Dinosaur Diet

by Sam Speed

  'Hello Michael, sorry DI Black.' Dawn actually fluttered her eyelashes. Oh, come on.

  'Dawn,' he said softly then he glared at Jean and me.

  'What are you doing here?'

  Jean bristled.

  'It's none of your business what we're doing here.'

  'If it impacts on the case it is my business.'

  'Well it doesn't,' Jean said.

  Dawn blushed and I saw her open her mouth to speak.

  Before she could give anything away, I said, 'we were providing a class for the staff. It's got nothing to do with your case.'

  'And it's a coincidence you happen to be doing it at Yvette's work?'

  'Of course,' Jean and I chorused. We didn't even try to sound convincing because we knew he wouldn't believe us anyway.

  I put my arm through Dawn's and gently pulled her away. 'Come on Dawn we'd better get organised for tomorrow with all the new members.'

  She came with me glancing back at the detective.

  'If I find you've been interfering...' he shouted after me.

  'As if we would,' I said fluttering my eyelashes. Two can play at that game.

  He drew back as if I had stung him and went into the building muttering, 'For fuck's sake.'

  Jean and I laughed as we walked to the car park, but Dawn was subdued again.

  'I could kill that man for what he is putting her through,' I whispered to Jean. 'But I'm not stupid enough to say it out loud, in case someone beats me to it.'

  The class was much busier on Thursday. Dawn beamed with delight.

  'How lovely to see so many new people,' she said.

  I couldn't believe that after all this time she still hadn't figured out the main interest was more in Yvette's death rather than her exercises.

  For a moment she beamed even wider when Michael Black strode in the door followed by an apologetic looking Wendy.

  'Did you know?' he asked her.

  Dawn's smile faded, she flushed and straightened up. She looked him in the eye.

  'I'm not sure what you mean DI Black, but unless you are here for my exercise class, I will have to ask you to leave.'

  One of us could have gasped and he might not have noticed, but Jean, Wendy and I all gasped along with half the class.

  It was DI Black's turn to go red. He glared at each of us in turn. Jean and I glared back, but Wendy coughed and pretended it hadn't been her. I suppose she had her job to think of. When he turned back to Dawn his pinched features softened.

  'Dawn, I wish things could be different, but I have to do my job. Did you know those two were going to ask questions about Yvette?'

  'No.'

  He turned to Jean and me.

  'If I find you two contaminating crime scenes or interfering with witnesses again, you will need a hell of a good lawyer to get you back out of custody this year.'

  He turned to me. 'And next time everything you say will be recorded.'

  'If you had done your job properly in the first place,' I said, 'instead of lusting after Dawn, we wouldn't have to investigate.'

  Wendy looked shocked, but a smile played at the corners of her mouth. Jean was grinning, but Dawn looked close to tears. Everyone in the class, and therefore the whole town by tomorrow, now knew about her and the detective. If she still hoped for me to be friends with Mike she was going to be disappointed. I decided to leave before the situation got any worse for Dawn's sake.

  I stormed out of the hall and stood at the bottom of the steps taking deep breaths. The hall door opened. I looked up expecting to see Jean. Or perhaps Mikey wanting to carry on the argument but it was Sheila. She came down and put her arm around my shoulder.

  'Are you all right?' she asked.

  I forced a smile and said, 'yes I'm fine. I just can't stand that man. He thinks he is so perfect. He's full of himself for being an inspector, but he takes credit for Wendy's work and doesn't make any effort to do his job properly.'

  'Are you sure it's not because you resent his relationship with Dawn?'

  'There could be some of that,' I agreed.

  'I didn't know you were still looking into Yvette's death. Have you got any further forward?'

  'Not really. We got a couple of leads from Yvette's work, but nothing substantial. I'm busy at work at the moment but Jean's going to try and look into Christine's death. We've been concentrating on Yvette's up to now and getting nowhere.'

  'Those poor young women. It's so awful. I'd better get back in. If I can do anything to help...'

  'Thanks.'

  I waited another couple of minutes and then went in. With so many new people Dawn would need me to help with the class. I passed Mike on the top step and we exchanged a glare. Wendy passed me and gave my hand a squeeze behind her boss's back.

  I went in and saw the relief and pleasure on Dawn's face and I knew Michael Black would never be able to affect our friendship.

  A friendship is far more valuable than any relationship with a man. You could never be sure how long a romance would last, but a true friend will always be there for you. You can say, or even not say, what you really think to her.

  Love affairs always seem to have insecurity about them. I only had to watch Dawn to realise how insecure she was feeling.

  After the class Dawn came up and hugged me.

  'I don't tell you enough how much you mean to me. I know you and Michael don't get on and I suspect you never will, but it doesn't matter. I honestly feel he is the one for me, but no man will ever split us up.'

  'And no woman on my part,' I agreed laughing.

  Jean gave us a warm smile and we made it a group hug.

  I went home that night with a warm fuzzy feeling. I should have known better.

  Lisa Moves On

  It was almost a week before I had a chance to see Dawn. I was a bit worried that she hadn't tried to call me. Had she changed her mind about staying friends when I couldn't stand Detective Mike? Perhaps my feelings about Mikey and Jean were too much for her.

  After work on the Wednesday, I came home to find Dawn sitting in my flat with a furry white steam engine curled up on her lap.

  I wasn't sure whether it was good she was there or not. Her key to my flat was lying on the table beside her. Had she decided to give it back? Was I about to lose my best and only real friend? Well, not only friend. There was Snowball. Even if she was currently curled up on someone else's lap.

  'Miss me Snowball?' I said, 'doesn't look like it.'

  Dawn laughed. That was a good sign.

  'Cats don't do faithful,' she said.

  'That one certainly doesn't. Do you want a cuppa? I don't suppose her ladyship allowed you to get up and make one.'

  'Please.'

  'Anything to eat?' I was trying to avoid what she had to say, just in case.

  'No, I'm fine thanks.'

  I went into the kitchen and Snowball appeared at my feet meowing piteously.

  'Did Auntie Dawn forget to feed you then?'

  'Prrp prrp.'

  I could hear Dawn laughing in the living room and could imagine Snowball joining in the laughter.

  'Come on then. Only a little.'

  I sat down beside Dawn. Snowball came back in and claimed my lap.

  There was a few moments silence. Once I would have been comfortable with that, but now it felt awkward.

  'It wasn't what you thought on Saturday. With Wendy I mean.'

  'Oh that,' she said. 'Lisa I'm fine with what you are. I was hurt you never told me, but it won't make any difference to us.'

  I realised I had been holding my breath and decided that it would be would be a good idea to resume breathing.

  'I was on my way to the hall to get things ready for tomorrow,' she continued. 'When I passed by here Snowball told me how cold and hungry she was, so I let her in. Then I thought I should wait and see if you want your key back.'

  'Please keep it. Who knows when I'll neglect Snowball again and she'll not be happy if you can't let her in.'

  'Ok.
I'll call though before I come over.'

  I blushed, we were not quite there yet, but she had a point.

  'Might be an idea.'

  Dawn sat back in the chair with a sigh. It wasn't like her.

  'What's up?'

  'I miss Michael so much. I know you don't like him but he's a good person when you get to know him.'

  I gave a wan smile not trusting myself to speak. There was a good chance I would point out he had probably moved on to another conquest by now.

  'How are you doing money wise?'

  'I'm OK for now. The class is busier again since we went to Yvette's work. But I do wish people would come for the class, not the murder.'

  So, she had worked it out.

  'Getting them there is the first hurdle. Then it's up to you to persuade them they enjoyed themselves so much they want to come back.'

  'Now that the police are investigating again, perhaps you should leave the investigation up to them,' Dawn said.

  'I'll remind you that your boyfriend considers me the main suspect. If I don't find out who did murder them, there's a good chance I'll end up in jail.'

  'But it's dangerous. Look what happened to Christine. Jean says the same. She doesn't want you to carry on.'

  'Jean said that? She never told me she felt like that.'

  'You should spend more time talking then.'

  It was my turn to blush even though nothing had happened. I was surprised Dawn would say something like that. I might finally be rubbing off on her.

  Snowball dragged her favourite toy, a goldfish made of feathers, over to Dawn. She obliged by playing with the fluffy one for a while before she left to get the hall ready.

  #

  'What's up with Dawn tonight?' asked Sheila. 'She's not her usual bubbly self.'

  'She's missing super cop,' I said.

  For a moment Sheila seemed to choke then I realised she was trying not to laugh out loud.

  After an uninspiring class, Jean and I persuaded Dawn to come out for a drink with us. We thought it might cheer her up but she sat there looking at her drink. So, we ended up talking about the murders. It was a cheery conversation for a night out and we seemed to be going around in circles.

  'We know Mary hated Yvette because of the problems since she ran Yvette's cat down. And both Anne and her son George hated Yvette because she got him sacked. Then his girlfriend chucked him out and he had to move back with mummy and daddy.'

  'What about Anne's husband?' asked Jean.

  'Not a chance,' I said, 'he'd never get off the sofa long enough.'

  'We know Angela never got on with Yvette.' Dawn was trying to keep up with us, bless her.

  'That's true and it turns out Suzy and Lorna were not as great pals with her as they made out.'

  'What about Christine?' said Jean, 'We should try to think about who had access to her and who she upset most when she was "gathering information".'

  'She upset just about everyone,' I said. 'As for opportunity, I saw Angela visiting Christine at the hospital and bumped into Suzy and Lorna visiting Suzy's Gran. Janice was up visiting her latest man, well one of. I saw her leaving the hospital with another one. Yvette might have threatened to tell Janice's men about each other.

  Then there was that odd time when someone ran away around the corner, not long before Christine was killed. It looked as though they must have gone down the stairs when Sheila came out the lift.'

  'I can't imagine why anyone would worry about being seen at the hospital,' said Jean.

  'Maybe they panicked because of what they planned.'

  Another sensible comment from Dawn. Perhaps she was growing up.

  'What about Sheila?' said Jean with a smirk on her face. 'Christine was killed with a bike spoke and Sheila has a bike.'

  'Not anymore,' I tried not to laugh, 'Christine wrecked it when she tripped over it. Besides half the class have bikes since they realised that Dawn would accept riding one as an alternative to walking.'

  'The trouble is,' said Dawn,' there are too many suspects and none that we really believe would kill Yvette or Christine.'

  Let's take one suspect at a time then and concentrate on them,' said Jean.

  'Good idea.' I said, 'if we can eliminate some that should help.'

  'Have we any idea who the police suspect?' asked Dawn.

  'That would be me,' I said.

  Dawn's beautiful amber eyes widened again and I shook my head before I was sucked in.

  'I'm sure Michael doesn't suspect you,' said Dawn. 'He says you're a witness. He knows you're my best friend.'

  'That's why he wants to suspect me. If I end up in prison, he won't have to share you with me.'

  'He wouldn't.'

  Dawn's face clouded over. Time to distract her again.

  'Right who should we look at first?'

  'How about Suzy or Lorna?' said Jean.

  'Trouble is we don't know what motive they might have so that might take some digging.' I said.

  'We need a name for our group,' said Dawn, with her usual knack for prioritising the wrong things.

  'How about Dawn's Dinosaur Detectives?' said Jean.

  Dawn's face lit up and the name was settled. I flashed a smile of thanks at Jean for the way she was including Dawn. Given time I might even learn to love this girl.

  'So,' I said, 'Detective Dawn what do you think we should do first?'

  Dawn's musical laugh rang out sweetly, like the honey from her bees tricking off a spoon.

  'How do we start?' asked Dawn.

  That was a very good question.

  'Angela for all her saying she didn't mind about Colin seems the most obvious suspect,' said Jean. 'We could try talking to her again.'

  'I'm not sure she would talk to us,' I said. 'She was ever so slightly annoyed that we used her healthy working lives lot to investigate at her work.'

  'She'll talk to me,' said Dawn.

  'I don't want you investigating in case you get hurt,' I blurted out without thinking.

  Dawn looked startled and I heard a sharp intake of breath from Jean as she moved away from me. Damn.

  'Jean and I could use the excuse of apologising to talk to her,' I said.

  'I suppose we could,' said Jean, radiating lack of enthusiasm.

  'How did you get on linking the notebook with people at her work?' I asked Jean.

  'I haven't had time to do anything.'

  'If you want I could have a go,' I volunteered, trying to mend bridges.

  It didn't seem to work because Jean replied quite shortly that she would do it when she got the chance.

  Dawn left and several glasses of wine later Jean was more relaxed. We decided it would be a good idea for her to come back to my place. We would spend some time together on our copy of the blackmail notebook which she just happened to have in her bag.

  Back at mine Jean seemed to have lost some of the glow from the wine and sat upright on the sofa.

  It wasn't fair on her keeping her hanging around. It was time to make up my mind.

  I went around behind Jean and nuzzled her neck. Her breathing quickened but otherwise nothing.

  'Listen, Jean, I only said that about Dawn because I couldn't very well say that there was no point in her talking to Angela. She's not bright enough to ask the right questions. Or because she's too naive to figure out when people are lying.'

  'Suppose.'

  Not much enthusiasm but at least she was talking.

  I could hear Snowball pattering at the door and when I opened it she shot in and climbed straight onto Jean's lap. What I couldn't seem to do, Snowball did in an instant and in no time Jean was laughing and playing with Snowball.

  I was exhausted just watching them and soon Jean came and settled down by my side. Snowball settled at my other side and I exchanged a smile with Jean.

  We made a half-hearted effort at looking through the notebook but didn't come up with anything new.

  'I like you,' I said.

  'Me too.'

&n
bsp; We leaned towards each other and our lips touched, gently at first and then with more urgency. Snowball decided to sneak onto my lap and was not at all happy when I put her gently on the floor. She put her paws back on my lap and meowed in her chirrup like way. When she figured out she was not getting any attention she licked her paw and cleaned herself as though that had been her intention all along. After a good bath, she jumped onto the tumble drier and curled up on the washing.

  'Perhaps we should do some work with the notebook,' I said when I surfaced for air. 'I could read it out.'

  I picked up the pages.

  'That's an idea,' Jean said, 'but I have a better one.'

  She grabbed the papers and shoved them back into her bag then stood behind me. I felt a warm breath on my neck and a hand reached around to cup my breast. Soon I agreed with Jean there were much better things to be doing than searching for blackmail victims.

  Snowball woke us up bright and early the next morning.

  'Give me a break, I'm off today,' I said as she rubbed herself against my face.

  'Isn't that lucky,' said Jean, 'so am I.'

  After a brief interlude, I gave in and got up to feed Snowball. Before long she was ready to go out. I made two cups of tea and took them through to the bedroom only to find Jean had already showered.

  'You might have waited,' I said.

  'Hmm, that sounds good. I could always come back in.'

  'I'll make breakfast,' I said, some time later. 'Full heart attack for you?'

  'Of course,' she said with a smile, 'I've no intention of living to a ripe old, crippled with arthritis, age.'

  Snowball sat at my feet while I cooked, looking adoringly at me and letting out the occasional warble.

  'It's human food,' I said, then gave in and gave her a couple of her day's carefully restricted treats. I might not worry about my arteries, but the little fluffy one had her diet strictly under control, well at least in my house. I suspected most of the neighbours fed her or gave her treats as well.

  I brought the breakfasts through. Snowball nimbly leapt onto the table then leapt back off again when she saw me reaching for her.

  'You know you're not allowed on the table, you bad girl,' I scolded her.