by M A Comley
Mary tutted and wagged a finger, then she poured the tea. “Nonsense, there’s not an ounce of fat on you.”
Sam chuckled. “I would ask you if you’d visited the opticians lately, but you might take that as me being rude. This is fabulous, thank you once again.”
“It’s what we do for our guests, especially if they’re trying to help us get to the bottom of what happened to a dear friend of ours. My way of showing our appreciation. I still can’t believe he’s gone. What a terrible thought, to think we’ll never share another meal with him or a drink down the pub.” Mary let out a shuddering breath and her husband placed a comforting arm around her shoulders.
“It’s all right, love. I’m sure the officers are going to do their best for us, for old Tom.”
“We’re certainly going to try.” Sam nibbled on her doorstep of a sandwich and moaned with pleasure. “This cheese is scrummy.”
Mary sat upright, instantly brightening at the compliment. “It’s a family recipe. My gran used to be a farmer’s wife, she was thrilled when we took on the farm after skipping a generation. My father wasn’t interested in working with animals at all.”
“Do you sell the cheese?” Sam savoured the creamy product which exploded in her mouth.
“Oh yes. We sell it mainly to the local shops in the area. We don’t make as much as we used to, not nowadays. I’ll give you some when you leave.”
“I’ll buy it off you. I’ve never tasted cheese like it, it’s exceptional quality.”
Mary beamed with delight. “Thank you. It was one of Tom’s favourites, loved it, he did. He was a regular buyer, bought it for his daughter occasionally when he went for a visit. I’m going to miss him. It’s definitely not going to be the same around here, without his quirky mannerisms and sharp wit.”
A silence fell over the table as they all contemplated his passing while they ate their lunch. Sam was desperate to know more about Tom and his family; however, she really didn’t think the time was right to start grilling the couple who had laid on such a lovely spread for them. She ate a quarter of her scrummy sandwich and then asked, “How did Tom cope after his wife passed away?”
Mary placed her sandwich on her plate and wiped her mouth on a paper napkin. “I suppose he was up and down. Caring for her while she was going through the dementia definitely took a major toll on his life. We saw him age overnight with the pressure and the stress of looking after her every need.”
“Such a shame. The family helped out along the way, though, I should imagine, yes?”
“Occasionally, not as often as he would have liked them to. The situation used to cause some friction, if I recall rightly. Saying that, Eric and I, along with the Chatleys, we did our best to ease the burden on his shoulders. Gave him a break now and again when he needed it. How he managed the farm at the same time, I will never know. Now he’s gone as well—such a shame, just when he was about to start enjoying his freedom. Life really does deal us shitty cards now and again, doesn’t it? Excuse my language, but our dear friend has passed and it’s still far too upsetting to comprehend.” She pushed her half-eaten sandwich to the centre of the table.
Sam nodded, feeling sympathetic towards the woman and her husband. “I’m sorry you’re so upset. It is heartbreaking to think he cared for his wife all those years, but when it came to enjoying his retirement, it’s been pulled tragically from beneath him. So unfair.”
“Couldn’t have put it better myself.” Eric nodded and continued munching on his lunch.
They continued to eat. Questions entered Sam’s mind, but she quickly pushed them away again. Seeing Mary tearful and staring at the wall, rejecting her food, had upset her more than she cared to admit. It was so tough being in someone’s home, them showing you kindness, only for you to start interrogating them about a murder victim who was their best friend. Sam reflected and thought they had enough to go on when they left the house. Now was not the time to further intrude on the couple’s grieving process.
Ten minutes later, Mary had recovered enough to finish her meal off with a tasty scone and jam. She then proceeded to clear the plates. Sam insisted on helping her, grateful for the meal she had supplied for her and her partner. “Hush now, I’m used to running around, clearing up after people. I can manage, dear.”
Sam rose from the chair, adamant she wasn’t about to take no for an answer. “I’m helping, that’s the end of it.”
Mary’s face broke into a smile. “If you insist.”
Sam ferried the contents of the table back to the worktop near the sink while Mary ran a bowl of hot water. Together, they washed and dried the dishes. Sam struck up the conversation once more. “We will get the person responsible, I promise you.”
“I have faith in you. You seem a very genuine young lady, or should I say inspector.”
The heat warmed Sam’s cheeks. “I do my best by the public I’m paid to serve. It’s my job after all.”
“Ah, but does every copper really think that way?”
In her experience, most of them did, although she’d met a few dubious colleagues over the years as well. They hadn’t lasted long, she’d seen to that. She was above board in all she did in the force. Maybe slipped up on minor indiscretions once in a while, but she had a stringent DCI who pounced regularly, ensuring she and her team stuck to the rules daily. “In the main, I believe so. I suppose, in every walk of life, there will always be others who are keen to flout the rules. I can’t really say I’ve stumbled across many, not up here.”
“That’s reassuring. Must be because we live in such a rural area, could that be it?”
“Possibly. Although we also cover a few major towns in the area, too.”
“I suppose. Thank you for being here today. After sharing a meal with you, I believe Tom’s case is safe in your hands. I don’t have to ask you to do your best for him, because I believe you’ll do just that.”
“Thank you, that means a lot to me. I’ll try not to let you down.”
“You won’t. I see it in your eyes and in your demeanour, you’re one of life’s go-getters.”
Sam chortled. “Gosh, I wouldn’t say that. If I was one of those, I’d be off living the high-life, out on Lake Windermere every day on my own pleasure cruiser, living the life of Riley, without a care in the world.”
Mary tutted. “You’d also be bored rigid within a week or two.”
She laughed again. “You’re very intuitive, Mary. I would suggest you size people up well, would I be right in thinking that?”
“Oh, yes. I’ve always been a very good judge of character in my time on this earth. Tom was a very good person. There’s no way he should have been killed. If good people like that are taken out, what hope is there for those of us left behind?”
“Life can be so cruel.”
“I know, it’s hard to fathom. My old gran used to say only the good die young; all right, Tom was seventy-six, but he was extremely young at heart, in spite of what he’s had to contend with, you know, caring for Audrey in her last years. It’s so hard for me to wrap my head around his passing. Such a cruel and meaningless act to rob someone of their life. What gives anyone the right to do such a thing?” She wiped her eyes on the tea towel she was holding. “Here I go again. It’s just so wrong.”
“Try not to get upset. I know how hard that is going to be, especially as you were so close to him.”
“We’ll never be the same again. We’ll be constantly looking over our shoulders now, I can tell you.”
“Which is natural; however, please try and live your lives as normal. You have the reassurance that there will be a police presence in the immediate area for a few more days yet, at least.”
“Thank you. That’s reassured me a little.”
“And I’m a dab hand with the shotgun,” Eric shouted.
“So was Tom and look where that got him,” his wife retorted bluntly.
Sam rubbed her arm. “We’ll bring the perpetrator to justice.” Watching the raw feeli
ngs on Mary’s face, Sam felt she owed it to the couple to do her best to assure them.
“I know you will,” Mary sniffled and smiled through her tears.
“Will you be all right if we leave now? I mean, I hate to eat your food and run, but—”
Mary halted her with a raised hand. “Go, the sooner you get out there, the quicker you’ll be able to bring the bastard down. Oh my, I don’t think I’ve ever sworn so much in my whole life. It must be the shock.”
Her husband coughed and muttered, “Yes, dear.”
Sam smiled. “You’ll be fine in a day or two. I’m going to leave you my card, don’t hesitate to ring me day or night if you need me.” She took a card from her jacket pocket and placed it on the worktop beside her.
The couple walked them to the front door and waved them off.
“Nice couple. Thought you got attached to the wife more than normal, though,” Bob said, once they’d left the farmyard.
“I suppose you’re right. I felt sorry for her. You could see how distraught she was. It didn’t stop her from caring about her guests, though. Damn, I forgot to pick up some of that lovely cheese.”
He grunted. “I sense another trip back there in our near future, in that case.”
“Definitely. Why are you so grouchy?”
“Admittedly, the food was good, what I didn’t like was the hanging around. I’m used to being with you where you ask the questions and skedaddle after a few minutes.”
“Well, there are some people who need the extra care and attention, I felt Mary was one such person.”
“Whatever. What next? They’re the last on our list.”
“Let’s drive around, try and find the others, they’re in the vicinity somewhere. See what they’ve come up with, if anything.”
Bob held up his mobile. “Or I could save your petrol and ring them?”
Sam pulled a face. “And what if they’re in the middle of interviewing someone and you disturb them?”
“That’s the risk I’m willing to take, are you?”
“Go on then, smart alec.”
3
A few days later, with her frustration at an all-time high, Sam drove into work, fighting the rush-hour traffic en route. She hated arriving late; it was becoming a habit lately, one that she wasn’t proud of. This morning’s delay had consisted of caring for Sonny, their crazy Cockapoo, who had her up all night with an upset tummy. At around three, she’d finally succumbed and taken the spare quilt downstairs and slept on the couch, next to her poorly pooch. However, unbeknown to her, Sonny had crept up onto the sofa during the night and had a bowel movement which had meant she woke up to the vile smell and discovered the quilt had been ruined by her four-legged companion.
“Oh, Sonny. What are we going to do with you?”
Sonny had whimpered, giving her one of his hey-look-I’m-the-one-you-class-as-your-child looks and her heart had instantly melted. It had taken her five minutes to gather up the quilt and dispose of it in the bin, then she’d shot around the house spraying air freshener to disguise the lingering smell before Chris had appeared.
She sniggered, reflecting on the way he’d looked at her when he came down for breakfast. She had rubbed her tummy and told him the curry they’d had the previous night had played havoc with her stomach.
He’d cringed and shook his head. “Too much information. Keep the rest of it to yourself. Are you going to be okay going into work today?”
“I’ll be fine. I doubt if there’s anything else left.”
“Excuse me? I said too much information already, don’t tell me anything else.”
She just hoped he didn’t go near the wheelie bin before collection day, otherwise there was no telling how much she’d go down in his estimation. All because she felt the need to protect her beloved pooch.
Pulling into her parking space, she spotted her partner sitting in his car. Sam tapped on his window, startling him. He lowered it. “Everything all right?”
He shrugged and stared ahead of him. “Honestly, I’m not sure.”
“Sounds ominous. We’re running late.”
“In other words, get your arse into gear and get to work.”
She frowned at his unusually harsh tone. “Uncalled for, matey.”
“Sorry. Just ignore me.” He withdrew his key from the ignition and opened the car door. Sam took a couple of steps back to avoid getting struck.
“Hard to do when you have a face like thunder. Come on, let’s have it.”
“Can we leave it a while? I’m not sure I’ve managed to process what’s going on myself, just yet.”
“Of course, as long as it doesn’t affect your work.”
“Charming, that is, as if I’d ever let you down.”
Sam regretted having a go at him. “Come on, I’ll buy you a coffee on the proviso that you confide in me when you see fit to do so, right?”
He nodded and locked his car. They headed into the main reception area and up the stairs to the incident room in an awkward silence. Sam mentioned the weather, like Brits typically tend to do most days, and his response had been an unwelcome grunt.
She held the morning meeting but, like the previous day’s get-together, there were no fresh clues for them to sink their teeth into at this early stage. The house-to-house enquiries the team had conducted a few days earlier had proved pointless. The background checks on the family and the victim himself had also come back negative, nothing stood out that was worthy of further investigation. Hence Sam’s frustration kicking in. “So, where does that leave us?”
“With the bunch of foreigners, I guess,” Bob replied.
“Yeah, and what’s the likelihood of us finding these people? We’ve got no real clues to go on—no vehicle, Christ, we don’t even know how many there were.” She paused, heaving out a breath. “I don’t mind admitting, guys, I’m tearing my hair out with this one. We’ve covered all the usual bases and got nothing tangible to sink our teeth into.”
“Time to chase up the forensic team?” Bob suggested.
“Yep, that was next up on my agenda, it’s not like we’ve got anything else to go on in the meantime, is it? I’ll be in my office if you need me. Keep digging. Tell you what, why don’t you swap the information around between you, see if anyone has likely missed anything? I’m not saying you have, but it’s got to be worth a try.”
Sam left the team to it, their groans of disappointment following her into her office. She hadn’t been sat at her desk long when she heard footsteps. She looked up to find Bob leaning against the doorframe. “Want a word now, I take it?”
“I’m ready, if you are?”
“Come in and shut the door.” He was carrying two cups of coffee and set one down in front of her. “Thanks for this, am I going to need it?”
He threw himself into the chair opposite. “We both are.”
“This isn’t like you, Bob, what’s up?”
“I suppose I can’t be the life and soul around here, not all the time.”
“I know. Everyone gets an off day now and again. Come on, share what’s going on, let’s see if I can help you out at all.”
“I doubt it. I think it’s past that, not sure anyone is going to be able to right this bugger.”
“Talking in riddles isn’t sharing what’s going on, is it? Come on, spit it out, partner.”
He sighed and scratched the side of his face. It was then she noticed he hadn’t shaved that morning, which was totally unheard of for him. He was one of these guys who prided himself on his clean appearance. She dreaded to think how many times he’d commented on his fellow officers not taking the care to show up in decent shape for work over the years. “She walked out last night.”
Sam fell back against her chair. “What? Who are we talking about? Abigail?”
“Who else?”
“Sorry for being dense, you might have meant Milly, hence my reason to clarify things.”
“No. Abigail. We had a barney and she packed a bag and le
ft the house at around nine.”
Shocked, she probed for more. “Did she say where she was going?”
“I presumed to her mother’s. Grace tolerates me, shall we say. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no way back from this.”
Sam sprang forward and placed her flattened hands on the desk. “What? Are you telling me you’re not even going to try and get her back?”
He ran a hand through his hair and avoided eye contact with her. “What’s the point? Do you have any idea how many police officers’ marriages go to the wall?”
She clenched her fist and hit her desk. “Bollocks. You don’t have to be one of those statistics. This isn’t like you to give up at the first hurdle. What’s really going on, Bob?”
He shrugged. “I wish I bloody knew. We’ve been at each other’s throat for about a year now. I guess she couldn’t take it any more.”
“What about Milly? Is she still at home?”
“Yes, she’s lumbered me with the diva. Sorry, I shouldn’t have called her that. I’m not sure who is to blame for our failed marriage, but it’s hardly fair to lay this at Milly’s door. We’re the adults, not her. She has a hell of a lot of growing up to do.”
“I know you’re striking out. I’d be the same in your shoes. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this crap. I’m going to ask you one thing, don’t snap my head off.”
“Go on. I think I know what’s coming next.”
“Is there anyone else?”
He shook his head and placed a palm across his chest. “Not for me. Who knows what’s going on with her?”
“Have you come right out and asked her?”
“Yes, she denied it, but she couldn’t look me in the eye when she said it, you know as well as I do what that means.”
“Shit! That’s rough. Hey, why don’t you forget you’re a copper for now? Don’t go reading into things that might not be there.”
