Stanton Box Set

“Yes, we have questioned Max at length, sir,” the officer replies. “He says he doesn’t know where she is.”

My face falls again and Cameron puts his hand reassuringly on my foot.

“Go on,” the officer continues.

“I was sent a message that the story had just broken that Natasha was having an affair with Max.”

The detectives exchange looks.

I raise an eyebrow. “You knew that?” I reply flatly.

“Yes.” the detective mutters without lifting his eyes from his notepad.

I shake my head and close my eyes in regret. “I was angry and caused a scene so we went back to the boat.”

“Go on.” He keeps writing.

I look at the ceiling as I try to remember. “I don’t know. I fell asleep.” I frown as I try to piece the puzzle together.

“And then what happened?”

“I woke and it was cold.” I get goosebumps as I remember the quiet and cold of the morning. My eyes look straight ahead as I visualise the blood on the floor and a lump forms in my throat. “Natasha wasn’t in bed with me,” I whisper.

“Where was she?” he asks.

I shrug. “I thought she was in the bathroom and I went back to sleep,” I whisper, mortified. “She could have been hurt then and I went back to sleep.” I hold my hand over my mouth in disgust at myself.

They stay silent as they wait for me to speak. “Cameron, where is she?” I whisper and he puts his hand in mine and squeezes it.

“I walked out to look for her,” I continue and then I frown and tears fill my eyes as I remember the blood… so much blood. “Are they hurting her?” I cry. “What if they are torturing her?” I scream. “It’s me… it’s me… it’s me.” I shake my head frantically. “It’s me they want. Tell them they can kill me.” I shake my head frantically as I imagine what they could be doing to her, and I start to rip the drip from my arm. “I need to find her. Let me out of here.”

I keep shaking my head frantically. “Yes, Cameron, come on,” I stammer.

“He is no state to be questioned,” Cameron snaps. “Look at him.”

I shake my head. “No, Cameron, I’m going to find her.” I stand to get out of the bed and Cameron pushes me back down.

“Stay there,” Cameron snaps.

“Mr Stanton, can you tell us why you have Rohypnol in your system?” the officer asks.

I frown and my eyes shoot to Cameron. “What do you mean?” I ask.

“You had Rohypnol in your system that showed up in a drug test. You fell asleep on Saturday night because you were drugged.”

Chapter 20

Adrian

I sit in the police station as we endure our tenth hour of questioning in two days. I am with Bridget who has come to supply a DNA sample to the police.

“So what have you brought us?” the nice female officer asks gently.

Bridget looks down and with shaky hands produces Natasha’s hairbrush from her bag. Her haunted eyes meet mine and I grab her hand for comfort.

The male officer immediately picks it up in gloved hands, puts it into a plastic bag and then seals it. He writes the name Natasha Marx and the date in pen on the name plate.

“I also have her toothbrush,” Bridget whispers.