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‘You’re sure?’ Kim asked as movement in the car park caught her attention. Lynne’s VW Polo had just driven in and parked by the wall. Kim opened her mouth to say something to Penn but paused as Lynne reached into the passenger seat to retrieve something.
‘She identified him from the photo, boss. Definitely him,’ Stacey answered.
‘Bloody hell. Why attempted? Something scared him off?’ she asked, taking another look outside. She hid her smile as she saw Lynne laying out a blanket in a three-car-wide space. On the blanket was a picnic basket which she was emptying and arranging in the centre of the throw.
She knew there was a reason she’d liked Lynne when they’d worked together a few years back, and this was it. She cared nothing for what anyone thought.
Stacey opened her mouth, and Kim put up a hand to stop her.
‘Penn, do me a favour, eh? Someone’s having a bit of trouble changing a tyre in the car park. Wanna go lend a hand?’
‘Sure, boss.’
‘And don’t rush back.’
He frowned, but she waved him out of the room. He’d understand when he got down there.
Three pairs of eyes regarded her curiously. She pointed to the window.
Stacey turned in her chair, and Alison and Bryant approached.
‘Oh my God,’ Alison said, placing her hand over her mouth.
‘That is soooooo romantic,’ Stacey offered.
‘And he is absolutely floored,’ Bryant noted as Penn rushed out of the building and came to a complete standstill when he saw Lynne standing by a picnic blanket complete with glasses and sandwiches and little plates.
He looked up to their window and his expression was enough.
‘Okay, guys, leave them in peace for a bit,’ Kim said, moving them away.
Once the oohs and ahhs had subsided, Kim continued the discussion about the sexual-assault victim.
‘You were saying something stopped the attacker, Stace?’
‘Ah, well, that’s where it gets a bit strange. Karen thinks someone grabbed him before he could actually do it.’
Kim caught up quickly. ‘You think our guy stopped him?’ she asked, wondering if the real Stacey was starting to turn up for work again. It was going to take a bit more than one or two useful insights to undo the damage that had been done though. And there was still Devon to think of.
Stacey nodded. ‘It’s possible. We’ve not been able to trace Paul Brooks’s movements prior to his murder, and Karen feels that he was forcibly removed from her.’
‘But he wasn’t on our system as an adult?’ Kim asked, realising what had bothered her about his clothing. He’d left the house intending to commit rape, and he’d worn his oldest, shabbiest clothes, fully intending to destroy them, along with any physical evidence, once the crime had been committed.
Bile rose in her throat at the thought.
‘No, boss, and neither was Eric Gould,’ Stacey answered.
Kim was thinking of an answer when her phone rang.
‘Stone,’ she answered, seeing that it was the front desk.
‘Lady down here wants to see you, Inspector.’
‘A bit busy at the minute, Jack.’
‘Okay, she’ll wait, but she’s not leaving until she’s had a word.’
Jesus, she hated the persistent ones.
