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

'Okay, Belle. I'll be over soon,' replied Adam.

She waited patiently, pacing the apartment for an hour before there was a knock on the door. She rushed over to see Adam standing there.

'Tell me what happened?' he asked as he entered.

'We were at work and she confronted this guy who'd been at the cafe all week. It was closing time and she’d gotten into a heated argument with him,' she began to explain, leaving out the important part.

'Then what happened?'

'He said he was her father,' she continued.

Adam rubbed his hands down his face and exhaled. Belle figured by the appearance on his face, he knew that Kate wasn't their sister.

'How long have you known?' Belle asked.

'Since Jacob found the letters inside my father's office. Did you know?'

'Not until tonight. I think Kate thought I knew,' she explained to him.

'We need to get out there and find her. God knows what's going through her mind right now.'

The pair of them ran out of the apartment and jumped into his car, driving the streets searching for Kate. Where could she be? Where would she go? Belle asked herself.

Chapter 15

Jack Roberts, dragged in handcuffs, entered the police station, was booked in and thrown in a cell until they were ready to interview him. The cell was cold and empty, leaving him alone to ponder in his thoughts. How'd my life end up like this? Simon Ballard was on his way, but that didn't put Jack's mind at ease. He continued to pace his cell with thoughts of what was going to happen.

The team arrived back at the CID not long after. Everyone else dispersed to their desks while Jacob, Barnes and Ally prepped in the briefing room for the interview. Barnes' phone began to ring. An officer informed him they'd discovered another body not far from where they'd apprehended Jack Roberts.

'Right, we've got to press pause on the interview. Another body has been discovered on the grounds of the NEC,' he informed them.

Barnes stepped out of the briefing room and called over to Sarah. 'Can you call Mr Ballard and tell him we're stepping out for a while.'

'Sure thing, boss,' she yelled back across the office. 'Where you all going?' she asked.

'They've found another body.'

The three of them grabbed their belongings before running out of the CID. Sarah hung up the phone and moved over to Brian, who was making himself a cup of coffee in the break area.

'I can't believe they're leaving us out of the investigation again,' she released her frustration. 'Some things never change.'

Brian just carried on making his coffee, trying his best to ignore the comments Sarah kept making. She followed him as he strolled back towards his desk, spurting more anger in his ears.

'Sarah, if you have something to say, please discuss it with Barnes when he gets back. I can't sit here and listen to this all night,' he calmly gave his thoughts on the matter.

Sarah stormed off, flicking her red locks as she turned. She grabbed her coat and keys and left for the night. Entering her car, she phoned her date, who she had cancelled on because of work.

'I'm sorry about tonight. It's just been a busy one. Are you free now? I'm just leaving work.'

Ethan also had a phone call to make, telling her that he won't be home for another hour or so. Brian lived alone and felt envious of people contacting their loved ones when he knew he was going home to an empty house.

The office was quiet apart from him and Ethan being there. Everyone else had gone home for the night, but Brian stayed as long as he could, trying to remain busy to take his mind away from his lonely life.

Barnes raced through the very little traffic that was on the road. Jacob's face turned green, sick rising to his throat.

'Do you have to drive like this?' he asked, wanting to release his vomit in the car.

'He’s like this when I’m driving,' Ally added, laughing at the sight of him from the back seat.

Barnes just laughed and carried on speeding to their destination. Jacob hung onto the handle above his head for dear life. They arrived five minutes later to police lights and tape surrounding the crime scene. As they exited the vehicle and approached the crime scene, Barnes questioned the officer in charge.

'What do we have?'

'Staff members found the body of our victim while nipping out for a cigarette around ten,' he started to explain as he took Barnes to the scene of the crime.

They approached a dark area opposite the lake, next to the Resorts World complex they had recently visited that night. The body of a female had been propped up against the wall as if she was sat down. Barnes caught sight of Julia Higgins examining the body.

'Evening, Julia,' he greeted her.

'Evening, Joe,' she replied the greeting.

'Do we know what happened to her?'

She pointed to the victim’s neck. 'The bruising across her throat, suggests she was strangled,' she explained.

'Do you think that was the main cause of death?' he asked.

'I wouldn't rule it out, but once I've performed the autopsy, I'll let you know.'

Ally's phone started to ring and she moved away slightly, to hear the voice on the other end more clearly.

'Have forensics managed to get any DNA or fingerprints off of her yet?'

'Yeah, they've done their sweep and are heading back to the lab. Weren't you guys here not that long ago?'

'Yeah, about one, maybe two hours ago,' Jacob piped up.

'Do you think this is somehow linked to your case?' she continued asking questions.

'We think so, but until we get the results back on the DNA, we can't be sure,'