‘You know, sometimes the most obvious places…What the fuck?’ she cried, reaching under the bed.
She grabbed a foot and pulled; a leg followed, and another, and then a torso.
‘What the…?’
Bryant stopped speaking as Leanne barged him to get Kim out the way.
‘For fuck’s sake,’ Kim snarled, looking over Leanne’s shoulder. ‘Why would Symes be here?’
Leanne said nothing until Bryant hauled the guy onto his feet.
‘Who the hell are you?’ Bryant asked as Leanne let her pass.
‘And how the fuck did you get in here?’ she added.
‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry,’ he said, holding up his hands and backing away.
‘Stay where you are, fella,’ Bryant advised.
‘Answer the question,’ Kim demanded.
‘Which one?’ he asked, genuinely confused.
‘Who are you?’ Kim barked.
‘I’m…I’m Reece. I live next door. I’m sorry. I never should have…I just…I’m sorry.’
He had tufts of dirty blonde hair sticking out from under his baseball cap, and his complexion was tanned and healthy. Kim guessed him to be early thirties.
‘Do you have any idea how many things I could fucking charge you with right now?’ Kim screamed.
‘I didn’t mean any harm.’
‘You’ve contaminated a crime scene. What the hell were you thinking?’
He was shrinking before her eyes, but she didn’t care.
‘How the hell did you get in?’
‘Copper on the door was called to the garage. I didn’t think I’d get inside. I could hear voices but…’
‘You knew exactly where you were going?’
He nodded.
‘To Rozzie’s bedroom?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is there something wrong with you? What exactly did you want to see?’
He blushed.
‘I just wanted to make sure. I mean I didn’t really believe they were all gone. I just wanted to see for myself.’
There was a shiftiness to his eyes that told Kim he was hiding something.
‘Did you know Rozzie well?’