Read Online The Twisted Knot by J.M. Peace - Free Book Online

both through his hair. He shook his head.
    â€˜Sorry, Sammi. You’re right. I should have stayed. I couldn’t face them. Wendy mostly. I thought it would be worse if they saw me here. If they had a target. They couldn’t blame you for anything.’
    â€˜They explained the whole story to me,’ Sammi said.
    â€˜I have so many regrets about that job.’ He looked away. ‘Prosecutions recommended that I didn’t press charges against Woodford. I wanted to give it a run, let a jury decide, but it never happened. Initially, I tried to avoid the family around town, but it was too hard. I had no answers for them. I got sick of apologising. I took a posting somewhere else not long after. Seven years passed before I came back. I almost considered turning the senior sergeant’s job here down because of it, but I thought everyone might have moved on.’ He shook his head. ‘They’re right. I failed them. The system failed them.’
    â€˜You can’t blame yourself. Even if a jury had found him guilty, what would have happened to him? A couple of years jail and nothing to stop him coming back here anyway. The girl would never have been the same. Woodford’s responsible for what happened to her. Not you.’ Sammi’s anger had almost entirely evaporated in the face of Shane’s sadness.
    â€˜I should have charged him, stood up against Prosecutions. There was no doubt in my mind he did it. And he’s probably done it again.’
    â€˜They wouldn’t tell me who’s involved. I’m sure they know. They just wanted us to lock up Woodford.’
    They were both quiet.
    â€˜Could we try to bluff him into doing an interview?’ Sammi ventured. She was desperate for something to be done.
    â€˜That could do more harm than good. If he does a runner, we might never be able to charge him if the victim comes forward, especially if he moves interstate. God, I’d love to string him up with a charge he can’t wiggle out of. No doubt in my mind that he did it to Janey. No doubt at all. Couldn’t nail him for it though.’
    â€˜That’s got to be hard for you as well as them,’ Sammi said.
    He shrugged. ‘There’s no comparison really.’
    Sammi chewed her bottom lip. ‘I’m not sure why the family would rather have it go through the town gossip machine than come and talk to us about it.’
    â€˜Maybe the victim’s friendly with Kayleen and Wendy. The victim’s family might have told them about it but didn’t expect them to come to us like this. Or maybe they don’t want to put their daughter through it all and are hoping if there’s enough gossip stirred up someone might go pop him. Or maybe it is only a rumour and no one’s come to us because nothing’s actually happened.’ The boss sighed.
    â€˜I’m sorry you of all people copped all that anger, Sammi,’ he said, meeting her gaze for a moment. ‘I knew Mel would back you.’
    â€˜Yep. She was great. She stood up to them.’
    He regarded her for a moment. ‘It seems like you coped okay. Do you think you’re ready to get out from behind that counter yet?’
    She focused on a point on the wall to the left of his ear.
    â€˜Soon. I’m getting there.’
    â€˜It’s completely up to you.’
    She didn’t drop her gaze, it was almost as if she was looking him in the eye. ‘I appreciate that.’
    They sat in silence for a minute.
    â€˜I hope you understand why I want to remove myself from this whole situation. I really feel like it will make things worse if I’m involved. For them, I mean, not me. But I do intend on supporting you from here on in. Next time, I’ll face up.’
    â€˜Hopefully, there won’t be a next time,’ Sammi said.
    The boss gave her a wan smile. ‘Hopefully. Are you working tomorrow?’
    â€˜Eight to four counter.’
    â€˜Do you