Epilogue
Two Weeks Later
Gina pushed the paperwork on her desk aside.
Tonight, she was going home. She wanted to run a long, hot bath and snuggle up in front of the fire with her cat.
The forensics report had come back. Simeon’s DNA had been found under the cat’s claws at the scene of Kain’s murder.
She’d heard from Brodie and he’d told her that Briggs would be back to work next week.
She’d had no contact with him since that call.
A message popped up from her daughter, Hannah.
Gracie wanted to know if you’ll be watching her in her Christmas play. I have to book family tickets soon. I know it’s early but I don’t want you to miss out if you want to be there.
She smiled and replied. Without a doubt she was going to be there. Hannah replied with a photo of Gracie asleep next to their dog. Gina sent a heart emoji reply.
So much had happened recently and she couldn’t help but think of everyone involved in the case. Pia had already packed up her house and gone to stay with her sister. She’d also put her house up for sale. Gina could understand why she needed to get away.
Justine had wasted no time in issuing divorce papers to Craig and she was helping her son face up to what he did wrong.
She’d been worried that she might be in trouble for killing Simeon.
A file of evidence had been prepared and submitted to the CPS.
The scene had backed up what she had told them.
It looked like she had killed him in self-defence so it wasn’t looking likely that she’d be prosecuted.
As for Craig, he simply ran to evade arrest so he was in the clear too.
He’d come in and they were able to interview him.
Gina was glad that Danny wasn’t running from his part in all this.
He’d admitted to assaulting Kain and that he’d done it to defend Maura.
The video had done him no favours. He’d gone beyond reasonable force, kicking Kain while he was already down.
Facing up to his crime was the only way to deal with it and she hoped he’d change for the better.
A cousin of Lindy’s was waiting for Lindy’s body to be released so he could plan her funeral but Gina knew these things could take a while.
She didn’t envy the heartache this caused for the families.
Zavier Sellers’s family had received the news and they too were waiting for his body to be released.
Someone tapped at her office door. Brodie peered around the corner. ‘I’m heading back to Gloucester soon. It’s not too far away. I was hoping…’ He inhaled and looked away with a slight smile on his face.
She raised her brows.
‘I was hoping that we’d be able to keep in touch if you’d be okay… if you’d like that. Or maybe you wouldn’t like that. I mean, we were friends years ago and you’re probably busy and all that…’
She stood and grabbed her bag and coat. ‘I’d love to keep in touch. Actually, I only have a date with my bath and my cat tonight so do you fancy a drink first, or a bite to eat?’
‘Yes, I’ll grab my coat.’ He ran out the door, leaving her stomach nervously fluttering.
She didn’t want to be alone. She wanted to be happy and she wanted to find a reason to laugh again, and she couldn’t help but relive the past in her head again.
She giggled at the memory of them lying in a heap as young rookies on the pub toilet floor all those years ago.
A woman who looked to be in her sixties had burst in a moment later.
The woman had cleared her throat, then said, ‘Have fun, kids,’ before discreetly leaving.
Gina had never laughed so much. Surely it was okay to laugh, to live, and to love.
It had to be because if it wasn’t, what was the point in living?
There would always be a huge place for Briggs in her heart but he didn’t want her and she needed to accept that, and going out for a drink with an old friend was okay, wasn’t it?