Read Online Bleed for Me by Michael Robotham - Free Book Online Page B

men’s jobs, wearing loose dungarees and oversized cardigans. It made her about as sexy as an older sister, but she went about her business with a quiet acceptance.
    ‘Who knew your husband was coming home last night?’ asks Cray.
    She shrugs.
    ‘Sienna?’
    ‘I don’t think so.’
    ‘How did they get on - Ray and Sienna?’
    ‘Fine. They had their moments.’
    ‘Moments?’
    Helen holds the cuffs of her cardigan in her closed fists. ‘You try to set boundaries. Kids try to cross them.’
    ‘Did your husband ever touch Sienna inappropriately? Did he ever give you any cause for concern?’
    Helen’s face goes through a transformation from concern to amazement and then anger.
    ‘Not my Ray! He wouldn’t do something like that.’
    Her features have become tighter and smal er, rushing to the centre of her face.
    ‘How dare you suggest - how dare you think . . . He hated nonces. He put them away.’
    Cray reaches out and touches Helen’s hand. ‘I’m sorry. It’s something I had to ask.’
    I know exactly what the DCI has done. Sienna is an obvious suspect who has yet to be interviewed. With one simple question, Cray has undermined one of her possible defences -
    sexual abuse. Helen might change her mind later, but the impact of her future testimony wil be diluted, picked apart by the prosecution, made less believable.
    Cray continues to talk softly, asking if Ray Hegarty had any obvious enemies. Had he argued with anyone? Did he have any money worries?
    ‘We have to interview Sienna, you understand?’
    Helen’s gaze drifts past me to the hospital room.
    ‘You can be there or you can ask someone else - another adult to be with her. Someone like Professor O’Loughlin.’
    ‘My Sienna didn’t do it . . . she wouldn’t . . .’
    ‘Detective Sergeant Abbott is going to take you to Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court. Somebody has to formerly identify Ray’s body. Can you do that for me? I could ask one of your other children.’
    ‘No. I’l do it.’
    Monk steps forward and picks up Helen’s handbag from the floor.
    From the far end of the corridor comes the sound of a commotion, heavy boots and shouting. Lance Hegarty knocks over a young nurse who is trying to slow him down. Wearing a scuffed leather jacket and grease-stained jeans, his hair is shaved to black stubble that looks like a skul cap on his pale skin.
    Monk intercepts him, hooking one arm across his chest, plucking him off his feet.
    ‘Get your hands off me, you black bastard!’
    Helen yel s, ‘Put him down!’
    Monk and Cray exchange a glance. It says more than words.
    The DS releases his hold and Lance wraps his arms around his mother, stroking her hair with a tattooed hand. Then he looks at Cray, chal enging her.
    ‘What happened to Sienna? Did someone hurt her? Who did it?’
    The DCI puts a hand on his shoulder. ‘Your father is dead. I’m sorry for your loss.’
    ‘You’re sorry?’
    ‘He was a fine man.’
    ‘He was a fucking monster!’
    The words seem to detonate in the enclosed space. Helen puts her hand on Lance’s chest. Fingers spread. Calming him.
    Lance looks at her. ‘What about sis?’
    Cray answers. ‘Sienna is going to be just fine.’
    ‘Can I see her? Is she in there?’
    Before Lance can reach the door, Monk bodychecks him.
    ‘Get this goril a away from me!’
    The DCI rocks forward and digs a thumb into Lance’s ribs. He flinches and whines, ‘What was that for?’
    ‘That’s to remind you to show some respect, son.’
    Lance gives her a denigrating sneer before lowering his gaze. I watch from the doorway as he approaches the bed. One look at Sienna and his anger evaporates. Reaching out, he tentatively brushes his fingers across her hand lying open-palmed on the sheet.
    Sienna’s eyelids flutter.
    ‘Hey, kid!’
    She smiles weakly. ‘You’ve never held my hand.’
    ‘Sure I have.’
    ‘When?’
    ‘When you were little and I took you to school.’
    Sienna finds it funny and squeezes his hand