Bad Advice

by S M Mala

  She ignored the pain in her head because a real pain in the arse was giving her a disapproving look.

  ‘I’m worried about my son,’ Hugh said, shaking his head defiantly. ‘If he stays with you then who knows what will happen.’

  ‘We have police surveillance outside. Now we know someone is trying to hurt her, she will be protected,’ replied Scottie, walking towards Ruby. ‘I’m going to stay here to make sure nothing happens.’

  ‘Isn’t that a little premature?’ gasped Hugh. ‘You hardly know Theo and staying here isn’t exactly a good introduction is it?’

  ‘Neither is our son finding bras and knickers in your bedroom. I’m happy you’re moving on but have you told your old bit on the side or will she arrest you for it?’

  ‘What happens if he doesn’t want your friend to stay? Theo does have a say,’ sniped back Hugh, ignoring her comment.

  ‘A say in what?’ her son asked, bouncing down the stairs then rushing to his mother, giving her a protective hug.

  ‘Scottie wants to stay here and make sure everything’s okay,’ she gently said. ‘He’ll sleep in the spare room.’ There was a grunt from Hugh which she ignored. ‘Do you mind?’

  ‘He’s a top police officer so we’ll be safe, won’t we?’

  Ruby noticed Scottie tried not to smile while Hugh just looked pissed off.

  ‘All settled. You can see yourself out. Wave goodbye to your dad, you’ll see him next week,’ she smiled at Hugh, turning her son around and walking him into the living room. ‘And as it’s a Friday, I thought we could get a takeaway. Fancy an Indian?’

  ‘Yeah!’

  From the corner of her eye, she noticed Hugh take a deep breath then walk out of the house while Scottie held the door open. There was no mistaking the jealous look he was radiating towards her lover.

  ‘You don’t mind about Scottie staying, do you?’ she gently asked again, knowing Theo would tell her the truth. ‘I really like him and he really likes me. I’d love for you guys to get to know each other and he won’t hedge in on your space or me.’

  ‘As long as you’re safe mummy,’ he said, holding her hand.

  ‘With you by my side, I feel much safer now.’

  As she said it, a sudden fear crept up on her. Her child was standing, truly oblivious, as he grinned then turned towards the television. Discreetly she rubbed her tummy, knowing another little Theo was growing inside her.

  That’s when it dawned on her that she wasn’t only trying to protect herself but her babies came first. There was no way she could put either one at risk. Sighing slowly, she turned to see Scottie standing by the kitchen counter, looking at her with a grin.

  Ruby moved towards him as he stroked her stomach then kissed her gently.

  ‘Our baby,’ he whispered into her ear as she shut her eyes. ‘We’re going to have a family and I love being a dad, I really do.’

  ‘We’ll tell everyone soon,’ she said, worried something would happen.

  Flinching for a moment, she felt the pain in her head and scowled.

  ‘Does it hurt?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t want to take any medication. And here was I thinking all my feeling of nausea was down to being love sick.’

  ‘And I thought it as down to having hangovers.’

  ‘Oh god,’ she said, worrying about her pregnancy. ‘I was drinking and I didn’t take any folic acid and-.’

  ‘Take the weekend to relax and recover, okay? You rest up and don’t think about anything. I’m going to be here and Theo will be fine. We’ll sort this out. But I do need to know what’s going on. The Commissioner’s going to give a press conference later on today about finding a suspect.’

  ‘You know, as well as I do, it’s not Diane and Helen Trott’s up to something.’

  One hundred and four

  Ruby had got up early and left the spare bedroom, mainly to be quietly sick in her own bathroom, not wanting to wake her son. Scottie knew too much was going on in her head and he wanted to see she was okay.

  Walking into her bathroom, he noticed she was sat on the side of the bath, looking tired.

  ‘I wonder how pregnant I am?’ she said. He smiled at her confused expression. ‘I was really sick when I was carrying Theo. Lasted for twenty five weeks.’

  ‘I can cope,’ Scottie grinned then heard his mobile ring and quickly went to the spare room.

  It was Commissioner Helen Trott.

  The time wasn’t even seven o’clock.

  Taking a deep breath he answered.

  ‘Hello,’ he said quietly, waiting to see what the reception would be at the other end.

  ‘There’s been another murder, identical to the others,’ she said abruptly. ‘It happened in Fulham and I need to call you back onto the case.’

  For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. Half of him was happy she needed his help and the other half wanted to tell her to piss off.

  ‘Who was it?’

  ‘A man called Jeremy Tyler.’

  ‘What about Diane? Where was she at the time or did she Houdini her way out?’

  ‘She’s been released. Scottie, you understand we had no choice and-.’

  ‘You want to find a way to shaft me?’ he asked, getting angry. ‘Don’t worry about that. As soon as this is over I’m going to resign from the position. There’s no point if my boss doesn’t trust me.’

  ‘I was-.’

  ‘I need to sort a few things out here first and then I’ll speak to Dave and the others. Officially I’m still on leave so you’ll have to understand if I don’t run after you on this. I have more pressing things to deal with.’

  ‘How is she?’ Helen Trott quietly asked. ‘I was going to call you earlier but-.’

  ‘You were planning a press conference last night so you must have found out about it then,’ Scottie said, realising the truth of the call. ‘I’ll speak to my team.’

  ‘You can’t be serious about resigning from the post? This is absurd and I’m sure we can sort it out.’

  ‘Commissioner, I’m not so sure,’ he sighed then hung up.

  As he turned, Scottie jumped. Ruby was standing by the door.

  ‘No,’ she said, shaking her head from side to side. ‘You’re not going to lose your job. I take it you were talking to my former step mummy?’

  ‘They’ve released Diane,’ he said, walking slowly towards her.

  ‘That’s wonderful,’ she smiled then flinched, holding her head. ‘She should sue you lot for false accusations.’

  ‘That’s because someone else was murdered last night, exactly the same way.’

  The colour drained from her face. He rushed forward in time to catch her before she fell to the ground.

  ‘Ruby,’ he said, walking her slowly to her bed. ‘You’re not in a fit state.’

  ‘I’m fine. I was feeling light headed. Who was it?’

  ‘Not now. Rest up and I’ll sort it out.’

  A few phone calls later, he got Jacinta to come round.

  Standing at the doorstep, she looked a bit dishevelled and upset but was trying to be focussed.

  ‘Is she alright,’ Jacinta gulped hard. ‘I was ringing and no one told me a thing. I’ve been worried sick since Hugh mentioned it. Where is she?’

  ‘In bed resting,’ he said, putting on his jacket. ‘Theo is still asleep. He had a late one but I’ll be back by lunchtime. I have to go in as this is getting out of hand.’

  ‘Tell me about it. The offices were buzzing late yesterday afternoon when the story broke. With six murders and four random attacks? Two of them on Ruby! It’s terrifying.’

  ‘Just keep her still and make sure she stays in. There are police outside and don’t let anyone in you don’t know.’

  ‘No-one’s getting in past my watch unless they’re a handsome bugger like you. Got any other fit friends?’

  One hundred and five

  After trying her hardest to console her best friend, the mood eventually lightened up when she told Jaci
nta to take Theo to his swimming lesson. Scottie said he would pick up some food for lunch.

  Her head was throbbing and she was still scared but Ruby needed some time alone to think.

  Opening her laptop, she easily found out about the sixth murder but it didn’t seem important. All she cared about was her son, her unborn child and not forgetting Scottie.

  She heard a commotion outside. Ruby walked to the door to see Nana Gwen, dressed in her highly toxic orange tracksuit topped with a green parker.

  ‘Hello Gwen,’ Ruby smiled.

  ‘So take your pigging hands off me!’ the woman scolded, even though no one was touching her. ‘I’m a friend. Bloody hell, can I come in? I wanted to see how you were.’

  ‘That’s Assistant Commissioner Scott’s grandmother,’ she laughed, seeing the young undercover policemen, Stephen, take a step back. ‘She’s trying to work undetected, aren’t you? Come in.’

  ‘Bloody fuzz,’ the woman mumbled and walked in then stopped to look at her home. ‘Oh, this is nice. How’s your head?’

  ‘Hurts. How’s Diane?’

  ‘Playing up to the attention. Fat lot of good that bloody grandson of mine has been,’ she sniffed, examining the inside of her house closely. Nana Gwen turned and sighed when glancing at Ruby up and down. ‘You still look like shit but this time you have a good reason to. I was very worried.’

  ‘It’s not connected. The attacks on us and the murders. They think it’s just a weird nutter looking for media attention.’

  ‘Well it’s working. You do know you’re hinted at in your husband’s paper?’ the old woman said, stepping closer. ‘Have you pissed him off or something?’

  ‘He knows I’m in love with your grandson. That might have something to do with it. Want a cup of tea?’

  ‘You sit yourself down and I’ll make it. I do like your house. It’s so much nicer than Scottie’s. All the glass and mirrors! He doesn’t even have a wooden bannister, can you believe it? This is more like it, a nice family home. Where’s your kid?’

  ‘Swimming lessons. My best friend has taken him,’ replied Ruby, watching Nana Gwen walk sprightly into the kitchen.

  Slowly she sat down on the sofa and felt tired. Moving her head, side to side, she tried to massage the ache in her neck. Then she heard banging and decided not to turn around and see what her guest was up to.

  Within minutes, two cups of tea had appeared on the coffee table.

  Nana Gwen was sitting very closely beside her.

  ‘Gwen, what’s on your mind?’ she asked, turning to smile at the woman and catching a familiar scent. ‘What are you wearing?’

  ‘Paco Rabanne, got it off a dead bloke,’ she replied quickly. ‘Thing is Ruby, I don’t think you’re the next victim. I think the person who attacked you isn’t random. The intention is to scare and hurt you.’

  ‘Is this what you do all day? Try and solve crimes like a granny detective?’ Ruby asked, tongue in cheek. ‘They’ve already sussed that one out especially after last night.’

  ‘Do you have any enemies?’

  ‘Well were does my list begin? Let’s start with my ex, my former step mother, a few journalists here and there and not to mention ex-boyfriends. It’s rather long.’

  ‘Do you think the Commissioner wants to do you over?’ Nana Gwen asked, straight faced. ‘This would be a perfect time. You keep mentioning she’s in one of your properties. Could be a massive cover up to commit the perfect crime?’

  ‘She’s far too selfish to get herself into trouble,’ sighed Ruby. She gently stroked Nana Gwen’s arm and smiled. ‘Thank you for caring.’

  ‘He was upset,’ she mumbled as her eyes started to well up. ‘Thursday night he went to his mum’s and was crying.’ Ruby knew who she was talking about and her heart squeezed for Scottie. ‘My little boy was worried sick that someone would take you away before you had the chance to have a life together. Jean called me up the next day. I thought I’d come here to protect you and to look after him. I don’t want my grandson to have his heart broken.’

  ‘I have no intention of breaking his heart, I promise.’

  ‘You know the little bugger was born on 5th November? He was late. I swear because he was such an ugly baby the kid should have been born on Halloween. He looked like his mother, you see.’

  Ruby giggled and it made her head hurt but she didn’t mind.

  In all this mess she’d fallen in love, found a man to marry and was having his baby.

  Not everything looked so grim.

  One hundred and six

  Scottie was on the verge of breaking someone’s neck as he stood in the office, shaking his head furiously.

  ‘What do you mean you had a lead on who attacked Ruby?’ he shouted out so loudly, the team looked at him in shock. ‘Since when? And why didn’t anyone tell me?’

  ‘Calm down,’ Dave said. Scottie threw himself onto a chair and tried to stop his leg shaking. ‘This happened last week and-.’

  ‘She got attacked just two days ago? Didn’t anyone think to warn her? Or have the decency to tell me?’

  ‘We know you’re involved with Ruby Marquis,’ someone said quietly from around the table. It was the young policewoman, Janine. ‘Did you read the article she did on Thursday?’

  ‘What article?’ he asked, confused by the comment.

  ‘This.’

  Dave handed his tablet over. Scottie read her thoughts on people who exploit moments of genuine anguish to line their pockets as immoral and superfluous to mankind. It was also equally bad that people had used their position of trust in an unsavoury manner.

  He had no idea she’d done this.

  Scottie shook his head in dismay knowing this was about Mick Dawson winding her up plus she was having a dig at Hugh.

  ‘It is any wonder something happened?’ said Dave quietly. ‘Whatever she said hit a nerve with someone.’

  ‘That doesn’t mean it’s acceptable she’s left as a sitting target and gets hit on the head. And not forgetting my cousin, who was held for questioning until the murder was committed again. Any clues on that or were you pinning your hopes she was the serial killer? Job done!’

  There was a deathly silence in the room.

  ‘We know it’s a Samaritan, either currently working or not. They have a wide net of friends and it could be anyone. Even trying to find out who had access to the combination of drugs is hard enough. Whoever it is knows what they are doing and are so sure they won’t be caught,’ Dave said calmly, sitting down next to Scottie.

  ‘Okay,’ he replied, trying to control his temper.

  ‘We’re currently following leads on the attacks of the others and should find out something soon. The person who we believe attacked Ruby Marquis was spotted both times. The camera on the rail track, over the bridge, was pointing at the scene so we can get a better look at whoever it is.’

  Commissioner Helen Trott walked in and everyone immediately stood up. Slowly Scottie got to his feet and felt a surge of anger towards her. He looked away as he had other things on his mind.

  ‘What do we know about Jeremy Tyler?’ she asked while Scottie avoided eye contact.

  ‘He worked at the Samaritans for years. He trained a great deal of them over the decades. He was flamboyant with a wide circle of friends and kept in touch with everyone, old and new,’ said Dave who, looked sympathetically at Scottie.

  ‘Have we examined the CCTV footage where he was killed?’

  ‘Around his home there are cameras but he lives in a busy part of Fulham and it’s hard to make out who was coming and going,’ said a younger police officer.

  ‘I have to go,’ Scottie said. ‘I’m needed back home.’

  ‘Assistant Commissioner Scott, you can’t leave! This is a serious investigation and you have to-.’

  ‘You kicked me off the case because of my cousin and other personal reasons, now you want me back on. I’m here when I should be at home. They’ve lasted without me for over seven days, I’m sure they can
do the same again. I won’t be in until Tuesday as I have a hospital appointment,’ he said and grabbed his bag, walking off.

  Half way down the corridor he heard his name being called and stopped.

  ‘Scottie! What’s wrong with you?’ Helen Trott said, storming up to him. ‘You can’t go.’

  ‘Ruby got attacked on Thursday night and I’m really worried about her. She needs me. My cousin Diane also needs me as she is traumatised by the whole stupid situation. I’m sorry Commissioner but my family comes first.’

  She looked angrily at him and shook her head, stepping back for a moment.

  ‘Your job comes first.’

  ‘Ruby comes first,’ he quietly replied. ‘All the people I love do.’

  He turned around, walking off down the corridor, wondering how long he had left working for her.

  After getting some bits and pieces from the supermarket, he was anxious to head back home. There were no messages and he took that to be a good sign.

  As he approached the house and looked for his keys, he heard laughter.

  ‘No, it can’t be,’ he said, opening the door then dropping the bags to the ground seeing Nana Gwen at the table, laughing with Theo and Jacinta. ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘I popped round to see the patient,’ his grandmother replied, not turning to look at him.

  She was playing chess against Theo while Jacinta watched. Ruby was sitting in an armchair, smiling at him.

  ‘It’s all go here,’ she grinned and his heart somersaulted on seeing her. ‘Gwen has been a great help. Did you get lunch?’

  ‘I got some things but I didn’t think she’d be here,’ Scottie replied as his grandmother glared at him.

  ‘This young man is very good at chess but I’m better,’ Nana Gwen mumbled.

  ‘She cheats,’ said Scottie, walking towards Ruby and crouching down.

  ‘She’s funny!’ laughed Theo. ‘And I know she cheats.’

  ‘I don’t!’

  ‘How are you?’ Scottie whispered in Ruby’s ear then kissed her lips gently. ‘I missed you.’

  ‘They’re so romantic!’ sighed Jacinta, who was smiling at them.

  ‘They make me wanna puke!’ laughed out Nana Gwen. ‘Check mate!’