Silent Scream

Sixty-Two

Kim walked the corridors of Russells Hall hospital for the second time in as many days. Because it was outside of visiting hours, she announced herself as a police officer at the intercom.

The first priority of the medical personnel was the care of their patients but they tried to be accommodating to police officers.

Kim walked past the small waiting room at the top of the ward. Bryant stood when he saw her. She motioned for him to sit back down.

She paused at the nurse’s station. ‘Richard Croft?’

The female in dark blue was short and round. An elasticated belt searched halfway down the uniform for a waist and failed miserably.

‘Detective, I don’t think he’s quite ready for your questions.’

Kim nodded her understanding but wanted some of her own. She leaned forward and spoke quietly. ‘Sister, this week I have more than six bodies behind me and they all need answers. Richard Croft was very nearly number seven and may be able to help.’

The frown on the woman deepened.

Kim held up her hand. ‘I assure you I will not do anything to upset his condition.’

That was no lie, because Kim had no intention of doing anything at all.

The sister nodded towards the third open doorway off the main ward. ‘Just a few minutes, okay?’

Kim nodded her understanding and moved quietly along the corridor,

Kim stood in the doorway and looked not at the inert form in the bed but at the figure of his wife in the easy chair, currently engrossed in the contents of her mobile phone.

As Kim leaned against the doorframe, the head of shiny black hair raised. Nina

Croft’s fixed expression was politely tolerant. Clearly the look she reserved for the staff. When her eyes rested on Kim, any remnant of tolerance or politeness fell away.

Kim was momentarily surprised at how such an attractive face could be affected by the venom within. Suddenly, the beauty faded and was replaced by narrowed eyes and a thin, mean mouth.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’

‘Mrs Croft, your husband needs to be questioned.’

‘Not now, Detective Stone, and most definitely not by you.’

Nina Croft stood. Just as Kim had hoped.

Richard Croft moaned from the bed. Kim took a step towards him and Nina instantly blocked her path.

‘Get out,’ she spat.

Kim tried to walk around her but Nina grabbed her roughly on the arm and pulled her towards the door. Had she not been a serving police officer Kim would have smacked the woman in the mouth. Sometimes the sacrifice was just not worth it.

‘Get out of this room and away from my husband right now.’

Nina marched her to the front door of the ward. As they passed the waiting room Kim glanced in and caught Bryant’s eye. She nodded backwards to the unguarded room.

Once outside the ward, the woman threw Kim’s arm away from her as though it were covered with leprous scabs.

‘I don’t like your methods, Detective and I don’t like you.’

‘Trust me when I tell you that will not keep me up at night.’

The woman turned away to re-enter the ward.

‘And it’s not really my methods you dislike, is it, Mrs Croft?’

Nina turned and stepped back. Good.

‘You are not a stupid woman. You would have researched me before you made that call to get me removed from the case. Surely it's my success rate you despise.’

Nina stepped closer. ‘No, I despise the fact that you made my husband feel like a suspect, which says to me that you are not equipped to handle this investigation. You are clearly inept ...’

‘Why would you want me removed from this case when you know full well that I will solve it, no matter how long it takes?’

Nina Croft continued to glower at her.

‘Especially when you know your husband to be at risk. Any normal wife would want the killer caught as quickly as possible to remove their loved one from danger.’

‘Be very careful what you say to me, Detective Stone.’

‘What are you frightened of, Mrs Croft? Why are you so terrified that I will get the answers? And what the hell did your husband do back then?’

Nina stepped back and crossed her arms. ‘You will never prove that he did anything untoward.’

‘Interesting that you don’t state he did nothing wrong ‒ only that I will be unable to prove it.’

‘A play on words, Detective.’

‘Your husband knows something about what happened at Crestwood ten years ago and whilst he is managing to hang onto life right now, there are others that have not been so lucky.’

The woman looked unmoved. Kim wasn’t sure when she’d met a woman less lacking in empathy than Nina Croft.

Kim shook her head with disbelief. ‘You have obstructed this investigation at every turn. You tried, unsuccessfully, to have me removed from the case. You used your legal influence to file objections to the dig ...’

Kim’s own words trailed away as the truth dawned. ‘You were the one who killed the professor’s dog! When the legal objections failed you decided to try anything to prevent that dig from taking place. Jesus, what the hell is wrong with you?’

Nina shrugged. ‘Feel free to arrest me for inappropriate use of staples, Detective.’

A movement beyond Nina Croft’s head told her that Bryant had exited the side room.

Kim stepped forward into the woman’s face. ‘You are a ruthless, cold, miserable excuse for a woman. You care nothing for anyone or anything. I think you know exactly what happened back then and the only person you're interested in protecting is yourself.

‘And I promise you this, the day is coming whereby I will visit you again and it will be a very public arrest for obstructing the course of justice.’

Kim paused as Bryant came through the first set of double doors.

‘And now you have a reason to make a genuine complaint. So, please, give it your best shot.’

Bryant came to stand beside her.

‘Get what you wanted?’ she asked.

Bryant nodded and turned to Nina. ‘Your husband is asking for you.’

Nina looked from one to the other, realising she’d been tricked. The colour flooded her face. Nina Croft did not like to lose.

‘You devious little bitch ...’

Kim turned and walked away.

‘Hearts and minds exercise, there, Guv?’

‘BFFs now. What did you get?’

‘Absolutely bugger all.’

Kim stopped walking. ‘Are you joking?’

Bryant shook his head. ‘Nope.’

‘We have a live victim. Our one survivor of a bastard that’s killed at least two people and Croft can give us nothing?’

‘Guv, he can barely get two words out but by a yes and no system I managed to work out that he was standing up, and facing away from the door when the knife was plunged into his back. He fell forward and lost consciousness immediately.’

Kim blew air through her lips. ‘Minutes, Bryant. We must have missed him by bloody minutes. Whoever it was knew they had a small window of opportunity while Marta was out shopping and knew the only way to get in and out undetected.’

It was dark as they stepped out of the hospital building.

‘Look, I’ve already told Kev. Take the day off tomorrow. On Saturday we’ll try and piece everything together. It’s been one hell of a week.’

For once Bryant didn’t argue.

Kim headed around the side of the hospital to where she’d parked the bike. She turned the corner into the darkness.

As she reached for the helmet which was locked to the wheel her phone began to ring.