Page 67 of Killing Me Softly

“I hate the answer to that.”

“This is fucking insane!” Kenny dropped the file on the coffee table, photos and reports spilling out, and Aaron shuffled forward to sift through as Kenny paced the room, raking his hands through his hair. “How can she not be traceable? This is a care home, Jack! There are protocols. Procedures. How the fuck could this happen?”

“Those are questions you, as the civilian and the relative, next of kin, can ask of them. I can’t do anything other than what I’ve already done. I’m getting the warrant and we’ll get access to the agency files, too. But what we do have is lead and a witness statement from the resident in the next room.”

“A witness?”

Jack nodded. “It’s probably nothing. I mean, to be honest with you, many of the residents, as you’re probably fully aware, aren’t reliable in their memory functioning. But she mentionedhearing singing coming from your mum’s room. Two voices. One of them was your mum’s and another female voice.”

“Singing?”

“Yeah. Which apparently isn’t unusual. Your mum sang a lot. But they thought it was odd for the other woman to sing with her as she didn’t know her. Wasn’t a regular visitor.”

“The cleaner?”

“Probably.”

“What song?”

“Sorry?”

“What song did they sing?”

“I don’t know.”

“Did you ask?”

“Yes, but she couldn’t remember. She just hummed it.”

“To you?”

“Yes.”

“Go on then.”

Jack blinked. “What?”

“Hum it.”

“Are you joking?”

Kenny held his gaze. “Do I look like I’m joking?”

“Fuck off, Kenny. I can’t fucking hum it…” Jack tailed off as Aaron suddenly stood, without a word, and left the room to the back kitchen/diner. Jack raised an eyebrow. “What’s with him?”

“I doubt he wants to hear you sing.”

“No one should.”

“It could be important, Jack. Try?”

Jack inhaled sharply, chest rising. Then he cleared his throat. “Hmm hmm—” He stopped his humming when a soft melody drifted through the house, delicate and eerie. “What’s that?”

Kenny rubbed his temple. “Aaron.”

“He usually bugger off to play the piano?”

“When he’s stressed, yeah.”

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