Page 63 of The Truth Will Out
Sam madea conscious effort to shake the tension out of her body as she entered Doreen’s house to pick up Tilly after work. “How has she been today?”
Doreen frowned. Sam got the impression that Doreen sensed there was something wrong.
“Perfect as always. She’s a little treasure, sent from Heaven. Now, no beating about the bush, Sam, you look exhausted. Let me make you a drink. I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
Sam smiled and sat on the sofa. She played with Tilly until Doreen reappeared with a mug of coffee.
“Now, tell me what’s on your mind. Is it the investigation you’re working on, love? Is that what’s getting you down? If you don’t mind me saying, you look as miserable as sin, and yet you have your wedding coming up in a few weeks.”
Sam stared at Tilly. The tears emerged and dripped onto her cheek.
“Sam, my dear. Please tell me. Don’t keep me in the dark. I’m worried about you.”
“I’m sorry, Doreen. I didn’t want to burden you with this. It’s Rhys.”
Doreen’s hand covered her chest. “What about him? He hasn’t left you, has he? He’s usually home long before this. I was wondering where he had got to this evening.”
“No. We believe he’s been kidnapped. I think the killer we’re chasing has abducted him.”
Doreen’s mouth dropped open, and her hands began to tremble.
Sam knelt beside her and comforted her. “No, no, I shouldn’t have told you.”
Doreen’s lip quivered. “I’m glad you have. How? What are you doing about it? I don’t mean that nastily, as if you’re not doing anything… I’m sorry, I wasn’t criticising you. I can’t imagine the torment you must be going through.”
“It’s okay. It’s natural for you to ask. We’ve had men out there since just after lunch. I met him for a coffee earlier… He disappeared not long after he left me. Bob and I retraced his steps back to the office, but… came up blank.”
“Oh, my goodness. No wonder you’re down, dear. This isheartbreaking. You know if there’s anything I can do, you only have to ask. If you need me to look after Tilly for longer, well, you know the offer is always on the table. One thing is puzzling me. You told me the killer has him. Have they made contact with you to confirm that?”
“No. But experience tells me that this person has him. We’ve recently found out that Rhys is linked to a place that has been highlighted during our investigation.”
Doreen frowned and shook her head. “I don’t understand. You don’t have to tell me, but it might ease your burden if you confide in me, Sam. You know it won’t go any further.”
“That goes without saying. I trust you unreservedly. Do you remember a children’s home which closed down years ago called Pendle House?”
Doreen’s eyes widened. “Yes, of course I do. It was linked to some kind of scandal back in the day, wasn’t it? I can’t for the life of me remember what that was… Hang on, yes, I can. It was an outrage about the children being abused. Or am I wrong?”
“No, you’ve got it spot on.”
“How was Rhys involved? He didn’t…”
Sam hugged Doreen, then sat back down next to Tilly. “No, not as far as I know. I asked him about his experience, and he told me he had only worked there for three weeks. It was part of his university course.”
“And he never told you?”
Tears stung. “No. That’s what I’m struggling with. I had trouble processing the information. It caused a rift between us last night, and when another body was discovered this morning, I rang him and arranged to meet him at a café. I plucked up the courage to confront him about it, and we both said things we shouldn’t have. He ended up walking out on me. I’m totally to blame, and now I’m riddled with guilt because he’s gone missing.”
“You can’t blame yourself, Sam. Please don’t do it. It’ll eat you alive and prevent you from carrying out your job properly. For your own sake, rid yourself of that guilt this evening.”
Sam took a sip from her coffee and nodded. “You’re right. I don’tknow if I’ll be able to do that, though. There’s more, something I have been keeping from you for a few days.”
“And what’s that, love? Come on, let it out. You can trust me.”
“I’ve spoken about her before, Claire Owen. Do you remember?”
“The name sounds familiar. Isn’t she a member of your team?”
“She is. Or should I say was. She was murdered yesterday.”
