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

‘How do you think he’s going to take the news about the blood?’

‘If he’s innocent, then he’s going to be more driven to find her. Knowing for definite how hurt she is. He’s going to want to be out there helping to look for her. Hell, it’s where I want to be, not stuck inside like this.’

‘Yeah. And if he’s . . .’ Kane let the rest of the sentence trail off.

Claudia finished it for him. ‘If he’s guilty—’ she gave Kane a rueful smile — ‘then he’ll pretend those things. I would. So who knows what it’s going to look like in there when we get him back in.’

‘You go and grab some chocolate and I’ll get him from his cell and we’ll wait for you in an interview room.’

‘Thanks, Russ.’ She bounced the coins from her palm into the air and walked out of the kitchen.

With her fill of chocolate Claudia waited a beat outside the interview room and listened. She could hear murmurings but not what they were saying. Russ couldn’t talk about the case with her dad while the recording equipment was off so any conversation had to be small talk. Difficult in the current circumstances. But both Russ and her dad would make sure they stuck to the rules so as to not jeopardise any potential trial. What would Ruth think of them all now if she could see them? It was the six million pound question that her best friend was at the centre of today and she held all the answers. Answers Claudia was desperate to know.

Claudia walked into the room and the minute she had she wished she had waited a little longer. Her dad was sitting facing her and he looked up at her expectantly, waiting for information on what Sharpe had wanted. Like her, Dominic knew Sharpe had only stepped into an interview midway through because there was news of some description. He was desperate to know what that news was. He cut Russ off immediately, his focus targeted in on Claudia.

She closed the door behind her and started the recording again, repeating the introductions and interview procedure. Dominic waited but it was far from patiently. He was twitching in his seat. A knee was bouncing up and down and fingers were drumming hard on his crossed arms.

As soon as she had finished the necessary verbals he spoke. ‘So?’

Claudia didn’t want to tell him yet. She needed to get on with the rest of the interview. She needed to get his account from him before she gave him information. ‘Can we continue from where we were before we get side-tracked?’

‘It’s a bit late for that, don’t you think? We were side-tracked the minute Sharpe barged her way into the interview.’ He leaned forward on his chair, hands on the table. She could see he wasn’t going to let this go.

Claudia closed her eyes and thought through the consequences of telling him at this juncture. As already discussed, he would flare up. Whether it was real or he was putting it on, they would have to deal with it and that would delay the rest of the interview and delay the gathering of information from him which could ultimately help in recovering Ruth, whatever state she was in.

‘Claudia.’ His voice was firm.

She opened her eyes. He was her dad. Telling her off. She looked to Russ for a reminder of where she was and who she was. A DI of higher rank than the man in front of her. She had the upper hand and she had the right to make the decision she was currently contemplating. She would not be bullied into making the one which was best for him.

Russ looked hard at her and nodded. He was trying to convey that she had this. That she was in control. She inhaled.

‘If the news was something to do with Ruth then I have every right to know.’ Dominic was still pushing her to talk.

‘To find Ruth we need to progress this interview,’ she said.

‘I won’t talk any further until you tell me what you know.’ He folded his arms across his chest.

She narrowed her eyes at him. Furious at his stubborn streak and at how he was derailing the investigation. ‘You know you’re putting Ruth more at risk by doing this?’

‘You’re the one doing it by refusing to share what you know. As her husband I have every right to be updated.’

‘As the arrested suspect you lost that right.’ Her jaw was set like stone. Her anger at him was building.

‘It seems like we’re at an impasse then, aren’t we?’ He leaned back, arms still crossed.

Claudia glanced at Russ and then back to Dominic. She was cornered. She had to go through this if she was to move forward, much as she hated it, especially as she was being forced into the decision when she had wanted to wait until the interview was over to inform him. ‘We’ve had the results back from the blood in the garage,’ she said at last.

Dominic’s arms dropped to his lap, his jaw gaped slightly. As Claudia had when Sharpe had said the same to her, it was obvious he had come to the same conclusion. ‘No.’

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘It’s a match for Ruth.’

‘No,’ he said again, his eyes like saucers.

‘I’m sorry, Dad.’

He stared at her. Claudia couldn’t tell if he was looking at her or if he was looking through her or was somewhere else altogether.

‘Are you okay?’ she asked.

‘Is she still alive?’

‘I don’t know. There was a lot of blood but I’ve been told it’s borderline if a person can survive with the amount lost. She desperately needs to be found which is why I want to get on with the interview. I know