Page 63 of One Step Behind
Exactly twenty minutes later the door knocker raps twice – short and sharp – and like a prod to the small of his back Stuart is up from the sofa.
I stay in the living room, but stand as DS Church walks in. She’s wearing a white shirt and trouser suit and must be roasting beneath her jacket. Her face looks hot under subtle make-up and her dark hair is shorter than the last time I saw her, highlighting her oval face and long neck. She looks professional and calm next to my denim shorts and t-shirt, hair unwashed and pulled back. I wish I’d made more effort now. This is the first time DS Church has been to the house and I feel exposed under her gaze.
‘Jenna,’ DS Church says. ‘Good to see you again. Thank you for making the time to see me.’ She shakes my hand, quick and firm, before pointing to the sofa opposite the one I’m standing next to. ‘May I?’
‘Of course. Please do.’
‘Would you like a cup of tea or coffee?’ Stuart asks from the doorway. He claps his hands together as he speaks and seems as nervous as I feel. I guess he wants this all to be over as much as I do.
My anger towards him fizzles out and I motion for him to sit down beside me.
‘No, thank you,’ DS Church replies. She pauses as Stuart takes my hand.
DS Church sits on the edge of the cushion, leaning forward, a notebook unopened in her hands.
‘Have you found something out about the man who’s been stalking my wife?’ Stuart asks as though I’m not in the room. ‘Have you arrested him? What’s he said?’
‘We’ve been looking into Matthew Dover’s background,’ DS Church says, her expression unreadable. ‘DC Briggs and myself spoke with Mr Dover on Tuesday; however, due to the nature of his injuries he wasn’t able to answer any questions, and has been deemed unfit for questioning. We are in close contact with the neurologist in charge of Mr Dover’s case, and will try again when he’s able. In the meantime we’ve been speaking to his employer, and last night we received Matthew’s shift patterns for the last six months.’
I sit forward, unpeeling my hand from Stuart’s. Where is this going?
‘I’ve compared the times you reported seeing him against the times we know he was working and there are some inconsistencies.’
‘What do you mean?’ I ask.
‘Matthew Dover was at work on some of the occasions that you have recorded being followed or when items have been left on your doorstep.’
I swallow hard, the enormity of her words crushing me.
‘That’s not possible.’ Stuart looks between us, a confused smile pulling on his lips.
‘He … he must’ve have slipped out or been on a break,’ I say.
‘According to his employer, Mr Dover would not have been able to leave the premises during his shifts and hasn’t missed a shift for as long as his employer can remember. I spoke to several of his co-workers as well and they describe Matthew as reliable and hard-working.’
DS Church’s words hang in the silence before she continues. ‘You weren’t able to get a photo of your stalker, were you?’ Her tone is soft but probing, scratching beneath my skin.
I shake my head. ‘But it’s him. How else do you explain the fact that the stalking completely stopped the moment he was admitted to hospital? And now that he’s awake, I’m suddenly getting emails again.’
‘You have said in your statements that you only ever saw him for very brief moments of time and often at a distance. On several occasions you reported seeing a figure in the shadows. Is it possible you’re mistaken about the identity of your stalker?’
My jaw clenches and I bite back a sarcastic retort. ‘Pardon?’
‘I’m asking how certain you are that Matthew Dover is your stalker? Could it be that he looks similar?’
‘No,’ I cry out. ‘I know it’s him. I’m one hundred per cent certain.’
And I am. It’s not just the photos of me on your phone and in your house – the proof I know exists – or the umbrella you had when they brought you in, the same one I’ve seen dozens of times on the CCTV footage, it’s your face. I knew who you were the moment I saw you properly in A&E. I’ve seen you waiting outside the hospital for me, and on the school run. I’ve seen you at the weekends, watching me from the trees when I’ve taken Beth and Archie to the playground. I’ve seen you in my nightmares too. It’s you, but how can I explain that to DS Church?
‘Have you found his phone?’ I ask. ‘And what about his house? Have you searched it?’
‘Unfortunately, we were unable to locate a phone in Mr Dover’s possession, and in light of the conflicting information from Mr Dover’s employer, my superiors have not given us authority to enter Mr Dover’s property at this time.’
‘What?’ I splutter. ‘But it’s him. I know it’s him, and … and I know his phone is in his bag. I saw it. I’m sure there must be proof on it.’
Stuart places a hand on my leg. I know he’s trying to calm me down, but his touch only increases the frustration raging through my body.
‘Did you find any fingerprints in the house?’ Stuart asks.
