‘I don’t believe this.’
‘The camera doesn’t lie DS Macey.’
‘No, I don’t suppose it does, depending how you want to interpret it.’
‘How do you mean how I interpret it? I don’t interpret it any way other than how I see it. The CCTV clearly shows you pinning him against the wall by his T-shirt and you look as if you’re threatening him. There is no evidence on the footage I’ve seen that shows he confronted you in a threatening manner in any way, shape or form.’
‘Well I’m telling you he’s stalking me. That was the second time he’s shown up where I’ve been, and I also think he was at the incident on the Winstanley Estate, I’ve told you that. I want him warning for harassment.’
‘And that is going to look really good, isn’t it? Someone making a formal complaint against a police officer for assault is themselves warned for harassment.’
Scarlett was getting more and more wound up and doing her best to suppress her anger. Taking a deep breath, she said, ‘So what you’re saying is you’re taking the word of a scrote against mine and doing nothing about it.’
The DI’s face was almost blood red now. Through gritted teeth he steadily answered, ‘What I’m saying, DS Macey, is that a formal complaint has been made against you for assault, and until that is investigated then nothing is being done about James Green. You can make your statement about what happened on Friday, but that is all. I want you going nowhere near him for now, and that is an order.’ He gave her a long look, then, dropping the pages of James Green’s statement on his desk, he locked together his fingers and said calmly, ‘Can I give you some advice DS Macey? In a couple of days’ time you will be interviewed by Professional Standards, I suggest you keep your head down until then and also smarten yourself up. We’ve had this conversation before about the amount of make-up you wear. This is not a fashion department. I want my detectives to look like detectives. This morning it looks as if you’ve crayoned your face on. I suggest that in future you come to work looking more presentable.’
Scarlett wanted to explode, but knew that was not going to get her anywhere. Turning sharply, she tramped out of the room and into the corridor, giving him the finger once out of view.
Thirty-four
Scarlett was taking shelter in the doorway of the coffee house, clutching two cappuccinos, looking out across the car park and debating what to do. It was bucketing down – slashes of rain were pinging off the tarmac like bullets. In the short time she had been inside, waiting for her order, the heavens had opened. She cursed when she saw how far away she had parked the car; she had chosen the back of the car park deliberately so that she and Tarn could talk but still have a full view of what was going on around them: That was what cops did.
Seeing no break in the slate coloured sky she made up her mind, took a deep breath and put in a dash. It was only forty yards to the car but by the time she reached it she was drenched.
Leaping inside she slammed the door shut and shuddered. ‘Jesus,’ she said, shaking her head, ‘Where did that come from?’ A spray of water from her hair spattered the windscreen, side window and Tarn.
He cursed.
She handed over Tarn’s coffee before putting the key in the ignition and flicking on the wipers. They swished into overdrive, but the rain was hitting the windscreen with such force that they weren’t having much effect and so after a few seconds she turned them off. ‘Christ, I’m glad I’m not out in this.’
Tarn took the lid off his coffee and blew into it. ‘It’ll ease off soon.’ He took a sip, lifting off the froth from the top. Wiping his top lip, he said, ‘You know, you don’t have to take that shit from TB, Scarlett. You should report him. He would if it was the other way round.’
‘And where will that get me? You know what this job’s like. They’ll probably move me and I love working with this squad. It’s all I’ve wanted to do since I joined the job.’
There was a moment’s silence and then Tarn said, ‘So you’re backing off Green?’
‘That’s what he ordered.’
‘That wasn’t an answer, Scarlett.’
She met her partner’s gaze and gave a wry smile. ‘You bet your sweet life I’m not.’ She continued, ‘I was all geared up to go for the jugular this morning but Green has completely turned the tables on me. He’s smart, you know. The CCTV will make it look as though I attacked him for no reason. He set me up. I’m going to have to back off for a while, but I’ve got something up my sleeve once things have died down.’ She took a drink of her cappuccino and looked out at the rain pelting the windscreen. The inside was starting to mist up. ‘Anyway, enough about my troubles, I want to know how you’re going on.’
Tarn sighed heavily. ‘Not good really. Things are starting to get to me. I never thought I’d feel like this. It’s killing me not being able to see the kids! It’s killing me, not seeing Trish! Sure, I’m really grateful to mum and dad for letting me move back – it’s saved me a small fortune in hotel bills – but it’s not like my own home. It feels so awkward. I mean it’s a good six years since I left. I can see they’ve made a different life for themselves now. I’m just in the way.’
‘I’m sure they’re not thinking that.’
‘I know they’re worried about me, but at the same time I’m sure they wouldn’t want me back full time.’ Heaving another sigh, he said, ‘This is that head’s fault.’
‘Do you definitely know it’s the head she’s seeing?’
‘I don’t have any proof, if that’s what you mean, but I’m sure it is.’ There was a silence and then he said, ‘Do you know, right now, I could wring her fucking neck, and punch his fucking lights out.’ With a sigh he added, ‘But that’s not going to get me anywhere is it?’
‘It might make you feel better,’ Scarlett half laughed. ‘That’s a bit like what I feel right now towards James Green and the DI.’
‘Yeah I guess so. But then it might also mean we get arrested.’
‘Ha, there is that to it.’ Pausing a few seconds, she added, ‘What we need is a cunning plan.’
They both burst out laughing.
Scarlett said, ‘Look there’s still the offer of crashing down at my place if it gets too much for you at your mum and dad’s.’
‘Thanks, I really appreciate that and I’ll bear that in mind. I’m going to nip back home tonight. The kids normally go to Trish’s mum and dad’s today so I’m going to see if I can catch her and try and sort something out.’
Scarlett turned to him again, ‘Would you have her back if she admitted it?’
Tarn didn’t immediately respond, then said, ‘I love her Scarlett.’
She could tell he was hurting inside and Scarlett decided it would be best to leave it there. She started the car and the wipers cleared the screen. She said, ‘It’s starting to ease off. We’ll finish our coffee and head back in. I want to have a word with Ella before she leaves.’
***
Scarlett’s jacket was still damp when she got back to the office. She took it off, gave it a shake and hung it over her chair. Ella was working at her desk and Scarlett was about to go across to have a word when she spotted the envelope, bearing the name, ‘Detective Macey’. James Green leapt into her thoughts again: That’s what he had called her on Friday when he had confronted her coming out of the toilets. With finger and thumb she gingerly picked it up by one corner and turned it over. On the back was penned ‘You owe me x 5’. She read it again. It didn’t mean a thing. The envelope looked to be empty yet she could feel by its weight that something was inside. Holding it up to the light she saw a round shape tucked in one corner. It looked like a small coin. Even more perplexed, she unpicked the seal and turned the envelope upside down. A dirty copper-coloured coin fell out. Judging by the young Queen Elizabeth’s head on it, it was old. She picked the coin up and turned it over. It was a 1947 Farthing, long out of circulation. She double-checked inside the envelope to see if there was anything else. Nothing. Shaking her head, none t
he wiser, she pondered a moment, switching her attention between the coin she was holding and the envelope. It didn’t have a stamp, which meant that someone must have left it at reception. She dialled the front desk number and it was picked up on the third ring. A familiar voice answered. ‘Jenny, an envelope’s been put on my desk. It actually says it’s for Detective Macey. Did you put it there?’
The receptionist said, ‘Yes I did Scarlett. You’re the only person I know in this station with that surname. Why? Isn’t it for you?’
‘To be honest Jenny I don’t know. The only thing inside it is an old coin. It doesn’t make sense. Do you know who left it?’
‘An old lady gave it to me. I didn’t get her name. She just said it was for Detective Macey. I asked for her name, but she said it wasn’t anything to do with her. She said she’d been asked to leave it for you. I assumed it was something you were expecting. Is something the matter?’
‘No Jenny. I’m just puzzled by it that’s all. It doesn’t mean anything to me. Not to worry,’ Scarlett hung up. After studying the envelope again, she shrugged, put the farthing back inside and shoved it into her top drawer. Across the room, Ella was still at her desk working at her computer. She mooched over.
Ella stopped typing and looked up. ‘Oh hi, Scarlett. You okay?’
‘I just wanted to ask you about your burglary. It must have ruined your night and your weekend?’
‘It certainly put a dampener on things. I was glad Ryan was with me when we walked in. It really shook me up. You never think about how it affects anyone until it happens to you.’
‘But thankfully they didn’t take anything?’
‘No not a thing. We’re so fortunate. We can only think they must have been disturbed. I mean my work phone was in the kitchen on charge and my iPad was on the sofa. They’re the first things you’d expect to get nicked.’
‘All your jewellery left alone? And cash?’
She nodded. ‘Nothing taken at all. They didn’t even trash the place. If it hadn’t been for the flat door being forced we’d have never have known anyone had broken in. The landlord’s been good as gold. He came round on Saturday afternoon and put new locks on. Ryan and I made our own enquiries with our neighbours but none of them heard or saw anything. We can’t even see how they got into the block. The main door downstairs hadn’t been forced.’
‘Did SOCO find anything?’
Tight-lipped she shook her head. ‘Wearing gloves. They think a screwdriver, or something similar, was used on the lock. No, we’ve got away with it. You could say we were one of the lucky ones. This time. I tell you what though, it’s made Ryan and me determined to get our own place now. You know what it’s like once you’ve been targeted – always that chance they’ll come back now they know how easy it is.’
Scarlett agreed with a nod. She had intended airing her thoughts about James Green, given what had gone on at Ella’s engagement, but the fact that only she had been the brunt of his complaint, and no damage had been caused at Ella’s place she decided that she’d got it wrong and kept her thoughts to herself. However, as she returned to her desk, she was still determined she was going to make his life a misery.
Thirty-five
Across from his home, Tarn sat in his car, eyes fixed on his front door. He had just turned off the engine and it ticked as it cooled and died. A bit like my heart at the moment. Taking a deep breath, he anxiously smoothed his sweaty hands around the steering wheel. His thoughts were in overdrive as he re-ran in his head what he wanted to say to Trish. He had thought of nothing else since he had set off from his parent’s home three-quarters of an hour ago – the journey had been a blur – he’d been on auto-pilot all the way here. It wasn’t just what he wanted to say but how he wanted to say it. That was important because he was hurting. Hurting because he wasn’t the one in the wrong here: He had never been unfaithful, unlike some of his colleagues. He had always thought of their marriage as being rock solid: That Trish loved him as much as he loved her. Just shows you how wrong I’ve been. He smacked the steering wheel. It hurt his hand. He loved her, but he also hated her for she had done. As he removed the key from the ignition he told himself that getting angry was not going to resolve things today. He took a deep breath before leaving his car. Get your shit together Tarn.
He sauntered across the road and entered his front garden. Tapping gently on the front door he opened it cautiously and stepped into the hall, calling out ‘Hi.’
Trish appeared in the kitchen doorway at the end of the hall, wiping her hands. Her surprised look quickly turned sheepish. ‘Oh, I wasn’t expecting you.’
Trish retreated back into the kitchen and Tarn followed. She was tidying away the pots.
‘Heather and Dale are next door playing with Lucy and James. Do you want me to go and get them?’ she said, putting three plates into the cupboard.
‘It’s you I’ve come to see, Trish.’ He took a step nearer and she turned to face him. He caught a whiff of her perfume. Fresh flowers. It was the one he’d bought her at Christmas.
‘I don’t want a row, Tarn.’
‘I don’t want to row, Trish. I just want to sort things out.’
‘Sort what things out?’
‘We need to talk.’
‘There’s nothing to talk about.’
‘Look Trish, I know you’ve been seeing someone. I just want to sit down and talk things through.’
She leaned back against the work surface. ‘I’ve already told you I’m not seeing anyone. You’re being ridiculous. When do I have time to see anyone?’
‘All those times you’ve told me you’ve been working late, and that teacher’s conference you told me you were at that weekend. I’m not stupid.’
Trish laughed sharply, ‘You’re being paranoid.’
‘I am not being paranoid. You’ve been seen in the pub with him.’
‘We’ve already had this discussion. That was once, and it was after we’d all been working late because of the Ofsted visit.’
Tarn could feel himself getting agitated. He breathed deeply, locking eyes with her.
She looked away.
‘Trish, I can tell you’re lying. I know it’s Adam Witton.’
‘This is ridiculous. He’s my boss. We work closely together that’s all.’
He sniped back, ‘I wonder if his wife thinks it’s ridiculous.’
Trish pushed herself away from the work surface. ‘Don’t you dare!’
‘Do you know Trish, I can’t believe this of you. All this time together. Haven’t I always been there for you?’
‘Well that’s a debateable statement.’ She put her hands on her hips.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You saying you’ve always been there for me. You’re always at work. I might as well be single.’
‘Oh come on Trish. I work long hours because that’s my job. That’s what detectives do. You know that. Anyway, it’s that extra money that pays for this house. Without it we’d still be in a pokey little flat.’
She stared blankly for a few seconds, then said, ‘At least I was happy back then.’
Her response tore through him. ‘What the fuck is that supposed to mean? Aren’t you happy now? Don’t I make you happy any more?’
‘If you want to know the truth, then, no! I haven’t been happy for ages. And if you’d have been at home more regular you’d have seen that.’
Tarn bit his bottom lip and clenched his fists. ‘That is so unfair Trish. We need my extra money for this house.’ He drew in a breath but couldn’t control himself any longer. He said loudly, ‘I suppose you’re going to say that blue-eyed, fucking super head, Adam Witton, makes you happy?’
‘If you want a truthful answer, then, yes. He’s everything you’re not.’
Tarn pulled back his fist.
***
In his parked car, a few doors down from his parents’ house, Tarn rested his head against the driver’s window and eyed the red, sore knuckles of
his right hand. They had already started to swell and he squeezed his hand into a ball. The pain made him wince. He hadn’t intended losing his temper but those last words of hers had stung like barbed wire and he’d lashed out. Now he was regretting it. The sudden rap on his window made him jump. A uniformed officer was peering in and indicating for him to open his window. He powered it down.
‘Is it DC Scarr?’ the officer asked.
He pulled his hand out of view, ‘Yes.’
‘Would you mind stepping out of the car please?’
Thirty-six
Scarlett was getting ready for bed – in the middle of brushing her teeth – when she heard her work phone ringing from the bedroom. She switched off the electric toothbrush, spat out a mouthful of toothpaste and dashed to the next room, snatching up the phone from her bedside table. It was DCI Diane Harris – head of the squad. Startled to be receiving this call she answered, ‘Good evening boss. This is a surprise. I thought you were still on holiday until tomorrow.’
‘I am officially, but something’s cropped up that needed my attention.’
Scarlett’s stomach flipped. James Green’s complaint. Shit! Hesitantly, she replied, ‘Oh yes, anything serious?’
‘About as serious as they could be! Listen, have you spoken to Tarn recently?’
‘Tarn?’ The DCI’s question had thrown her.
‘Yes Tarn. When did you last see him or speak with him?’
‘This afternoon, as we finished work. Why? Is something the matter?’
‘What was he like? What did he say to you?’
This was not what she was expecting. What the fuck’s going on? Stumbling over her words she answered, ‘He was okay, why? I don’t know what you mean about what did he say? He was just normal. We talked about work.’
‘Do you know if he’s been having problems at home? Has he said anything to you about his wife, Trish?’
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