Page 27 of The Truth Will Out
“Thanks. You’re the best fiancé anyone could hope to have.”
He smiled, pulled her to her feet and gave her a tight hug. “Don’t ever push me away. We’re in this together, through the highs and lows, darling.”
“I know. The news just knocked me for six. I feel better now I’ve had a cry to get it out of my system.”
“Always what the doctor orders, venting those pent-up emotions. They can do the average person more harm than good.”
Her eyes widened. “Nice to know where I stand, being called average in your eyes.”
He cringed and shook his head. “Bugger, you know I didn’t mean it like that. Stop twisting my words.”
“I know. I’m just teasing.” She continued to dry her hair, then slipped into her suit, teaming it with a red blouse. But she had second thoughts and swapped it for a cream one instead.
Bob was thereto greet her at the scene. He marched towards her, waving his arms around. She prepared herself for an ear-bashing.
“Can you effing believe this? Shit! What the fuck is going on here? Did you know it was Claire?”
Sam raised her hands to silence him. “First of all, good morning. Can we hold fire on asking questions neither of us knows the answer to, for now at least? Yes, I knew. I told the girl at the call centre not to tell you. I didn’t want you to have a crash en route. I need to see her.”
“Sorry, morning. What a shitty way to start our day. She’s over here.”
“I thought Des would have been here by now. Have you heard from him?”
Before Bob could answer, Des’s van appeared at the end of the harbour. The officer in charge checked the pathologist’s credentials and then allowed him access to the harbour.
“I need to have a word with him.”
“Shouldn’t you see… Claire, first?”
Sam released a long sigh. “It’s one of those cases where I want to, but at the same time, I don’t. I’m aware that the images will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
“I think you need time alone with her before you hand the scene over to Des. That’s just my opinion. But what do I know?”
“Okay, you win. Let me get my protective suit on. How long have you been here?”
“Around ten minutes. I thought it would take you longer than normal to get here.”
“It has. I had a hard time digesting the information when I was told this morning. That’s why I requested you to attend the scene.”
“What are you saying? That I’d deal with it better because I’m more in control of my emotions?”
“Yes, that’s the case for most men, isn’t it? God, I’m dreading telling the rest of the team, especially Nick, who has only just joined us.”
“I wouldn’t stress about it. I think you’ve got a much tougher task on your hands.”
She stared at him and nodded. “Telling Scott?”
“Yeah. Good luck. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes.”
“Right, let’s see what we’re up against. Was there any evidence found at the scene?”
“She was fished out of the harbour, so that’s unlikely.”
“Bugger. Who found her?”
Bob gestured to an elderly man with a border terrier standing at the end of the harbour wall. “Mr Torrence. He told me he didn’t mind waiting around for a little while.”
“In other words, he has a bird’s-eye view of what’s going on standing there and would prefer it if we left him alone to watch for a while.”
