Blood Loss by Kerena Swan (good beach reads .txt) 📕

he said. ‘Trina Hodges presented her driving license and a letter from her landlord proving her new address but there were issues with her National Insurance number so her employment didn’t go ahead.’ The manager’s speech was fast and his movements were jerky. He glanced at Paton then hurriedly looked away again.

He was nervous.

‘What about unofficially?’ Paton asked, and saw from the manager’s face that he’d circumvented procedures and employed Trina on an informal basis.

Paton could guess how he paid her but stayed silent. No doubt the tills were lighter than they should have been. He’d let the man squirm a bit. Anxious, guilty people revealed more when they got flustered. Paton glanced at the expanding patches of sweat under the man’s arms and contained a satisfied smile. Another criminal about to be brought to justice.

‘I felt sorry for her,’ the manager said eventually. ‘She was desperate for a job and promised to work hard so I agreed to a temporary cash arrangement until she sorted out her National Insurance number. She was clearly not an illegal immigrant.’

‘How did you manage to pay her in cash?’ Paton asked, enjoying the flush that crept up the man’s cheeks.

‘I… Er… I took it out of the till.’

‘Wouldn’t that mess up the recording of takings and stock?’

‘Not everything was entered into the till. Not everyone wants a receipt these days.’ The man looked miserably at the floor.

‘So, you pocket the takings that don’t go through the till. But I bet you don’t spend a lot of time on the tills yourself so other staff must have been in on this too,’ Paton said. ‘Do you share it out at the end of the day?’

‘Please.’ The man looked pleadingly into Paton’s eyes. ‘Do you have to report this? I’ve a girlfriend and new baby to support. I can’t afford to lose this job.’

‘I haven’t got a choice, lad. You’ve committed a crime and I’d be committing one too if I didn’t report it.’

The man rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Will I go to prison?’

‘I don’t know. It depends on the extent of your deception and what charges your employer raises against you.’

Paton stood and moved to the door. He almost felt sorry for the man but his greater emotion right now was disappointment at the trail of Trina going cold again.

‘Before I go, please print me a copy of Trina’s driving licence. I’d like to check it out further.’ Paton suspected it was a fake but needed to be certain. He called the local station to report the manager then left the premises.

Paton returned to the Bramwell café where the friendly waitress served him with a cappuccino and another vanilla slice. He logged onto his laptop and checked HOLMES for progress on the investigation then logged the driving licence number to be checked. He saw that Cheryl had visited the other Fiesta owners and drawn a blank. Both had valid reasons for local journeys and witnesses to verify them.

Paton finished his cake and packed away his laptop. His optimism wasn’t completely crushed. He still had to visit the Forensics team to see what they’d discovered from the contents of the skip.

Chapter 46

March | Sarah

The edge of the headboard digs into the back of my neck but I barely notice it. I’m transfixed by the letter in my hand and read it for the second time.

12th September 2016

Dear Rosemary,

This is not an easy letter to write as it is clear you do not wish to make contact with me. As you will know from the notes I pushed through your letterbox I have called at your house several times at different times of the day and evening but have found you either out or unwilling to answer the door. This may be because you know why I wish to see you. If not, I apologise for what may come as a shock to you. I have not wanted to put this in a letter but now feel I haven’t a choice.

Do you recall the nervous student in the maternity unit? I can’t imagine how she got through the selection process because she was totally incompetent. Both of our babies had jaundice and it is my belief that this student mixed them up after one of the fluorescent lamp treatment sessions. I know she removed your baby’s identity bracelet in the mistaken belief that the baby needed to be completely naked in order to benefit from the treatment. There was quite a commotion when the mistake was discovered, which I s why I remember it. My baby was having treatment at the same time but returned to me with her bracelet still in place – or so I thought. Now I wonder if the bracelets of both babies were removed and the babies mixed up when new bracelets were put on.

My baby had no particular marks such as birthmarks and neither did the child who was given back to me. I did think she looked a little different and said so to a nurse but she simply smiled and told me that was because the treatment was working and wasn’t it wonderful? The baby behaved a little differently too – she was more fractious – but I put that down to her feeling stronger and thought no more of it.

As time passed it became apparent that Jenna bore little resemblance to the rest of us, and especially her sister. She’s taller, thinner, and darker haired with brown eyes and facial features that she shares with none of the rest of the family. People used to comment that they’d never have guessed that Jenna and Lucy were sisters. I always said she must take after some relative we’d all forgotten – a great, great grandmother, perhaps. One person even asked me if I was sure there hadn’t been a mix-up at the hospital. They were joking and I laughed, but inside… Well, I wondered a little. Not that I didn’t love Jenna.

Please be assured