Chapter 66
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
If it wasn’t for them needing an ambulance straight away, Juliette and Sarah might have had more time to talk things through.
But both men were bleeding on the floor and despite one of them being dead and the other groggy after regaining consciousness, two paramedics tried their best to revive Richard, to no avail.
He was pronounced dead on the scene. The police then arrived in their droves.
Now it was nearing eleven o’clock the following morning.
Juliette was sitting in the living room, curled up in a chair.
Still in shock, she was trying to piece it all together.
She’d gone with Danny to the hospital, where two police detectives had taken a statement from her, plus a short one from Danny as he waited for stitches in a gash at the side of his head.
They’d arrived home in the early hours. A police cordon had been set up at the front of White Oaks, an officer on guard at the front door. Despite the late hour, several police vehicles were in the lane.
They were due to start digging soon. Juliette shuddered just thinking about it. She was dreading hearing the news, knowing that Louisa could be found at any minute.
Danny popped his head around the door and came into her.
‘Hey, how are you feeling now?’
He kissed her on the forehead. He’d been a bit groggy this morning. He’d had five stitches and she’d been asked to keep an eye on him regarding concussion for the next twenty-four hours. Luckily the scar would be covered by his hair.
He sat down beside her and placed an arm around her shoulders. ‘I’ll survive,’ he replied. ‘Besides, I’m going to play on your sympathy over the coming weeks. Have you heard anything else?’
‘No.’
‘How’s Sarah?’
‘I’ve left a couple of messages, but she hasn’t replied.’
After the police had questioned them, Sarah had taken Daisy to stay in a hotel, away from the house while the police did their work. She was sure Sarah would have had to complete a statement in writing like she had.
‘You can’t hold yourself responsible,’ Danny soothed. ‘Richard was a psychopath. How were we to know he’d murdered his father, as well as Louisa? I was flabbergasted to hear that.’ He paused. ‘No, actually I wasn’t.’
‘But I led you into danger.’
‘It wasn’t Game of Thrones.’ Danny sniggered. ‘You only had an inkling of what was going on. And at least that little girl might get a normal life now.’
Juliette nodded in agreement. ‘The police said we might be swamped by the press for a few days.’
‘We can book into a hotel too if you prefer, if it gets too intrusive.’
‘Let’s see how it goes.’ Juliette raised a hand to Danny’s face and stared at the man she loved so much. The man she hadn’t confided in. The man she may have lost because of her stupidity.
But she would do it all again if a child’s welfare was at stake. Too much went on behind closed doors that never got talked about. Never reported, often to the detriment of someone who couldn’t defend themselves.
Thankfully, Danny would make a swift recovery, although his wound would go beyond skin deep. They were both going to be traumatised by the events of last night.
‘So how are you?’ he asked her, resting a hand on her tummy.
She smiled. He was checking up on the precious life growing inside her. Their child.
‘Everything seems to be fine. Unlike you.’ She ran a finger over his hand before grasping it.
He cocked his head to one side. ‘Do you still see this as our perfect place? I’d understand if you want to move.’
She shook her head. ‘We’re not going anywhere. This is our home.’