Shattered Perfection

Twenty Three

DI Crown called her superiors for additional resources. Reece, Autumn and herself had discussed the likelihood of Siobhan being held at any of Roger's properties. Most were in the centre of town on busy streets. Streets that had CCTV. They contained legitimate businesses, some with links with Roger, others that were separate.

As the group stood in the emergency room, Reece had been struck by a thought. What if Roger was the fall guy, the man had his name on everything. It was obvious. The spider's web of crime was all linked to Roger. But who was the spider sitting at the centre?

Janice had always been a mystery. Even Mia, who had dirt on everyone, knew nothing about her. All they knew was that she had known Roger a long time and her husband had died in a really odd way, choking on candyfloss. Reece spoke quietly to DI Crown and Autumn,

'What do you know of Janice?' he asked the policewoman.

'Not much,' she admitted. 'Questions were raised about her husband's death but the coroner ruled it accidental.'

'Was the coroner's name on the list of corrupted individuals in the diary?' Autumn asked softly. DI Crown closed her eyes, she had focussed on names of police and judiciary, not the coroner. There was a list of business owners who were also in Roger's pay, they had been included in the investigation but it was large and time consuming. They hadn't been through the list properly yet.

'Ok,' Reece said, 'So she killed her husband or had her husband killed.'

'It's possible,' DI Crown sighed.

'Does she have any properties where they would have taken her?' Autumn asked. Reece held up his phone and pointed to a point on the map.

'Here,' he said.

Reece and Autumn looked at each other while the DI moved away to put in the call for help. Without saying anything they both moved to the exit. Autumn glanced over her shoulder at her husband who was stood with Vivian. He was watching her closely. Autumn smiled slightly at him, he nodded back at her. He knew his beautiful wife wouldn't sit back and let the police handle it. She would want justice, Autumn-style. The siblings slipped out of the emergency room unnoticed by the others.

Reece got into the passenger seat of Autumn's car. 'You ok driving Aut?' he asked.

'Of course,' she responded quietly.

'I need to text Marjorie, I feel bad leaving and not saying goodbye.'

Autumn watched her brother out of the corner of her eye as she sped out of the hospital car park. 'She will understand.' She responded.

'I hope so.' Reece replied.

They tore through the town heading towards the country house which was in Janice's name left to her by her husband.

Back in the hospital, DI Crown ended her phone call and turned back to the group. She noticed the sibling's absence immediately.

'Where are they?' She demanded.

'Where's who?' Winter responded feigning ignorance. Vivian looked up worriedly.

Marjorie came back from Mia's cubicle. 'What the bloody hell is going on?' she asked crossly. 'Reece has just sent me a text. I thought he was here?'

'He was.' DI Crown said turning back to Winter she asked, 'they've gone, haven't they?'

'Um yep.' Winter admitted.

'Gone where?' Asked Vivian.

'After Roger and Janice,' Winter replied, 'also presumably Siobhan.'

DI Crown made a move to leave. Vivian stopped her with a hand on her arm. 'Not without me.' She said firmly.

Siobhan was surprised at Janice's appearance. She had expected Roger but not her. Janice walked carefully into the room followed by a couple of thickset men. Stereotypical thugs thought Siobhan.

'So glad you have woken up Siobhan,' her sickly-sweet voice said. Siobhan didn't answer. 'Roger will be along in a moment. He would like to have a chat about the status of your relationship. I don't think he's very happy and you know how he gets when he's not happy. I think it might hurt.' She walked up to Siobhan smiling. 'I just wanted to speak to you woman to woman first.' Her hand cupped Siobhan cheek. 'Oh dear, what a mess.' She said inspecting the wound on her cheek. 'But then again, you did break poor Victor's nose.'

'Good.' Siobhan said quietly.

'Good?' Janice said surprised. 'That's not very kind, but then again, you are the ice queen aren't you?' Siobhan just gazed at her coolly without expression on her face, inside she was scared. 'Ah, there she is!' Janice exclaimed with a tinkly laugh. 'The ice queen unable to love or be loved. Unwanted and despised by all the staff and parents at the nursery. No one will shed a tear when you're gone. Roger was right, you are pathetic.'

Janice's smile disappeared from her face. Her spiteful words echoing everything Siobhan had ever thought about herself. The words actually hurt more than her throbbing head. She looked away, unable to maintain eye contact with Janice who smirked, knowing her words had hit home. 'You know,' Janice continued walking across the room, 'it's lucky you have no one. Otherwise we would have had to deal with them too.' Siobhan gulped. 'But maybe you do have someone who cares, perhaps that's where you've been hiding?' Janice turned and looked at Siobhan. 'It would be dreadful if anything happened to them.' Janice smirked. 'And her son.'

'No!' Siobhan couldn't help herself. Janice and Roger could hurt her as much as they wanted but if they went after Viv and Jamie she could never forgive herself. Janice's smirk developed into a full smile. 'Well I might have to go and have a chat with your nurse friend. What is her name? Oh yes, Vivian.'

Siobhan lunged forward unexpectedly surprising the two men stood by the door. Janice, however, was expecting a response from her. Siobhan's nails missed Janice's face by inches as she moved out of the way. Janice brought her hand up and grasped Siobhan's hair, twisting viciously making her cry out and drop to her knees. Small stones on the floor cut into her knees. Janice forced Siobhan's head back, she leaned into her face.

'You will not beat me Siobhan. I will always know what you are going to do before you do. Right, I can't stay here having fun, thanks to you I've got some damage control to do. Then I'll play with your little friend. Bye Siobhan, I won't miss you.'

Janice shoved her head forward making Siobhan fall onto her front. Siobhan lay stunned listening to the shoes walk away.