My entire body feels numb. He’s got all my clients notes now. What is he going to do with them?

Chapter Twenty-One

TWENTY-ONE

‘THIS IS STRICTLY confidential.’ It’s Simms on the phone. It’s been two days of hell. Two sleepless nights. Forty-eight hours waiting for my world to end. We’ve done nothing but worry about when the next fire will start.

I’d just made a green salad for lunch and was about to eat it. Placing my fork down beside my bowl, I reply, ‘Of course, my lips are sealed.’

‘We’ve arrested Joe on both counts of arson.’ The relief is a drug, surging in my veins, fatiguing me. I close my eyes, squeeze a fist to my mouth. Simms is still speaking. ‘His shoe-prints match those found around your home on the night of the arson. Some property from the clinic was recovered in the boot of his car along with other items tying him to other crimes.’

My voice trembles when I speak. ‘Can I ask what other items?’

‘Again, this stays between us, but we found underwear and personal items believed to be belonging to a woman who has been missing for a week. There were also images of other women including yourself.’

I imagine Xanthe, and Cormac’s sister and all the other potential victims. Victims of what? Stalking? What would have come next? What if he decided stalking wasn’t enough?

‘So what will happen now?’

‘We hold him and continue to investigate and build a case.’

‘Will he get out before a trial?’

‘He can apply for bail but it’s very unlikely it will be granted given the nature of his offending and the risk he poses.’

‘But he hasn’t confessed?’

‘Proclaiming his innocence. The usual story. We’ve got a solid case, though. His wife has admitted that she didn’t know where he was when the fire at your practice was set.’

I knew it, she was covering for him. ‘Can I collect the items he stole?’

‘Not yet, no. They’ll be kept as evidence. You won’t get them back for a while.’

‘Well, can you tell me what you found of mine? My father’s pen?’

‘Again, between you and I, there were mostly just patient files by the looks of it. But we did find a pen which matches the description you left with us.’

‘Oh, thank you so much, that’s great news.’

‘Thank me when he’s in prison. If we recover more of your items, I’ll let you know.’

It means so much to me that pen. Dad had it for years before he gave it to me. I was always his favourite subject growing up. I’d sit across from him and watch him scribble notes as he asked me questions.

Part Three: Retrospection

PART THREE

RETROSPECTION