Chapters (82)
- Cover
- Dedication
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
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‘Don’t be ridiculous!’ Mrs Slater exclaimed, glaring at Matt. ‘I know the difference between a baby’s cry and a cat.’
‘They can sound similar from a distance,’ Beth offered.
‘I’m telling you it was a baby I heard,’ Mrs Slater said vehemently. ‘Their child was alive when it left the house.’
‘So what do you think happened to it?’ Matt asked.
‘I’ve no idea. That’s for you to find out. I’ve told you all I know.’
‘So that’s everything?’ Beth asked.
‘Yes.’
‘Thank you,’ Beth said. Matt put away his pen and notepad.
‘Will you go next door now?’ Mrs Slater asked as they all stood. ‘Emma Jennings is in.’
‘I’ll discuss what our next step will be with my colleagues,’ Beth said diplomatically.
Mrs Slater saw them out.
‘What do think?’ Matt asked Beth as they went down the path. The front door had closed behind them.
‘I think she’s mistaken about hearing it cry, and the baby was stillborn.’
‘Or perhaps she did hear it cry and it died shortly after,’ Matt suggested.
‘It’s possible, but in that case there should be a death certificate. Mrs Slater was right when she said a baby’s death has to be recorded in the same way as an adult’s. Even if it only lives a short while. We’d better speak to Mrs Jennings.’
Having reached the end of Angela Slater’s driveway, they went right and walked up the drive next door to Number 57. Beth rang the bell and they waited, then she rang it again. A few moments later the door opened on a chain, just enough for Emma Jennings to see out.
‘Hello, Mrs Jennings, Detective Constable Beth Mayes,’ she said, showing her ID. ‘I visited you before when your husband was here. This is my colleague, Detective Constable Matt Davis.’
‘Yes? What do you want?’
‘Could we come in?’ Beth asked.
‘Why? Ian isn’t here, he’s at work.’
‘We don’t need to speak to him. I’m sure you’ll be able to help us. It won’t take long.’
Emma hesitated, and then removed the chain to let them in.
‘I’m sorry for your loss,’ Matt said as they entered.
‘Thank you,’ Emma said.
Beth thought Emma looked significantly better than the last time she’d seen her when she’d been in bed and was being looked after by her husband. But she still had a way to go and seemed fragile.
‘Shall we sit down?’ Beth suggested.
Emma led the way into the front room.
‘We won’t keep you long,’ Beth said. ‘We’ve been contacted by a worried neighbour.’
‘I can guess who that is,’ Emma said dourly. ‘We made the mistake of being friendly with Mrs Slater when we first moved in. Now she won’t leave us alone.’