A Killing Resurrected

by Frank Smith

  ‘Funny,’ he went on, ‘she was always nice to me, pleasant and all that, and she and Kevin seemed to be so right for each other, and yet I could never quite take to her; never felt completely comfortable in her company. Don’t know why; it was just a feeling. What did you think of her, Claire?’

  ‘Oddly enough, my feelings towards her were very much the same as yours,’ she said. ‘As you say, she was always pleasant, but I couldn’t escape the feeling that she had control of the strings, and the rest of us were puppets. Silly, I suppose, but that is how I felt.’

  ‘I don’t think it’s silly at all,’ David said seriously. He took a long pull at his beer, then set the can aside. ‘But this isn’t getting me unpacked and settled in, is it? Do you think this is going to work, Claire? My living here I mean?’

  ‘We’ll just have to see, won’t we?’ Claire said lightly. ‘But right now I’d better get the dinner started. You must be famished after what you have done today.’ She left the room and went into the kitchen, with the question still rattling around in her head. Would things work out for both of them? Only time would tell, but she was going to do everything she could to make sure that they did.

  ‘Hard day?’ asked Grace as she greeted Paget at the door. ‘You look tired. I was hoping that things would ease up a bit now that Kevin Taylor is behind bars, and the case is all but closed.’

  He kissed her. ‘Oh, they will,’ he said. ‘There are still the usual loose ends to be sorted out. You know what it’s like, but Tregalles and Ormside will take care of most of those. As for me, I have something else to think about.’

  ‘Such as . . .?’

  ‘Such as the future,’ he said. ‘I had a call from Chief Superintendent Brock just before I left. He told me that Alcott is in hospital, the psychiatric ward. It seems he’s had a breakdown, and there’s no telling when he’ll be back – or if he’ll be back for that matter. Brock didn’t give any details, but he seemed to think it unlikely, and he’s asked me if I want to continue on as Acting Superintendent until we know for certain.’

  ‘Which you’re doing now,’ said Grace, ‘so what’s the problem?’

  ‘The way Brock sees it, whoever takes on the acting position will be the most likely candidate for the permanent job if Alcott doesn’t return. So, if I accept, I would have to be willing to take on the job permanently in that event. If I’m not prepared to take it, then he would move someone else in who would be.’

  Grace frowned. ‘But wouldn’t they have to post it when it comes to filling the position permanently?’

  ‘Technically, yes, but you know how it works, Grace. Unless the person who’s been acting makes a complete mess of things, he’s got a head start on everyone else, so it would be a commitment.’

  Grace stepped back to search his face. ‘So what did you tell him?’ she asked.

  ‘Nothing yet. He told me to think about it and let him know.’

  ‘It’s a good step up,’ Grace said cautiously.

  ‘It is,’ he said, ‘but it would mean I would have to spend a lot more time behind a desk and leave the street-level stuff to others, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I like what I do, and I like the people I work with.’

  ‘So, when do you have to give him an answer?’

  His mouth twitched. Grace couldn’t tell if it was meant to be a grin or a grimace. ‘Tomorrow,’ he said. ‘First thing. So guess what we’re going to be talking about over dinner tonight?’