Within the Shadows by J.D MCG (book recommendations .TXT) 📗

he ordered an Uber to come and collect him. He was furious with Ally, but deep down, knew she was right. He had been drinking, more than usual, all because of Lily and her actions. He started to sob as he made his way to the bottom floor of his apartment building, thinking of Lily, her double life and his father.

Barnes sat inside his office, searching for any information he could on Nathan Lawrence's background. He was clean, not one single shred of criminal activity to his name. He couldn't help but think that Cain might be another persona. A split personality. It was the only other explanation for what he had been describing to them.

Barnes spent half an hour researching Dissociative Identity Disorder. Something was eating away at him, but a phone call from Vanessa distracted him from his thought. She phoned to make sure the twins were alright and to thank Joe for saving her life.

'I'm glad you're okay,' he replied. 'Have they gave you an estimate of when you'll be able to go home?'

'In about a week hopefully.'

'Let me know when and I'll pick you up.'

'Thank you, Joe. Not just for that, but for being there and saving my life. I... I just want to say...'

Barnes interrupted, 'Just get some rest. I'll talk to you soon.'

He knew what she was about to say next, but didn't want her to say something just because of what she'd been through. Barnes carried on researching before there was a knock at his door. It was Jacob. He waved at him through the glass window, telling him to enter.

'Hi, boss. How’re you doing?'

'I'm alright. Just a little banged up still, but I'll heal,' Barnes answered.

'Have we discovered the whereabouts of Jack Roberts yet?' Jacob enquired.

'Not yet, but we've got officers on the lookout for him.'

'Okay. I'm going to do some work since I'm here,' Jacob announced, knowing Barnes wouldn't allow it, but his head was stuck in his computer.

Jacob walked to his desk and plumped himself down. His desk was full of paperwork he should have completed a while ago, so he got stuck in. Ally stomped over to his desk, with anger written all over her face.

'What do you think you're doing here?' she asked quietly, looking around, making sure people weren't listening.

'Nice to see you too,' he joked, not removing his eyes off the paperwork.

'I mean it, Jacob. I told you not to come in.'

'I can't just sit at home when Jack Roberts is on the loose.'

'Have you had a drink today?'

'No, I haven't,' he replied with anger starting to show.

Ally pulled open his desk drawer and saw the bottles of spirits inside. Her head turned to look at him.

'Before you go home, these need to be gone,' she whispered.

'Sure,' Jacob replied, still keeping his focus on the paperwork in front of him.

He was furious with her but understood she was only looking out for him. Ally cared a lot for him and tried her best to stop him from losing his job. Knowing Lily was only a few metres away from him and his team, was the main reason for his anger. But he couldn't face her, no matter how much he wanted to.

Barnes sat inside the interview room with Ally and Lily. Just like her co-conspirators, Lily didn't want a solicitor as she knew the game was over.

'What's your connection with Nathan Lawrence?' Barnes started questioning her.

'With who?' She looked confused.

'The man who helped you.'

'Oh, you mean Cain,' she smiled. 'Where's Jacob?' She tried changing the subject.

'He doesn't want to see you,' Ally interrupted.

Lily turned her attention to Ally and smiled before turning back to Barnes.

'I think someone else has the hots for him.'

Ally's face clenched. She really wanted to jump across the table and plough her fist in Lily's face, but she realised it wasn't worth her job. Instead, she folded her arms and sat quietly, leaving Barnes to ask the questions.

'Lily, we don't need much else from you as we've already got enough evidence to convict you for the murders of John and Maria Wright as well as my kidnapping and the attempted murder of my ex-wife. You're going away for a long time, so you might as well tell us what we want to know,' Barnes continued with the interview.

'I will only speak to Jacob,' she answered. 'If you want your answers, let me speak to him.'

'No deal,' Barnes replied to her demand. 'He doesn't want to speak to you.'

'Well I guess you don't want your answers then,' she smiled, sitting back in her chair with her arms folded.

Ally stopped the interview tape and both she and Barnes removed themselves from the room, leaving her alone. They both strolled back to the CID discussing their options.

'What do you think we should do?' Barnes asked Ally.

'I'm not sure. She'll be going away anyway for what she's done.'

'But we won't get the answers on Cain that we want.'

Barnes thought about it. They had the people involved and the case would be officially closed, but he couldn't help but think about what if Cain was telling the truth or maybe he did have another personality. His mind couldn't rest on the matter.

Jacob lifted a file and his eyes noticed an envelope underneath, one which resembled the others he'd received. As he picked it up, Ally and Barnes returned. He approached them with the envelope tight within his grasp.

'Look what I've just found,' he announced quietly with a whisper.

'In the office, now,' Ally ushered the two of them.

Once the door was shut, Ally released the blinds from prying eyes, before Barnes insisted Jacob opened the envelope. More pictures appeared as Jacob slid his hand out from