As he continued to look at the bag, the front door to the flat burst open and, shortly after, several officers spilled in. Chey was first to arrive in the bathroom. He came to a sudden stop in the doorframe and observed the scene.

‘Is she dead?’ he asked bluntly.

‘No,’ Tomek answered, ‘but Angelica is because of her.’

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

After two days of intense interviewing and questioning, Rose had finally conceded and told them everything. Ever since she had first laid eyes on her sister-in-law, she had become infatuated with her, obsessed by her beauty and the kindness of her soul. Over the years, that desire and lust had grown, and as she’d felt herself growing apart from Johnny, her feelings had only intensified. But it wasn’t until Angelica had told her about The Nights of Eden parties that Rose had found an excuse to take their relationship to the next level. She had stolen an invitation from Angelica’s coat one afternoon and used it to gain access to the party. From there, under the guise of looking like a welder, she had approached Angelica, and together the two of them had shared a bed for the night. It had come as a surprise for Angelica to see her sister-in-law there, but it had not bothered her in the slightest. And as a result, their relationship had developed in secret, meeting each month for sex, some time together, and the comfort of one another’s company. Angelica had harboured the same intense feeling, Rose had explained, but as soon as she’d found out about the baby, Rose had decided that their relationship couldn’t continue. Angelica had lied to her, betrayed her. The baby would change everything, ruin everything, and Rose couldn’t tolerate it. If she couldn’t have her, nobody could. And so, on the night of Angelica’s death, Rose had messaged her on WhatsApp, when she knew she would be intoxicated, picked her up, taken her to the flat, and then killed her. Fortunately, at least in her opinion, she had been given a helping hand by Adam Egglington, who had been successful in slipping Angelica the date rape drug when she hadn’t been looking, the effects of which had already started to take hold of her within minutes of their arrival at the flat. The rest of the evening had followed with delicacy and the affection Angelica deserved, Rose had told them.

Tomek was able to piece together the rest, and so stopped watching the live feed in the incident room. He left the room and made his way to his desk, guilt ravaging his body and mind. He was at his desk for a few moments before Victoria called his name from the other side of the office.

‘You got a moment?’ she asked.

Tomek confirmed he had, then slowly made his way over.

‘Take a seat,’ Victoria said as he shut the door behind him.

Tomek did as he was told.

‘How are you feeling?’

He noticed the softness and sensitivity in her tone.

‘I’ve felt better,’ he answered.

‘What’s troubling you?’

‘I almost sent an innocent man to prison.’

Victoria chewed on her bottom lip. ‘These things happen,’ she said. ‘You just need to be grateful that you caught the right person at the right time.’

Tomek saw little consolation in that.

‘Do you need any time off?’ Victoria asked.

He paused to reflect on that. Time off? To let the thoughts and guilt fester? No, thanks.

‘I’ll be fine.’

‘Well, if you ever need anyone or anything, you know who to speak to.’

‘Nick?’

‘Fuck you,’ she said, stifling a chuckle. ‘Me. I’m happy to talk if you need anything. I’m also here to help you work on the improvements you can make to be a better inspector.’

Tomek’s gaze fell to the table. ‘About that…’ he began. ‘I’ve been doing some thinking.’

About that and everything else.

‘And?’

‘And I don’t think I’m ready to be an inspector. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the opportunity you gave me, but I’ll have to pass for now. I nearly put an innocent person in jail, and I don’t think I could live with the possibility of making that same mistake again.’

CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR

Tomek was sitting in the corner of The Fork and Spoon, spinning his pint glass in his hand, staring up at the football on the television. At the bar, two blokes wearing jeans that looked as though they hadn’t been washed in years were nursing their drinks slowly, shouting and swearing at the players on the pitch, as though they could hear them from several hundred miles away.

Tomek finished the last of his drink, then made his way to the bar.

‘Fucking pass the ball, you cunt!’ the man nearest to him yelled. Then a moment later: ‘Fucking pass it! You earn a hundred grand a week and you can’t pass the fucking ball!’

Tomek ignored him and waited for the owner, Jim, to come over. A few seconds later, he arrived, reaching out for Tomek’s glass.

‘Same again, mate?’

‘Please, Jim.’

Ian took the glass from him, then began pulling his pint. Tomek watched as the thick, yellow liquid slowly rose in the glass, bubbles streaming to the surface.

‘Penny for your thoughts?’ Jim asked as he set the drink in front of him.

Beside Tomek, the football fan continued to scream profanities at the screen.

‘You wouldn’t want to know,’ he replied, then turned to the space in the pub where the vending machine had once been. ‘Unsuccessful business venture, was it?’

‘Like you wouldn’t believe,’ Jim answered. ‘I swear to fucking God, I ever catch the fucker who sold it to me, I’ll break his fucking kneecaps.’

‘Not the sort of thing you admit to a copper, Jim. But I’ll let you off this time.’

‘You’re a copper?’ the football fan screeched as he spun the top half of his body towards Tomek.

‘Unfortunately so,’ Tomek replied. ‘Someone somewhere along the line decided it was a good idea to make me one.’

At first, Tomek had been expecting the man to swing for him, or to start an altercation, but the reality was much different. The man set his beer down on the counter, then patted Tomek on the back. ‘Nice work. My dad used to work with the dogs in the seventies and eighties. Got a lot of respect for you and the work you do.’

‘Cheers,’ Tomek replied, feeling slightly dumbfounded.

‘You been working on that murder with the young girl in the church?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I saw you got an arrest. Nice one. Fucking awful what happened to that girl.’

‘Thanks,’ Tomek said. ‘I was the SIO for a time.’

The man held out his hand. It was sweaty and clammy, but Tomek didn’t mind.

‘Good job. The world could do with a lot more people like you.’