THE TWENTY-THIRD pt2

The first thing I notice about Detective Stanton when I slide into the booth opposite her is how tired she looks. She is perfectly made up, like all the times I have seen her, but nothing can disguise the dark circles under her eyes or the tight lines around her eyes and mouth.

“Thanks for seeing me at such short notice, Abby,” Detective Stanton says after we have ordered our coffee and sandwiches.

“That’s no problem,” I say. “It sounded urgent.”

“Yes, well, we have been tracking down a few of Richard’s ex-girlfriends, and the picture we are building is not a good one. Of the couple who would actually talk to us, it would seem that there is a pattern emerging of systematic mental and physical abuse alongside a complete obsession with Taylor. Though I am sure this is nothing new to you?” I nod my head in acquiescence.

“I wanted to ask you a few questions about Hannah, if I may?” Detective Stanton asks.

“Sure, though I don’t know how much I can tell you that Taylor won’t have told