Page 27 of Silent Scream

His jaw tensed. ‘Stone, you know that’s impossible. There are all sorts of things we need to do.’

‘With all due respect, Sir, that’s your worry not mine. With the momentum this case is gathering, we really don’t have the luxury of waiting that long.’

He considered her words for a moment. ‘I want you on site first thing in the morning and nothing gets dug, not one shovel hits that earth until you get confirmation from me.’

Kim said nothing.

‘Stone, do we understand each other?’

‘Of course, Sir. Whatever you say.’

She stood and left the room.

Sixteen

Bethany Adamson cursedat the sudden noise in the stillness of the hallway. The metal grid between the elevator and the tiled floor clattered beneath her walking stick.

She moved along the corridor, searching for the keys to the flat. With one hand she tried to single out the entrance key. The whole bunch fell to the ground; metal against metal.

She swore as she bent to retrieve them. A pain shot from her knee to her thigh. Her hand closed around them but not before she heard the deadbolt slide across the old cow's door.

As Beth straightened she felt the gush of warm air that came from the open door of their neighbour.

‘Is everything okay out here?’ she asked.

There was no concern in the question, only the hint of a reprimand.

Myra Downs stood about five feet high in her fur-trimmed slippers. The bare skin of her feet was scaly and dry. Beth thanked God that the woman was dressed in a full-length dressing gown. Her fleshy arms were folded across an ample breast being flattened down like dog ears. Her lined face was creased in displeasure.

Beth faced her squarely. Nicola might be frightened of the old cow but she was not.

‘Nah, Mrs Downs, I was just being raped and pillaged by three blokes but thanks for yer concern.’

The woman huffed. ‘There are people trying to sleep, you know.’

‘You'd have a better chance if yer wore propped up against the door.’

The woman's face distorted like a bulldog chewing a wasp.

‘You know, before you came to stay this floor was a perfectly respectable place and now what with the arguing and the noise at all hours ...’

‘Mrs Downs. It's half ten and I dropped me keys. Ger a fuckin’ grip.’

The woman's face reddened. ‘Well ... well ... how long do you intend to stay?’

Yeah, another resident who didn't want her here. Well, tough bloody luck.

‘Probably gonna stay a while. Nic's adding me to the lease.’

It was worth the lie to see the horror register on her face. ‘Oh, no, no, I'll be speaking to your sister about ...’

This nosey old bag was really starting to get on her nerves.

‘What the bloody hell is yer problem?’

‘Loud noise late at night is frightening for single residents, young lady.’

‘Who do yer think's gonna ger in. There's three locks and a keycode to protect yer.’ Beth looked her up and down. ‘And I don't think yer got a lot to fear, to be honest.’