In My Wake by Ruth Harrow

Author:Ruth Harrow
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9798640735437
Published: 2020-07-15T16:00:00+00:00

30

I spot a pile of magazines on the side table in the living room and pick one up from the top. As I hurriedly make to stow it into the bag, a small blue card falls onto the wooden floor of the hallway. I snatch it back up quickly and see that it is a business card.

Penny & David Edwards

Professional cleaning service

All domestic and commercial cleaning jobs undertaken

Specialists in holiday home maintenance

No job too big or small. Call us now.

I slip the card back inside one of the magazines and do one more sweep of the house before moving towards the front door. When I open it, I find myself face to face with a uniformed police officer.

The surprise causes a gasp to escape my lips.

The young officer quickly looks me up and down. 'Hannah Peterson?'

'Yes?' My heart pulses unpleasantly in my chest. 'Has something happened at the hospital?'

'No, no,' he says. His brow furrows and I'm sure he doesn't know what I am talking about. 'That's not why we are here. I'm PC Richards and this is PC Hayward. We would like to have a few words with you, if that's OK?'

PC Hayward appears at the side of her colleague now. Her creased eyes flit over me too and focus on the holdall I've generously filled for Dad. 'Are you going somewhere?'

'What? Oh, no. My father had an accident this morning. I'm taking some things to the hospital for him.'

The two officers glance almost imperceptibly at each other before PC Richards speaks. 'What sort of accident has your father had, Mrs Peterson?'

'He just hit his head when he had a fall this morning. It's nothing serious. He comes home tomorrow.'

'You seem to have packed quite a lot for an overnight stay?'

'I ... '

The weight of Dad's bag digs into my shoulder blade and I grip the rough canvas firmly. I may have overpacked, but I wanted to make sure he has everything he needs to be comfortable. It has been years since he has stayed anywhere but his own home. He would do the same for me. 'I just wanted to make sure he doesn't miss anything, that's all.'

PC Hayward nods, stony-faced. The lines around her mouth seem deep and I wonder if she saves her smiles purely for when she is off-duty. 'I see,' she says.

'What was it you wanted to talk to me about?'

It is her colleague's turn to speak. 'We are investigating the death of Reginald Green. Do you think we could come in so we can have a little chat?'

'Well, I'm on my way to the hospital at the moment. I don't really know anything, anyway. Can't it wait?'

PC Richards takes a step closer, her foot almost in the doorway. 'It will only take a few minutes.'

I set down the holdall in the hallway and show the officers through to the living room. They sit themselves down and look completely out of place perched on the edge of Dad's chesterfield sofa in their pristine black uniforms.

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