Read Online A Family Divided (Dividing Line #3) by Heather Atkinson - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Heather Atkinson
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to?”
“ Yes but be gentle. She’s still shook up after what happened last night.”
“ Of course, she is the victim here.”
“ Don’t let her hear you call her that,” he said, leading them inside.
When the three men entered the living room, Rachel got to her feet.
“Who are they Mummy?” said Leah.
“ They’re just here to discuss some business Sweetheart,” she replied, glancing at Ryan.
He took the hint. “I think it’s snack time. Why don’t you show me what you want?” he said, gesturing to the kitchen.
Leah and the two boys leapt to their feet and rushed out of the room, Ryan following and closing the door behind them.
“How are you feeling Mrs Law?” said Taylor sympathetically.
“ I’m okay and please, call me Rachel.”
“ I’m DCI Taylor and this is DS Swift,” he said, pretending he hadn’t noticed her fluffy bunny pyjamas. “We just need to go over last night again.”
“ I understand. Would you like anything to drink?”
“ No thank you,” replied Taylor.
She gestured for them to sit and she took the couch while they took the two armchairs.
“I know it’s a pain but if you could go over last night’s events again,” Taylor said gently.
Once again she dredged over it all, the events still very vivid in her mind.
“We did out best to prevent that stampede,” she said, thinking she was going to be in big trouble for that. “But some idiot turned on the lights and when everyone saw the blood they panicked and ran. It wasn’t my staff, they’re too smart to do something so stupid. I think The Slasher switched them on,” she said angrily.
“ We know Mrs Law. You’re fortunate you’ve got such good quality security equipment. The cameras captured it all. You had the situation very well under control and you’re right, The Slasher himself hit the lights purposefully to cause panic. We thought at first it was to aid his escape, your doormen were on the ball. He hung back casually, perhaps to avoid getting stuck in the crush for the door and joined the line heading for the fire exits instead. Then he did something very strange. He was almost out when he turned back and went for you. This is a huge deviation from his usual pattern, as is the fact that he struck on a Friday and not a Saturday.”
“ You think it’s a copycat?”
“ Perhaps. Tell me about the knife again.”
“ It was large with a curved blade, like a hunting knife.”
“ What I’m about to tell you is confidential Rachel, so I trust you’ll keep it to yourself?”
She nodded her assent.
“We purposefully kept back details of the knife The Slasher used so we could sort the genuine attacker from the crackpots. The Slasher has always used something small, we think a Stanley knife. Nothing like the weapon you described, another indication that this is a different assailant.”
“ So someone’s read about his exploits and decided they want a bit of the same?”
“ Perhaps,” he said again.
Rachel decided he was one of those people who didn ’t commit himself to a theory unless he was one hundred percent certain.
“ Another possibility is that this was a deliberate attack on yourself.”
A sense of dread welled up inside her and denial was her instant reaction. “No, I think you’re wrong there.”
“ Just consider it Rachel. You’re not often at the club anymore. On one of the rare occasions you do go in this happens. The assailant targeted one of your clubs and even attempted to attack you. I think this was all designed to hurt not just you personally but your business too.”
“ Who would do that?” she said, feeling her old life catching up with her again.
“ I was hoping you could tell me.”
“ I’ve no idea.” She took exception to his cynical look. “I know you’re aware who I was, but I’m not that person anymore. I’m a legitimate businesswoman now, nothing more. Yes, I have trodden over people in the business world but it’s been purely legal and
“ Yes but be gentle. She’s still shook up after what happened last night.”
“ Of course, she is the victim here.”
“ Don’t let her hear you call her that,” he said, leading them inside.
When the three men entered the living room, Rachel got to her feet.
“Who are they Mummy?” said Leah.
“ They’re just here to discuss some business Sweetheart,” she replied, glancing at Ryan.
He took the hint. “I think it’s snack time. Why don’t you show me what you want?” he said, gesturing to the kitchen.
Leah and the two boys leapt to their feet and rushed out of the room, Ryan following and closing the door behind them.
“How are you feeling Mrs Law?” said Taylor sympathetically.
“ I’m okay and please, call me Rachel.”
“ I’m DCI Taylor and this is DS Swift,” he said, pretending he hadn’t noticed her fluffy bunny pyjamas. “We just need to go over last night again.”
“ I understand. Would you like anything to drink?”
“ No thank you,” replied Taylor.
She gestured for them to sit and she took the couch while they took the two armchairs.
“I know it’s a pain but if you could go over last night’s events again,” Taylor said gently.
Once again she dredged over it all, the events still very vivid in her mind.
“We did out best to prevent that stampede,” she said, thinking she was going to be in big trouble for that. “But some idiot turned on the lights and when everyone saw the blood they panicked and ran. It wasn’t my staff, they’re too smart to do something so stupid. I think The Slasher switched them on,” she said angrily.
“ We know Mrs Law. You’re fortunate you’ve got such good quality security equipment. The cameras captured it all. You had the situation very well under control and you’re right, The Slasher himself hit the lights purposefully to cause panic. We thought at first it was to aid his escape, your doormen were on the ball. He hung back casually, perhaps to avoid getting stuck in the crush for the door and joined the line heading for the fire exits instead. Then he did something very strange. He was almost out when he turned back and went for you. This is a huge deviation from his usual pattern, as is the fact that he struck on a Friday and not a Saturday.”
“ You think it’s a copycat?”
“ Perhaps. Tell me about the knife again.”
“ It was large with a curved blade, like a hunting knife.”
“ What I’m about to tell you is confidential Rachel, so I trust you’ll keep it to yourself?”
She nodded her assent.
“We purposefully kept back details of the knife The Slasher used so we could sort the genuine attacker from the crackpots. The Slasher has always used something small, we think a Stanley knife. Nothing like the weapon you described, another indication that this is a different assailant.”
“ So someone’s read about his exploits and decided they want a bit of the same?”
“ Perhaps,” he said again.
Rachel decided he was one of those people who didn ’t commit himself to a theory unless he was one hundred percent certain.
“ Another possibility is that this was a deliberate attack on yourself.”
A sense of dread welled up inside her and denial was her instant reaction. “No, I think you’re wrong there.”
“ Just consider it Rachel. You’re not often at the club anymore. On one of the rare occasions you do go in this happens. The assailant targeted one of your clubs and even attempted to attack you. I think this was all designed to hurt not just you personally but your business too.”
“ Who would do that?” she said, feeling her old life catching up with her again.
“ I was hoping you could tell me.”
“ I’ve no idea.” She took exception to his cynical look. “I know you’re aware who I was, but I’m not that person anymore. I’m a legitimate businesswoman now, nothing more. Yes, I have trodden over people in the business world but it’s been purely legal and
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