Hooker(96)

One week later and a total of nine bodies have been recovered. It appears we have a mass murderer on our hands. Of course at this stage, there’s no certainty that M is the culprit, but in my heart I know better. All the bodies had been tied and weighed down using identical materials. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out it was all the work of the same person.

The discovery makes me realise just how lucky we were. As Jade says, she could’ve easily been M’s tenth victim. That thought makes me sick to the stomach.

The police say it’s going to take a number of weeks before any of the identities will be known, and some of the remains may never be identified, but at least they have Rupert’s DNA. If Sasha is among them, we’ll find out soon enough. For his sake, I hope he gets the answers he’s been craving. He’s waited twelve painful years.

The police are organising a search to be carried out at M’s and Rocco’s houses. As well as looking for evidence, they’re going to try to match the list of missing persons against M’s past employees. Rocco has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder, and M is still on remand for kidnapping Jade. The detective assured me that until they had proof otherwise, neither of them would be walking free. For the interim at least, we can breathe easy.





CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO


JADE

Rupert was finally discharged from the hospital and is settling into my apartment. He seems content to have me doting over him. I’m enjoying looking after him. Brock has finally gone back to work, so having Rupert here means I have company during the day while he’s gone.

Brock spends his nights here. The only time he ventures back to his place is to collect more clothes. Not only am I keeping him from his home, we aren’t getting much alone time. Even once we go to bed we have to be careful not to make too much noise. Easier said than done. Maybe once Rupert’s well enough to look after himself again, Brock and I can start spending more time at his house. For now, Rupert needs me.

‘Here you go,’ I say, passing Rupert a cup of tea and placing a plate of biscuits on the small table beside his seat.

‘Thanks. You don’t have to wait on me like this. My arm may be out of action for a while, but I’m not an invalid.’

‘I know, but I want to. You may not admit it, but I can tell you’re enjoying having someone looking after you. I know you better than you think.’ I give him a wink and he blushes as he tries to suppress his smile.

‘It’s been a long time since a woman, or anyone for that matter, has looked after me like this. I may be slightly enjoying it.’

I laugh at his reply. Slightly, my arse—he’s loving every minute of it.

‘Well, get used to it. I like looking after you. You looked after me for years.’

‘Thank you.’

Taking the seat beside him, I place my hand on his arm. ‘How are you holding up?’ I worry about him. He’s been quiet and withdrawn for the past few days. Waiting for news about Sasha is hard for him.

‘I need confirmation.’ He scrubs his hand over his face. ‘It’s taking too long. I’m so close, but not knowing is eating away at me. In my heart, I know one of those bodies pulled from the dam is my baby girl.’ When he chokes up, tears rise to my eyes. ‘I just want to bring her home and give her the burial she deserves.’

‘Oh Rupert,’ I say, wiping a stray tear from my eye before reaching for his aging hand. ‘We should hear something any day now.’



Three more agonising days was how long poor Rupert had to wait before the answers finally came. He seemed to sink deeper into himself with every day that passed. Brock and I were concerned for him so when the call finally came through, we accompanied him to the coroner’s office. He needed all the support he could get.

‘Take a seat,’ the coroner offers the moment we step into his office. As soon as we’re seated, I reach for Rupert’s hand. It trembles in mine. He’s barely spoken a word since the call came through.

‘Mr Taylor,’ the coroner begins, ‘I’m sorry it has taken so long for us to get back to you. I’m sure this hasn’t been an easy time for you. Let me assure you, my team has been working tirelessly over the past few weeks. So far we’ve managed to identify four of the nine bodies recovered. All four of the females identified to date worked for Melody Sinclair at some point in time.’ The coroner pauses. ‘I’m sorry to inform you, sir, that one set of remains has been positively identified as your daughter, through the DNA you supplied.’

I knew the coroner was going to say Sasha was among the victims, but knowing doesn’t stop a gasp from escaping me. Rupert rips his hand from mine and stands. The coroner, Brock and I watch as he starts to pace back and forth. Even though we were prepared for this outcome, Rupert’s reaction tears my heart in two. He pauses briefly before clutching his head in his hands and stays like that for a few seconds before covering his face. Then his shoulders slump, and his entire body starts to shake. Tears rise to my eyes when a heart-shattering cry of pain tears from deep inside him, before he collapses to his knees and sobs his heart out. I’m off the chair and wrapping him in my arms before I even register what I’m doing. I just hold him for the longest time while he grieves for his only daughter. What else can I do? There are no words strong enough to comfort a parent who has lost their child.