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Had Karim killed Rania? The timing fit. Karim stated he’d left for work at three am that morning. He worked at a bakery in Wynyard and that was his usual start time. He could’ve stabbed Rania and then left her to die, giving himself an alibi by turning up to work on time. Nico was still waiting for the coroner’s report detailing the time he thought the stab wounds had been inflicted, and how long Rania had been alive after the attack. But Gabriel had said she could’ve been alive for some hours before her neighbor found her and raised the alarm.
One question that’d niggled at the back of Nico’s mind all day—ever since the paramedic had pronounced Rania dead and stopped performing CPR—was a question he didn’t really want to ask. Was this girl another victim of the suspected serial killer from Hobart? The MO didn’t seem to fit the profile. The only similarity being the victim was a young woman; everything else, including the way the victim was killed was completely different. The other three women had all been in the sex worker industry and had been strangled to death. But he couldn’t rule out a link. Not completely. So, he’d requested more information from the team in Hobart who were dealing with the serial killer case. And he’d put Sally-Ann in charge of collating the information received.
“It was a hard day,” he admitted, taking another sip. “And you’re right, I don’t really want to talk about it.” What he wanted to talk about was how Lacey was coping. He really hadn’t wanted to leave her this morning, looking so forlorn and alone. But he had a job to do. He’d taken a brief statement from both her and Gabriel, then rushed back to the station to coordinate everything. He’d require a more detailed account, and was hoping to get her to come into the station tomorrow for an interview. But tonight, it felt important that he ask after her mental state of mind. She’d broken down in his arms this morning. Add that to her freaking out the other day at the sight of his blood, and he decided he needed to know what was going on with her. He was no longer prepared to let her keep her secrets.
He settled his glass on his knee and looked her in the eye. “I know this morning was traumatizing for you. It would’ve made most people upset and distressed. But I feel like there’s something else going on. Something you’re not telling me. Your reaction was…more than I expected.” He wanted to say,Over-the-top, but refrained. “I’m guessing it has something to do with why you’re taking leave from the force?” He decided not to beat around the bush and go directly to the heart of the problem. Now she was involved in a murder investigation, like it or not, he was going to have to reveal her connection to the Victoria Police. But before he did that, he’d like to get up to speed on her history.
She wouldn’t meet his gaze. Eventually, she said, “I guessed you’d probably ask me that.” Twirling the glass between her long fingers, she tilted her head back to stare at the roof, and he waited for her to speak. “Yes, I requested stress leave from the force because I witnessed a crime that I couldn’t come to terms with,” she said quietly. “The short version is that I was called out to a domestic dispute by a worried neighbor, and it turned out a junkie mother was having a psychotic episode and thought the devil had inhabited her daughter’s body. So, she decided to stab her to death to rid her of the demon. I arrived too late to save the little girl. She was only five years old.” As if sensing Lacey’s pain, Smudge stood and rested his chin on her leg, staring up into her face. Dogs were so damned intuitive to human emotions, and Smudge especially didn’t like it when someone was upset. And this time, Nico sympathized with the dog, because he wanted to do exactly the same. Rest a reassuring hand on Lacey’s knee, to comfort her, until that bleak despair left her eyes.
“My partner and I tried CPR. We tried everything,” she continued, and he could imagine the desperate scene as the two police officers tried to resuscitate the little girl. It sent shivers up his spine merely thinking about it, and he couldn’t imagine what it must’ve been like to actually experience it. “But she was dead, and nothing we did could bring her back. And now Cindi seems to have inhabited my soul. She goes everywhere with me, condemning me from the shadows.”
Whoa. This went way deeper than he suspected. Lacey was indeed traumatized. Everyone dealt with trauma differently. Some people could put it behind them, and some found it almost impossible. This time, he gave into his impulse and laid his hand gently on her knee. She glanced up quickly, but didn’t move away.
“I’m so sorry you had to go through that.” Some police officers went their entire career without having to deal with such a terrible incident. Most weren’t so lucky, however. Unfortunately, Lacey had experienced this early on in her career, before she’d had time to build that wall around her heart and mind that was required if you were to keep doing the job with any sense of normality. And it may well have destroyed her. “Did you receive any counseling?” he asked gently.
“Mmm hmm.” She nodded. “And it helped. But not enough to let me go back to the force. When I said I was going to resign, my commanding officer gave me the whole year off. Leave without pay. He said he hated to lose a good officer, and he hoped that with enough time and space I might be able to return. Back then, I agreed with him. But it’s been almost a year now, and I don’t think I’m any better.” She hung her head and stared into Smudge’s big, brown eyes, running her fingers over his soft ears. Nico wished he could provide as much comfort, but if the dog was helping, then that was all that mattered. There was only one thing he could think of that’d truly help.
“We have a good psych here in Burnie we use for any officers in need of help. His name is Imran. I’m sure I can arrange a session with him for you. Would you be interested if I could wrangle it?”
She looked up, but her eyes were narrowed, and he thought she might decline.
He continued before she could open her mouth to argue. “I think you need to see a professional after what you’ve just been through. It’s clearly opened up old wounds.” He wanted to berate himself for letting her get dragged into this murder. But there was absolutely nothing he could’ve done about it. Never in a million years would he have predicted a murder of a young woman would take place less than a block away from his home.
“I was going to ask you to come in and give a formal statement tomorrow morning, anyway. Imran is a friend of mine. I’m sure he could fit you in.”
“Are you sure he’d see me? I’m technically a civilian.”
“Yes, I’m sure. Most of his patients are civilian,” Nico replied. He would make it happen, even if he had to go to Imran and beg him for a favor. Lacey clearly needed help, and while she might think she was dealing with it by herself at the moment, he knew from experience that she probably wasn’t. Mental health wasn’t to be taken lightly. Nico of all people understood that. His own father had suffered from PTSD. His father had been a corporal in the French Foreign Legion, and had spent time fighting in the Gulf War, bringing his internal scars back home with him. But he’d tried to tough his way through it instead of accepting help. And nearly destroyed his whole family in the process.
“Okay then. If you’re sure. It might be a good idea.”
“Good.” Nico let out a sigh of relief. And Smudge, who seemed to sense a turning point in Lacey’s grief, stood and shook himself, walking over to the door as if to say he needed out. It was definitely time for Nico to get some shut-eye. It was going to be another long day tomorrow. Thinking about his warm bed, reminded him that Lacey would be sleeping out here in her little van.
He was glad Lacey had consented to see Imran. But now he’d like to see her safe inside his house, and he wondered if he might push her that little further. Or would she baulk at his offer? Lacey had a stubborn streak, so he needed to phrase this next request in terms she couldn’t disagree with.
He stood and put his glass on the small countertop. Then he turned and raised an eyebrow, as if the idea had only just occurred to him. “Do you want to come and sleep inside? I’ve got plenty of room.”
“Thank you. But I’m happy out here in my own little space.”
Just as he thought. He put his hand on the door, but wasn’t prepared to give in yet.
“I really think it’d be a good idea. Especially with a potential murderer in the area.”
Lacey gave a snort. “I think I’ve already proven that I can take care of myself.” A ghost of a smile played over her lips.
“I guess you have,” he acknowledged, resisting the urge to rub his eyebrow where she’d landed her boot the night before last. “But I’d still rest easier if I knew you were safe inside the house, where it’s warm and secure. I’ve got a spare room already made up, so it’s no trouble. It’s at the other end of the house, you’d have your own bathroom.” He didn’t add that he’d also be close by if she needed him. Because, for him, that was important. If she suddenly had nightmares, or worse, had some kind of breakdown during the night, he didn’t want her to have to face it alone.
He could see the idea of an indoor bathroom appealed and that she was wavering, so he played his ace, touching his dog lightly on the head and saying, “I’m sure Smudge would love your company too.” Smudge had always been an outside dog. He seemed to prefer not being cooped up inside. Nico would tie him up at his kennel every night. But this year, as the weather had turned colder, Smudge had been less keen to be ushered outside at night. Even going so far as refusing to budge off the mat in front of the fireplace when Nico called him one night to go outside. There’d been a wild storm raging that night, and while it hadn’t bothered the dog in previous years, this particular night, he’d raised beseeching brown eyes up at Nico and he’d had to relent. Smudge had spent most nights inside since then, and Nico was okay with that. The dog would be coming up to nine years old now, and while that wasn’t terribly old, he was perhaps starting to feel the bite of a cold winter in his bones more than he had in his younger years.
“Could Smudge sleep in my room?” Lacey asked, her eyes brightening. If he had to bribe the woman using his dog to get her inside, then he was all for it.
“Of course. I can move his bed right in next to yours, if you like.”
“Would you like that, boy?” Lacey looked at Smudge, who trotted over and licked her hand as if to say,Yes, he’d like that very much. It looked like Smudge had won the lady over. Nico suddenly found himself wishing that she’d look at him with the same adoration in her eyes. Which was stupid. There was no way he could be jealous of a dog. And no way he intended to get more involved with Lacey. He’d learned through his many years of dealing with victims of crime that people who’d been traumatized by violence were just too vulnerable to date. He wouldn’t do that to her. It wouldn’t be fair.
CHAPTER SEVEN
LACEY MOVED AROUND the big kitchen, helping herself to another mug of steaming coffee, while at the same time actively avoiding Nico, who was cooking eggs in a skillet on the stove. It was early, but the sounds of Nico up and about had urged her out of her warm bed. She was still wearing the sweatpants and T-shirt she’d slept in, over which she’d pulled on a ratty old, but very comfy, cardigan. Not her best look, but she’d never been one to worry too much about what other people thought of her. Nico was looking just as rumpled in his own sweatpants and a long-sleeved top.
