BLOOD STAINED an unputdownable crime thriller with a breathtaking twist (Detective Claudia Nunn Book by Rebecca Bradley (whitelam books .txt) 📗

‘Yes, we should have it back with you in a couple of hours. It’s coming down from above that this is high priority and we’re to do it straight away.’

‘I’m interviewing a suspect, will you let me know as soon as you have the results, please?’ She gave him her mobile number as well as her email and the extension of the custody block she was in.

‘I got your half of that conversation.’ Kane sank into the chair beside her.

‘We have to find her quickly, she’s running out of time, Russ. The blood loss. It’s too much. She needs to get to a hospital.’

Kane tapped at the desk. ‘I’m sorry, Claudia.’

She shook her head. ‘No. Don’t go there. We haven’t lost her yet. I have an idea. I just need to run it past Sharpe. They seem to be in the mood for the unusual today, so I’m hoping it’s a streak that will continue.’

Claudia picked up the phone and dialled DCI Maddison Sharpe. She answered on the second ring. ‘Sharpe.’ It was a quiet bark into the handset.

‘Ma’am,’ Claudia spoke. ‘It’s Claudia Nunn. I have a bit of an update and want to run something past you.’

‘I’ve spoken to Forensics,’ Sharpe said. ‘I’m sorry the news isn’t better. How’s the interview going?’

Claudia let out a small breath of air. ‘It’s slow going. I’m starting at the beginning of his investigation. He’s claiming it’s connected and as Ruth’s also connected to the case I thought I may as well start there.’

‘Okay, and?’ Sharpe was to the point.

‘I don’t know what you’re going to make of this suggestion, but I want to take Dominic to the house.’

‘What house?’

‘His house. Forensics have finished. I want to go through the house with him. See if he can see anything out of place. He knows the house better than anyone. It’s not something we’d usually do, but . . .’

There was silence down the line.

‘Ma’am?’

‘You think it’ll help?’

‘We’re on the clock to find Ruth. I don’t think it can hurt, do you? Kane and I will take him. I’m not concerned that he won’t play ball. He’s sticking to his story that he didn’t do this and wants to find Ruth before anything worse happens. The news that she could still be alive goes in his favour as far as his arrest is concerned as well. You can’t have a murder charge if she’s still alive. If he’s on the up and up he’ll be no trouble. Plus he’s a cop when all is said and done.’

‘Exactly, he knows this isn’t supposed to happen.’

‘I got the idea from him actually. Not that he took a suspect to a crime scene exactly. But he did enter a potential crime scene with family members, hoping they’d see something Forensics wouldn’t pick up because they didn’t know the victim. A more personal touch. It might just help. We have to try everything.’ She was rambling now but she was determined. Anything to find Ruth. ‘He’ll also know how much we’re trying to find Ruth.’

‘You can promise me this won’t leave me with egg on my face, Claudia?’

Claudia nearly laughed but let out a small cough instead. ‘As much as you can promise me that being the interviewer for this investigation won’t come back to haunt me, ma’am.’

Another sigh. ‘You have your permission, DI Nunn. Do not let him run from you.’

‘He’s not going to do that.’

‘I trust you, Claudia. I trust Kane. Be careful.’

‘You dragged me into this, I should hope you trust me.’

Chapter 23

Claudia

The drive over to the house was tense. Dominic’s hands were in front of him, encased in rigid metal cuffs fastened around his wrists.

‘You know we have to do this,’ Claudia had said as Kane secured them at the cell door after she’d explained what they were going to do.

‘You’ve really got permission for this?’ Dominic asked again from the rear seat.

‘Do you think we’d be on the way over if we hadn’t?’ Claudia turned around to face him from her position in the passenger seat.

‘What does this mean? They think I did it or they don’t?’ he asked.

‘There’s no they in this. It is entirely my suggestion and they’re letting me run with it. So please don’t let me regret it.’

‘So?’

‘What?’

‘You think I did it or you don’t?’ Dominic’s voice was quiet, like he was scared of the answer.

Claudia let out a sigh. ‘I want to find Ruth. I want to know where she is and I want to find her in time to save her. She’s lost a lot of blood if that blood in your garage was hers. She’s running out of time. If having you look around the house can bring us any closer to that aim, then that’s what we’re going to do. Other than that I’m trying not to think about it. It’s too difficult to get my head around. I’m going where the evidence takes me. It’s the only way for me to work this.’

Claudia turned back around to look out of the windscreen.

Five minutes later they were pulling up outside Dominic and Ruth’s address. There was a uniformed officer on the front door guarding it from any unwarranted access. Claudia flashed him her identification and he scribbled all their names in his pad. He flinched slightly when Dominic’s name was given. He had obviously been pre-warned about this little excursion.

Claudia unlocked the door and the three of them trooped in.

There were obvious signs of the CSU having been here. Dust from fingerprinting lay on the shiny surfaces, door handles and edges of doors. The narrow table in the entryway.

There wasn’t much in here. A pair of