Tell the Truth by Katherine Howell Page A

have been better,’ Ella said. ‘How well do you know him?’
    â€˜Not very well. I see him around the hospital sometimes, but I was surprised when he turned up this morning. He and Stacey came here once in the ambulance, dropping off flowers after I’d had Charlotte, but it’s a wonder he remembered where I live.’
    Ella and Murray exchanged a glance.
    â€˜How did he seem when he was talking about Stacey?’ Ella asked.
    â€˜Anxious and worried. I understood why he wanted to help.’
    â€˜Did you ever have reason to think there might be something going on between them?’ Murray said.
    Aimee shook her head, as Charlotte pulled on her arm. ‘No. They seem like they get on well, and Stacey’s said she has fun when she works with him, but from what I can see it’s the same when she works with anyone else.’
    Ella thanked her and gave her a card with the usual instructions, then asked her to send in Imogen.
    â€˜I don’t know Stacey,’ the woman said as soon as she sat down. She was around forty, round-faced, short chestnut hair.
    â€˜Let’s start with some personal details,’ Murray said.
    Once that was done, Ella said, ‘I’m curious how she came up in conversation between you and Rowan.’
    â€˜We met for coffee,’ she said. ‘I know his son’s girlfriend. She thought we’d get along and she arranged for us to meet up.’
    â€˜You mean you’ve only just met him today?’ Murray said.
    â€˜Two hours ago,’ Imogen said. ‘He apologised for being distracted and said a friend of his was missing. He talked about what had happened and said he wished he could do something, like ask her friends if they’d seen her. I came with him.’
    â€˜Not the turn of events you’d expect on a blind date,’ Ella said. ‘How was he when he was talking about her?’
    â€˜Concerned, worried, upset. I’d thought he seemed distant because he didn’t really want to be there, but then it made sense.’
    They let her go, then interviewed Stacey’s other friends. Claire Comber was a thin woman of thirty-nine who blinked back tears and crossed and recrossed her jeans-clad legs. She was a paramedic who’d worked with Stacey on and off over the past few years. ‘I can’t understand why this would happen. Stacey’s the best.’
    She couldn’t recollect any stories of trouble with anyone, no hints that Stacey was hiding anything or seeing anyone behind James’s back.
    â€˜James is a sweetheart,’ she said. ‘Keeps in touch, lets her know where he is. He calls the station sometimes when she’s on duty, pretends he’s Control and tries to give us ridiculous jobs.’
    Ella resisted the urge to glance at Murray.
    Vicky Page, a surgical nurse, forty-one, was deep-voiced and serious with dark circles under her eyes and long black hair in a plait.
    â€˜James is the one to look at,’ she said as soon as she’d sat down.
    â€˜Why do you say that?’ Ella asked.
    â€˜Because the first time I met him I shook his hand and knew he would cause her trouble. I’m a little bit psychic and I’m hardly ever wrong on these things.’
    â€˜Right,’ Ella said. ‘Has Stacey ever confided in you about problems she was having?’
    â€˜No, but I know she’s unhappy in her marriage. I’ve been divorced three times, so between that and being psychic I can tell what’s going on.’
    â€˜What’s going on?’
    â€˜She’s not happy. He doesn’t treat her well. It looks fine on the outside but it’s not.’
    â€˜Have you ever talked to Stacey about it?’ Murray asked.
    â€˜I’ve tried a couple of times, but she’s not ready yet,’ Vicky said. ‘She will be, one day. Meantime I make sure I’m there for her.’
    â€˜How do you do that?’ Murray asked.
    â€˜Call