Alex couldn’t help but be impressed at the job Shane had done on the plump, harmless victim sitting at the table. Now all she had to worry about was damage limitation. It didn’t suit her for the police to be involved. This was her playpen.

‘Oh, Malcolm …’ she said, sitting beside him. ‘You poor thing.’ She reached up and tenderly touched the swollen flesh of his face, already starting to bruise. His lip bulged with a cut to the right hand side. Alex could only imagine what he would look like in the morning.

‘He’s a damn lunatic. Needs to be locked up.’

Alex glanced at David and understood his position. A crime had been committed, but David knew that Shane could not survive being returned to prison. Alex nodded and David left the kitchen to check on Shane.

‘Look, Malcolm. You’re perfectly justified in calling the police. You’ve been terribly assaulted. It’s difficult for you to fully understand some of the other residents.’

She leaned forward slightly and Malcolm’s gaze wandered to her intended target. Malcolm had never harmed a soul in his life. Painfully shy and socially inept, he had fallen prey to an online scam with a ‘Thai woman’ who had fallen in love with him in the romantic setting of a tropical fish chat room. Many sick relatives and a bunch of money transfers later, Malcolm was broke and began embezzling from the steel company for which he was an accountant.

He had served only two years, and although he hadn’t had much before, he was now starting from scratch. At fifty-one years old, he had no wife, no children, no home and no profession.

Alex coated her voice in saccharin and leaned forward another two inches.

‘You have to remember, Malcolm. You’re not like these people. You are an educated, professional man with a lot to offer. You’ve been hurt terribly but you are not permanently damaged. These pathetic creatures deserve your pity. They will never have an ounce of your intelligence.’

Alex re-crossed her legs and brushed his knee with hers.

‘But he should be held accountable …’ he said weakly and Alex knew she had it in the bag.

‘And he will. I think you need to take the action that is right for you. Do what will make you feel better, but it’s only fair that you understand that Shane will be returned to prison and he will never come out again. I don’t want you to have that on your conscience if you are acting in the heat of the moment. Once you make that call you won’t be able to take it back.’

Alex took a deep breath so her breasts rose and fell. The core of decency he now fought was the very reason she had ruled him out as a research subject.

‘I have a suggestion if you’d like to hear it?’

Malcolm nodded but continued to look down her top. It no longer suited her to have Shane around. She didn’t want to see his pathetic little face again.

‘Well, I think it would be impossible for you both to continue living here. You shouldn’t have to be frightened of any repeat attacks. My opinion is that you leave the police out of it, as long as Shane leaves the house.’

Malcolm finally raised his face to hers. God, he was a mess. ‘But where will he …?’

‘That’s not really your concern after what he’s done to you, is it?’

‘Well … not really …’

‘So, shall I tell David your decision?’

Malcolm nodded. Too easy.

Alex leaned across and patted him lightly on the knee. The old fool blushed slightly. This poor guy had never had an orgasm with any other living, breathing being within one hundred yards of the event.

‘I think that’s the right decision, Malcolm. Now you go to bed and I’ll talk to David for you.’

Alex sighed deeply as Malcolm left and David re-entered.

‘How did it go?’

Alex blew out air. ‘Well, it took a lot of persuasion but he’s not calling the police.’

David’s face crumpled with relief. ‘Thank God. Shane is so sorry for what he’s done. He knows it was wrong and we both know that returning to prison would kill him. He really isn’t a bad kid.’

‘However, Malcolm’s one condition for not calling the police is that Shane has to leave.’

David swore under his breath.

‘I know it’s difficult and I tried to change his mind but he wouldn’t budge. I suppose you can see his point. He would be terrified.’

David shook his head. ‘I just don’t know what got into him.’

Alex shrugged. ‘That’s the problem. There’s no way to ensure it won’t happen again. You can’t guarantee Malcolm’s safety if Shane stays.’

David dropped his head into his hands.

Alex reached over and touched his bare arm. ‘There’s nothing more you can do, David.’

It was maddening that the only fault she could see in this man was his ability to empathise with the hopeless charges within his care. Just a touch of ruthlessness or a devious mind and he’d have been her perfect match.

He moved his arm beyond her reach.

‘Jesus, David, I tried my best you know,’ she snapped, smarting from the rejection. He didn’t know that she had manipulated the situation to keep the authorities away. For all she cared Shane could be thrown back in prison and abused every day of his life. Whatever her motives she had saved this situation and still this man rebuffed her.

‘I know, Alex, and I really appreciate it. I just need to figure out what I can do to help Shane.’

She stood up and brushed past him as she reached into the cupboard for two cups.

‘How’s Barry getting on, I thought he’d have been gone by now?’ she asked for the sake of conversation. One last coffee and it was goodbye. David’s indifference to her advances was the final straw. She had better ways to spend her time.

David shook his head. ‘Poor guy suffered a major setback. Heard from a friend of a friend that his ex-wife and brother got married last week. Barry’s daughter was a bridesmaid. He had a major meltdown and smashed up some stuff. He’s not ready to go yet.’

Alex felt the smile begin low in her stomach. Luckily she had turned away by the time it reached her face. She might have just been offered a reason to stay.

‘Oh dear, that’s such a shame. I’ll make the coffee and you can tell me all about it.’

ELEVEN

Kim seated herself at the spare detective’s desk. ‘Hope you all got a bit of sleep, because there won’t be any more until we make some headway on this case.’

Personally, she’d had very little herself. She had eventually drifted off, only to be woken two hours later after dreaming of little Daisy Dunn. She had often fallen asleep thinking about a case, and even more often a suspect had been the first thing she’d thought of in a morning. But the vision of Daisy had unsettled her; she’d watched her being led away, but Daisy was pulling back, refusing to go, staring back at her.

Kim shook the vision away. The case was over and it was on with the next. She had done her part and now she just had to hope it made it to court, despite the stupidity of Jenks and Whiley.

She tuned back just in time to catch a grumble from the other side of the room. It originated from Dawson’s corner.

Her eyes challenged him. He looked away.

Kim didn’t operate to a rota and their rostered working hours were viewed in an advisory capacity only. If a witness needed to be interviewed she didn’t care if it was five minutes before the end of shift. The job got done.

‘Anybody who expects dead bodies to turn up at their convenience should download a transfer form immediately. Anyone?’

Not even Bryant responded. He had a gift for knowing when not to open his mouth.

‘Okay, refresh; our victim is Allan Harris, a forty-five-year-old male who did time for rape. Got out about eighteen months ago and appears to have been clean ever since. He lives on benefits with his elderly mother and hasn’t worked a day since his release.’