by Nick Oldham
Bill Robbins said, ‘What about the tooth connection? Anything significant in that… you know, Jennifer Sunderland and the girl?’
‘Our Cypriot colleagues have been to see the dentist in question, who is legit, by the way. His records show that Jennifer was one of his clients, probably from when she spent time out there with Harry. She had some work done last time she was out there. As regards the girl, who we think was trafficked from somewhere in Russia, she was given treatment under what has turned out to be a false name. This dentist also happens to have Oscar Malinowski as a patient.
‘We’ve a lot of things to do, a long way to go with this,’ Henry said, ‘and you guys, plus a few more detectives, are going to be “it” for the foreseeable future. Any objections?’
They all shook their heads.
‘Good, that’s settled, then.’
‘Seriously, I would have driven you,’ Henry said to Flynn as they stood by the taxi that had arrived to take him to Liverpool Airport.
‘I don’t think so — you shouldn’t be driving yourself. You can hardly move.’
‘I know.’
The two men looked at each other.
‘Hey,’ Henry said and held out his hand. ‘Thank you.’
They shook.
‘Give my love to Alison,’ Flynn said.
‘I will. How is Colin, by the way?’
‘It’s looking pretty good, by all accounts. At least the pressure’s off them for the moment, even if I did destroy their boat and help myself to most of their stock — and turn their shop into a crime scene for a day.’ Flynn checked his watch. ‘Need to dash… this time tomorrow I’ll be out on that boat, reelin’ ’em in.’
‘Lucky you… maybe one day I’ll come out there.’
‘You’d be welcome.’
Henry watched the taxi disappear out of headquarters.
‘You know, not long before that man turned up I was thinking about you.’
It was hard for her to talk. The punches she had taken to the front of her face had broken every bone the knuckles had touched, the nose, both cheekbones, and had also dislodged four teeth and there was the chance that she would need her face reconstructing, but it would be impossible to tell immediately. There would be a wait until the swelling had subsided completely before any judgements could be made by surgeons.
Painfully, Henry leaned over the hospital bed, listening to Alison’s quiet words.
‘I was thinking how much I loved you, part of the reason being because you were so passionate about your work.’
She swallowed and her breathing juddered in her chest.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he said inadequately. ‘This should never have happened.’ This was the first proper conversation they’d had in the last week, and Henry was dreading it.
‘No, it shouldn’t,’ she whispered and swallowed again. Her eyes were puffed up to the size of Kiwi fruits and much the same colour. Her injuries were terrible and when Henry had scrambled across the back seat of the Mercedes to her, he had thought she was dead at first.
‘I’m so sorry,’ he said again.
‘It’s not your fault.’ Her lips hardly moved as she spoke, they were so swollen. He touched the back of her left hand, into which a drip had been inserted. It felt frail and cold. She might have said those words, but there was no way on this earth did Henry feel that it wasn’t his fault. It was. Intent, effect, all that crap. It had to be his fault and he was creased with guilt and worry.
‘Henry,’ she said, ‘Henry… listen to me.’ He leaned over even closer so his ear was only inches away from her lips. ‘It doesn’t matter… not to me, not to me… know why?’
‘No.’
‘Because I saw your face at the window when that man was showing me to you, at that house. I saw your face… and I knew…’
‘Knew what?’ The memory of that moment would be forever etched into Henry’s mind’s eye.
‘I knew you wouldn’t stop. I knew you’d come for me and not let them win. Sounds pretty corny, eh?’
‘No, sounds good. So…?’
‘Are we still in a relationship? Is that what you want to know?’
‘Are we?’ he asked, terrified of the answer.
‘Bet your arse, copper.’
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Document creation date: 20.12.2012
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