BLOOD STAINED an unputdownable crime thriller with a breathtaking twist (Detective Claudia Nunn Book by Rebecca Bradley (rooftoppers .TXT) 📕

behind me on trying to locate Ruth and bring her home.’ She indicated the chair. ‘I won’t tell you again. Sit in the chair or I will end this interview and put you in a cell until you can calm down and that won’t get us anywhere, will it? You claim to want to find Ruth. Then get your arse down and do as you’re told.’

Dominic’s fingers closed into a fist on the tabletop. Kane shifted in his seat and put the mug down. Claudia gave a slight shake of her head. Dominic sank down into the chair she had placed behind him. His fingers relaxed.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I’m frustrated being locked up in here when I feel I could be doing more out there to find her.’

‘If you believe your investigation is the crux of the problem then don’t you think you’re in the best place? Talking through it and letting us find lines of enquiry from within your investigation, from things you tell us?’

Dominic put his head in his hands. ‘You’re right. And I shouldn’t worry about my current predicament because it’s only temporary. I didn’t do it and I trust in you guys to find out the truth so I’ll be out of here at some point, but you have to see how it feels to be tangled up in this.’

Claudia stared across the table at him. ‘If what you’re saying is the truth, then yes, you will be out of here in no time. You do have to trust the process. I’m here because I want to know what happened to Ruth and nothing else. I’m not here for any other reason. You can trust that I’m not trying to screw you over and tie you up for this.’

Dominic leaned back and closed his eyes for a brief moment.

‘Thanks for going through the start of the case with us. I’m going to leave you for now, give you a break — we’ve been going at it a few hours — while I go and see if the CSU have finished at your address. There’s a question I need answering.’

‘What is it?’ Dominic asked.

‘I’ll let you know when I have my answer. But don’t worry. I’ll keep you updated.’

And with that she ended the interview and walked Dominic to his cell. He shuffled through the door into the small square space and turned and looked at her. Kane stood behind her like a personal guard refusing to allow her pain of any description.

‘I’m sorry,’ Dominic said as Claudia gripped the handle and stared into the cell at him.

‘Promise me you didn’t do this.’

‘I promise, Claudia. But do as you are, follow the information. It’ll lead you to the truth.’

She inclined her head and pushed on the solid heavy metal door, feeling the click as the locking mechanism slotted into place securing Dominic in his cell.

Her eyes were damp. She steeled herself and pulled back her shoulders.

‘You need anything?’ asked Kane. His bald head shining under the strip lights.

Claudia placed a hand on his arm. ‘You being here is enough, Russ. Thank you.’ She turned her back on the cell door and walked away. She had some enquiries she needed to make before she could talk to Dominic again.

Chapter 22

Claudia

They were miles away from their home station here in the custody suite, but Claudia needed to access her emails and she also needed a conversation with Sharpe for what she had in mind. She didn’t dare do it without first discussing it with a supervising officer. Not considering the complexities of this case. She didn’t want to be accused of favouritism further down the line.

There was a report-writing room in the custody block with computer terminals for officers to complete their paperwork. Claudia logged on while Kane went for a bathroom break. What she was looking for wasn’t there so she made a phone call. The forensics team had finished at Dominic’s house. They’d cleared out about ten minutes ago.

‘What about the blood?’ she asked, her stomach twisting in on itself as she formed the question in her mind. ‘Can a person live with that amount of blood loss?’

The forensic tech on the other end of the line was quiet a moment. Claudia could hear paper shuffling. It sounded as though he was checking his notes. ‘There was approximately three pints on the floor. You’re on the borderline of whether they survived. A person can’t live if they lose forty percent of their blood volume. You’re looking at over four pints. If this person is alive then they are in dire need of medical attention. I’d suggest you need to find them as soon as possible.’

Claudia’s stomach stopped twisting and it dropped. She felt sick. This was Ruth they were talking about. ‘You’re sure?’ she said. Yes, they’d arrested Dominic on suspicion of her murder, but she’d secretly held out hope that the forensic team would come back with news that the blood on the floor was not enough to cause serious harm. Even though it was obvious from looking at it. To have all her fears confirmed was like a gut punch.

He sighed down the phone.

Kane walked in behind her. She turned and gave him a weak smile. He placed a hand on her shoulder.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said to the tech. ‘Of course you’re sure. You know many of us investigating this are close to her.’

‘Yeah. I’m sorry about that. Look, she could be alive. You just need to get to her. Don’t give up hope.’

‘But we need to find her quickly.’

‘The quicker the better. I hate to say this but she’s going to be running out of time if she isn’t getting medical help right now and I’d suggest whoever has done this to her doesn’t have medical help high on their list of priorities.’