What Breaks A Detective.

Chapter 15

Uproar ensued. Isabel screamed. Hettie gasped in horror. Newham made a launched attack across the room at Rosamund Winter. Smart held him back until Carmen strode over and dragged the Lieutenant away.

"That's not all of it!" Smart yelled, over everyone's shouts. "That's not the end of the story. There's more to tell, and more to learn. I will admit, though, it does only get worse."

"At least let me cuff her!" Barnes bellowed. Smart was slightly cowed. If there was one thing he had learned over the years, it was not to get in Barnes's way when he was angry.

"Fine" he conceded, and roughly, Rosamund was grabbed and handcuffed to Smart's desk chair. Smart saw a hint of fear in her eyes. She wasn't in a good position here, and she knew it.

"Question Three" Smart sighed, coming over and leaning on his desk, looking patiently at the young girl sitting in it. "When exactly did the swap happen?"

Rosamund sighed, rolling her tongue around her teeth and looking away.

"After the incident at the Plaza Majestic Hotel" she admitted. "She got in the way. After the bombing of the Cardiff train, she was gotten on her way up to see you. In Brighton."

"How did you 'get' her?" Newham asked tetchily. Rosamund looked down at her lap.

"A couple of pairs of hands were hired in" she explained. "Quick crack on the head as she came out the station, quick change of clothes, and off she goes in a cart..."

"To Scotland" Smart cut in curtly. Rosamund nodded.

"And you took her place" the Detective Inspector added.

"I wanted her on my side" Rosamund said. "And she is, now, on my side. I planned to fake her death while she was safe in Scotland, so she could join me. And you've got nothing to pin on either of us, Detective Inspector. You can say I'm R.M. Stephenson until you're blue in the face, but you'll never be able to prove any of it in a courtroom. And Allie'll come and get me, and then we'll be away before anyone can..."

"Oh, stop lying!" Smart snapped. Rosamund stopped mid-flow.

"Oh God" she murmured, looking horrified. "You...you really do know everything, don't you?"

"I really do" Smart replied stiffly. "And I wish you'd just told the truth. Right arm. Sleeve. Up."

"Cuffs" Rosamund pointed out.

Smart crossed to the back of his chair, unlocking the cuffs, but keeping a firm grip on Rosamund's right arm as he set her free. He led her around to the centre of the room, as everyone in it stared at them. Hettie was crying. So was Isabel, and Fisher was comforting her. Newham looked murderous, but Carmen was gripping his shoulder tightly, and didn't seem in a hurry to let go. Arthman was being held back by Barnes. Dr. Scott was gripping his coat cuffs tightly. Quinne looked like he was about to throw something. Smart rolled up the sleeve of Rosamund's dress, to reveal the clean, white, scar-free skin beneath.

"Let me just reiterate for you what we know" he addressed the room, gripping Rosamund's wrist so tightly it was almost hurting her. "We know that Rosamund Winter replaced Alianna Winter last summer, six months ago, in Brighton. We assume that she remained masquerading as her sister until she fell from the bridge. Implying everything we thought was happening to Allie at that time was actually happening to Rosamund."

"Including the scar" Hettie breathed, through the stony silence.

"Including the scar" Smart repeated grimly, staring the girl he now knew to be, in fact, Alianna Winter straight in the eyes.