Ruby’s fingers hovered over the email software on her phone. As confident as Lenny had appeared there was always a chance that he would come up blank. Luddy was yet to come up with something concrete, so she could not waste a second. She had to get in contact with her mystery email sender. Helen had not reported any further communications, but equipped with an email address it was too good an opportunity to miss. The plan was to attempt some direct communication just to test them out and see if it really was a hoax.
She typed in the address and in the subject box typed ‘RUBY PRESTON’ in capital letters.
‘Dear Lucy,
If you were trying to get my attention, you have succeeded. Although what you claim is untrue, I would be happy to discuss the matter with you further. I suggest we meet. I am guessing that you do not live far away.
Ruby Preston’
Ruby stared at the words on her phone. At least for now she would send it from her personal account. She did so in the hope that the original sender would believe they had some kind of secret communication going on. She pressed send before she changed her mind. Normally she would shrug off such communications, but three letters had played heavily on her mind.
‘RIP.’
Written in brackets beside her name, Ruby knew this was no death threat. It was her middle name. Ruby Imogen Preston. A secret she had kept close to her chest. The only places it was recorded were on her birth certificate and that of her daughter’s, Lucy Preston. It was a possibility that Lucy’s name had been changed too. Her daughter could be anyone, but the meaning was clear. The use of ‘RIP’ was sending a message that only she and Lucy would understand. Ruby prayed she was wrong, but all the same she had to warn Downes. But the investigation was going at the pace of a steam train, and it was difficult to get him alone even for five minutes without interruption. Meeting for a drink after work was a definite no-no. For all she knew she was being watched. She certainly felt as if eyes were following her home. Could it really be her daughter trying to get in touch? And if so, was she responsible for the murders of Harry, Emily, and Charlotte?
As if on cue, Downes knocked on her door, making her jump in her chair.
‘Briefing in ten. Are you alright?’ he said.
Ruby signalled to him to close the door behind him. A fatal stabbing had come in overnight, a young man named Andy Hughes. He had been waiting for the bus when a gang of youths approached: picking a fight for no reason other than the fact he was there. He did not stand a chance.
‘There’s something I have to tell you,’ Ruby said, pulling out the well-worn paper and laying it flat on her desk. He leaned over her shoulder, and she was pleased to find the absence of alcohol on his breath. She knew he had been trying, and it was probably why he had been looking so rough. The crumpled suit, his unshaven face; he was detoxing, and there was never a good time for that in the police.
‘What the hell?’ Downes said as he read and reread the email. ‘Where did you get that?’
‘From Helen. She’s a journalist, but don’t worry, I’ve sorted it, and it’s not as if she can print it anyway.’
He frowned. ‘Do you think it’s the same person who sent the letters to Emily?’
‘There are similarities.’ Ruby pointed out the punctuation marks – the full stop that preceded the first line – ‘But that could just be bad grammar.’ She brought up the email she had just sent on her phone. ‘I’ve emailed them. They’re probably crapping themselves because I’ve responded. I don’t suppose I’ll hear anything back.’
‘But the mention of “RIP”. You realise I have to report this,’ Downes said.
Ruby shook her head. ‘Not yet, let’s wait and see what she comes back with first. The punctuation could be just a coincidence, and the name Lucy is no secret. Helen knew about it long before the press release. You know what it’s like around here: nothing stays hidden for very long.’ Ruby knew that sharing her middle name would implicate her daughter. It was information she would keep to herself for now.
‘Not as far as the press is concerned,’ Jack murmured. ‘What if there’s more? It’s not going to look very good: you and me together, along with the allegations that you’re seeing a Crosby.’
‘It’s all lies,’ Ruby said. ‘I haven’t been with Nathan in over a year, and even then it wasn’t what you’d call dating. We were just… ’
‘Fuck buddies,’ Jack muttered. ‘It doesn’t make it any better.’ He paced from the window to the door. It took only two of his strides before he had to turn around. ‘We’re going to have to be discreet,’ he paused, and seemed to consider his words. ‘Unless you want things out in the open.’
‘You’re joking, aren’t you?’ Ruby said, the very thought of her colleagues knowing about their fling making a bolt of anxiety rise inside her.
This information had the potential to explode in her face. What had started off as a one-off domestic murder was now snowballing into something beyond their capabilities. But Ruby did not want to let it go. If this was her daughter she needed to know what was going on. She had lied to Lenny: if her adopted child was responsible for the murders she would have no choice but to turn her in.
Yet a small part of her refused to believe that the innocent child that she and Nathan had produced could commit such horrific acts. The plan was to find her, and then hopefully rule her out. But now she owed Lenny a favour, and soon she would be treading a very thin line. Her relationship with Frances was tenuous, but as long as her mother was still alive she would come to no harm. Frances was one of the few people Joy still recognised, and the women’s friendship had survived many changes. Both families were intertwined in a complicated relationship not easily unbound. But now Lenny resented Ruby’s influence over his brother as she tried to persuade him to go straight. Meddling in the Crosby family business was not a good idea. At least for now, their mother’s closeness offered Ruby a degree of protection.
She refreshed her phone, waiting for a response. A notification pinged.
One new email.