge at the door.

He spied Sergeant Teagen from the station.

‘You been assigned?’ he asked, doubtfully. He was clearly waiting for CID and he expected an Inspector.

Bryant shook his head. ‘I know these people.’

Teagen eyed him suspiciously while he tried to see what was going on in the property.

He could see Tina’s wheelchair in the lounge. Her body appeared to be slumped forward. Police officers surrounded her.

‘Is she?…’

‘She’s fine. She’s the one that carried out the assault. The victim is in there,’ he said, nodding to the first bedroom.

Bryant tried to process the scene. Only this morning he’d spoken to them both and although not the happiest couple he’d ever seen he could never have imagined this.

‘May I?’ Bryant asked, nodding towards the door.

Teagen gave him a look that he understood. He was to say or do nothing that would affect the investigation.

Bryant slipped into the room as Damon Crossley let out a cry of pain.

Two paramedics were tending a wound to his right side. A blood-soaked cloth lay on the floor beside the bed but the bleeding appeared to have stopped.

‘What the fuck you want?’ he asked, forgetting his pain for the moment.

Bryant ignored his anger, as one of the paramedics turned towards him. ‘Be quick, mate, we need to take him in for assessment.’

So, his injury wasn’t life threatening.

‘What the hell happened?’ he asked.

‘It’s your fault,’ he accused wincing. ‘Fucking bitch didn’t speak a word after you left. Just stared out the window. Relived the whole bloody thing after seeing you.’

‘Damon, I never…’

‘Did her fucking tea like I do every night. She never touched it. Wouldn’t even look at it. Fucking years I’ve looked after the bitch,’ he raged. ‘Gave my life to take care of her and this is how she fucking thanks me.’

‘But, how, I mean…’

The woman was confined to a wheelchair.

‘Went to get her plate. Didn’t realise she had the knife. Leaned over her and in it went. She’s fucking lost it. Bitch tried to kill me, after all I’ve done,’ he shouted as the rage produced droplets of spittle.

‘Hey, mate, calm down,’ one of the paramedics warned as a spot of blood appeared on the fresh dressing. He turned and shot Bryant a warning look. ‘Enough,’ he said, getting to his feet.

Damon stood but looked at Bryant.

‘So, if you wanna do your job right this time get her the fuck out of here, cos I’m pressing charges against the loony bitch, so she’d best be gone by the time I get back.’

Thirty-Nine

‘Okay, talk,’ Kim said, as Stacey removed drinks for them all from a tray. ‘And I want the truth this time, Myles, all of it.’