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

Conflicting emotions raged inside her. She had mostly managed to box them off so far today, but now the blood type had been confirmed everything had come crashing in.

‘Do you think this is the Sheffield Strangler?’ Sharpe asked. ‘And if so, for what reason?’

Claudia tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. ‘I don’t know yet. I don’t know if it is the Sheffield Strangler or what the reason would be, we’re still talking about it and getting to the point of all this.’

‘Well you need to get to the point a whole lot quicker. Ruth doesn’t have time for you to be messing about in there because he’s your father.’

Claudia jerked to her feet, pushing the chair backwards with her calves, the feet of the chair grating on the floor and squealing loudly in the small box room. ‘I’m not slowing this down because he’s my father! I want to find Ruth and if he did this I want him to pay for it. But I want the truth. I don’t want a witch hunt. We need to find Ruth, not target someone because of where the blood was found. Interviews take time.’ She paused for breath, lowered her voice. ‘And we don’t have time.’ She ran a hand through her hair, exasperated. ‘I don’t know what you expect me to do.’ The nausea of earlier circled her stomach.

‘Calm down, Claudia.’ Sharpe’s voice was cool. ‘You’re doing a good job so far. I just wanted to make you aware of the time issue for Ruth of which you’re obviously mindful and I’m sorry for bringing it up. I’ll leave you to continue your investigation.’

Claudia lowered her voice, ‘Talking of the investigation, how is the rest of it going? I haven’t had a chance to catch up with my team because you’ve forced me into the interview room.’

‘House-to-house enquiries have been conducted but nothing has come of it. No one has seen anything out of the ordinary. No strange vehicles, no sounds of screaming, not even from the neighbour who heard the argument before. CCTV is being seized and trawled through to check Ruth’s movements from leaving the station last night. Though with her blood being at home we fully expect to find her heading there. We need to make sure she didn’t pick anyone up on her way home or divert somewhere that could give us a lead. A separate life somewhere else that is impacting on her now, that kind of thing.’

Claudia understood the process. Investigate the victim as much as any potential offender. ‘You’ve seized Dominic’s car?’

‘We have. It’s being examined as we speak. If there’s a drop of blood that belongs to Ruth in there, we’ll find it.’

Claudia was nauseated.

‘Are you okay to continue with this, Claudia? We want you to do it, we think you’re the best person for the job in such dire circumstances, no matter how unusual it is, but we’re aware of the effect it must be having on you. Don’t misjudge us. We’re desperate and that’s why we’ve taken such unconventional action, but . . .’ Sharpe rose from her own chair. ‘I’m not prepared to recover one officer at the expense of another.’

Claudia smiled. It was weak, a half-attempt, but a smile nonetheless. ‘I think Ruth’s life is more important than my currently fragile mental health, don’t you?’ And with that she turned and walked back out of the room.

Chapter 40

Claudia

Claudia found Kane and updated him. His shoulders drooped at the confirmation they’d been dreading. He had previously worked with Ruth on a job and, as with everyone, had got on well with her. She was kind and generous with her time and energy.

‘Back into interview with your dad then?’ he asked.

‘Yeah, we have to update him on the blood as well as progress the interview.’

‘How are you bearing up?’ They were in the custody block kitchen which was a small affair. It wasn’t meant for gathering in, it was meant for making a drink for detainees and microwaving their meals and nothing else. They were both leaning on cupboards and the kitchen felt busy and overwhelmed with people even though there were only two of them.

Claudia’s stomach gurgled. ‘I could do with some chocolate, I can’t remember the last time I ate.’

Kane fished in his pocket and pulled out a couple of coins. ‘I have some cash for the machine.’

Claudia held out her hand and he dropped the coins into her palm.

‘Other than chocolate?’ Kane pushed.

‘This is my dad we’re talking about. We might have a strained relationship because I outrank him but he’s still my dad and I can’t believe he would kill someone. Never mind Ruth.’

‘And Ruth? I know you two were . . .’ Kane paused. ‘I’m so sorry, Claudia, I didn’t mean to talk about her in the past tense. Of course I mean I know you two are close. This must be incredibly difficult for you.’

Claudia fiddled with the coins in her hand. ‘It’s okay, Russ, I know what you meant. We are close. Today is hard in multiple senses of the word. I keep expecting my phone to buzz in my pocket and Ruth to send me a text with laughing emojis telling me this has all been one big joke and she’ll see me for a glass of wine later and catch me up on what’s been happening. My phone doesn’t buzz and the text doesn’t come. Interviewing Dad for killing her . . .’ She stumbled over the words and Kane looked at his feet. Claudia was aware he’d never seen his boss so fragile. It was so damn hard to keep herself together.

‘Interviewing Dad for killing her is like some sick joke and there’s no amount of