Chapter 50
Nel’s heart thumped in her chest as she dinged the bell on the unattended counter at Carrinya Police Station. A young female officer appeared.
‘I need to speak to Jimmy,’ Nel said, breathless. ‘Is he here?’
‘Sure, one moment.’ The officer disappeared. Moments later, the door swung open.
‘What’s happened?’ Jimmy said. ‘Are you okay?’
Nel unfolded the letter and placed it on the counter between them. When he reached the PS at the bottom, his eyes widened.
‘If he has the ring, it proves he lied,’ Nel said, still breathless.
Jimmy nodded slowly. ‘Between the ring and the DNA we would definitely have enough to question him again. If we find the ring, that is.’
‘Can you search his place?’
‘I’ll need to get a warrant, but it should be relatively straightforward.’ He held up the letter. ‘Can I keep this?’
She nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘Do you remember what the ring looks like?’
‘Yes.’
He ripped a page from a notepad and handed her a pen. ‘Draw it for me.’
That afternoon Nel was physically there in the clinic, taking blood pressure, handing out jelly beans, trying to concentrate as patients described tingling sensations or dull aches, but her mind was with Jimmy.
Had he been granted a search warrant? Where was he now?
When would he arrive at the Warners’ place?
Dread sat heavily in her stomach. Ryan would be furious when he realised Sophie was gone.
Had he arrived home yet and found the house empty?
Did Sophie leave him a note? Nel pictured a lined page ripped from a kid’s schoolbook, like the one Sophie had used to write to her, sitting on the kitchen bench waiting for him.
Loopy handwriting in blue biro announcing her escape.
Or maybe she wouldn’t tell him anything, leaving him to work it out for himself.
Then a thought struck her. She’d assumed Sophie had taken the kids, but what if she hadn’t? She messaged Lauren between appointments.
Can you ask Leo if Charlie Warner was at school today?
She was washing her hands after examining a rash on Hazel Jenkin’s shoulder when her phone lit up. She stole a quick glance as Hazel buttoned her blouse.
He said no. Why?
She breathed out. Sophie had taken the kids. Nel pictured her behind the wheel of her Subaru, kids in the back seat, suitcases in the boot, speeding along a highway. Was she looking in the rear-view mirror, checking for Ryan’s car? Or did she feel free?
‘Sweetheart? Are you okay?’ Nel felt the gentle touch of a hand on her arm and realised she’d been lost in her thoughts. She looked into Hazel’s kind, puzzled eyes.
‘Sorry! Yes, I’m fine.’ She smiled. ‘Right, I’m going to give you a steroid cream that should clear the rash up in a couple of days.’
She sat down at the computer to type up the prescription.