by S M Mala
The same day she was attacked.
‘I’m a police officer,’ Helen Trott sighed.
‘You’re the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. Why would you want to speak to me? I didn’t think you did this sort of thing anymore.’
‘Ruby, this is my colleague-.’
‘Dave, yes I know,’ she replied, seeing he tried not to smile.
The pair sat down and Ruby immediately felt annoyed.
‘I need to ask you some questions,’ Helen Trott calmly said. ‘And I would like your full co-operation.’
‘When have I not co-operated?’ she mumbled, taking a sip of her water.
‘Fine,’ she said, putting down her tablet and examining something. ‘Why didn’t you report it earlier, the incident on Tuesday?’
‘I was scared and confused. My first thought was to call for help and hopefully not get my head smashed in. Then I realised if Hugh found out he’d just go ballistic. He’s worried about Theo and me.’
‘You could have jeopardised our enquiry, do you know that? There were two other incidents and the fact you were the third does bring cause for alarm.’
‘Are you worried about me?’ she smiled and shook her head. ‘I doubt that.’
‘I’m not going to put up with your nonsense today,’ Helen Trott replied sharply. ‘Just answer the questions and you can be out of here in time to pick up your son.’
‘Then make it quick,’ Ruby said quietly.
‘As you know, Assistant Commissioner Scott has been taken off the case due to his personal involvement. Both his cousin and you are part of our on-going investigation and-.’
‘What does that mean? Are we suspects? You think I or my colleagues have got something to do with the murders? I know you don’t like me but that’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel, Helen dearest.’
‘I don’t think Commissioner Scott is implying anything,’ Dave said calmly.
Ruby could clearly see Helen Trott was starting to get pissed off.
‘And why are you getting ‘involved’? The last time I looked, we are sort of related too. How do I know you’re not going to try and stitch me up like a kipper? You owe me rent as I keep saying. It runs into the thousands now. I should be reporting you.’
Dave laughed and was then given one of Helen Trott’s deadly stares as he stopped, making Ruby grin.
‘The last time I looked, we’re not involved with each other so there’s no confusion there,’ Helen Trott said, leaning over. ‘Obviously, I don’t want Assistant Commissioner Scott compromised.’
‘I’ve put him in many compromising positions,’ grinned Ruby. ‘Simple.’
‘Dave, could you leave us for a few minutes? I need to chat to Ms Marquis alone.’
Without even a second glance, he got up and walked out of the room.
‘Spit it out,’ Ruby said, folding her arms defiantly. ‘Because I know something’s coming and-.’
‘Do you do it on purpose just to piss me off!’ hissed Helen Trott, leaning really close. ‘What is it with you?’
‘I could ask you the same thing. Since seeing you on your knees giving my husband ‘deep throat’. I’m still recovering from the nightmares!’ she snapped back. ‘How dare you call Scottie ‘simple’ as if he’s an imbecile because we’re together? I expect this little impromptu meeting has something to do with it.’
Helen Trott got up, making the chair screech against the floor, then paced the room.
‘He’s a good man and he’s worked really hard to get to where he is today. I don’t want you mucking it all up for him, as you’re good like that,’ Helen Trott said, biting her thumb anxiously as she turned to face Ruby. ‘How do you think it’s going to look when people find out that one of my senior officers is having a stupid little fling with you?’
‘What’s wrong with that? It’s a coincidence, the whole thing. Do you think I’d have jumped into bed with him had I known he was a copper?’ replied Ruby, feeling her cheeks get hot. ‘I was shocked but by then, I’d fallen for him. And do you know he dumped me because he had moral values regarding his work and you! Can you believe that? I know he’s a good man, I can see that, any fool can.’ Taking a calm breath, she tried to compose herself. ‘But I’m desperately in love with him and I can’t help it. That’s the bottom line and he’s not ‘simple’, so don’t fling that shit in his face as you did to me. He’s wonderful.’
Ruby watched Helen Trott pace the room, still biting her thumb then sat back down to face her.
‘It won’t last. You might not know this but his relationships don’t succeed as he puts his career first. That’s what I admire about him,’ said Helen Trott quietly.
‘You don’t fancy him, do you?’ Ruby asked, seeing right through the woman. ‘He’s young enough to be your son though Hugh was probably a more acceptable age.’
Helen Trott stared at her for a long time as Ruby didn’t reflect her glare back.
‘Why did you sleep with my husband? Why would you do that? I know you hate me but you took the last good thing I thought there was, not including Theo. You knew I’d never take Hugh back, not after I found out.’
‘You weren’t supposed to be there,’ she replied in a hushed tone. ‘He said you were out and I came round to see him.’
‘Then went into my new bed and fucked his brains out?’ asked Ruby, feeling the pin prick of angry tears stab at her eyes. ‘You did want me to find out, didn’t you?’
‘I certainly did not,’ Helen Trott said and glanced at her hands. ‘I’ve known Hugh for a long time, way before you both ever met. I was never unfaithful to Sidney, I loved that man to bits but when he died, I met Hugh and we started seeing each other. It was casual but then, as if I thought you couldn’t touch me again, he falls in love and marries you.’
‘Were you sleeping with him throughout my marriage?’
‘On and off,’ she calmly replied. Ruby held her breath, feeling instantly sick. ‘I’ve not called you in for a heart to heart. I want to speak to you because, whether you like it or not, I am worried there is going to be another murder. Can you tell me anything? Ruby, I know you well enough. You’ve figured something out.’
Her first reaction was to cry. That’s what she wanted to do.
Break down at the knowledge her husband cheated on her throughout their relationship.
It was her pride getting the better of her and she knew it.
‘I told Scottie I thought that it was someone from the Samaritans and Chonika’s murder must have been a mistake. And then over the weekend, I don’t know why, but I saw the faces of the deceased. I never really wanted to see who they were when they were murdered. I sort of pushed it into the back of my mind. But when I saw them, I remembered I’d met them before but I don’t know when and how.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes.’
‘Do you recognise this?’ she asked and turned the tablet so she could see the picture before sitting down opposite.
Ruby immediately stood up when she saw the photo.
‘Oh my god! They’re all there.’ She looked at Helen Trott and then back at the photo. ‘I’m sure I took that picture.’
‘When did you take it?’ Helen Trott asked calmly.
‘It was someone’s birthday. I can’t remember. Was it Diane’s? It could have been. Or Gary and Annette turned eighty five last year. I never spoke to any of them. I’ve always been the new girl when it comes to the Samaritans. Diane’s forever telling me I give bad advice.’ Ruby stopped and double blinked as Helen Trott sneered. ‘No! Don’t even think it.’
‘You know what was written on their lips?’ she gently prodded. Ruby knew which way Helen Trott wanted this to go. ‘You did say it could have been one of the Samaritans, someone who knew them all.’
‘You could easily say it could have been me because I wanted to knock off my competition,’ she replied angrily. ‘It’s a simple co-incidence, that’s all. I know how you operate. You want to get this case closed a
s soon as you can. She’s Scottie’s cousin and-.’
Her head was spinning and she didn’t feel well. She thought she was going to be sick.
‘What’s wrong?’ Helen Trott asked, peering into her face.
‘I think I’m going to throw up,’ she said, putting her hand over her mouth.
Quickly, Helen Trott jumped to her feet, grabbing Ruby’s arm and walked her towards the toilet.
As soon as Ruby got into the cubicle, she vomited. It was instant and within seconds she felt much better. Walking back out, she saw Helen Trott standing by the door, grimacing.
She washed her face and rinsed her mouth, taking a deep breath before walking out of the toilets and back towards the room. There were footsteps following her. Her eyes met with Dave, who seemed a little confused.
‘I puked,’ Ruby mumbled and shrugged.
‘Can you get her a glass of water?’ Helen Trott requested from behind her.
Sitting back down, she swallowed hard and rubbed her tummy.
‘Are you feeling okay?’ her former step mother asked, looking genuinely concerned. ‘You’ve lost your colour. Did you get checked out by someone after your attack?’
‘I didn’t see the point and it could be delayed shock,’ she replied, seeing Dave walk back into the room holding a plastic cup. ‘Don’t go making out Diane did this because you know, as well as I do, Scottie will lose his job if you do.’
‘Ruby,’ said Helen Trott in her warning tone. ‘Everyone is now under investigation, including you.’
‘Fine, but don’t go framing me.’
Then Ruby thought about Scottie and realised there was no need to get upset. He was a good man and packaged up exceedingly well with a heart of solid gold. There was no way Helen Trott could stitch him up.
Diane being a murderer was too far off the mark. Ruby smirked at the idea.
‘Why are you smiling?’ asked Helen Trott, frowning at her.
‘Don’t hurt Scottie. He deserves to be happy.’
‘And you think you can do that?’
‘I know I can.’
Ninety
‘What do you mean? Ruby Marquis is being questioned?’ Scottie asked the constable at the desk when he arrived at the station, mainly from a tip off from Dave. ‘Who by?’
‘Commissioner Trott.’
Now knowing Helen Trott was involved and she was speaking to Ruby, made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
‘How long has she been in there for?’ he asked, then turned to see Dave walking down the corridor with Ruby.
He was supporting her arm.
‘Hello there?’ she smiled brightly but didn’t look too well. ‘I was a little ill. I think Helen Trott has that effect on me.’
‘Hey, are you okay?’ he asked, glancing at Dave. ‘What happened?’
‘Ms Marquis threw up when she was questioned,’ he replied and Scottie could see his friend was trying not to smile. ‘I think she needs to go home and lie down.’
‘I feel much better now and-.’
‘What the hell is happening?’ shouted out Hugh, running into the building then stopping dead in his tracks when he saw Ruby. ‘What have they done to you?’
‘What are you doing here? Who’s going to pick up Theo? It’s two thirty! You need to be there for three fifteen!’ she snapped, taking Scottie by surprised.
Suddenly his petite lover looked furious and the colour had come back to her cheeks, but they were an angry red.
‘I was in a meeting so I couldn’t pick up your message. I told Jacinta to get Theo and I came here as soon as I found out.’
‘I’ve not been arrested but pulled in for questioning,’ Ruby replied and glared angrily at her ex-husband. Then her eyes diverted to Helen Trott walking down the corridor. ‘Can you take me home, Assistant Commissioner Scott?’
‘Of course,’ he replied and couldn’t fathom out what was going on.
‘You need to get checked out by a doctor,’ Helen Trott said calmly and stopped just short of joining the group.
‘I think I better take you home,’ replied Hugh and Scottie caught the filthy look he was receiving from her ex-husband. ‘Unless, Assistant Commissioner Scott, you want to take down her particulars?’
Ruby started to laugh and shook her head, stepping closer to Hugh.
‘If you think I’m going to sit in a car with you, you better be fucking kidding!’ she hissed, loud enough for everyone to hear. ‘Ask the Commissioner what she said.’
Ruby marched out of the police station. Scottie followed. He saw her sway and just about caught her by the arm so she didn’t stumble.
‘Are you alright? We need to get you to a doctor or-.’
‘Take me home,’ she said and closed her eyes for a moment. ‘Please?’
Leading her gently to his car, Scottie opened the passenger door. She sat down and looked like she was going to fall asleep.
A police car pulled up and he looked over to see it was Mick Dawson being taken out. Ruby wound down her window and stared at the large man, who was giving her evil looks.
‘It seems you’ve made money out of this. Congratulations on your bullshit interview,’ she said loudly.
‘Well it’s nothing compared to the bullshit you write,’ he said, smirking. ‘Let’s hope the killer sees sense and knocks you off next.’
‘Is that your plan?’ Ruby snapped.
‘Don’t speak to him if you’re just going to wind each other up,’ Scottie said quietly while she glared at Mick, knowing Ruby was venting her anger
‘What a wanker,’ she mumbled when Mick was led into the building. ‘And talking of wankers, you’re never going to believe what I found out today.’
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at what she told him about her interview with the Commissioner. The fact her husband had been cheating on Ruby throughout their marriage or that all of them were suspects on the case.
‘I could be a serial killer and you don’t even know it,’ she said, getting out of the car. He took a deep breath. ‘How do you know I didn’t know who you were? By using my feminine wiles to seduce you, you’d never suspect me of being a murderer, aye?’
‘Diane is a suspect as well? The only thing she could do is kill someone with her cake, considering it’s like rock.’
Ruby laughed out loudly and he wanted to hug her. Just as he was going to step closer, the door was flung open.
Theo was standing at the door.
‘Did you get arrested?’ he asked eagerly. ‘That’s what Auntie Jacinta said.’
‘Did she now?’ she sighed. ‘I’ve brought Scottie back home. Can he stay the evening or will you object?’
‘Suppose,’ he replied, shrugging his shoulders.
‘Don’t I get a kiss?’ Ruby asked, giving him a big hug, walking into the house and kicking off her shoes.
Scottie laughed when he noticed Jacinta was trying to extract a cork from a bottle of red.
‘Why can’t you buy screw tops?’ her friend asked then did a double take when she noticed him. ‘Medicinal due to finding out my best friend was arrested.’
‘I was not arrested and it’s too early to get drunk. They called me in for questioning and-.’ Ruby looked up at the ceiling. ‘I’m just going to the bathroom to freshen up.’
Within seconds she had run off and Scottie was looking at Jacinta struggling with the bottle. He walked over, took it out of her hand and pulled out the cork.
‘Thank you, police officer,’ she said, grinning up at him then whispered. ‘Is she going down? I’m sure she will later for you.’
‘She was ill at the police station and threw up. I think she needs to go and see a doctor. It might be delayed shock after last week.’
‘What happened last week?’ she asked, looking blankly at him.
‘I see, she didn’t tell you either.’
Scottie quickly explained, making sure Theo was out of earshot. He watched the horror on Jacinta’s face spread.
‘A
nd she didn’t report it?’ she asked, aghast. ‘When I get my hands on her neck, I’ll kill her.’
‘She’s had a bit of a bad day,’ Scottie said, hearing footsteps above his head. ‘You don’t think Theo would mind if I stayed the night? Is he very protective over his mother?’
‘Theo loves her very much and he loves his dad too. I think you’ll find he will have displaced loyalty regarding you.’
‘I think Ruby wanted to displace her ex’s nose from the expression on her face when I went to the station but I’ll let her explain.’
‘Scottie!’ they heard her shout. She came back down, looking better. ‘You should take a look at these.’
Ruby was holding a USB in her hand and went to her notebook. He was trying not to blatantly eye her up as she was wearing a flimsy slip but noticed Jacinta smile at him discreetly.
She flicked open the lid and put the stick in, finding a folder. He sat down next to her. Jacinta hunted for glasses and poured out the wine.
‘That’s where I saw them,’ she said and started flicking through the pictures. ‘They were at Diane’s fiftieth party all that time ago and then look.’ Ruby switched to another folder. ‘And Annette’s eighty fifth, which makes sense how I recognised them again.’
‘I don’t get why three of you were picked on from the same branch. Is someone unhappy they got the wrong person?’ he asked quietly.
‘Let’s talk about this later but you’re going to have to take this in and show your coppers. I don’t want them thinking that Diane or I’m a murderer. It could be something or nothing but the culprit may be at the parties and, who knows, you might be able to solve this.’
‘I’m off the case but I can still give it to Dave and see what he says.’
‘What are you whispering about? And why didn’t you tell me about what happened last week?’ asked Jacinta approaching the table, glaring at Ruby. ‘You have a lot of explaining to do, so spit it out.’
After Theo went to bed and Jacinta was literally extracted from her home, Ruby sat in the garden with Scottie. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head.
‘Are you going to get told off for not going back into work?’ she asked.
