Little Boy Blue - страница 52

from the BDSM community, but the motive was still unclear.

Dropping the sheet, Helen stood up. She would not mourn Paine, but his death was still distressing and alarming. If the two victims were connected, then Helen was the obvious link. But if they weren’t, the outlook was even worse. Helen and her team had put so much work in trying to link their killer directly to Jake Elder, but maybe they had been barking up the wrong tree? Perhaps it was the act of murder, not the identity of the victim, which was driving the killer here.

If so, then there was no telling when he might stop. Killing was like a drug – the appetite becoming sharper and more urgent with each successive act. If their killer was getting off on his total control over his victims – and his seeming ability to strike without attracting attention – then what would possibly induce him to stop? Helen had a nasty feeling that he was just hitting his stride.

Having exchanged a few words with Meredith, Helen headed through the front door. Introspection and fear would get her nowhere. Their perpetrator had just raised the stakes significantly and she had to respond. It was time to summon what resolve she could if she was to stop him from killing again.

‘If anyone asks, you say it’s a police incident and move them on. No exceptions.’

The constable guarding the entrance to the flat nodded solemnly. They seldom said anything when Helen spoke to them. Was that out of respect? Or fear? Helen couldn’t tell.

‘You’re not to move from here until you’re relieved. Somebody gained unauthorized access to the crime scene on Wednesday morning. If it happens again, I’ll be asking you for an explanation. This is off limits.’

‘What a pity. I skipped breakfast to get over here before the others.’

Helen knew that voice. Turning, she saw Emilia Garanita walking towards her.

‘I was just talking about you,’ Helen replied.

‘All good, I hope?’

Helen didn’t dignify that with a response, instead turning and walking fast away from the flats towards her bike.

‘I will find out, you know.’

‘Find out what?’ Emilia replied, as she hurried to keep up.

‘Who your mole is. And when I do, I’ll have their badge and you up on a charge of bribing a public official.’

Emilia tut-tutted gently.

‘Why do you always see the worst in people? I’m just a jobbing journalist, playing by the rules -’

‘You’re a ghoul who trades in people’s misery,’ Helen retorted.

‘Come off it, Helen. I only report the facts, I can’t help what people read into that.’

Helen stopped in her tracks and turned to face Emilia.

‘I saw the hatchet job you did on Paul Jackson. What was the headline? “The double life of the boardroom spanker”? ’

‘I don’t write the headlines -’

‘Bullshit. It had your fingerprints all over it. You have no regard for the consequences of your irresponsible journalism.’

‘Back up a little, I have a duty to the public -’

‘You have a duty to be a human being.’

For a moment, Emilia looked stung, as if Helen’s accusations had finally landed. Then she seemed to relax again, a thin smile crawling over her face.

‘Is there a reason why you’re getting so wound up about this particular case?’

Helen stared at Emilia scornfully, but said nothing.

‘You haven’t been at any of the press conferences, so I haven’t been able to ask you about your personal reaction to Jake’s death.’

‘I’ve got nothing to say about that.’

‘But you were acquaintances. Friends even…’

Helen stared at Emilia, but said nothing. She’d known this moment was coming – Emilia was not the type to forget a tasty bit of gossip or past arguments – but now it was here, Helen still felt rattled. There was no point denying her connection with Jake, but this was not an avenue she wanted to go down. There was no telling where it might lead – blackmail? Exposure? – and this time she had no weapon with which to squash the wily journalist.

‘We were friends, but I hadn’t seen him for a couple of years and I’m treating this case as I would any other.’

‘Please don’t lie to me, Helen,’ Emilia replied. ‘You were very close to him, you must be in turmoil. I’m surprised they let you lead on this.’