I don’t want it reporting.’ Her voice was higher pitched than usual and she’d spoken so fast she wondered if he’d listen to her plea or call rank.
He sighed. ‘It’s up to you, I won’t say anything if you don’t want me to.’
She shook her head.
‘Can I help you clean up then? Although if you saw the state of my house it’s debatable just how skilled at cleaning I am.’
She laughed. ‘No, I don’t need any help. Thanks. Did you want me?’
‘I just wanted to let you know that we’ve let Harrison go; his alibi checks out and he seems like a good kid. A patrol found Saul Potter’s car in a lay-by along the road the cleaner you spoke to informed you about. It’s been forensically lifted and taken to be examined. I also wanted to make sure I hadn’t pushed you too hard.’
‘Back to square one then with suspects? That’s good news about the car, maybe something will show up inside that links back to the killer. Oh and no, you definitely didn’t. I’m enjoying this, at least I think I am.’
He laughed. ‘Yes, for the time being. Harrison is still on my list. I’ll leave you to it then.’
She walked him to the door.
He turned to her. ‘If Stan comes back you have to ring the police or me; do not let him inside. You don’t deserve to be treated like this.’
He left and she closed the door behind him, turning the key in the lock. He might be grumpy, but he seemed to care underneath that rough exterior and she liked him even more.
Morgan ran the bath she’d been promising herself all day. She put in some lavender oil, pink Himalayan and Epsom salts, then lit the scented pink candle she kept in the bathroom. A little self-love ritual that her mum used to swear by might make her feel a little better after the crappy two days she’d had. She was unable, though, to pour herself the wine to go with it because her idiot dad had taken everything that contained a drop of alcohol. Instead, she made herself a cup of lavender and lemon tea. The kids at school had taunted her, saying her mum was a witch; Morgan didn’t see it that way. Her mum had been a herbalist; she grew and collected an assortment of herbs which she would then use to make teas and bath oils to soothe worries, aches and pains. There was nothing remotely witchy about her, apart from her love of nature and natural healing.
As Morgan slipped into the steaming water, which smelt divine, she closed her eyes and lay back. Inhaling the lavender, she felt her entire body begin to relax. By the time she’d sipped her tea and let the water go lukewarm she was ready to get dressed in a pair of fresh cotton pyjamas and climb into bed. She’d picked the drawers up and tidied her bedroom so it didn’t look as if it had ever been violated.
Climbing under the soft duvet, she waited for sleep to come. She didn’t think about the long, horrific day she’d had; instead she lay breathing deeply in through her nose and out through her mouth, counting backwards from one hundred until she let out a gentle snore.
Twenty-Three
Morgan’s eyes opened wide. She didn’t need to look at the clock; she knew it was 04.25. The same time she had woken every morning without fail since her mum had died. She missed her more than she could put into words. They’d had a loving friendship that had soothed her soul. It wasn’t a typical mother/daughter relationship; Sylvia had treated her like an equal and not a child. She had never forced her to do homework, insisting that life skills were far more important and weekends were spent gardening, cooking, making batches of herbal teas. Looking back she realised she’d been lucky to have had Sylvia in her life, even though it had only been for the first eighteen years, and she wouldn’t change a second of it. Morgan wished her mum could have talked to her about what was happening in her life instead of deciding to end it.
Considering she’d climbed into her bed just before midnight, she felt refreshed for a change. Perhaps it was the tears she’d cried at the loss of her treasured necklace or the soothing bath she’d had before bed. Whatever it was, she felt better and ready to face the day. Getting up,