Red nodded. “That pretty much sums up most detective work, Anna. Lucky breaks. But I can see from Jez’s expression there’s more to it than that, right Jez?”
Harris nodded.
“I’m probably going to regret this, but let’s hear the full story, Jez,” Red said. To Taylor, “I’ve got a horrible feeling you and I may owe Detective Constable Harris an apology.”
Taylor looked aghast. “I ain’t apologizing for nowt. He stole my winnings.”
Harris quickly recovered his composure. He looked at the money in his hand. Then in turn at Taylor, Anna, Mackenzie, Terri and finally Red. He took a deep breath.
“It was Nikki, really, Guv. As we drove past the Vic’ you two were just coming out, and… Well, it was pretty obvious you’d had a few too many.”
It was Red’s turn to squirm uncomfortably. “It’s a fair cop, Jez. Continue.”
Harris gulped down the last of his coffee. “Nikki whispered to me that she thought you had nothing on under your jacket.”
Taylor made a sound like a pig finding a treasure trove of truffles. Red felt her cheeks colouring. She nodded for Harris to go on.
“Of course I didn’t believe it, but Nikki swore she was right, so we got the driver to turn the taxi round and come after you. You’ll never guess what Nikki said to him.”
“Follow that cop!” beamed Taylor.
Harris glared at Taylor. “How the bloody hell did you know? Anyway, we drove past you, Guv, slow like, and… Well, it did look as if you had nothing else on.”
Taylor’s eyes were like saucers as he eyed Red up and down, trying to picture the event. “Flashers night out, was it?”
“Dream on, Barry. We had an accident with some red wine,” Terri explained. “That’s all.”
“I know,” Harris said. “We walked behind you a while and overheard bits of the conversation, so we knew about the situation between the Guv and Pippa too.”
“You snide bastard,” declared Taylor. “That’s insider knowledge. That wasn’t a fair bet.”
Harris ignored the protest. “And then this morning, Guv…” His gaze returned to Red’s chest. “The Dallas Cowboys? You’re wearing the same t-shirt Terri wore to the Union the other day.”
Red stood straight, reached out and shook Harris by the hand. “I was right. I do owe you an apology, Jez. That was some clever detective work on your part. Especially the t-shirt. Well done.”
Harris blushed. “Thanks, Guv.”
Red turned to Taylor. “Very well done. Don’t you agree, Barry?”
Harris reached his hand out to Taylor to receive the handshake of apology, but Taylor just glared at Harris. “You cheating bastard. You should forfeit your stake for that. Right, Mac?”
“Cool it, you two,” Red warned Taylor. To Harris, “Nice one, Jez. Gotta hand it to you. But be warned, if anyone ever tails me again…” Red’s voice trailed as she failed to come up with an appropriate penalty for such a heinous crime. “Well, just don’t, alright?”
Red picked up her cup and drained it. “Thanks, JIm. Gnats’ piss, like Barry said, but at least it was wet and warm. Right, I’d better go see what the Super wants.” To Terri, “Wish me luck.”
Terri waved her away. “Just be careful where he sticks those medal pins, Guv. And we’ll all want your autograph when you get back, now you’re a celebrity.”
Chapter 70.
Famous? Medals? Just an acknowledgement from Blake that I did the right thing will do me, Red thought as she raised her knuckles to rap on the glass door-panel. But I shan’t protest too hard if he puts me up for a commendation.
“Come.”
Red briefly pondered what the neutral tone of the command heralded. Only one way to find out.
“Close the door, DCI Rose.” Superintendent Colin Blake sat at his desk, looking directly at her, his features set. His eyes briefly wavered down to the t-shirt, then back to Red’s face. No invitation to sit.
“Sir, I…”
“Please don’t speak. I speak, you listen.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I had two calls yesterday, Detective Chief Inspector. You can guess what they were regarding…”
Red dropped her eyes to the floor. “Two, Sir?”
“Two. One, was from a fellow Met officer with jurisdiction for the area you found yourself shopping in when you decided to try and talk a suicidal woman down off the —”
“Sir, I –”
Blake held his palm up. “He was not happy. His men… His trained men, were almost on the spot when the woman jumped. When he said it was an officer from this station I said no, you must be mistaken, Ken.” Blake paused a second, then. “No mistake, Colin, he replies. It was that new DCI. of yours, Rose. He had obtained your name from the store manager.”
Red took deep breaths. What could she say? But a second call? What the…
As if reading her mind Blake said, “The second call was from the Security Manager of some clothes store or other. Apparently you arrested a shoplifter on their behalf? They wanted to know if we needed the CCTV records.”
Blake steepled his fingers under his immaculately-shaven chin. “Do you imagine that I found any record of the arrest on file, Chief Inspector Rose?”
Red sighed. “No, Sir.”
“No, Sir. Instead of calling in the arrest you decide to go and interfere in an emergency situation for which you were wholly unqualified to handle, resulting in a woman jumping to her death. And in doing so you let the shoplifter, who was your responsibility, escape justice.”
“Actually, Sir, the two incidents were unconnected.” Rd paused to see if Blake would let her explain. His steely gaze said continue at your peril. Red continued. “I’d already let the shoplifter go with a caution by the time I saw Tahlia threatening to jump.”
“You let her go with a caution,” Blake repeated incredulously. “A caution administered at the crime scene?” Blake put his hands firmly on the desk, a muscle twitching in his jaw. “Jesus Christ, Rose! What were you thinking? I put my neck on the line for you with this promotion. Against my better judgment, I might add, out of respect for William Andrews’ wishes. And this is the thanks I get? This is how you repay my faith in you?”
“I’m sorry, Sir. I’ll –”
“No!” Blake slapped his palm down with a loud crack that made Red flinch. “This is what will happen. I’ve got two men seconded from Wandsworth supposedly helping you chase up this murder inquiry. They are not there so you can take time off to go window shopping and half-arresting shoplifters.”
“With respect, Sir, it was my scheduled time off.”
“With respect, DCI Rose, do you think for one second William Andrews would have taken scheduled time off in the middle of a major murder inquiry?”
Red’s eyes dropped to the floor. “No, Sir.”
“Two consecutive murders, Rose. Two clearly connected murders. On your patch. On your watch. And you’re out bank holiday shopping. Not to mention you apparently gave your whole team the weekend off?”
“I felt they needed a break, Sir.”
“Don’t we all. But not in the middle of a murder inquiry, for God’s sake. Supposing there had been another fatality while you and your friends were partying?”
“You were there too,” Red blurted out, instantly regretting it.
“For two or three hours on a weekend afternoon, yes. No-one expects you to work twenty-four-seven. But three days off? Do you know where I was yesterday?”
“No, Sir.”
“Take a wild guess.”
“Here, Sir?”
“Here, Sir. Sat at this desk making sure things ran smoothly. While you were playing superheroes.”
“It won’t happen again, Sir.”
“Too right it won’t. You will work every second, of every minute of the coming days, weeks, or whatever it takes, until you have someone in those cells down there, begging to give us a signed confession to the two homicides that have happened on my patch. And pray to God
it stays at two. Then I can tell everyone that you are after all the rising star I hailed you to be. Is that understood?”
Red swallowed hard, eyes desperately moving away from the single bead of sweat rolling down the Super’s temple. “Yes, Sir.”
Blake waved a hand. “That will be all.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Red turned and walked fast to the door, before Blake could call her back.
“Oh, and Rose.”
Red’s hands paused on the door handle. So close.
She turned slowly. “Sir?”
“I know there’s no formal dress code for CID, but if there were I’m pretty certain Dallas Cowboys t-shirts would not be on the list.” He raised his hand to halt Red’s explanation. “I don’t want to know. Just make sure you don’t reappear in it when you return from lunch.”
Red pulled the door open, keeping her back to the Super. “Lunch, Sir? We’ve two unsolved murders to solve. No-one on my team will be having lunch breaks, Sir.”
“Touché, Chief Inspector,” she heard Blake say as a civilian station employee with a handful of newspapers slipped past Red into the office.
“Sorry they’re late, Sir,” Red heard as she pulled the door closed. She walked a little way down the corridor then leaned over, hands on thighs taking her weight and let out a deep breath. Better cancel that lunchtime meet with Pippa tomorrow, Red thought. Then, shit! Pippa!
Red rifled her pockets for her mobile. No phone. The thought triggered hazy memories of the phone conversation the previous night while in the ladies’ in the Vic’, slumped against the wall. No vest on. Pippa talking to Terri. Suddenly the Pink Floyd drumbeat was pounding her brain again.
Chapter 71.
“Where’s Cassie, mummy? Doesn’t she want breakfast today?”
“Cassandra had to go out early, honey.” Pippa cast a warning glance at Jack.
“When will Grandma be here?” Ruby asked through a chocolate spread smile.
“Soon, darling.” Pippa looked anxiously at her watch. Your grandmother usually telephones to say she is on her way.”
“Maybe she’s overslept,” Jack grinned.
“Your grandmother has never overslept in her life, Jack,” Pippa assured him. “Now please get ready for school.”
Jack shuffled his feet noisily under the table. “S’not fair. How come Ella gets to stay off school and I have to go?”
“Because, Jack, Ella is very upset about what happened yesterday. You are not.”
“I didn’t get the day off school when I killed the Huntsman.” Jack said, fixing his gaze firmly on his mother.
Pippa’s hand flew to her throat. “Darling, you didn’t kill anybody. Unfortunately, Nathan Hunter is still very much alive.”
“Yeah, well I thought I’d killed him — it’s the same thing.”
Pippa mentally cursed herself and Red for their respective career choices. “Jack, I need you to be grown-up today, okay? You can see how upset Ella is. You need to act as the man of the house and make sure everything else carries on as usual. That means going—”
The shrill of the house phone cut their conversation short.
Scrambling for the receiver, Pippa ruffled her son’s hair. “Good morning. Philippa speaking.”
“Darling, it’s your mother.”
“Mum. Where are you?”
“I’m sorry, darling, I won’t be able to make it. My IBS is playing up again.”
“Oh, Mum, not today.” Pippa spun around in the kitchen, eyes on Jack and Ruby. “I really need you. I’m summing up today in a big case.”
“Sorry, sweetie. I’m in bed with a hot water bottle and a frightful hair-do. Been up and down like a yo-yo all night.”
Pippa sighed into the phone. “Okay, Mum. You get some rest. I’ll call you later.” She jabbed a thumb at Red’s number. No answer. She touched the handset to her already throbbing head. “Now what do I do?” she said to no-one in particular.
“Why don’t you call whatsisface?”
“Thank you, Jack, but I do not appear to have a whatsisface on my call menu.” Pippa shot another glance at the clock. “Bother. This really is too bad.”
Jack tried a second time. “The guy who was here yesterday?”
Pippa stared at Jack. “What guy? We were not host to any visitors yesterday, were we?”
Jack theatrically palmed his forehead. “Duh! Dementia, or what?”
“Jack! How dare you?”
Jack stood his ground. “Steve? Steve Robinson? Yesterday morning?”
Pippa’s icy glare melted into a warm smile. She leaned forward to plant a kiss on her son’s head. “Of course, why didn’t I think of that? Jack, you’re a genius!”
Chapter 72.
“Listen up you lot.” Red barged through the briefing room doors palms first, her features deadly serious. “Someone had better have something for me, or none of you will be seeing your beds for the next seventy two hours.”
A hushed silence descended upon the room, rumbles of conversations trailing off, worried glances exchanged.
“No medal then, Guv?” Taylor smirked.
Red glared at him. To Mackenzie, “Jim? What have you got for me?”
“Nothing new since last night, Guv.”
“Last night?”
“I emailed you everything we had last night. Anna and I met up and compared notes. I sent the conclusions through.”
Red scanned the faces before her, her mind desperately trying to recall the previous night’s events. Had she received an email?
Taylor puffed his chest out, the buttons on his shirt straining over his stomach. “Last night a bit hazy, is it Guv?”
Red ignored him. “I’ll go over it this morning, Jim. Thanks. The rest of you presumably have things to be doing?”
The team took the hint. Anna led Harris away, and Metcalf and Roberts slipped out quietly.
“Anything special in mind for me, Guv?” Taylor asked. “I can team up with Tex’ if you like. Mac must have DI work to do. I don’t want to cramp his style.”
Red kept her eyes on the folder in her hands. “I’m sure Jim can find something useful for you to do, Barry. Terri and I will be going over the report from last night. Oh, and if anyone needs to get hold of me, call Terri’s phone. I’ve mislaid mine somewhere.”
“Are you sure you didn’t leave it at my place?” Terri asked as Taylor and Mackenzie left.
Red grinned sheepishly. “That’s exactly where I left it. In your bathroom. But I could hardly say so in front of Taylor. Hope he didn’t give you a hard time while I was with the Super.”
“Just the usual. But he’s such a bozo you can’t help but like him. So what did the Super have to say?”
“Superintendent Blake didn’t share the populist view that I was hero of the day.”
“He’s the only one, then.” Terri passed Red the morning paper. “You’re everywhere.”
Chapter 73.
“Mr. Robinson, this is so good of you. I can’t thank you enough.” Pippa ushered the child minder into the kitchen. “You have literally saved my life, and probably my career!”
“It’s Steve, remember? Andhey, no problem. The girlfriend’s at work and I was at a loose end, counting the days until I could come and see the princess here.” He beamed a big smile at Ruby.
Ruby wrinkled her tiny nose up at Steve. “Grandma was supposed to look after me today, but she’s not well.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Princess. So it’s just me and you, is it?”
“And Ella too, I’m afraid,” Pippa said. “There was an… an incident yesterday, and Ella is feeling a little off-colour.”
“Oh?” Steve waited for more, but Pippa was already fussing with her bag.
“Er… Mum?” Jack ventured. “You gonna explain to Steve? About yesterday?”
Pippa looked slightly embarrassed. “Yes, of course.” She cast an anxious glance at Ruby. “Come through to the hallway. It’s best Ruby doesn’t know.”
“I alr
eady know,” said Ruby. “I know everything.”
“Everything?” asked Steve. “Wow! You really are a princess, aren’t you.”
Ruby beamed at Steve.
“I can see you two are going to get along just fine.” Pippa led Steve into the hallway and gave him a brief summary of the previous day’s events.
“I saw it on the news last night. Not Ella, obviously. But you must be very proud of Cass.”
“Proud? News?”
“This morning’s papers are calling her a hero, too. She’s on the front page, you know.”
Pippa’s eyes lit up. “My Cassandra is?”
“It’s just been on the radio, Mum. Keep up.”
Pippa and Steve turned to see Ella coming slowly down the stairs.
“Hi Steve. I thought you were starting next week.”
“Hey, fellow grown-up. How’re you feeling? Your mum tells me you were totally brave yesterday!”
Ella allowed a slight smile to tug at the corner of her mouth. “Yeah, it was okay. Apart from Tahlia.”
Steve went to the bottom of the stairs and gently took Ella’s hands. “Try not to think about that part, Miss Ella. So you’re having the day off school, I hear.”
“I didn’t feel like having to tell everyone about it, that’s all.”
“Don’t blame you one bit. So, it’s me, you and Princess Ruby, is it?”
“Grandma cannot make it today, darling,” Pippa explained, seeing Ella’s mystified expression. “So Mr. Robinson is stepping in to keep an eye on you both until Cass or I finish work.”
Steve leaned in to Ella. “So what do I have to do to get Mum here to call me Steve? I know I’m just going to hate being called Sir or Mr. Robinson when I start teaching in September. I certainly don’t want to be called it now!”
“Crusoe,” said Ella. “I bet that’s what the kids will call you at school.”
Steve nodded. “I’m resigned to that. Had it all through my own schooldays. And college. And uni’.”
“No, Ella, you may not, before you even think about it,” Pippa said firmly. “I’ll tolerate you calling Mr. Robinson by his first name, if he insists, but no silly nicknames, please. And Mr. Robinson, that applies to you also. Ruby’s name is Ruby. Princess I don’t mind, occasionally, but please do not follow Ella’s example and call her Tuesday. Or worse still,” she shuddered theatrically, “Tues. The poor child will be mentally scarred for life.”
Saffina Desforges' ROSE RED Crime Thriller Boxed Set Page 45
