Jessica looked over at him, still sleeping peacefully, hair tousled. How did she get so lucky? She’d never considered herself to be beautiful, or clever, or even particularly humorous. Yet here she was, watching the man of her dreams sleeping on a Sunday morning, bathed in the soft glow of sunlight filtering through the voiles at the window.
Wait! Sunday? How could she forget? Checking the time on her watch she realised she had forty-five minutes to make it to her parent’s house for breakfast. She crept over to the bed and kissed his forehead.
“I’m sorry my love, I have to go. Be back later.”
Creeping out of the bedroom, she made her way through the lounge to the kitchen. Just enough time to prepare his coffee cup for when he awoke – all he’d have to do is put hot water in. Jessica smiled, she loved spoiling him in little ways, ways that most people wouldn’t even notice. Preparing the coffee, tidying the lounge, watering the plants and, on one occasion, doing the grocery shop. She’d seen by his reaction that he wasn’t too happy with that though, so she hadn’t done it again. Maybe she’d bought the wrong brand of washing powder or something?
Jessica peeked into the bedroom before she left and saw that he’d turned over, now facing away from her. Her heart swelled as she looked at the curve of his back, the little curl of hair at the nape of his neck. She turned to leave and missed seeing something shiny on the pillow glinting in the sunlight.
Closing the front door softly behind her, she thought again about how lucky she was.
*****
Max groaned and rolled over, stretching his arms above his head. How much had he had to drink last night? He didn’t think it was that much, four or five beers? Must be getting old. He was parched, but the bottle of water on his nightstand was empty – ah there was one on the other nightstand! He rolled onto the other side of the bed and grabbed it, opening it and drinking the whole bottle at once. Bit weird tasting and warm but much better. Throwing back the duvet he realised he was naked and looked around for his clothes. Usually, drunk Max would throw things everywhere, there’d be socks on the dresser, trousers in the lounge – but he found his clothes neatly folded on the chair, with his phone on top of the pile.
Shrugging, he got dressed and checked his phone. Eight messages, all from Dan.
21:33 Who’s the blonde?
21:57 Are you coming back?
22:03 I’m drinking your beer. Bitch.
23:12 I’ve lost you again. Where you at?
23:51 Dude, you’re supposed to let me know when you’ve pulled.
00:31 Hello???
01:47 Max. Bro code dictates that you let me know where you are, who you’re with, and if she has a friend. Also, I might be a bit worried.
02:59 Call me ASAP.
Max was confused. He remembered reading the first three messages. He’d been cornered by some drunk blonde girl on a hen night and couldn’t get away. He’d ended up telling her he was going for a cigarette and slipped out onto the balcony. Where he’d got locked out, along with a girl and… a tray of shots! That would be why he felt so crap. Someone had let them both in at about the same time Dan had said he was drinking the beer, Max remembered getting back to the bar and snatching it off of Dan.
So why were the messages marked as unread?
Drunk Max was an idiot, that’s why. Heading into the lounge, he called Dan.
“Max?? Thank god dude.”
“What’s up?” Max was relieved to see that he hadn’t trashed the lounge.
“Where the hell were you? I’ve been worried sick.” Dan wasn’t his usual cheerful self, in fact, he sounded panicked.
“As far as I know I’ve been at home.” Max walked through to the kitchen. “One hell of a hangover though. Why?”
“Your blonde friend? The one with the sash you were cosying up to by the balcony? She’s dead man. Someone told the police you were talking to her right before her friends lost her, and now they want to talk to you.”
Max stopped abruptly. “What?? I didn’t do anything to her, I was trying to get away. I went on to the balcony and got stuck out there.” He rubbed his hand over his face. “Tell them to check the CCTV. I was out there for about twenty minutes with some plain Jane and her shots.” He flicked the kettle on and noticed the cup on the side. “That’s weird.”
“What is?” Dan exhaled sharply. “You’ll have to tell them yourself. They’re coming to you.”
“Yeah, yeah, ok.” Max stared at the cup as though it was the first time he’d seen one. “In all the years you’ve known me, have I ever owned a mug that says ‘World’s Best Boyfriend’?”
Dan snorted. “You? Never had a girlfriend long enough. Why?”
Max held the cup up and inspected it. “Because there’s currently one in my hand with coffee and milk in it.” He put it down and continued, “Also, all my messages from last night were marked as unread and my clothes were folded in a pile. And I swore I heard the door closing, which is what woke me up.” He looked around the unusually clean kitchen. “Something just feels… off.”
“Well, a girl you were cosying up with is now dead, so I’d say something is off alright.”
A knock at the door disturbed their conversation, after promising to call Dan back later, Max answered the door.
“Maxwell Atkins?” A smartly dressed woman motioned to her colleague. “I’m DC Samantha Stanley, this is DC Dean Francis. Mind if we come in?”
Max nodded and led them through to the kitchen. “I was expecting you, Dan told me what happened to that poor girl. Coffee?”
“No thank you, we won’t keep you long. Just a couple of questions about last night. We’ve already spoken to your friend Dan McKenzie, just need your side of things.” DC Stanley looked around the kitchen, eyes settling on the random mug.
“Let’s go through into the lounge, no seating in here.” Max poured water into the cup, stirred it then led the way and settled himself into a chair, leaving the sofa for the two constables. He sniffed. Was that perfume?
“So, Mr Atkins,” DC Francis leant forward, elbows on knees. “We have reason to believe you were talking with our victim last night. In fact, her friends say she was talking with you, then vanished. Care to elaborate?”
Max sat back, and sipped his coffee, he had nothing to hide. “Yes, if she’s the girl I’m thinking of then I did talk to her. Hen party or something. She was drunk, got me trapped between a wall and a table, telling me all about the upcoming wedding and how she’d not been lucky enough to find a man. Asked me to go home with her.” Seeing the look passed between the two detectives, he hurriedly continued “I politely declined and went to hide on the balcony.” Max looked down at the cup in his hands and softly said “I lied to her. Told her I was going for a cigarette.” He looked back up. “I don’t even smoke. Maybe if I’d stayed, she’d still be alive?”
DC Francis nodded slowly. “Maybe. Why did you lie to her?”
“Honestly? I just wasn’t in the mood for girls hitting on me. Bit preoccupied.” He gulped half of the coffee down then looked back at the detective.
DC Francis smirked. “And then where did you go? After the balcony?”
“Well, I got locked out for about 20 minutes. Couldn’t open the bloody balcony door from the outside. There’s CCTV out there. You’ll see I was out there and for how long. There was a girl out there too with a tray of shots.” Max rubbed his head. “I may have helped her drink some of them.”
Another look passed between the two detectives. Max couldn’t figure it out. The woman detective got up. “Mind if I take a look around?”
Max shrugged. “If you feel you need to. I had a bit to drink last night, the shots with plain Jane didn’t help – I’m a bit hazy after that, I don’t remember getting home, but I think I’d remember killing someone.”
DC Stanley nodded, “I’m sure you didn’t, but we just have to make sure.”
Max pointed out the bedroom, bathroom and cupboard, telling the woman to look wherever she wanted, then looked back at DC Francis.
“Why’d you call her ‘plain Jane’? The girl on the balcony.” He sat back and watched Max.
“Umm… I don’t know. It just describes her, that’s all. Rather plain looking, plain clothes.” Max tilted his head to one side, thinking. “It was a bit odd actually.” Seeing Francis’ raised eyebrow, he sat forward. “It was just odd that she was out on the balcony with a tray full of shots, on her own. There were only two groups of girls – the hen party, and a group celebrating at 40th birthday – she didn’t look like she belonged with either.”
Francis nodded and made a note in his book. Then watched as DC Stanley made her way into the bedroom. “Had you seen her before the balcony? Or anywhere after that?”
“Umm, not before the balcony, no.” Max rubbed his temples, his headache was getting worse. “I think I may have seen her after, but I’m not sure where.” He sighed deeply. “Or even if I actually did see her.”
DC Francis shot him a quizzical glance as DC Stanley re-emerged from the bedroom holding something up.
“Did you have any visitors last night? Or is this your girlfriends?” She held up a delicate gold necklace, with a small “J” hanging from it.
Max was looking at the corner of the coffee table, his head was thumping. He didn’t even glance up as he answered. “I came home on my own, as far as I know. I don’t remember bringing anyone back.” He tried to put the coffee cup down and missed the table. “Oh bugger!” His head was swimming now, he tried to stand to grab a tissue and the whole room tilted to one side then went black.
*****
Jessica had enjoyed the breakfast with her parents. They’d had waffles, pancakes and plenty of fresh fruit. They’d talked about everything – their retirement, an upcoming holiday, Jessica’s new job. She’d waited until they were sipping freshly brewed coffee before telling them about Max. Her mother had been delighted to hear that she’d found someone, wanted to know everything about him. Her father, on the other hand, had been rather gruff. Probably just being protective of his only living daughter. Her sister had been murdered a few years ago, and he hadn’t been the same since.
She walked along happily, passing dog walkers and couples. Her luck had definitely changed. Her mother was smiling, she was happy and Max was just the best thing in the world to her. That’s why she’d bought him the mug, so he knew.
Rounding the corner to Max’s house, she was passed by a police car going in the same direction as her, then an ambulance, and a dark car with two occupants going the opposite way. She was oblivious to one of the car's passengers turning in their seat to look at her.
*****
“Mr Atkins? Can you hear me?”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“Detective. As I’ve said to your colleague, you’ll know when I know. Now please give me some space to see to this man.”
“Righto Doc McKay. Come on Stan, we’ll get a coffee while we wait.”
The sound of a door closing, then someone shuffling around.
“Mr Atkins?”
Max groaned and tried to open his eyes; it was bright. Too bright. He sluggishly brought his arm up to shield his face but got caught in something.
“Mr Atkins. I’m Doctor McKay.” The doctor guided his arm back down to rest on the bed. “Careful there, you’ll pull your IV out. Give me a minute.”
Max heard the doctor move away, then the light dimmed. He gingerly opened one eye and saw that the doctor had pulled the blinds closed. He tried to say thank you but only a weird sound came out. Max felt panic rise up and attempted to sit up, but the Doctor came rushing over and placed his hands on Max’s shoulders, pushing him back down.
“Take it easy Mr Atkins. Please just lay back and rest. We haven’t figured out what happened yet, still waiting for tox results, but your MRI was clear.” Letting go and sitting down, the Doctor smiled “that’s good news, at least.”
Max plopped back against the pillows, his head felt slushy and his mouth was dry. He motioned to a jug of water on the table and the doctor produced a cup of water and a straw, holding the straw to Max’s lips. Oh god, that felt good.
Max drained the cup, then looked back to the man in the white coat. It took a couple of tries, but he finally managed to blurt out “what happened?”
“All I know is what the detectives told me; they were talking to you at your house. You looked as though you had a headache, then spilt your coffee and blacked out.” He looked at Max with concern. “I have to ask – did you take anything?”
“No, other than alcohol last night.” Max shook his head, “I don’t do drugs. I don’t smoke. I don’t often drink, maybe two nights a month.” He used the hand without the wires and tubes to wipe his eyes. “I thought I just had a hangover.”
“Did you maybe take a drink from anyone else? Anyone you don’t know?” The doctor looked up as the two detectives re-entered the room.
“We know the answer to that one.” Detective Francis walked around the bed and placed a steaming cup next to Max. “I’m afraid you’ll have to tell us what you can remember about plain Jane.”
*****
Jessica let herself into Max’s house and went through to the kitchen. She noticed the mug was gone and smiled softly to herself. He must have taken his coffee back to bed with him as she couldn’t hear any noise. Moving through to the lounge, she noticed the coffee table was out of place and the sofa had been moved slightly. Weird, maybe Max had been looking for something? She decided to pop her head in the bedroom to check he was ok. As Jessica moved past the wonky sofa, she noticed Max’s phone on the seat cushion and something under the coffee table – the cup she’d bought for him was on its side, contents soaked into the carpet and splashed upon the table legs. It was still warm. She dashed back into the kitchen and grabbed a tea towel, then hurried back into the lounge. Kneeling down, she was attempting to soak up the spilt coffee with the towel when something caught her attention.
Blood. On the corner of the coffee table and on the carpet.
Clean up forgotten, Jessica rushed to the bedroom and flung open the door. Max was gone. Swallowing a wave of panic, she checked the bathroom before pulling out her phone and calling her dad.
“Dad? Something’s happened. I came back to Max’s, there’s blood on the floor and he’s not here.” She ran her hand through her hair as she looked around aimlessly. “His phone’s still here.” She could feel the salty sting of fresh tears threatening to spill and took a deep breath.
“Ok honey, calm down. Leave everything as it is and call the police.” Her dad was matter-of-fact, unwavering and calm. “Give me his address and I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Oh dad, I…” Jessica spun around at the sound of the front door opening. “Oh! He’s back, I can hear him. I’ll call you later.” She hung up and raced through to the hall.
*****
“Righto, thanks.” DC Francis ended the phone call and looked over to Max and DC Stanley. Max was now sitting up, looking less pale and more awake. “Looks like you were wrong about your plain Jane. Her name is Mary Stagg. It was her hen do. The shots were supposed to be for the whole group, but you got there first.” He smiled and patted Max’s shoulder. “She said you were out there with her for twenty-two minutes before the barman let you both back in, and you only had one shot. Must have been all the beer.”
“One? Max rubbed his head. “It felt like more.” He looked up in panic as a sudden realisation hit him. “Is she ok? I mean… I’m in the hospital after only one shot.”
“She’s fine. We don’t think it was the shots, the whole group is ok other than a hangover and the shock of their friend being murdered.” DC Francis slurped from a polystyrene cup. “We don’t think you had anything to do with that, actually.”
Max shook his head sadly, “All I did was talk to her.”
“We know.” Francis looked up as the door opened and the doctor's head appeared.
“Could I have a quick word please detectives?” He smiled at Max. “Won’t be a moment Mr Atkins.”
DCs Stanley and Francis followed Dr McKay out into the hall, DC Stanley raised an eyebrow.
“What’ve you got?”
“Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate.”
“English please, Doc.” DC Francis looked up from his notebook and flashed a brief smile before looking back down as Dr McKay sighed, then continued.
“GHB. In the levels detected, it would have acted within five, maybe ten minutes at the most.” The doctor pointed out a series of numbers on the printout he was holding. “Alcohol levels were low, as you’d expect the morning after the night before.” He looked directly at DC Francis, “The numbers correlate with what Mr Atkins has said, he didn’t drink a lot at all.”
Francis held his hands up in mock surrender. “Ok, I’ll apologise when you let us back in the room.”
“Wait…” DC Stanley held a hand up to interrupt. “Did you say the GHB would have affected him within five to ten minutes?” As the doctor nodded, she turned back to DC Francis. “That means he was dosed while we were there, or just before. I highly doubt he drugged himself.”
DC Francis heaved himself up from the wall. “The coffee…”
The two detectives ran down the hospital hallway, shouting a hurried thank you over their shoulders as Dr McKay entered Max’s room.
*****
The dark car parked behind a red pick-up, and the two detectives exited.
“Are you sure?”
“For the last time, yes. I’m sure it was her, or her doppelganger.” DC Francis huffed.
“Fair enough.” DC Stanley surveyed the house they’d left a couple of hours ago. “Hey, Dean? Were the curtains drawn when we left?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” He looked over. “More to the point, was the front door open?”
Samantha Stanley shook her head, “nope. I made sure to close and lock it behind the paramedics.”
She fumbled in her pocket and produced the keys, jingling them in Dean Francis’ face.
“Then I’d say we have a bit of a problem. Call for backup, I’ll take a quick look.” DC Stanley got her phone out as he moved cautiously up to the house, keeping an eye open for any movement. Once at the open door, he stopped and listened. He could just about make out the sound of a voice, but couldn’t see anyone from his position. Remaining silent, he scooted back to the car where Samantha was finishing the call.
“There’s a car about one minute away, I’ve told them no sirens.” She nodded her head to the house.
“What’d you see?”
“Not much.” Francis looked up and down the street. “Can hear a voice, but couldn’t see anyone. Is there a back door?”
“Yeah, leads to a small garden.” DC Stanley saw a police car swing around the corner and stop on the other side of the road. “They’re here.”
Two policemen scurried across the road and joined them, hidden from view of the house by the red pick-up.
“No time for introductions I’m afraid.” DC Stanley was all business. “Front door leads into a hall. On the left is the kitchen, straight ahead is the lounge, bathroom off the lounge on the left, bedroom off lounge straight ahead, also with a door to the bathroom. There’s a door from the lounge to the garden at the back.” She regarded them one by one. “All got it?”
The three men nodded.
“I like it when you’re bossy.” Francis winked at her then turned to the two men. “Be careful, please. We’ve no idea who’s in there, or why. The current occupant is sitting in the hospital after being drugged.”
“Right, you – with me, we’ll take the back.” Stanley pointed to the taller of the two policemen, “and you with Francis through the front.”
*****
DC Dean Francis unholstered his pistol and led the way to the front of the house then paused. He motioned for the man behind him to stop, then listened once again at the open door. He could hear sounds from the back of the house, but not voices this time. Slipping silently through the door and into the hall, he saw that the lounge door wasn’t entirely open, but could make out movement from behind it. Signalling for his companion to check the kitchen, he sidled up to the door making sure he remained hidden. From his position, he could see the doors to the bathroom and bedroom, the latter was wide open with no one inside the room. Sensing movement behind him, Francis turned and saw his new friend, who mouthed the word “empty”. Good, there was no one in the kitchen.
Catching movement from the corner of his eye, DC Francis turned his attention back to the bedroom and through the window saw DC Stanley and the other officer cautiously making their way to the garden. With the lounge door opening into the room, he felt safe to wave to get her attention. She looked right at him and he pointed into the lounge to hopefully make her aware there was someone there. She nodded and disappeared from view.
From being here earlier, DC Francis knew that to his right was the sofa, with an armchair directly opposite. The coffee table was between them, with a TV unit on the far wall. In front of him, visible from the doorway, was a small dining table – not exactly the best place to hide, but he needed to see DC Stanley and the officer when they joined the party.
Whispering his plan to the other man, who nodded in agreement, they braced themselves to make a run for the dining table unseen.
*****
DC Samantha Stanley led PC Hollins down an alleyway to the back of the house, he’d not spoken other than to tell her his name and was following her directions without question. Arriving at the back of the house she motioned for him to stop and pointed to a window.
“Bedroom.” she whispered and peeked in. The door was wide open and the room was empty. She shook her head at Hollins and began to move cautiously past the window when something made her stop. Almost bumping into her, Hollings whispered “What?”
Stanley was looking through the bedroom door, she could see the partially open lounge door and DC Francis pointing into the lounge frantically.
“Suspect in the living room.” She whispered back, then nodded and continued on to the garden. Once at the garden gate, they’d peeked over the fence and seen that the lounge curtains were closed, including the one for the back door.
“See if you can get the gate open quietly, I’ll keep an eye out.” She checked her weapon was ready and waited.
Hollings nodded and carefully reached over the top of the gate, feeling for the latch. It opened noiselessly and they both crept through and made their way to the curtained windows. Glancing through a slight gap, Samantha could make out a figure pacing behind the sofa – hooded, and carrying a knife. The coffee table was tipped over on its side. The person paced back to the TV and she saw a blur race from the door to the dining table, followed by a second one. Francis and whatever his name was. Crouching down and motioning for Hollings to do the same, she grabbed the door handle praying it was unlocked.
It was, DC Stanley began to nervously open the door.
*****
“So how are you feeling Mr Atkins?” Dr McKay was busy checking notes and examining the IV, he hadn’t mentioned his conversation with the detectives since returning to the room.
“Like I’ve been hit by a bus.” Max attempted a laugh, “but I’m ok. Hungry, and a headache, but ok.” He watched the doctor write some notes then move around to the other side of the bed, where he sat on the edge of the chair.
“I’ll ask a nurse to bring you some painkillers.” Dr McKay checked his watch, then looked back at Max. “I’m sorry, but there’s still two hours until lunch rounds. I could ask the nurse to get you a sandwich from the canteen, if that’ll be ok?”
Max shook his head, “oh no, don’t go to any hassle for me. I could go myself.” He attempted to heave himself out of bed but was overcome with a wave of dizziness.
“Careful now!” Dr McKay grabbed Max’s shoulders and helped him back into the bed. “We’ll get you a sandwich and a drink, you just rest.” The Dr regarded him gravely, then cleared his throat. ”I have to ask. Why would someone drug you? The detectives seemed to think the GHB was in your coffee – did it taste soapy or salty to you?”
“No, it tasted like coffee. I’ve no idea why someone would do that, as far as I know, I haven’t offended anyone.” Max shrugged and sighed. “I don’t even remember getting home last night, or what I did when I got there.”
“Sometimes it helps to go back to the last thing you remember and talk it through from there.” Dr McKay sat back in the chair and laced his fingers together. “So, what do you remember from last night? After meeting Miss Stagg on the balcony.”
Max sank back into the pillows and closed his eyes. “The barman let us back in, I watched her go back to her friends and then went to the bar to find Dan. He’d texted me a few times while I was away from him. Said he was going to drink my beer so I took it off of him.” He opened his eyes and looked at the doctor forlornly. “I don’t really remember much after that; a few flashes of Dan, getting into a car – might have been a taxi. But that’s it.”
“You don’t remember being home? Anything you might have done? Anyone you brought back with you?” Dr McKay glanced around as a nurse came in and beckoned him over. “I’m sorry, it seems I’m needed elsewhere. I’ll get that sandwich sent over.” He left the room with the nurse, and Max closed his eyes and groaned.
“I wish I could remember.”
*****
“He’s mine. He’s always been mine. You whores keep getting in the way. What is it going to take for you to understand?”
DC Francis and his companion squatted behind the dining table listening to the hooded figure. The suspect was facing away from the two men, and they had yet to see a face. Glancing toward the curtains that covered the room length windows and garden door, Francis could faintly see a shadow moving outside. Stanley. He turned to the man next to him and held his finger up, then looked back to the door.
“You have no right to be here. No right to Max.” The individual was shouting now. “You’re the reason Max is in the hospital right now. That water was meant for you, you slut!” They crouched down at the end of the sofa, and Francis knew that Samantha was about to make her move. The curtain moved slightly, then two figures burst into the room. Almost simultaneously, Francis and his accomplice jumped up from behind the table and ran over to where the suspect was.
“PUT THE KNIFE DOWN.”
“UP AGAINST THE WALL.”
It was organised chaos – Stanley and Francis each had their gun trained on the suspect, the two other men bundled the person against the wall and restrained them, one radioed for another car.
“Oh, Jesus.” DC Stanley was looking at the floor. “Better call for an ambulance too boys.” She crouched down.
DC Francis stepped around the end of the sofa and saw a girl lying behind the overturned coffee table. Her hair was tangled over her face, and she had two visible stab wounds to her abdomen, her blood was mingling with that of Max’s from earlier. Samantha checked the girl’s pulse, she looked up at Dean.
“She’s still alive.”
Overcome with rage, DC Francis stormed over to the wall and roughly grabbed the hood of the offender. “Let’s see who we’re dealing with then, shall we?” He yanked the hood down and was met with a grinning face he’d seen before.
“He’s never going to be happy unless he’s with me, I love him. He’s mine.” Dan McKenzie laughed in the detective’s face and kept on laughing the entire way to the station.
*****
“He’s mental.”
“I’m pretty sure you’re not allowed to say that anymore.” DC Stanley stirred her coffee, then looked back to DC Francis. “But you’re right.”
The detectives had followed back to the station and listened in on the interview with Dan McKenzie, leaving PCs Hollins and Matthews to accompany the girl to the hospital. Dean Francis had been shocked to see the girls face – she was the double of a girl murdered four years ago. The same girl he’d seen on the street while taking Max to hospital.
Dan McKenzie had confessed to killing the girl from the bar because she’d been flirting with Max, but not until he’d slipped GHB into Max’s beer and taken him home. He’d laughed the entire way through the interview, seeming extremely pleased with himself and telling the officers that Max was sure to love him now he’d killed the “competition”. Dan had gone back to the house to get rid of the water bottle after seeing the ambulance leave, not realising the girl was there.
“There’s one thing I don’t understand. Why did he want to drug and kill the girl? And why was she in Max’s house?” Stanley threw her empty cup into the bin.
“That’s two things.” Francis smirked at her. “But I think we might be about to find out.” He pointed down the hospital hallway to Dr McKay, who joined them with a small smile.
“She’s going to be ok. Shall we?” He opened the door to Max’s room and they all filed in.
Max looked up at their arrival, and seeing the sombre faces, sat up straight. “What’s happened?”
The two detectives exchanged glances, then Francis spoke. “As you know, we went back to your house for your coffee cup. There was someone there when we arrived.” He folded his hands in front of him then continued, “Dan McKenzie had stabbed a girl in your lounge. He was under the impression that you were his. That he loved you, and no one else could have you.”
Eyes wide with surprise, Max paled and slumped back. “Dan… did what?” He shook his head, “No. He’s never said anything. He…” He sat up abruptly and looked at Francis in horror. “Jessica? Is Jessica ok? She’d gone to see her parents… oh god…”
“Jessica?” DC Stanley looked at her colleague in surprise.
“Jessica Jones. She’s…” Max looked down sadly. “She’s my girlfriend.” He looked back to the detectives imploringly. “Please tell me she’s ok.”
“She’ll be fine Mr Atkins; we’ve stitched her up and she’s resting. You need to rest too.” Dr McKay turned to DC Francis who was muttering something under his breath. “What was that?”
“Jones… Jones…” Francis looked at Max intensely. “Did she have a sister? Amy?”
“Yes, Amy was murdered about four years ago.” Max looked up in shock. “Do you think… did Dan…?”
DC Francis turned to Samantha, “That’s why I recognised her. I worked on her sisters missing person case.” Turning back to Max, he added “I don’t think Dan had anything to do with that, but I’ll look into it.”
Stanley stepped forward and gently asked: “Mr Atkins, why didn’t you tell us you had a girlfriend? When I brought the necklace out this morning?”
Max sighed and looked at the blanket. “It’s stupid, but I’d had such bad luck with girls. I’d tell everyone all about this amazing girl, then they’d just disappear when things were going great. One even emailed me to say she’d left the country because of me.” He wiped his face. “I just wanted to keep Jessica a secret for a little bit longer.” He looked up, stray tears rolling down his cheeks. “I just wanted to keep her safe.”
*****
Jessica watched Max through a haze, she wiped her eyes and the room came into view. He was sleeping, scrunched up in the scruffy hospital chair, hair tousled with ribbons of sunlight falling over his face. He’d come to her room as soon as the detectives had gone back to the station, and he hadn’t left yet. He’d apologised for not remembering he’d texted her last night, explained he’d been drugged by Dan, and thanked her for looking after drunk Max.
She smiled peacefully. The kind doctor had told her that she was going to be ok, that she was lucky Dan had missed her major organs.
She looked back over to Max as he stirred, opened his eyes, and smiled at her.
She was very lucky indeed.
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