Saffina Desforges' ROSE RED Crime Thriller Boxed Set

by Saffina Desforges

  “Gone. as per instructions. One text from you and I trashed it.”

  “Where’s the pieces.”

  “I got rid of them.”

  “I told you to keep them. How do I know you aren’t still using it? Or that you haven’t sold it on eBay?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Like I believe that. Anyway, I sent you another. It should have arrived two days ago.”

  Farmer handed over a mug of black coffee. He gestured to a red Post Office delivery notice on the side cabinet. “I’ve been laid up. Haven’t been able to go out the last few days.”

  “You’ll be laid up for more than few days if you ignore my packages again. Queenie wasn’t expecting me today thanks to you.”

  “How was I supposed to know?”

  “By collecting the phone, switching it and reading the message. Now I’ve got to stay in town tonight. Queenie’s indisposed till the morning.”

  “You can find somewhere to stay easily enough.”

  “I already have. Here.”

  “No way.”

  The Huntsman said, “Way. I want this placed cleaned up. Properly. I’m not dossing in a shit-hole. I want clean bedding. I want the bathroom sparkling. I want the kitchen sparkling. And give this carpet a birthday treat and run the Hoover over it. Oh, and make sure there’s bacon and eggs in the fridge for the morning. And black pudding. I like my fry-ups.”

  “This place ain’t big enough for two people.”

  “You said it. So go stay somewhere else.”

  “Where?”

  “You’ve got a sister, haven’t you?”

  Farmer nodded hesitantly.

  “Well go and stay the night with her. Or maybe you’d like me to instead.” The Huntsman gestured to a photograph on the cabinet. “That niece of yours must be fifteen by now, right?”

  Chapter 10.

  “Mum!” Jack screeched to a halt in front of Red and Pippa. “Someone’s taken my car!”

  “Who did?” Red propped herself up on her elbows.

  “Those boys, over there.” Jack pointed into the distance. “They took the remote control off me, too.”

  Pippa scrambled to her feet. “Cass! You need to go over and sort them out.”

  “Oh no. No way. Off duty, remember.” Red lay back down on the blanket. She stretched her arms out. “Absolutely no playing detective, under any circumstances. I think those were your words.”

  “Cassandra! I’m being serious. They can’t get away with this.” Pippa wrapped an arm around Jack’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Jack. Cass will get it back for you.”

  “Uh-uh. I’m following orders. Your orders, Counsellor. You go and sort it. You’re quick enough at defending them in Court.”

  “Please, Cass.” Jack sniffed loudly. “It was a Christmas present from Dad.”

  Red squinted up at Jack. His eyes glistened with tears. She watched as his shoulders jigged up and down and he choked back a sob.

  “Come on, let’s go and get your car back.” Red stood. Brushed stray foliage from her clothing. She threw Pippa a warning glance. “One more word from you about my job…”

  “Thank you,” Pippa mouthed.

  “Right.” Red steered Jack in the direction of a clump of youths dressed in over-sized clothes. “Which one of them took it?”

  “The tall one. Red hoodie.”

  As they approached, Red could hear the volume of their voices gradually increasing. What had sounded like animated chatter suddenly became more acrimonious. She placed a restraining hand on Jack’s arm. “Stay here. I’ll deal with it.”

  Red picked up her pace to a fast walk. She could feel a fluttering of unease in her stomach as a scuffle erupted. The boy in the red hoodie dropped Jack’s controller to the floor. He pushed his hands against another boy’s chest. Red watched as the second boy stumbled backwards.

  “That’ll do!” Red broke into a slow jog. “Police!”

  The boys turned as one, sneers of indifference turning to concern as Red produced her badge. Suddenly, the circle of bodies broke up. A glint of sunlight on steel. Boys scattered in different directions like someone had blown seeds off a dandelion. Red’s heart lurched as she watched the boy who had been pushed in the chest flop to the ground, weightless.

  Air scorching her lungs, Red reached the motionless body. She fell to her knees beside the youth, face down on the grass. Blood turned the grass black beneath him.

  Red rolled the youth onto his back. Blood spouted like a volcanic geyser from a single hole in the boy’s tracksuit top. Red pressed one hand over the wound, pulling her mobile from her pocket with the other. Cursed Pippa as she waited for it to boot up. Her thumb jabbed speed dial one. “Ambulance. Blackheath. By the church. IC3 male. Early teens. Stab wound to the chest. Urgent. He’s losing blood fast.”

  Red used her body weight to try stem the bleeding. She looked down, helpless as the claret liquid seeped through her fingers.

  The boy’s head lolled to one side, glassy eyes staring directly into Red’s. She knew he couldn’t see her any more.

  Red watched as his pupils blew, growing large, swallowing the green of his eyes as a final breath left his lungs. Red felt his chest deflate beneath her hands.

  Turning to face the darkening sky, she sent up a silent prayer.

  Jack stood open-mouthed by her side.

  Chapter 11.

  “I saw her nipples that time.”

  “You wish.”

  “Straight up,” Harris gloated. “When she bent over to pick up that pound coin I accidentally rolled off the bar she was so low her bra was hanging down. I tell ya, you could hang your coat on them!”

  Taylor high-fived Harris. “You lucky bastard. Fancy your chances then?”

  “With Lindsay? You’re joking. Have you seen her boyfriend? I won’t even let her serve me when he’s in here.”

  “You’re such a wimp, Jezza. Let the prat hit you, then you can have him locked up for assaulting a police officer, and coat-hooks there will be back on the market.”

  “No way, Jose. He’s built like a brick shit-house. One punch from him and your Brenda would be sweeping around my hospital bed. Besides, I’ve got someone else in mind.”

  “Oh yeah? Anyone we know?”

  “Terri Miller.”

  Taylor spluttered beer back into his glass. “Tex? Are you serious?”

  Harris shrugged. “Well why not? She knows better than anyone I’ve finished with my last girlfriend. And I’m pretty sure she ain’t with anyone.”

  Taylor snorted. “Wasting your time, mate. I tried my luck when she first arrived. Didn’t get anywhere.”

  “Yeah, well you’re not her type.”

  “Course I am. I’m a natural born puller. But when nature doesn’t play ball you have to admit defeat.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It’s bloody obvious. Jez. You’ve seen the way Tex and the Guv are always saddled up together. It ain’t natural, a DCI and a DC working together like that. And it ain’t natural why, either. It’s obvious Tex is batting for the other side, just like the Guv.”

  “Don’t be daft. Tex ain’t no bender. Anyway, no lezzie could have an arse like that.”

  “God moves in mysterious ways, my son.”

  “No way, Bazza. No way. And I’ll prove it to you.”

  Taylor broadcast his toothiest grin. “What, you gonna get Tex in the sack? Fifty quid sez you don’t.”

  Harris stood up and thrust a hand out. “You’re on. Fifty quid says I’ll be in bed with Terri Miller by the end of the month.”

  Chapter 12.

  Red stood, feet rooted to the kitchen floor like someone had cemented her there. She watched, transfixed as the copper-coloured water swirled away down the sink.“Hey.” Pippa rested a gentle hand on Red’s shoulder.

  “Hey.”

  “There was nothing you could have done, Cass. Don’t blame yourself.”

  “I should have got there quicker.”

 
; “You tried to save his life. You did what you could.”

  “He was only fifteen.”

  “I know. But you’re not to blame.” Pippa turned Red to face her. Passed her a hand-towel. “Why don’t you grab a shower and I’ll order us some food. We can watch some television. It will help take your mind off it.”

  “Is that it? Grab a pizza and forget all about it?”

  “That’s not what I was inferring.”

  “No?”

  “No. There’s no point in getting angry with everyone, Cass. I knew you’d be like this. That’s why I asked Mother to have the children again. Look, the only real way to assuage what you’re feeling right now is to find the culprit and charge him.”

  “What? So one of your lot can get him off with a slapped wrist on some trumped up juvenile delinquency charge.”

  “We don’t charge anyone, Cass, as well you know. That’s the role of the Crown Prosecution Service.”

  Red threw the towel down. “I could have got to him sooner if you hadn’t insisted it was my day off.”

  Pippa stiffened. “That accusation is completely unfounded, Cassandra. Not to mention grossly unfair.”

  Red ran her hands over her face. “I’m sorry. It’s been a tough day.”

  “Perfectly understandable. I’m just thankful Ella and Ruby didn’t see anything.”

  “Was Jack all right when you dropped them off?”

  “A little shaken up, that’s all. Or at least, he’s putting on a brave face for his grandmother.”

  “He shouldn’t have had to see that.”

  “I don’t think he actually saw much. He was watching the other boys run off with his car.”

  “He saw the kid afterwards. Saw the ambulance take the body away.”

  “We can talk to him tomorrow, together.”

  Red slumped into a seat at the kitchen table. Buried her head in her hands. “Why does this keep happening? To us, I mean.”

  “Comes with the territory, I’m afraid.”

  “The kids shouldn’t have to suffer because of what you and I do for a living.”

  “They hardly suffer, Cassandra.”

  “No?” Red tipped her head to one side. “First the Huntsman. Then Ella and the suicide jumper. Now this. Richard will go crazy when he finds out.”

  “I’ll take care of Richard. Even he can’t blame you for this. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Red fixed her eyes on Pippa’s. “Maybe I should quit. Ask for a transfer.”

  Pippa ran a soothing hand along Red’s arm. “Don’t be silly, Cass. It was not your fault.”

  Red pushed Pippa’s hand away. Crossed over to the fridge and pulled out a beer. Raised an eyebrow to offer the same to Pippa.

  “Really, Cass. When have I ever drunk Budweiser? That just shows you’re not thinking straight. Now pass me the Voignier and sit yourself down, please. You need to work this out of your system.”

  Red pushed the wine and a glass across the table. “I could work a desk job or something. Do some training. There’s lots of options.”

  “You’re upset, Cass. You’ve just seen a child killed. Now take it easy.”

  “No, it makes perfect sense.” Red snapped back the ring pull and chugged down half of the can. “That way, we can be a proper family.”

  “Cass, we are a proper family. It’s just been a bad day, that’s all.”

  “A bad day? We seem to have had rather a lot of those just recently, Pip.” Looking up helplessly, Red said, “I can’t keep putting them through this.”

  “It’s what you do, Cass, who you are. How could you ever give it up?”

  “It’s either that, or I end up losing everything I have. What kind of choice is that?”

  Chapter 13.

  “Sit down, Cass.” Superintendent Colin Blake drummed fingers on his desk, waiting for her to get comfortable. Well, this is getting to be quite a habit on your off-duty days.”

  “Tell me about it, Sir. In the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  “Hardly. Without your intervention there could have been further bloodshed. And you got a good look at the assailant, right?”

  Red nodded slowly. “A good look, yeah. If I’d been quicker I could have apprehended him.”

  “A civilian was down. A child. You tried to save him. That was the right thing to do.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Red didn’t sound convinced. “We’ve got witnesses that saw the group in the park earlier, and usable descriptions for several of them. I’m confident I would recognise the one that killed the kid. And I’m pretty sure they’ll be known locally.”

  “Known, yes. But will anyone dare say anything? What about forensics?”

  “Not yet, Sir. They’re still working on it.”

  “See if you can’t speed them up, Cass. I don’t have to tell you how sensitive this is. Black murder victim, white suspect. It’s already being touted as a racist attack. Was that your impression?”

  “No, Sir. Rival gangs, may be, but nothing to say it was about race.”

  “I hope you’re right. But there’s plenty of idiots out there who will use it as an excuse to incite a race riot, given the chance. Have you seen the papers this morning?”

  Red shook her head.

  “They’re running your photo. They’re calling you Robocop.”

  Red stared at the Super. “They’re what?”

  “Robocop, the Met’s very own Wonderwoman. The twenty-four seven copper. Never off duty.”

  “For Christ’s sake.”

  “So far it’s quite positive. The suicide jumper. Nikki Marshall. Now this. All out of hours. But they’re playing up the knife angle. They’ve run Lee Roberts’ image too. Trying to make a link between the two stabbings.”

  “That’s crazy. They’ve got the bastard who killed Lee. There’s no connection.”

  “The need a story. Knives are it. Not just you, of course. There are knife incidents all over the city every day. But now they’ve identified you as the cop who will take on the gangs and put a stop to it.”

  “What the hell am I supposed to do? I’m not responsible for the whole city.”

  “Of course not, Cass. Just find yesterday’s culprit. Fast.”

  Red nodded. “We could have done with Pete Metcalf back with us, Sir. After what happened to Lee, Pete’s pretty fired up about knife crime.”

  “Ahead of you, Chief Inspector. I put the call through to Wandsworth as soon as I came in. DS Metcalf will be with you from tomorrow morning.”

  Red managed a smile. “Thank you, Sir.”

  Blake asked, “How’s young Jack?”

  “He’s bearing up, Sir. He’s tough.”

  “We’ve all been there.” Blake’s features softened. “I had a young family too.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  A heavy silence hung in the air as neither of them said anything.

  Finally the Super broke the impasse. “I spoke to the DAC a few days ago, Cass. About the Huntsman. Needless to say there’s been no developments. They seem pretty confident he’s out of the country.”

  “I concur, Sir. I’m pretty sure I saw him in Paris while I was there.”

  Blake raised a surprised eyebrow. “You didn’t say anything.”

  “It was a fleeting glimpse. It may have been nothing. But he sure as hell knows if he sets one foot in London he’ll be back behind bars quicker than Taylor can finish a pint.”

  A rare smile curled the corners of Blake’s mouth. “Now that’s fast.”

  Chapter 14.

  Harris put on an automaton walk as Red entered the briefing room, all straight legs, angled arms and mechanical head movements. “Come quietly or there will be trouble.”

  “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me,” Taylor chimed in on cue.

  “I am the law,” Harris pronounced. “Put down your weapons and prepare to be judged.”

  Red managed a smile. “No point asking if you’ve seen the papers, then. By the way, Jez, that last one was
Judge Dredd, not Robocop.”

  “How was the Super, Guv?” DS Anna Hargreaves asked.

  “As you’d expect. He wants results, like yesterday. He’s sending DS Metcalf back to us to help resolve the knife crime epidemic. Pete will be here in the morning.”

  Taylor shot a glance at Red. “You’re not gonna go separating me and Jezza again, are you?”

  “Perish the thought, Barry. Split up the dynamic duo? No, you’re safe for now. Pete can work with Jim on this one.”

  Taylor theatrically wiped his brow. “Phew! Me and Jez have a bet on, so I need to keep a close eye on him.”

  Harris elbowed Taylor in the ribs. “Baz!” To Red, “It’s nothing, Guv.” He shot an anxious glance at Terri Miller.

  “What’s it worth, Barry?” James Mackenzie grinned at the obvious discomfort of Jez Harris.

  “A bullseye.”

  Harris cringed even more.

  Terri Miller asked, “A what?”

  Taylor put on his best toothy grin. “A nifty, Tex. Two ponies. Half a ton.”

  Red came to Terri’s rescue. “Fifty quid, Terri. A Lady Godiva is a fiver. A pony is twenty five. A monkey five hundred.”

  Terri Miller shook her head. “Two nations divided by the same language.”

  “You lot can talk,” Mackenzie countered. “Nickels, dimes, quarters, sawbucks, greenbacks… When I took the kids to Disney way back it took me the first week to work out that two bits was twenty-five cents. I mean, what’s that all about? How can a bit be twelve and a half cents?”

  “The Spanish Real,” Terri grinned. “The dollar was based on the 8-Real. From where we get the pirate parrot’s phrase pieces of eight. A bit was therefore an eighth of a Real, and became an eighth of a dollar. Twelve and half cents.”

  Taylor nudged Harris again. “See? You got no chance, Jez. She’s a walking bloody encyclopaedia.”

  Harris needed to blow his nose urgently. Beneath his breath, “Shut it, Baz.”

  Red rapped her knuckles on the desk. “If you could continue your juvenile shenanigans elsewhere. We’ve got a crime to solve.”