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

his phone. Nothing, not from Ally and not from Barnes, no missed call or text message. The night had passed and the day had begun, as the sun seeped through his blinds like it usually did.

Lifting himself off the bed, Jacob left his room and the smell of a cooked breakfast hit his nostrils like a smack in the face.

'I made breakfast,' Belle said from the kitchen.

'It smells amazing.'

'It tastes even better,' she laughed. 'Take a seat.'

Jacob sat on the stool by the kitchen counter as Belle plated the food and slid it in front of him. The plate was piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and toast, and she watched as Jacob tucked into a huge bite.

'You're right, it's amazing!' he mumbled with a mouth full of food.

'Are you going to work today?' she asked, knowing he couldn't keep away from the station for too long.

'I was thinking about it,' he replied, still cramming food in his mouth like he'd never been fed.

'Me and Kate have both got work this morning so you'd be on your own otherwise.'

'How is she?' he asked with concern.

'She feels betrayed, but she'll come around. She just needs time, Jacob. She knows you're there for her, but she'll talk to you when she's ready. You have to remember, her whole life has been a lie. She thought your dad was hers too.'

'Do you think I did the right thing by not telling her?'

'I honestly don't know. I can see why you did it, but she also has a right to know, and she probably wouldn't have taken it out on you if you told her,' she replied.

Jacob rose from his seat and stepped into his bedroom to get changed before leaving for work, as Belle did the same. She and Kate left moments before him. Grabbing his phone, coat and keys, Jacob left the apartment and headed for the station.

Barnes and Ally sat inside the interview room with Jack Roberts and his solicitor, discussing the evidence they'd found against him. His attitude and behaviour had changed since their last encounter, as he sat with his arms folded with a dark and terrifying grin on his face.

'Mr Roberts, you know why we're all here. We found bloodstained clothes in the bins outside of the Premier Inn where you were arrested. We've had the clothes processed and we've found traces of your DNA,' Barnes informed him.

Jack said nothing. He just stared at the detectives, smiling with his creepy grin. His solicitor seemed as worried to them as they were.

'We also discovered the body of Hannah Jones nearby, not long after arresting you. Did you know Hannah?' Ally said, but Jack remained silent. 'Was she just at the wrong place at the wrong time?' Still, he said nothing. 'Did you know Hannah was being held prisoner at a farm shack before you strangled her to death?'

Ally placed photos of both Hannah Jones' body and the farm shack in front of him in evidence bags. Jack glanced down at the table, scanning his eyes over the photos. Ally could see the enjoyment on his face as he stared at the photo of Hannah.

'Do you like looking at that one?' Ally asked, feeling sick to her stomach at the thought he was getting off on seeing her lifeless body. She snatched the photos off the table, away from his prying eyes. 'We arrested someone at the farmhouse earlier today. Does the name Felicity James ring any bells?'

Jack lent forward, leaning his elbows on the table, looking Ally straight in the eyes. 'What if it does? You can't tie her to me. Jack and Felicity have no connection.'

Ally didn't understand why he'd referred to himself in the third person and it freaked her out. His eyes didn't once remove themselves from hers, making her feel slightly vulnerable, even with two other people in the room.

'We know you killed Hannah, but we don't know why. Another burning question we'd like to ask you, Jack, is whose blood is on your clothes?' Barnes interrupted his staring.

'Now that would be telling,' he answered as he leant back in his chair, smiling profoundly.

'Are they dead?' Barnes asked.

Jack remained quiet once again, not wanting to give them any information.

'Where are they, Jack?' Ally demanded, but he still kept his silence.

'Interview terminated at 9.34 am,' Barnes spoke before stopping the tape recorder and leaving the room with Ally.

'What kind of game do you think he's playing in there?' she asked him.

'I don't know. He doesn't quite seem like the grieving husband I'd have pictured.'

'He's totally changed since that night me and Jacob arrived at his home.'

'I hope Ethan's found a connection between these two,' Barnes hoped.

'And me. Do you think Jack knows we haven't found one yet and that's why he said it in there?' she said.

'Maybe.'

They walked back into the office and saw Ethan still sat at his desk when they made their way over.

'Found anything?' Barnes didn't hesitate to get to the point.

'I might have, but it's probably clutching at straws,' he answered as Ally and Barnes looked more intrigued. 'So the guy you call Cain...'

'Nathan Lawrence,' Barnes interrupted.

'Well, he was admitted to the hospital when he was younger with psychosis. I looked into Felicity's background after that and found out she was admitted a few times due to substance abuse, which would sum up how she knows where to find certain drugs to help capture her victims.'

'I don't see where you're going with this Ethan,' Barnes couldn't work out his logic with his research.

'I'm getting there, just hold on. Have you ever heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder?'

'Isn't that like multiple personalities?' Ally jumped in and answered.

'Correct, DI Miller,' Ethan congratulated her. 'Do you know what could cause