A twinge of regret made itself known. Ruby had progressed the investigation without fully exploring who had implicated Nathan in the crimes. Her team had covered the basics, checking out alibis and speaking to all involved. But she should have done more. She had hoped that by capturing the doctor a connection could be made.
It was only now that answers were forthcoming, and Ruby did not like what she’d found. Tweedy’s comment about not wanting her death on his conscience replayed in her mind. His explanation that he had visited her out of concern had only muted the alarm bells ringing. There was nothing to disprove his statement, which said he was at home that night. Cross-checked with the account given by Fingers, the police believed that Nathan was responsible for hiding the evidence beneath his bed. That was until the investigation took a turn and Doctor Tanner was caught for the crimes. Given his ingenuity, it seemed acceptable that Tanner had gained entry into the Crosby home. As if he would return to the very people responsible for his injuries. It was all too convenient and that morning, as Ruby visited the working men’s club, she knew what she had to do.
In the tiny back office she was left alone to view the CCTV. Sitting amongst cardboard boxes full of junk and out-of-date newspapers, she prayed her suspicions were wrong. She could not bear for her old school friend to be lying to her. How would she break it to Nathan? The level of trust he carried in his heart would shrink even smaller. Ruby drew in a sharp intake of breath. There, in black and white was a figure she recognised. Propping up the bar was Nathan’s employee, Fingers, and the time and date matched when he was supposed to be covering for Tweedy Steve. She pressed the pause button, leaning in for a better look.
‘No,’ she whispered.
It changed everything. If Fingers wasn’t working, Tweedy had been lying about his whereabouts that night. Ruby felt like she had been punched in the gut. Tweedy could get time in prison for perverting the course of justice. Then there was Lenny Crosby to think about – what would he do to Tweedy if he found out? This wasn’t just a murder investigation, this was a serial killing, a high-profile one at that. It came down to one thing: could her old school friend have been working with the doctor to set Nathan up? Had he got in over his head and was unable to escape? This was something she would have to deal with herself.
Ruby gathered up all her strength as she knocked on Tweedy’s door. He did not appear surprised to see her as he allowed her inside.
‘I know why you’re here,’ he said flatly, as her stern expression relayed that this was not a social call.
‘Best I come in then,’ she said, wiping her boots on the doormat in the hall.
‘You know about my alibi, don’t you?’ Tweedy said. ‘I knew I was taking a risk coming to the nick to warn you, but I couldn’t let you walk into danger knowing that I had a part to play in it.’
Ruby shook her head, unable to comprehend what she was hearing. ‘How could you? After all Nathan’s done. Were you jealous of his success, was that it? Or were you being blackmailed? What sort of trouble have you got yourself into, Steve?’ She dropped the nickname; such things were reserved for friends, and their friendship had been broken in two.
Steve crossed his arms, tucking his hands under the armpits of his sweater. ‘It’s not what you think. I knew that you’d get Nathan out of it eventually, and it did him some good getting away from his family. We never really talk much when he’s at home. When he stayed here, he really opened up.’
‘Your bromance is very touching. How about you tell that to the victims’ families?’ Ruby inhaled a deep breath as she calmed her rising temper. ‘You directed Tanner to the girls so he could get his revenge. Then you told him you’d protect him in exchange for Ellie’s organs, and I’m guessing you stole Nathan’s watch. It makes me sick to the stomach. Yet here you are pretending to be his friend when all along, you planted the evidence under his bed.’
‘You’ve got it all wrong,’ Steve’s face paled. ‘I never intended for any of this.’
‘It seems pretty clear to me,’ Ruby said, her gaze imparting little sympathy.
‘I couldn’t tell you the truth – Lenny would have killed me. Besides, the damage had been done. I just had to place my faith in you, that you’d find the killer and bring him in.’
‘You sat back and allowed him to slaughter those poor young people, all the while knowing who it was. You know I just can’t leave it at that, don’t you?’ Ruby unfurled her handcuffs from their pouch. ‘I’m bringing you in for this.’
‘Wait.’ Steve raised his palms open in a gesture of surrender. ‘Please, sit down. It’s time you knew the truth.’