In Her Image by Adam Croft

Author:Adam Croft [Croft, Adam]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2017-04-30T23:00:00+00:00

38

True to her word, McKenna turned up before lunch. Not long before, but still before. She’s accompanied by a man who introduces himself as DC Brennan.

True to form, McKenna’s keen to get to the point. ‘So, this new information,’ she says, having rejected the offer of a cup of tea or coffee on behalf of both of them. ‘You think you know Gavin Armitage’s identity.’

‘Yes,’ I say, pre-empting her asking me who I think it is, and instead feeling the need to explain myself first. ‘And I know that as soon as I tell you your reaction is going to be that I’m crazy. But I need you to listen to me. I know I’m right. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. And I really, really need your help because if you can’t help me then I don’t know what’ll happen. I haven’t got anyone else.’

‘I understand,’ she says. I’m not sure she does. ‘But we can’t do anything unless you tell us who you suspect.’

‘Know. Not suspect. I know it’s him.’

McKenna bears with me. ‘Alright. What’s his name?’

I glance down at the floor. ‘I don’t know.’

As I look up, I see McKenna and Brennan shooting a look at each other.

McKenna closes her notebook. ‘What do you mean you don’t know?’

‘I don’t know his name, I mean. But I know who he is. I saw him. I saw where he works. I know who he is. I saw him.’

She looks at me, and just for a moment I think I see the glint of realisation in her eyes. I’m not certain. Maybe it’s just hope. But I see something.

‘Where did you see him?’ she asks in a low voice.

I pause for a moment.

‘At the police station.’

The detectives don’t look at each other, but Brennan lifts his chin.

‘He works at the police station?’ McKenna asks.

I nod.

‘Is that why you had that reaction? When you passed out? Because you thought you saw Gavin Armitage?’

‘I did see him,’ I insist. ‘I didn’t think I did. I did.’

‘But we were standing in the corridor at the time. There was only me and you there.’

‘Through the windows,’ I say.

‘That’s the first response unit, Alice. They’re all uniformed police officers.’

I swallow. ‘I know. He was one of them.’

McKenna shuffles in her seat. Brennan makes eye contact with her and I detect some unspoken words. After a few moments, she speaks.

‘Alice, you know this is an extremely serious allegation you’re making, don’t you?’

I nod. ‘I know. But if you look into it, you’ll see I’m right. You need to find out where he was the Saturday before last. Or look at CCTV from outside the patisserie. You’ll see him talking to me on the Friday morning.’

‘There isn’t any CCTV outside the patisserie,’ she says. ‘We already checked.’

I don’t know whether to feel reassured or not. Does this means they’ve actually been investigating and trying to identify Gavin Armitage themselves, or was it police-speak for There isn’t any evidence?

‘Well, look at the photos. The ones he took of me leaving work and in the bar.

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