by steve higgs
‘I’m in no rush, I guess. We can just go when you get back from lunch.’
I checked my watch: 1227hrs. ‘Okay, I’m going for some lunch.’ I turned my attention to James. ‘James, can you stay a couple of extra hours and catch us up on email enquiries and such? We need to have cases lined up.’
‘Sure thing, boss. Ah, Boss?'
'Yes?'
'You ask me to do extra hours all the time. Do you want me to just work full time instead?'
I had not given it any consideration. He was right though, he worked extra hours all the time. 'Nine till five?'
'Works for me.'
'Super. Oh, I forgot to ask. Did you get anywhere with the photograph I sent you?’
‘The old lady? I’m afraid not. It’s not a bad shot but she either doesn’t have a driving licence or passport and has never been arrested or the facial recognition software cannot find her for some other reason. Normally, I would expect to find her in under an hour, but she probably doesn’t have a social media profile either.’
‘Probably not.’ I agreed.
I whistled for the dogs. Unlike at home, where they would just ignore me and pretend to be asleep on the sofa, here they had no bed so had been continuously sniffing around and poking at the boxes we had brought things to the office in. My whistle caught their attention and they ran to the office entrance, assuming I was taking them somewhere. We were going out the back though, so I opened the door that led that way and called them again. They ran across the office, their tiny legs propelling them at a pace that always surprised me.
I waved to Amanda and James as the door closed behind me. This was all very new, but also quite pleasing.
Lunchtime Surprise. Tuesday, November 8th 1300hrs
I called out to Hilary as I went through the front door with the dogs. I got no answer and there seemed to be no sign of him. He could have been upstairs sleeping soundly, I didn’t bother to check as I was hoping his absence meant my harsh words earlier had driven him to seek out Anthea.
He might be with her now, talking things through. I pictured the two of them making up and chose to believe that must be why he wasn’t here as I opened the back door for the dogs. They had enjoyed plenty of exercise this morning, I saw no need to take them for a walk. I sent them into the garden though, so they could empty their bladders and chase the birds away. I watched as they snuffled the bushes from my kitchen window while I mixed tuna, grated courgette, and eggs for my lunch. I formed the mix into patties and fried them in coconut oil. They would go well with a dressing-free salad.
The dogs barked to come in just as I was dishing the tuna patties onto my plate. I gave them each a treat from the dog biscuit jar in the kitchen and told them they were very good dogs. They didn't hang around to tell me whether they cared for my opinion on their behaviour. However, I was thinking that it might be nice to take them to the office more often. I could buy a new bed for them and have it behind my desk. Would they escape ever? That was the one concern. If they got out the front door they were too inquisitive to hang around, they would wander off along Rochester High Street and then not know where they were.
My musings on the subject arrived at no conclusion, so I turned my thoughts to the case in hand. I needed to speak with Frank and find out who the mysterious old lady was. It was odd that he hadn't called me, but I hadn't called him either. I would make a point of going to his shop later. I also needed to speak with the coroner, I reminded myself for the umpteenth time. She could prove to be key if I could just get her to listen to the possibility that she had been mistaken about her verdict.
As I slid off the stool at my breakfast bar, someone knocked on my door. The dogs flew by me, they had been in the lounge, most likely dozing on the sofa, but there was an intruder to repel and they would not be found lacking in their duties.
I wasn’t expecting anyone, my natural tendency for caution fighting with my logical insistence that it was unlikely to be someone out to do me harm.
I shooed the dogs into the kitchen, calling out to the unseen person that I would not be a moment. With the terror hounds safely locked away, I returned to the door and opened it.
The coroner was outside.
Well, colour me surprised.
‘Hello.’ She said since I wasn’t saying anything. ‘Tempest isn’t it?’
The lady on my doorstep was every bit as attractive as I remembered her. She was definitely a couple of years older than me and probably was in her early forties, but she was still an absolute knock out. She was what I imagined Amanda might look with another decade or so under her belt.
I was just staring. Mr. Wriggly growled that I should pull myself together. ‘Yes. Yes, hello. Tempest Michaels.' I said as I put my hand out for her to shake. ‘You have me at a loss.'
I elected to lie rather than reveal that I had looked her up.
‘Victoria Mallory. May I come in?'
I was still acting startled. I did not know why she was here, but I needed to get a grip and be polite. I wanted to quiz her about the verdict in the lightning strike case and now I had the perfect chance.
I smiled warmly. ‘Please.’ I indicated inside and held the door for her.
‘Did I hear dogs?’ she asked.
‘Yes. I’m afraid I will have to let them out.’ I checked her feet. She had on a nice pair of heels and the exposed skin was sheathed in what was either pop socks or possibly tights. I wasn’t going to ask her which, but the dogs would most likely claw it. ‘I will have to field them, or they will claw your legs.’
I opened the door and snagged them both before they could get to her. Pinned under my arms they began growling. Both had their hackles raised and were straining to get to the new lady. I could not remember them ever taking an instant dislike to someone before.
‘Are they alright?’ she asked.
‘Sorry about this.' I replied. I had intended to calmly introduce them to the lady. They would sniff and wag their tails and then, once they had established there was no food to be had, they would wander back to their beds. That is what they always do. Not today though. Bull was wriggling to be set free and curling his top lip back to reveal his teeth. ‘What is wrong with you, dogs?' I asked them. No answer was forthcoming, but it was clear that they were not going to play nicely.
‘I won’t be a moment.’ I advised the coroner as I turned. I took the dogs into the lounge and shut the door. Whatever business the coroner had for me would be conducted in the kitchen or the office.
I walked back through to find her checking her hair in the mirror by the front door. ‘I’m glad you are here actually. I was planning to track you down.’
‘Really?’ she said. Her voice sounding very interested.
‘I need to talk to you about Bernhard Myers. I have good reason to believe that he was not killed by lightning and was murdered by a twisted ring of women that are colluding with one another to bump off their husbands.'
She looked at me with a strange expression, then she laughed. ‘Goodness, I thought you were serious for a moment then.’
‘I am serious. Your verdict is wrong. You were the coroner on another case a few weeks ago with a similarly unusual death were you not.'
‘I don’t think you should question my verdicts, Tempest. I don’t think you should question me at all unless you intend to ask me why I came here this afternoon.’
Okay, I’ll bite. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Because you are the sexiest man I have ever seen, and I have just got to have you.’ Before my brain could even process what she had said she had closed the space between us and had her lips on mine. I opened my mouth to protest but suddenly had an extra tongue in it.
My Wriggly was downstairs doing stretches and limbering up like he was getting ready for some hard exercise. I tried to back up, but one pace brought me to the wall and she pushed me against it. I needed to push her off me but bringing my hands up to shove her away only resulting in me grabbing two handfuls of breast.
‘Sorry, Victoria.' I said, finally getting my hands onto her shoulders. 'This is not…' What? I was struggling to finish the sentence.
She took a step back. Looked at me quizzically, then ripped her blouse open. She had on a sexy black lace bra that pushed her boobs together and up in an entirely pleasing manner. A sheepdog bra my father would call it because it rounds them up and gets them pointed in the right direction.
I shook my head to clear it. ‘Victoria, I am not interested in having sex with you.’ There, I had managed to say it. I wasn’t sure it was true, but I knew it was supposed to be.
‘Oh, really.’ She looked down at my trousers. ‘Try telling him that. I think I’ll just give him some oral encouragement and see how you feel about it after that.’
Suddenly she was on her knees in front of me and trying to undo my belt.
Then Amanda walked in. I guess she had got used to coming and going when my house had been the office because she didn’t knock, she just turned the door handle and walked in.
‘Oh, shitty death.’ She said, her eyes bugging right out of her head as she took in the view in front of her. Then she stepped back outside and slammed the door shut with her outside.
At least it had broken the spell and Victoria was getting up from her knees again.
‘This is disappointing, Tempest. Do I assume that she is your girlfriend?’
I friggin’ wish. Mr. Wriggly had some very clear intentions for Amanda.
‘Business partner.’ I replied, ‘But that makes no difference at all to this situation. I want to talk to you about the lightning cases, but I don’t think taking our clothes off is a good idea.’
‘I can’t see why not, Tempest.’ she was at least buttoning her top back together. ‘I am not wrong about the lightning victims. You should stop wasting your time looking into it. Oh, you’re bleeding.’
I turned to look in the mirror mounted on the wall behind me. There was a trickle of blood on my neck where her passion had taken the form of some biting.
‘Here.' She said as she dabbed at it with a tissue before I could take out my own handkerchief.
‘I think I should go, Tempest. I'm not done with you though. I still intend to have you. If you don't have a girlfriend and you are not gay I do not understand why you would refuse me.'
I was struggling to explain why not either. Mr. Wriggly still had a full head of steam that seemed unlikely to dissipate in the next few minutes. A chap cannot listen to a half-dressed woman tell him she wants to play with his meat and two veg and not have an involuntary reaction. Can't be done.
She was standing far too close to me, her boobs all but touching my chest, but very much filling my field of vision. ‘If I have to revisit the lightning victims’ cases to achieve that then so be it. Here’s my card.’ She produced a card from a pocket, reached around and placed it in my left buttock pocket. Then she patted Mr wriggly, giving him a quick squeeze between thumb and forefinger before reaching for the door and leaving.
‘Call me.’ Echoed back through the door as it closed.
Amanda wasn’t outside that I could see. I would call her in a minute and try to explain what she had witnessed. I doubted she would let herself in any more.
Shaking my head and trying to think boring thoughts, rather than remember the sight of the top of Victoria’s head and heaving chest as she had knelt in front of me, I walked through to the kitchen. I filled the kettle and turned it on. I needed to pee, the previous cup of tea now ready to leave my system but the liquids ejection system was not currently in a useable state. I didn’t want a cup of tea, I was hoping instead that performing a mundane task would distract me.
My phone beeped: An incoming text. It was from Amanda apologising for interrupting me and telling me that she had found the girl already and my house was on the way to where she was going. She had dropped by to collect me.
How do I answer? This was now the second time Amanda had come to my house and found me with a woman. I couldn't help but wonder if such awkward circumstances had already ruined any chance for her and I. Then I grimaced at myself for still considering how I might one day find myself in her arms when I already had a date with Natasha tomorrow.
I checked out the window. Amanda's car was not outside, however, I was not surprised that she hadn't waited. Thankfully, Mr. Wriggly had given up hope and gone back to sleep, grumbling at me as he did.
With my bladder finally empty and my belly replete, I considered what to do with my afternoon. Speak with the coroner was still on the list, but I needed to leave it a day before I called her. I had no other leads and had intended to go with Amanda to see the hookers. Amanda and I had spent far too little time together, almost none since she started working for me. Despite the embarrassment, the best course of action was to call her, find out where she was and join her. I would explain what she had seen and maybe save some face.
Otherwise, I would just have to explain it tomorrow. Muttering to myself, I dialled her number.
She answered as it began ringing, ‘Hi, Tempest. All done?’
She was making fun of me. Perfect. ‘Hello, Amanda. Yet again you catch me with my pants down.’
‘I’m really sorry about that. I should have knocked. I just didn’t think. I was going in and out of there for a week, so… muscle memory?’
‘It's fine, Amanda. You didn't disturb anything. I was trying to fight her off.' No comment from the other end. It probably hadn't looked like I was trying to fight at all. ‘I doubt that was the impression you got.' I conceded. ‘The lady is the coroner in the lightning case. I met her at Bernhard Myer’s house and she tracked me down.'
‘There's no need to explain, Tempest. We just work together. You're my boss for that matter. Lunchtime blowjobs are none of my business.'
‘I get that. I do, but…' I realised the futility on trying to explain my innocence and the likelihood that Amanda genuinely didn't care what I got up to. ‘Look, I am calling to find out where you are, so I can join you. You and I should work together more than we have done.'
‘Oh. Oh, okay. I am in Maidstone, near the prison. There’s a kind of prostitute pick-up point at the bottom of Wheeler Street. You know where that is?’
I did. I said I would meet her there I ten minutes. I got off the phone, checked my pockets, patted the dogs and went out the door. It had stopped raining and the sun was trying to come out.
Hookers. Tuesday, November 8th 1402hrs
Parking was easy in this part of Maidstone at this time of the day. There were rows of terrace houses, so it would be awful later, but it was almost devoid of cars at 1402hrs because the residents had taken them to work.
Driving here, I had considered whether Amanda meant that there would be prostitutes here right now or if she knew some that lived nearby. Were hookers in high demand just after lunch on a Tuesday? I had no frame of reference. There had been prostitutes readily available near many of the barracks I had been sent to during my time in the Army. I had never felt the need to frequent them though. I knew men that had, of course. Prostitution was legal in Germany and well-controlled so one could argue that some of the seediness was eliminated, but I was either too tight-fisted or too reserved to ever hand over money for an act that should be a bit more special than what I imagined one would get. Big Ben had likewise never visited the brothels, but in his case, he had no need and had always claimed that he felt affronted by the concept as they should be paying him.
I spotted Amanda as I got out of my car. She had most likely spotted me and had made herself visible. As I looked over, she waved to make sure I had seen her and went back inside a house about thirty metres down the street in the direction of the town centre.
I went to the house and found the front door still open. ‘Hello?’ I called out as I went in. It was a small terrace house, the type with just one window on each floor at the front of the house because that was all it was wide enough for.
‘We're in the kitchen.' Echoed back through the house. All the terrace houses I had ever been in were of a similar design. A short corridor from the front door led to the stairs. To the right was a living room just about big enough for a sofa and a TV, to the right of the stairs as one reached them was a dining room and beyond that a kitchen. Beyond the kitchen was a toilet that would have originally been accessed from outside the house - an outside loo. I wondered if there were any houses left anywhere that had not been converted to allow internal access to the bathroom.
The house itself was tidy enough, there was no mess visible, but its décor needed a refresh. I could hear voices ahead of me, one of which I could identify as Amanda's. As I reached the end of the corridor, rounded the stairs and entered the kitchen, I found her talking to a young woman in her early twenties. It was cool in the room because the window behind her was open and she had a cigarette in her mouth. Most of the smoke was being drawn out of the window by a breeze but there was enough of it for me to smell it and know I would need to wash all my clothes as soon as I got home.
‘Hello.' I said as I extended my hand. ‘Tempest Michaels.' I offered her my card, which was a natural action rather than because I wanted her to have my number.
She took my hand and despite her tiny frame and minuscule hand, she had a firm grip. I told myself not to think about what she practiced gripping. She took my card, inspected it briefly and produced one of her own as she told me her name was Stacy Jenkins.
‘That’s my real name.’ she explained. ‘The name on my card says Stacy Sukks because that’s my stage name. I’m an adult actor as well.’ She boasted. I had no reply that would sound acceptable to my ears. I looked at her card.
Stacy Sukks, Adult Actress, Female Companion and Escort
Anything goes. Get it here every time!
Beneath the text was an email address and a mobile phone number so the holder could get hold of her easily when they wanted to get it I assumed. I put it in my pocket only because I could not work out what else to do with it.
