Spoilt (7 page)

“
Don’t tell me.” Maggie spoke before Lucas could.

“
Sorry, Mags but we’ve got another one.”
Oh God, what if it’s the
blonde?
Lucas didn’t want to think about that prospect.

* * *

Lucas and Maggie arrived at the all too familiar scene, but
whereas Libby and Kate had been discarded behind a warehouse, the
latest victim was behind a small shop, albeit with the same dark,
dank alley in the rear. As they strode towards the building, the
familiar lump crept into Lucas’ throat.

Concentrate, Lucas, you’re a cop, you signed up for this.
Focus!

They found the girl presented to them in the same manner as
the others, naked and on her back, the same habitual words slashed
onto her chest, the same cavernous throat. There were exceptions
this time, though. She was neither a brunette nor short; she was
tall and blonde. Lucas cursed as they walked toward the
body.

“
It might not be her.”

Lucas stared at Maggie for a moment. His gut told him it
was.

“
It’s her. I should’ve asked more questions. If I had, we
might have found her in time.”

“
We might not have either, Lucas. We still have no idea where
this is happening or the motive for doing it, and we have zero
suspects.”

“
Yes but we could have interviewed people she knew, gone over
her house, something.”

“
Don’t beat yourself up. Let’s just collect what we can from
this and find this prick.”

“
Just give me a minute,” he mumbled and strode
away.

“
David, did you find her ID?” Maggie inquired.

“
Yes, her name is Elle Sheridan. She lived just around the
corner,” he replied passing the bagged ID to Maggie.

“
Thanks, David, I think we should get onto this straight away.
Let us know when you’re done and if you find anything
new.”

“
Will do.”

Maggie found Lucas standing at the front of the shop,
smoking.

“
I thought you quit.”

“
I did but I just needed ... something. I got it from a
uniform. I don’t really want it,” he said, butting it
out.

“
We have an address. Let’s go.”

Lucas hesitated.

“
It’s not your fault,” she said. She stepped towards him to
lay a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “She was only reported
missing yesterday. There was no time to find her.”

Lucas looked at Maggie with sad eyes. “I just wish I’d done
more.”

They drove the short distance to Elle’s house, which was
literally around the corner. A welcoming two story house with a
fragrant garden filled with bright flowers greeted them as they
pulled up.

Lucas walked to the door, dread consuming him.
Concentrate, Lucas,
you have to keep your head.

Maggie knocked on the door and they heard a voice
inside.

“
Coming.”

The door opened and there standing before them was the girl
whose face was still vividly etched into his memory.

“
You,” she said her voice frigid. “What are you doing here?
How did you find me … Oh no! Elle?”

Maggie glanced over at Lucas, who appeared to be lost for
words.

“
I’m Detective Johnson and this is Detective
Hudson.”

“
Please, is she ok?” She raised a shaking hand to her
mouth.

“
May I ask your name, Ma’am?”

“
It’s Chelsea Summerville. Now tell me, please.”

“
I’m sorry, Chelsea, but we found Elle murdered this
morning.”

Chelsea’s knees buckled and Maggie stepped forward to catch
her.

“
Whoa there little lady, stay up,” she said and helped Chelsea
over to the couch.

“
Sorry, I’m ok. I’m just so shocked. I wasn’t expecting this.
Well, maybe I was expecting it … I don’t know what I was
expecting.” Chelsea placed her shaking hands into her lap and
clasped them tight together.

“
That’s ok, honey, we understand,” Maggie replied glancing at
Lucas who stood rooted to a spot just inside the door.

“
What happened?” Chelsea asked.

“
We believe she was targeted by a serial killer we’ve been
trying to track.”

“
Oh.”

A shaky hand went to her mouth again.

“
Are you up to answering a few questions?” Maggie
asked.

Chelsea nodded.

“
Now you mentioned to Detective Hudson that you didn’t know
how long Elle had been missing. Is that correct?”

“
Yes, I’d been away from Friday night and didn’t return until
Monday. I wasn’t sure if she was home when I returned.”

“
So it’s safe to say she could have been missing from Friday
night onwards?”

“
Yes, it’s quite possible.” She paused. “Actually no, when I
rang Mrs. Sheridan she told me she’d spoken to Elle on Saturday
morning.”

“
Are Elle’s possessions here?”

“
Yes, as I explained to Detective Hudson,” she said giving a
fleeting look to Lucas, “I discovered her handbag and phone were
still here when I tried to call her phone and it rang in her
room.”

“
Do you know if Elle was planning to have any visitors over
while you were away or if she planned to go out?”

“
Elle goes out most weekends.” Chelsea offered a brief smile.
“She mentioned inviting this new guy she’d met over for
dinner.”

Maggie glared at Lucas, who still stood in the same
spot.

“
Do you know his name?”

“
I don’t remember her mentioning one.”

“
Do you have any questions, Lucas
?” Maggie enquired.

Lucas looked over at Maggie and Chelsea. He was upset with
himself for not doing his job the previous day. Seeing her again
had tied his tongue again too.

She might still be alive if you had been thinking about the
investigation and not your pants. It’s time to get back to
business. Where is that hard tough cop when I need him? You can do
this.

He shook his head to clear his mind of lustful thoughts and
pushed aside his annoyance.

“
Chelsea,” he began, “you don’t know who this man
is?”

“
No,” she replied glaring at him as he sat across from her. “I
never met him.”

“
So you don’t know what he looks like then?” he
snapped.

“
No, I just said I’d never met him.”

“
Elle never told you anything about him?”

“
No, she didn’t, which was strange for her but I knew she
would introduce me if he became important to her.” She paused to
wipe away the tears spilling over the rims of her eyes and returned
her hand to clasp the other. “She ... liked to keep her options
open, so to speak.” She looked from one detective to the other.
“Why are you asking me questions about some guy?”

“
The other victims had a new man in their lives and we are
trying to find a connection,” Lucas said. Assuming the role of bad
cop and being back in control brought an immediate relief.
See, she’s just a
beautiful woman, move on.

“
I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything specific about
him.”

“
Not even where or how they met?” he asked a little
condescendingly.

“
Not that I can remember. She told me lots of
things.”

Lucas watched as colour rose in Chelsea’s cheeks and her
knuckles clenched and whitened. His heart lurched and his resolve
began to waver.
Focus!

“
I thought friends told each other everything,” he said a
little too loud.

“
We do!”

“
Then why didn’t she tell you about him?”

“
I don’t know.” She stood up and sent Lucas a look that would
have frozen fire. “You’re welcome to take anything you need from
Elle’s room and if you need to send someone over to collect
evidence or something, that’s fine but, if you don’t mind, I would
like to be alone.” She started out the room.

“
Wait, please,” Maggie called. “I’m sorry if Detective Hudson
seemed rude,” she said frowning at him again, “but anything you can
tell us could be important.”

“
I can’t think of anything. Can I get back to you later? I’m
just a little upset at the moment.”

Her cool tone penetrated the last of his defences. Her
heartbreaking expression and the misery in her eyes were more than
Lucas could bear. Being tough only caused her more pain. Granted he
was known for being the assertive half of the partnership, but he
couldn’t recollect ever being so tough on a distraught witness -
not like this. He was firing questions at her like she was a perp
holding onto a confession. Why was she having such an effect on
him? Why was he letting this case get to him so much?

The blood, there was so much blood. Their lifeless bodies
discarded on the floor. His life destroyed by callous
punks.

Lucas heard Chelsea sob, which propelled him back to the
present.

“
We need to inform Elle’s family so someone can identify her.
Do you have an address for her parents?”

Chelsea nodded. Maggie handed her a notepad and pen. Once
Chelsea had written down the information she handed it back to
Maggie.

“
Thanks. We’ll leave you to it,” Maggie said before handing
Chelsea a business card. “Call me if you think of anything or are
ready to answer some more questions.”

“
I will. Thank you, Detective Johnson.”

“
It’s Maggie,” she said offering her a comforting
smile.

Chelsea returned a feeble smile and nodded towards the door.
“You can see yourselves out.”

Once they were in the car, Maggie spun round to face Lucas.
“What the hell was that about?” she asked him in astonishment. “I
know you like being Mr Tough Guy but that was going too far. She
was upset and you were badgering her.”

“
I know, I don’t understand what has gotten into me,” he said
with a contrite expression. “I … this case … her … it’s all just
got a hold of me.”

“
Well you need to either snap out of it and stop being a bully
or put your guard down and let someone in.”

“
Let’s just take off and see if we can work out a motive
because it seems our perp is not just targeting brunettes, making
it all the more difficult for us. We have to find a
connection.”

“
You really are preoccupied by her. I’m stunned.”

“
What?”

“
You don’t see any resemblance.”

“
What are you getting at, Maggie?”

“
Libby and Kate are not similar looking to Chelsea? Short,
petite, dark hair, you can’t see it?”

“
What about Elle?”

“
She was her roommate. Man, you are somewhere else, aren’t
you?”

“
It’s all pretty thin, Mags. It could just be a
coincidence.”

“
You’re probably right. She does look a little like them,
though.”

“
So do a lot of women, Mags. You’re reaching.”

“
I know but what else do we have?”

Chapter 9

Connection

Thursday

Chelsea just couldn’t believe Elle was gone. Immediately, she
felt very lost and alone. Disbelief overtook her. She slumped back
onto the couch. Sobs wracked her body as she covered her face with
her hands, unable to comprehend the reality.

How could this have happened? Who could have done this?
Why?

With tears streaming down her face, Chelsea picked up the
phone and called the only person she knew would give her some
comfort.

“
Mum,” she moaned.

“
Chelsea?” Sarah said. “What’s happened? Are you all
right?”

“
Mum ... Elle ... she's been … she’s gone.”

“
Gone, dear, where did she go? She didn’t run out on you?
She’s always been a little erratic—“

“
Mum,” Chelsea cut in, “she’s dead.”

“
What? How can she be dead? Chelsea honey, what
happened?”

“
Have you seen the reports on the news regarding the
murders?”

“
Yes horrible. Dreadful for their families.”

“
Well they think he got Elle.”

There was a heavy pause, a decisive pause. “Chelsea, I’m going
to come and stay with you. You shouldn’t be alone right now. I can
get a locum to cover for me at the surgery and I can be there by
tomorrow. Charlotte will come with me.”

“
Thanks, I really need you both.”

“
We’ll be there tomorrow.”

They said their goodbyes and hung up. Somehow Chelsea managed
to get to her room and climb into bed before she burst into
uncontrollable floods of tears.

* * *

When they arrived at the station, Lucas and Maggie were called
into their Captain’s office. Everett Shaw exuded superiority. With
his large stature and booming voice, he could menace the bravest of
men. He got the job done and expected the best from his detectives
and officers. And yet his rugged looks and boyish smile could also
charm almost anyone.