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

still take the job though, if they offer it to me. I can easily find out who this new recruit is. I’m sure an anonymous phone call from a disgruntled ex-customer will soon sort her out. No one wants a thief in their house.

‘What’s your name again? I’ll look out for your form.’

‘Grace Cavendish,’ I say, pleased with the image the name conjures up. Far classier than Sarah Butcher.

I can’t wait to get inside The Old Hay Barn to see the home I should have had. As I drive back to Mark’s house my stomach flutters with excitement at the thought of meeting my real family at last – my mother, my father and, according to Fiona’s letters, Lucy, my sister. Have I got grandparents alive? Aunties and uncles? Maybe I’m an auntie? I imagine being at a zoo with a lively six-year-old boy, tapping on the glass wall of the lion enclosure.

I wonder if I look like my family. I must resemble Mum and Dad to a certain extent because doesn’t everyone? My sister might even have the same characteristics as me. I’ve got naturally blonde hair so I think I should dye it brown and get it cut shorter. I want my family to get to know me and like me before I reveal who I am. Well, not entirely who I am.

There are parts of me that must never see the light of day. But that past isn’t my fault. I was driven to it with Robert treating me like his personal sex slave before rejecting me, and Rosemary denying me the happy life that should have been mine. Neither of them gave a damn about my happiness. They used me. Wronged me. They treated me as though I had no more value than a used tissue, and I couldn’t let them get away with it. They needed to be taught that people matter. That I matter.

It won’t be like that with the Winterbournes. I’ll matter to them because I’m their daughter and they’ll love me. Just the thought of it makes me feel warm inside. Happier. A kinder person. The person I always should have been.

There’s the other Jenna to think about, of course. The fake one. The imposter. The cuckoo who pushed me out after only three days in the nest. She needs to know that it’s my nest and I’m back to claim it. Cuckoos are hateful birds anyway – selfish and greedy. No better than vermin. She can keep the name, though. I want my life back but I don’t want to be called Jenna now she’s tainted it.

One day soon I’ll be Grace Winterbourne.

Chapter 54

April | DI Paton

The investigation into the murder of Robert Nash and the whereabouts of the main suspect, Trina Hodges, had progressed as slowly as a learner driver on the first lesson. Paton could feel his impatience and frustration mounting as he sat at his desk and waited for news from the Milton Keynes police force. He had contacted them straight away to find out if there were any known forgers or dodgy car dealers in those areas but so far they hadn’t called him back. He barely remembered now the feeling of excitement when Mitchell had relayed his findings over a week ago.

Paton walked over to Mitchell’s desk. ‘Can we go through that ANPR report again? I’d like to see it in more detail.’

Mitchell closed the file he was working on and pulled up different data on his computer screen. ‘The cameras only cover some of the main grid roads, but we can see which estates the car entered – Central Milton Keynes, Kingston, Netherfield and Bletchley. But this was all over four weeks ago. The number plate hasn’t been picked up since.’

‘Either she’s changed the plates again or she’s got a new car.’

‘Or the car’s off the road,’ Mitchell suggested.

Paton had another meeting with the SIO in ten minutes and nothing new to tell him. He returned to his own desk and drummed his fingers on the edge of his mouse mat then picked up the phone and called Milton Keynes again. He didn’t like to keep hassling them as he knew how stretched everyone was, but he was getting desperate. The trail couldn’t fizzle out now. He asked to speak to a detective inspector and waited while the call connected.

‘We’ve got nothing for you at the moment,’ the DI said, ‘but we do have an investigation underway that’s focusing on car thefts in the area. If we can nail that gang, we might find a link to your fake number plates and forged documents. We’ll be in touch as soon as we have any news.’

Paton thanked him and ended the call. He pulled his jacket from the back of his chair, smoothed his hair down with the flat of his hand and made his way along the corridor.

‘Any updates?’ Metcalf asked, as soon as Paton entered the room. Paton relayed his conversation with the Milton Keynes detective and was acutely aware of the lack of progress.

‘I’d like to visit Milton Keynes if possible, sir. I admit we don’t have any leads to follow, apart from knowing that the woman drove into certain estates, but I’d like to ask around. See if anyone recognises her E-Fit photo.’

‘That could be time-consuming and your skills would be better spent here. We’ve got other serious crimes needing attention.’

‘Visiting Manchester worked. I think it’s worth a try with Milton Keynes. Just for a couple of days.’

‘What if I send Mitchell instead? He’s bright and keen, and you could take on the attempted murder case that’s just come in.’

Paton tried to hide his disappointment. He wanted to find this woman himself. He was the hunter and she was the hunted. It was of great importance to him that he caught her personally. He wanted to see the case through to its conclusion and prove to the chief inspector that he’d got what it took to be an SIO. He also wanted