Free By Death Divided by Patricia Hall Page B

lawyer,’ she offered feebly. ‘Perhaps an advice centre… Or your doctor, maybe, could help with your problems.’
    But if the suggestion of a lawyer had enraged Holden the word ‘doctor’ seemed to turn him incandescent. He jumped up from his chair and for a moment Laura froze, thinking he was going to attack her, but instead he lurched across the room and took hold of a photograph of Julie that had been standing on a low table and hurled it into the fireplace, where the glass and frame disintegrated with a crash.
    ‘That cow,’ he spat. ‘What’s she been saying about me? Why would I need a doctor? I hate doctors. I never want to see another bloody doctor in my life, investigating, prying, spying, trying to get inside your head.’ As he ranted, Laura got up and sidled towards the living room door, relieved to see Vicky coming back downstairs carrying a carrier bag full of the books and other items Anna had asked for. Vicky glanced into the sitting room and seemed shocked by the change in Holden’s mood.
    ‘Time to go, I think,’ Laura said quietly, heading towards the front door, but as she opened it Holden followed them into the hall.
    ‘Tell that bitch I want to see my daughter,’ he yelled. ‘Tell her I’ve got rights. She can’t just take Anna off like that without a word. Tell her if she doesn’t arrange for me to seeher I’ll organise it myself. I’m not stupid. I’ll find them. Believe me.’
    Laura pulled the door shut with a feeling of relief and followed Vicky back to the car.
    ‘Well, that wasn’t a triumph of diplomacy, was it?’ Vicky said with a tight smile. ‘What did you say to him?’
    Laura shook her head. ‘Not a lot,’ she said as she pulled away from the kerb, the quiet suburban street almost deserted in the pale sunshine, and she wondered how many other well-kept façades hid horrors like Bruce Holden. ‘I suggested getting help – a lawyer, counsellor, doctor, and he went mad. I really thought he was going to hit me. I think Julie’s right and Bruce Holden is seriously dangerous.’
    ‘We could have got him done for assault if he’d touched you,’ Vicky said. ‘That might have been quite a good thing. We could have given evidence then.’
    ‘Well, thanks,’ Laura said dryly. ‘I’ll do a lot of things for battered wives but I don’t think getting battered myself is one of them.’
    ‘He’s going to keep looking for her, isn’t he?’ Vicky said.
    ‘Yes, I’m sure he is. He asked me if she was staying at my place.’
    ‘I think she needs to get out of Bradfield for a bit,’ Vicky said. ‘It won’t take him long to find the refuge and he’s mad enough to try to break in to find them.’
    ‘I think he’s mad, full stop,’ Laura said. ‘He made some seriously odd comments about doctors.’
    ‘Well, it’d be a lot easier to get him for assault than get him treatment for mental illness,’ Vicky said seriously. ‘David always says madmen have to kill someone before anyone takes their problems seriously.’
    ‘I can believe it,’ Laura said.
    ‘Why don’t you discuss it with Michael. He might have some ideas without making it official.’
    ‘Mmm,’ Laura prevaricated. ‘Did you say his mother lived in Bradfield? He said he’d been blagging meals off her.’
    ‘Julie has talked about her mother-in-law. I think she gets on quite well with her.’ She glanced at her watch. ‘But I can’t come detecting again with you again just now. I left Naomi with David. He’s working at home this morning but he has to be in court later so I must get back. Would you like to drop in for a coffee?’
    Laura shook her head.
    ‘No, I must get back to the office before Ted Grant fills my desk with some bright young recruit willing to work for half the salary – or on work experience for nothing at all. It’s not safe to venture out for long the way things are these days. Redundancy’s hanging over the place like a big dark cloud.’
    ‘What’s caused this