Devil in the Detail by A.J. Cross (love letters to the dead .TXT) 📗

as Molly Lawrence’s upper body was slowly raised a few centimetres. Sending Judd an encouraging look, saying that she would be close by if needed, she left the room.

Judd was again at a loss. ‘Mrs Lawrence? … I’m here to let you know that we, the police, are doing all we can in respect of … what’s happened.’

‘What happened?’

Wrong-footed by the two words, searching for a fitting response but not finding one, Judd went with: ‘It would be a big help if you feel able to talk to me.’

She waited, her eyes fixed on the small dual fans of dark lashes. When no response came, she quietly walked away, had reached the door when the voice came again.

‘I remember … him.’

Judd was back, keeping her voice low. ‘Who, Molly? Who do you remember?’

‘The man … He said, “Don’t look at me”.’

She saw Molly’s eyes squeeze closed, watched her chest rise and fall. Come on, Sarge, come on, a voice pleaded inside her head.

‘Did he say anything else?’

‘He said, “Hand me your valuables. Put them … inside your bag. Give it to me”.’

‘He gave you a bag?’

‘No. My handbag.’ She gave a long, wavering sigh. ‘“Now pass me the bag … nice and slow”.’ She squeezed closed her eyes, agitation rising in her voice. ‘He was angry. “Where’s the other phone?”’ Judd felt another surge of unease, willing the nurse back here. Molly Lawrence was now staring up at Judd.

‘I gave him Mike’s phone. Told him I didn’t have mine … I had to keep that phone … to ring … for help. I had to.’ Her voice almost disappeared. ‘Had to. But I couldn’t move … hurt so much … took ages to make the call … too long …’ Tears sprang from her eyes, her hand tugging at the drip fixed to the back of her other hand, pushing at the covers.

Shocked by the suddenness of it, Judd tried to calm her. ‘Mrs Lawrence? Mrs Lawrence. You need to lie still!’

On a quick surge of relief, Judd saw the nurse coming inside. Quickly approaching the bed, her hand moved to an array of lit buttons above it, then onto the drip. She laid her hand on Molly’s shoulder.

‘Easy, Molly, easy.’

‘His voice … Something about his voice when he said some words …’ Her breathing was rapid now. ‘He said, “Watches”. He didn’t say it properly.’ Her eyes huge, she gazed up at Judd, at the nurse now pressing a red call button. ‘He … he had … a … lisp.’

Judd just caught the final word.

Seemingly oblivious to the nurse’s hand on her shoulder, Molly Lawrence struggled upwards, grimacing, her hand against her side. ‘His … coat. Thick. Big star on … back.’

The doctor Judd had met earlier was suddenly there. Molly Lawrence looking up at each of them, her face awash with tears, her voice anguished. ‘It took him … just seconds to … ruin my life …’

The nurse held her hand, looked across at Judd, her eyes moving in the direction of the door. Judd took the hint, fled to it.

Watts was pacing outside the room. He looked up at her. ‘What’s happened? I was told not to go in. What’s going on in there?’

Judd leant against the wall, running her hands through her hair. ‘That was the most useless I’ve felt in my whole life. She just started talking, then without warning she got really upset.’ Judd leant forward, hands on her knees, taking deep breaths. ‘It was the suddenness of it.’

‘What did she say?’

‘She described the man who shot her and her husband. Something about a bag she had to put some things into, like their watches, and that he got angry about a phone. She says he was wearing a thick coat with a star pattern on the back. She also said she couldn’t move after he shot her – it took a while for her to call for an ambulance … too long, she said.’

‘You didn’t write all this down?’

Judd gave him a sharp look. ‘What do you think!’

‘Sounds like she was trying to describe one of those Puffa-type jackets the kids are all wearing. Did she say anything else about him?’

‘Yes.’ Judd straightened, some of her colour coming back. ‘She said he had a lisp.’

The nurse came out of the room. Watts went to her. ‘Any chance we can talk to Mrs Lawrence later today?’

‘Sorry. We’ve had to sedate her. You need to leave it a day or so. I’ll keep you informed as to how she is in the meantime.’

They left the hospital, Judd looking out of the BMW’s passenger window. ‘She never mentioned the gun. She never mentioned it firing or anything.’

‘Have I mentioned a forensic psychologist mate of mine, Kate Hanson, who used to work with me in the Unsolved Crime Unit?’

Judd looked away. ‘You mean, Dr Hanson who knew everything, had nerves of steel and never got anything wrong. You’re on about that Hanson?’

‘What’s eating you?’ He glanced down at her, the effects of what had just happened inside the hospital still evident on the young face. ‘I was about to say that Hanson told me a thing or two about memory. About how it acts to protect people from trauma. It sounds like what you just saw was Molly Lawrence starting to join the dots, which was tough on you, tough for her, but it’s what the investigation needs. Did she mention any direct violence?’

She shook her head. ‘No.’

‘Cheer up. You can report it to the first formal briefing at two o’clock.’

She looked out of the window. ‘We’re already half an hour late.’

2.45 p.m.

The incident room was filled with officers and technology, the double doors into the next room standing open. Watts was picking up that unmistakeable mix of edginess and mounting excitement that came with the start of a major investigation.

‘Welcome to the first formal briefing of the Lawrence investigation. Judd and I have come straight from the hospital. Mrs Lawrence managed to say a few words,