Her Dark Past by Jane Heafield

Author:Jane Heafield [Heafield, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloodhound Books

I put my face close to the glass of the door and stare at the five men in the line-up. Drake Mills, a boy I went to school with and probably saw hundreds of times. But I do not remember his face. I recall of my attacker nothing, because I saw nothing. I know he’s short, skinny and bearded only because the police have arranged five of the type before me. But it doesn’t matter, Jenny has promised me: the evidence will condemn him.

I don’t believe it though. If they have enough to charge him, they should go right ahead and do it. I worry that they need my identification to progress.

‘You needed me to ID him, I just know it. That’s why you’re so eager. And I can’t and he’s going to be released, isn’t he? You’re just going to let him go.’

Jenny shakes her head. ‘We have him for a few more hours before he has to be charged. I’ll apply for an extension if we don’t have enough evidence by then. I’ll see to it that he’s already had his last day of freedom, don’t you worry. We’re still collecting evidence, and the more the better. But if we have to do without a witness ID, it really shouldn’t matter.’

Her tone is positive, but she used the word SHOULDN’T, and that’s a worry. But the police have been keeping what they know of the Slasher close to their chests, and now they have him, who knows what glorious evidence they’ll find? So I focus on something else. If they don’t need my ID, then there’s no reason for her to deny my request:

‘Which one is he? Tell me. I need to know.’

Before arriving here, I was told by Jenny that I cannot be shown my attacker, because at some point his defence solicitor might wish to repeat this identification parade. But I can’t point him out, so it doesn’t matter. And she knows this is important to me.

‘He’s number four,’ she whispers, and all men but him blur as my eyes zero in. I shiver. The beast who’d picked me for slaughter is just feet away. Seconds away. It’s a mental trick, I know, but I’m sure he suddenly looks evil. Behind me, Jenny rubs my arm in a soothing motion.

‘Thank you,’ I say. ‘Now I want to leave.’

I let Jenny lead me from the room. At the front entrance of the police station, Jenny again tells me not to worry: they will find all the evidence they need to sink Drake. And when she has it, her first call will be to me. When she sees my doubt, she pulls me close and makes sure no one is around.

‘Tell no one I told you this. In a bag hidden behind Drake’s bath, we found electrical cord, a knife and a rubber swimming cap. And an apple corer. Only a handful of senior officers know that the stab wounds on the three murder victims were caused by an apple corer.

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