Page 123 of Silent Scream

‘Get out,’ she spat.

Kim tried to walk around her but Nina grabbed her roughly on the arm and pulled her towards the door. Had she not been a serving police officer Kim would have smacked the woman in the mouth. Sometimes the sacrifice was just not worth it.

‘Get out of this room and away from my husband right now.’

Nina marched her to the front door of the ward. As they passed the waiting room Kim glanced in and caught Bryant’s eye. She nodded backwards to the unguarded room.

Once outside the ward, the woman threw Kim’s arm away from her as though it were covered with leprous scabs.

‘I don’t like your methods, Detective and I don’t like you.’

‘Trust me when I tell you that will not keep me up at night.’

The woman turned away to re-enter the ward.

‘And it’s not really my methods you dislike, is it, Mrs Croft?’

Nina turned and stepped back. Good.

‘You are not a stupid woman. You would have researched me before you made that call to get me removed from the case. Surely it's my success rate you despise.’

Nina stepped closer. ‘No, I despise the fact that you made my husband feel like a suspect, which says to me that you are not equipped to handle this investigation. You are clearly inept ...’

‘Why would you want me removed from this case when you know full well that I will solve it, no matter how long it takes?’

Nina Croft continued to glower at her.

‘Especially when you know your husband to be at risk. Any normal wife would want the killer caught as quickly as possible to remove their loved one from danger.’

‘Be very careful what you say to me, Detective Stone.’

‘What are you frightened of, Mrs Croft? Why are you so terrified that I will get the answers? And what the hell did your husband do back then?’

Nina stepped back and crossed her arms. ‘You will never prove that he did anything untoward.’

‘Interesting that you don’t state he did nothing wrong ? only that I will be unable to prove it.’

‘A play on words, Detective.’

‘Your husband knows something about what happened at Crestwood ten years ago and whilst he is managing to hang onto life right now, there are others that have not been so lucky.’

The woman looked unmoved. Kim wasn’t sure when she’d met a woman less lacking in empathy than Nina Croft.

Kim shook her head with disbelief. ‘You have obstructed this investigation at every turn. You tried, unsuccessfully, to have me removed from the case. You used your legal influence to file objections to the dig ...’

Kim’s own words trailed away as the truth dawned. ‘Youwere the one who killed the professor’s dog! When the legal objections failed you decided to try anything to prevent that dig from taking place. Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you?’

Nina shrugged. ‘Feel free to arrest me for inappropriate use of staples, Detective.’

A movement beyond Nina Croft’s head told her that Bryant had exited the side room.

Kim stepped forward into the woman’s face. ‘You are a ruthless, cold, miserable excuse for a woman. You care nothing for anyone or anything. I think you know exactly what happened back then and the only person you're interested in protecting is yourself.

‘And I promise you this, the day is coming whereby I will visit you again and it will be a very public arrest for obstructing the course of justice.’

Kim paused as Bryant came through the first set of double doors.

‘And now you have a reason to make a genuine complaint. So, please, give it your best shot.’