Saffina Desforges' ROSE RED Crime Thriller Boxed Set

by Saffina Desforges

  Red took her coffee. “That’s not an argument that will stand up in court, Counsellor. If you’ve never tried one how do you know they’re full of typos and whatever?”

  “It’s common knowledge.”

  “Hearsay, you mean?”

  “Don’t be obtuse, Cassandra. As the Lord Chief Justice would put it, some facts are simply so well-established that they do not require citation.”

  “I’m halfway through an ebook now and I can assure you there are no typos.”

  “You would say that.”

  “Find one, then.” Red shoved the e-reader at Pippa. Pippa waved it away.

  “No, come on,” Red insisted. “Prove your point. Show me a typo.”

  Pippa reluctantly took the e-reader from Red, handling the device gingerly, as if she might catch something. “Oh. Touch screen? That’s not quite so bad, then. You’ve got twenty-four books? On this little thing?”

  “I’ve just started. It can hold thousands.”

  “A thousand misspelt ebooks? I’m not sure that’s anything to shout about.”

  “You can carry an entire library around in your pocket,” Red persisted.

  “Cassandra, I do not have pockets, thank you very much.” Pippa scanned the list of books. “Ah, some of these are classics. Pride and Prejudice? Well at least that won’t be mis-typed.”

  “Most of the classics are free,” Red said.

  Pippa raised an eyebrow. “Really? Well, I suppose that’s something. I’ve always felt it unfair publishers were charging full price for an out of copyright book.”

  “Well there you go then. Get yourself an e-reader and you can read all the golden oldies for nowt.”

  “Cassandra, it’s hardly as if we are struggling for money such that we need charity books.” Pippa turned the e-reader over in her hands. “But it is light-weight and compact, I’ll give you that. Now if only there was some way one could transfer private documents to it, so one could read in the taxi. That would be something.”

  Red grinned. “Funny you should say that, Counsellor. If you look closely you’ll find I’ve loaded the forensics reports to look over. Not that I have the luxury of a taxi to work every morning to be able to read them.”

  Pippa flipped through the e-pages, determined not to be impressed. “I’ve never heard of half of these authors.”

  “Like you walk into Waterstone’s and you know all the authors there?”

  “You are being obtuse again.”

  “A tenner says you’re hooked on e-reading before the month is out.”

  Pippa glared at Red. “Please don’t bring gambling into our home, Cass. But if you wish to make it a gentleman’s challenge, then I readily accept.”

  “Gentlemen? Us? The only thing we have in common with a bloke is we both prefer other women.”

  “Do you have to always be so vulgar?”

  “Must be the company I keep.”

  “Diary of a Sex Slave,” Pippa read from the screen. She brought her head round slowly, a smile playing on her lips. “You sly creature, you!”

  “It’s not what you think, Counsellor.”

  “Really, Cass, at least have the decency to be honest. I read in the Telegraph about how dirty old men were using these devices to sate their carnal desires on the commute to work. But I never realised you were...” She handed the device back to Red, the smile broadening as reality sank in. “So that’s why you’ve been so lively this past week.”

  “What?”

  Pippa lifted the coffee cup to her lips, still smiling. “Getting yourself worked up in advance by reading this kind of–”

  The observation was cut short as Ella appeared in the doorway.

  “Mum?”

  “Can’t you see I’m talking to Cassandra, dear?”

  “But it’s important.”

  Pippa held the coffee cup steady, little finger poised. “Well, if it’s important…”

  “I need to tell you something.”

  Pippa nodded her assent.“Yes, darling?”

  Ella put her hands on her hips to deliver the news. “I’m pregnant.”

  The coffee cup smashed into pieces at Pippa’s feet.

  Chapter 104.

  “She’s pregnant,” Harris said quietly.

  Anna looked up from her coffee. “Say again.”

  “Nikki, she’s up the duff.”

  “Now that was worth being dragged out on a Sunday for.” Anna leaned forward. “When did she find out?”

  “This morning. About an hour ago. She told me last night she’s missed her period, so we got a test pack from the chemist first thing this morning. We had a row. I walked out. Called you.”

  “Jez, you can’t just walk out on a girl after you’ve got her pregnant. You’ve got to take responsibility.”

  “She won’t let me.”

  “She won’t let you what?”

  “Do the right thing. She wants an abortion.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh.” Harris laughed ironically. “I finally meet someone that I want to settle down and have a family with, and she’s petrified it’ll end her career.”

  “You need to talk it over.”

  “Fat chance. She’s adamant. Says it’ll ruin her figure. And she wouldn’t be able to work for best part of a year. I told her that I’d support her, but she just laughed and said, what, on your wages?”

  “Not everyone wants kids, Jez. Especially not at Nikki’s age. And at the end of the day you haven’t been together all that long.”

  “I know. But I thought once I’d got a ring on her finger she’d give up this stupid modelling lark and get a proper job.”

  “Nikki doesn’t see it as stupid, Jez. That’s the thing.”

  Chapter 105.

  “But Mum,” Ella scowled. She sullenly mopped up the spilt coffee. “The whole week? I’ve got ice-skating on Friday.”

  “You should have thought about that before you came in here with your juvenile pranks, young lady.”

  “Well I thought it was funny, Els.” Red was sat in her chair, arms wrapped around knees pulled up to her chin to hide her laughter. Your mum’s face...”

  Pippa turned on Red, hands still on hips. “Don’t encourage her, Cassandra. I nearly had a heart attack. Ella, what on Earth possessed you to come out with such a thing?”

  Ella looked up from her mopping, eyes moist with frustration. “It was a joke, mother. You know, humour?”

  “Mum’s idea of humour doesn’t always coincide with what normal people find funny, Els.”

  “Tell me about it. Anyone would think she...” Ella gave way under her mother’s glare.

  “Yes, thank you for your support, Cassandra. Ella is grounded for seven days, with no remission.” Pippa stared Red in the eye. “I hope I will not have my authority undermined by anyone?”

  Red put on an expression of wide-eyed innocence. “Not me, Counsellor.” She turned a sympathetic eye on Ella. “Sorry, Els. Do the crime, do the time, as they say.”

  “No-one told me joking was a crime,” Ella muttered.

  “Getting pregnant is no laughing matter,” Pippa stated firmly.

  “It’s what you were expecting though, wasn’t it? For Calvin to get me pregnant?”

  “Really, Ella. I have never, ever said any such thing.”

  “Liar.”

  “Ella! How dare you!”

  Red sat up. “Whoa, girl. That’s no way to speak to your mother.”

  “What, even if it’s true?”

  “Ella! That’s another week grounded. Now go to your room.”

  “But it is true!” Ella pulled herself straight to confront her mother. “I heard you talking about it. On the phone to Dad, yesterday.”

  Pippa shot a bewildered glance at Red before returning her gaze at Ella. “On the telephone to your father? About you getting pregnant?”

  “I was coming downstairs and overheard you. You changed the subject as soon as you saw me.” Ella’s voice wavered, tears forming. “How
do you think I felt, knowing my own parents didn’t even trust me?”

  Red took the child’s hand. “Els, are you sure that’s what you heard?”

  Ella shook Red’s hand away. “You’re just as bad.”

  Red sat upright. “Hey, hold your horses, gal. Just calm down and tell us what this is all about.” She grabbed Ella’s arm and pulled the child round. “Okay, let’s start again. You overheard your mother on the phone? Saying what, exactly?”

  “Mum was on the phone to Dad. She was talking about me going on the pill. As soon as she saw me on the stairs she changed the subject.”

  Red tore her eyes from Ella’s tearful face to look up at Pippa. “Counsellor?”

  “Cass, I assure you I have never...” Pippa’s look of utter bewilderment slowly changed to one of comprehension. She stooped down to her daughter, gently lifting the child’s chin. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m so, so sorry. You poor darling.” An arm snaked around the child’s neck. A kiss to the forehead. “I was talking to your father about a legal case, not you, precious. There’s a girl called Ella that I’m defending. She was found in possession of medical supplies. I was asking Richard if he knew whether the pills in question might have been bought over the counter anywhere.” She forced a smile at Ella. “Pills, not the pill, sweetheart.”

  Ella sniffed hard, wiping her eyes with the back of her hands. She tried to speak, but another flood of tears took control and she flung herself against her mother, sobbing.

  Red eased herself out of her chair. “I’ll see you later, Counsellor. I think this is mother and daughter time.”

  Chapter 106.

  “We’ve got to stop meeting like this, Guv. People will start talking.”

  Red grinned at the thought. “Actually, the Station is probably the only place we can meet where we won’t arouse suspicion. You weren’t busy, Terri, were you?”

  “Chance would be a fine thing. I hate the weekends, stuck indoors, with just the telly for company.”

  “You could always go for a drink with Barry Taylor.”

  “I’d rather eat broken glass. Anyway, what’s your excuse? I thought it was a family weekend.”

  “Pippa and Ella are having some quality time together. And I’ve a ton of paperwork to catch up on.”

  “So why call me up?”

  Red shrugged. “I figured you’d be at a loose end. Thought you might want to give me some pointers for tomorrow. We don’t want to be wasting time on basics once we’re there.”

  “What, now?”

  Red walked to the door and switched the lock across. She produced a plastic bag. She reached into the bag and produced the gun. She handed it to Terri.

  “Smith and Wesson,” Terri said. “Who took the name off?”

  “That’s how it came.”

  “Looks like acid.” Terri examined the trigger and loading mechanism. “Seems to be in working order. Ammunition?”

  “Not a clue.”

  “Not much use without bullets, Guv. What were we supposed to use tomorrow?”

  Red felt her cheeks warm. “I told you, I haven’t a clue.”

  “I’ll get some.” Terri let out along slow breath. “Alright, there’s two aspects to this. Handling the weapon, and holding the weapon. Let’s deal with the handling tomorrow when we have the ammo. That’s safety, maintenance, loading, firing, etcetera. Today we’ll look at how to hold a gun, and how to hold yourself. Both equally important.”

  “Suits me.” Red came out in front of her desk.

  “Only thing is, Guv, I’ll need to, you know, touch you. To show you how to hold your arms, position your legs, that kind of thing.”

  “I’m okay if you are.”

  “So long as we understand one another. Okay. Let’s do this. Stand by my side. Shake your arms out, nice and loose.”

  Red shook her arms out.

  “That’s it, relax. Get your breathing steady. It’s real important that your shoulders stay loose when you’re holding a gun.”

  “To keep it steady?”

  “Mainly to handle the recoil. Even a small gun will deliver a backward jolt way bigger than you expect. Generally speaking, the bigger the weapon, the bigger the recoil. Clint Eastwood makes it look easy, but if you fired that Magnum of his you’d probably dislocate your shoulder.”

  “I’m glad you told me.”

  “Now, cup the heel of your right hand in the palm of your left, like this.” Terri stretched her arms out in front of her.

  Red copied her, glancing sideways. “Like this?”

  “Higher, level with your shoulders.”

  “Better?”

  “Yes. Now plant your feet like this. No, a little further apart.”

  Red shuffled about on the spot, like she was grinding a cigarette into the dirt. “How am I doing?”

  “Terrible. Here.” Terri bent down and put her hands on the inside of Red’s thighs. “Excuse fingers. That’s it. A little further. Less tension. Relax those knees. You need to be able to rock with the recoil. There, how does that feel?”

  Red shook from her mind images of a naked Terri bending over, drying her hair. “Fine.”

  Terri stepped sideways, looking Red up and down. “Not bad. We’ll make a cow girl outta you yet!”

  ~

  Red wiped her forehead theatrically. “Okay, let’s call it a day, shall we?”

  “Just remember the weapon you’ll be holding tomorrow will be loaded and lethal. And in real life there could be someone at the other end with a gun pointing at you.”

  “I’m sweating just role-playing with you.”

  “You’ll get used to it.” Terri grabbed her top from the back of the chair. “Hello, postie’s been.” She bent down to retrieve an envelope jutting out from beneath the door. “Secret admirer, Guv?”

  Red shrugged, threading her arms into her jacket. “Probably an internal memo admin forgot to put in my tray.”

  “It’s Sunday, Guv. Admin don’t work Sundays. And they don’t send handwritten letters in red ink.”

  “Red ink?” Red let the jacket fall to the floor. “Let me see that.” She snatched the envelope from Terri. One glance and she threw it to the desk, raced out of the door, down to the corridor to the main entrance. Through the security door into reception. Out onto the street.

  Terri caught up with Red in the middle of the road, staring wildly in all directions.

  “Too late.” Red ran back into reception. “Who’s been through there in the past hour?”

  The reception officer stared at her. “No-one, Ma’am. Only you two.”

  “Someone must have.”

  “I’ve not left the counter. There’s been a couple of civilians bringing in documents. But no-one’s gone through that door except you two.”

  “Did someone leave anything? An envelope? Addressed to me?”

  “Not today, Ma’am.”

  “You’re certain?”

  “Scout’s honour, Ma’am.”

  Red and Terri made their way back to Red’s office.

  “Want to fill me in, Guv?”

  “That letter,” Red said. “It’s from the Huntsman.”

  Chapter 107.

  “What I want to know is where she heard about such things in the first place,” Pippa said. “Eleven year olds shouldn’t even know about the pill. It’s not right.”

  “Be serious, Counsellor. I know for a fact you defended someone who got a twelve year old pregnant, just a month or so back.”

  “Hardly defending. Just trying to mitigate the circumstances. How do you defend someone when the baby is there as proof? In the circumstances all I could do was suggest it took two to tango, and that the girl was a willing partner who should share the blame. The father was only fifteen himself. Besides, they were children from the estates. One expects that sort of behaviour of them.”

  Red put down her e-reader. “Here we go.”

  “Don’t do the affronted working class representative routine, Cassandra. It doesn’t become you. Besid
es, you know perfectly well it’s true.”

  “What, that kids only get pregnant in the sink schools? That the private education sector is some kind of haven of virtuous behaviour?”

  “That’s exactly what I mean. You don’t hear Ella coming home with tales of girls in her school falling pregnant, or being arrested for drugs, or...” Pippa let the list hang in the air.

  Red took Pippa’s hand gently in her own, shaking her head slowly. “Pip, Ella is street-wise, just like any other modern kid. She knows more about life than we ever did at her age.”

  “Some children might. Not my daughter.”

  “Counsellor, you need to step outside of your little world sometimes and spend some time with the rest of us.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “What it says. Talk to your daughter, like me and Steve do.”

  “Steve and I, Cass. How can I expect the children to use English correctly with you setting such a bad example. And what do you mean, like Steve does?”

  “Did Ella talk to you about relationships? About boys?”

  “Ought she have?”

  “Counsellor, when your own daughter feels more comfortable talking with the male au-pair she hardly knows than her own mother, then that’s a sure sign the mother-daughter relationship isn’t working.”

  “How is it you seem to know so much about being a good parent when you’ve never had children?”

  “I was a kid once too.” Come on, let’s make the most of this evening. The kids are all crashed out, We’ve got that new Batman film to watch. And there’s a Rioja in the chiller.”

  “Grand reserve?”

  Red nodded.

  “You know how to twist a person’s arm.”