Beneath the Surface: In a town where secrets run deep, one detective must confront the darkness to bring the missing home by Lee Brook

Author:Lee Brook [Brook, Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: BrookHarvey Press
Published: 2024-04-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

George lingered outside the room, observing through the narrow pane of glass as DC Candy Nichols spoke in low, soothing tones with the hunched figure of traumatised teen Ashley Cowgill. Though Ashley had bravely insisted on returning to Brandling House to aid the search for missing friend Esme Bushfield, the endeavour was clearly taxing her fragile psyche to its limits.

George wrestled internally, jaw tightening. Every instinct screamed to intervene and cease questioning that risked further psychological damage. But the clock ticked mercilessly as the hope of finding Esme alive dwindled with each fruitless hour. George desperately needed Ashley to dig up any fragment of memories from that ominous night, no matter how traumatic it was before the cold darkness swallowed more innocent lives.

Scrubbing a hand down his face, George forcibly steadied his whirling thoughts. He must temper empathy with reason. Ashley was barely holding together, but she had come willingly, determined to help find Esme despite the costs. He owed it to both girls to gently coax out resonances from Ashley’s shattered psyche that could illuminate answers. There was no neat, painless path ahead.

Squaring his shoulders, George entered quietly. Ashley was curled into herself on the leather sofa, arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Seeing George, Candy shot him a worried glance even as she continued speaking reassuringly to the trembling girl.

Kneeling slowly to meet Ashley’s downcast eyes, George kept his voice infinitely gentle. “Why don’t we start simple? What were you and Esme planning to do last Monday night when you left the house?”

Ashley bit her lip, leg jiggling faster. “I don’t really remember…” she mumbled vaguely, still not looking up. “Just wanted to get out for a bit, I guess.”

Nodding patiently, George tried again. “Understandable after feeling cooped up. Did Esme seem bothered by anything that day? Upset or nervous at all?”

At this, Ashley finally glanced up, brow furrowing. “She was quieter than usual in lessons. And she got snippy when I kept peeking at her notes.” Ashley shrugged weakly. “Figured she was just stressed about exams, though.”

George leaned forward slightly, intrigued by this new information. “How unusual was it for Esme to be distracted during class?”

Ashley picked at a loose thread on her sleeve. “Pretty weird for her. Esme was normally little miss perfect student.” Her eyes took on a faraway sheen. “Always had her nose in some giant textbook and highlighters all colour-coded.”

She flushed slightly. “Drove me mental how easily good grades came to her. Me, I could barely focus long enough to…” Ashley trailed off, paling as she seemed to remember it was her idea to sneak out that fateful night.

Seeing her withdraw again, George redirected the conversation. “This boyfriend we saw Esme with. Did she mention him at all to you?”

Wrapping her arms around herself protectively, Ashley shook her head jerkily. “What boyfriend?”

George showed her a picture of Esme and the man in Coward’s Café.

“She never said anything about some mystery fella. Esme wasn’t like that.” Ashley blinked hard. “Was she?”

“You tell us,” said George.

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