The Doll's House - [68]

‘Ok, run down the boyfriends – every single one of them. Find out who worked at the Post Office, who was at those mother and baby groups. Ruby we know about, but let’s go over everything again – old school friends, Shanelle Harvey’s boyfriends, anyone who knew where she lived, how she lived… What do we know about Isobel?’

There was an awkward silence, before DC McAndrew eventually replied.

‘Very little really. Lived alone, kept herself to herself. Had fifteen followers on Twitter.’

Helen noticed a couple of the younger officers smirk. Fifteen followers was the equivalent of social death to them.

‘Student at the Oceanography Centre. Was halfway through her course when she went missing. Her parents funded her, so she didn’t have to work to support herself. From anecdotal evidence we’ve gathered so far, she went to lectures and then went straight home again.’

‘Ok, let’s focus our fire on her. She didn’t drink, club, socialize. So what professionals did she come into contact with that might link her to the other women? How is he doing it? How is he getting access to them? Isobel had traces of trichloroethylene in her hair – is that important? Does whoever’s behind this have access to this anaesthetic or derivative of it for their work? Check and double-check.’

There was a brief lull as Helen came to a close.

‘What are you waiting for?’

The team sprang into action, hurrying off to check and recheck their leads. Helen was furious at herself for wasting so much time on Price and Simpson. She hadn’t really had a choice but this would be of no comfort to Ruby. If that girl died, Helen knew she would never forgive herself. Would this last throw of the dice finally yield results or were they already too late?

109

The door swung open and Ruby jerked awake. How long had she been asleep? What day was it? Why had he returned?

Suddenly the whole bed moved. He had a hold of it now and flung it on its side to reveal Ruby cowering underneath. She blinked into the harsh light, ripped from her sanctuary and thrust out into the open. Slowly her eyes became accustomed to the light and she was surprised to see that he seemed to be shaking with anger. It was as if no time had passed at all.

‘Listen carefully, Summer, because this is your last chance.’

His voice was harsh and unpleasant.

‘You have let me down badly. Very badly indeed. If I had any sense I’d forget all about you. But I’m prepared to forgive you. I know you regret your mistake.’

Ruby said nothing. She didn’t know where his crazy talk was leading and she was suddenly very tired of this game.

‘But I won’t be hurt by you again. If you let me down again, you will be punished. Do you understand?’

‘How will you punish me?’ Ruby found herself saying, her words dripping with defiance. It was her talking, yet she had no idea where it was coming from.

‘Don’t push it. You’ve done enough har-’

‘Will you punish me like you punished Roisin?’

She picked Roisin’s crudely drawn Xmas card from the floor, thrusting it at him.

‘Or like you punished Pippa.’

She threw Pippa’s makeshift diary at him, a fierce rage overcoming her. He immediately backed off, as if the cards were toxic.

‘She was a mistake -’

‘Then what does that make me?’

‘Don’t try and trick me, Summer.’

‘I’m Ruby Sprackling -’

‘Your name is Summer -’

‘I’m Ruby Sprackling and I hate your fucking guts.’

His hand shot out, forcing Ruby back, back, back, until she collided heavily with the wall. The breath was knocked from her, his hand was squeezing tighter and tighter.

‘Say another word and I’ll kill you. I swear it,’ he rasped, flecks of his spit landing on Ruby’s face.

‘There’s nothing you can threaten me with any more,’ Ruby spat back. ‘As far as you’re concerned I’m already dead.’

From somewhere, Ruby managed to find a grim, victorious smile. It had the desired effect. He dropped her like a stone, watching her collapse to the ground.

He walked away from her quickly, then stopped, turned, and hurried back – kicking her harshly three times in the ribs. As she rolled away from the blows, he bent down grabbing her by the collar.

‘You’ll regret this.’

Dumping her back to the floor, he walked over to the bedside table, snatching up her inhaler.

‘No.’

Ruby was crawling across the floor towards him now, hand outstretched, beseeching. But he was too quick for her, crossing the room quickly, unlocking the door.

‘Goodbye, Ruby.’

The door slammed shut behind him.

110

He marched away from the cell, muttering obscenities. He passed through the second door, then turned down the left-hand corridor towards the third and final door. Unlocking then relocking it, he climbed the ladder back to the ground floor.

The house was even more of a mess than usual and it fitted his mood perfectly. His brain felt scattered, his head throbbed violently. He kicked the kitchen chair savagely, then before he knew what he was doing, he’d picked it up and hurled it against the wall. It broke into several pieces but he felt nothing. Just a crushing emptiness.

Already he could feel the darkness creeping up on him again. Those familiar feelings of desolation. And deep, deep loneliness. He had been cursed since birth – he knew that. Born to a whore of a mother in bloody degradation, he would have never survived infancy had it not been for Summer. He had always worshipped her – for her love, her patience, her kindness. Now he bitterly regretted her charity – why hadn’t she left him to die? Why had she consigned him to