The Eyes of the Accused: A dark disturbing mystery thriller (The Ben Whittle Investigation Series Book 2) Read Free Page B

you write down everything the woman tells you.’
    Ben walked to the front door and grabbed his parka from a hat and coat stand. ‘Come on, Maddie. We don’t want to waste any of the company’s precious time.’

Chapter Three
     
    Monica Heath opened the door before Ben had a chance to ring the bell. She looked as if she’d parted company with sleep a long time ago. Grief had drawn dark circles beneath her eyes. Her grey hair was pulled back from her face and secured in a loose ponytail. ‘Ben?’
    Ben held out his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you.’ He introduced Maddie.
    Monica led them along a narrow hallway and into a small living room. She offered them a seat on a worn green leather sofa. She stood in front of them like a waitress not too sure of her job. ‘Do you think you’ll be able to help?’
    ‘We’ll try,’ Ben promised. ‘You told my father Hannah went missing four months ago? Could you give me the exact date?’
    ‘August 4th. Friday. She called me at lunchtime. That’s the last time… I… ever… heard… from… her.’ The last few words were stapled together with sobs.
    Ben took out his notebook and wrote down the date. ‘What did she say?’
    Monica sniffed and dabbed her nose with a tissue. ‘She told me she had tummy pains. I told her to go home if she wasn’t well.’
    ‘How did she respond?’ Maddie asked.
    ‘She said the care manager would kick up a fuss if she went off sick. They were already two staff short. I told her the most important thing was the baby. Bugger Connie Sykes.’
    Ben raised an eyebrow. ‘Connie Sykes?’
    ‘The care manager.’
    ‘Where does Hannah work?’ Maddie asked.
    ‘Sunnyside Nursing Home. She’s a care assistant.  – a bloody good one, too. She’s always had a caring nature. She’s been there since she left school. She didn’t sit her A-levels – she’s not particularly academic. That’s not to say she didn’t try, but she’s more of a practical girl.’
    Ben asked where Sunnyside was.
    ‘Tadmarsh.’
    Ben knew it. A small village about six miles out of Feelham.
    ‘Apart from the tummy ache, how did Hannah seem?’
    Monica shrugged. ‘Her usual self, really. Excited about the wedding. Excited about the baby. Fed up with work.’
    Ben licked the tip of his pencil. ‘Fed up? Why?’
    ‘Nothing, as such. It was just getting to be a bit of a chore, what with the morning sickness and stuff.’
    ‘Does Hannah drive?’ Ben asked.
    ‘Yes. She passed her test at seventeen. First time.’
    Ben opened his notebook again. ‘Is her car missing?’
    ‘No. Robert was using it for work the day she went missing.’
    ‘Robert?’
    ‘Her fiancé.’
    ‘So how did she get to work?’
    ‘She got a lift with Seb Smith. They were on the same shift.’
    ‘But she didn’t get a lift home with him?’
    ‘No. Connie said she let her leave about an hour before the end of her shift.’
    Ben wondered why Hannah hadn’t just waited until the end of the shift and got a lift home. Especially if she was in pain. ‘What time did her shift end?’
    ‘Eight.’
    ‘Do you know this Seb Smith?’
    Monica nodded. ‘He’s lovely. Hannah was a bridesmaid when Seb and Kim got married last year. Kim’s Hannah’s best friend.’
    ‘Does Kim work at Sunnyside?’
    ‘No. She’s a hairdresser. She was going to do Hannah’s hair for the wedding.’
    Ben chewed the end of his pencil for a moment. And then: ‘Hannah didn’t phone you for a lift?’
    ‘I don’t drive.’
    ‘So the last person to see her before she went missing was this care manager, Connie Sykes?’
    ‘Yes. Sour old cow reckons she can’t hold Hannah’s job open indefinitely.’
    ‘So much for compassion,’ Maddie said.
    Ben didn’t want to get drawn on protocol. ‘When was Hannah due to get married?’
    ‘August nineteenth.’
    ‘Did she ever mention anything at all that gave you cause for concern?’ Ben asked. ‘Either at work or at home?’
    ‘No. My daughter was happy. She