by M A Comley
“The lady’s husband has been abducted from their farm. We’re out looking for the perp now. I fear it’s going to be a waste of our time.”
“Whoa! Are you thinking it’s the same perp? The incidents are linked?”
“It’s too much of a coincidence to think otherwise, isn’t it?”
“Perhaps. Well, I’d better let you get on. Call me if you need my help.”
“I will. Thanks, Des.”
She ended the call and placed the phone in her lap.
“Need his help? Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that; after all, he only tends to get involved when the victim is a stiff,” Bob muttered.
Sam kept her eyes on the road ahead, her thoughts shooting off in different directions. “I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that. David seemed such a genuinely nice man.” Sam pointed up ahead and reached over to blast her horn. “It’s Alex and Oliver.”
“I can see that. You scared the shit out of me.”
She murmured a hushed apology. Bob drew the car to a halt behind Alex’s and the four of them got out of the vehicles. “Anything yet?”
Alex shrugged and then shook his head. “Hard to know when we have very little to go on, boss.”
“Don’t I know it? Have you spotted any vehicles out here at all?” she asked, more out of hope than expectation.
“Nothing at all,” Alex replied. “You really think the perp would hang around this area?”
Sam scanned the road, first one way and then the other. “Logic says no, but we can’t take it for granted. If we did that, we’d be letting down not only David but his wife as well. We need to stick with it until something else comes our way.”
“For how long?” Alex asked, his expression nonplussed.
“Who knows? Come on guys, let’s stick with it. Don’t get downhearted, we’re doing our best with the cards we’ve been dealt. Why don’t we go in opposite directions and meet up in the middle in about an hour’s time? If we still haven’t uncovered anything by then, we’ll call it a day.”
“Really? How is that going to help the wife?” Bob asked.
A simple question, one that Sam didn’t have an answer to. “It doesn’t. I never said this was going to be easy, partner. We’re doing our best with limited information at hand. I’m open to suggestions if you feel it’s the wrong direction to take.”
Bob shook his head. “Ignore me, it’s just my frustration raising its ugly head.”
“I know. What else can we do but keep searching for the damn car and keeping our spirits up? We’re bound to stumble across something soon enough.”
The four of them jumped back into their cars. Bob carried out a three-point turn in the narrow lane, much to Sam’s disgust, after he scratched his way along the thorny hedge in the final part of the manoeuvre. “Know a good paint-sprayer, do you?”
He swore under his breath and then grinned. “Ouch! Sorry, I forgot I was driving your car for a second there.”
“No shit! Lunch is on you today, maybe that will make you be more careful next time.”
“I doubt there’s going to be a next time after you see the damage.”
“Thanks, that’s going to really piss me off now.”
“You’re welcome.”
He drove to the other end of the village. Sam kept an eye open for anything out of the ordinary during the journey, but there was nothing. “What if the perp is using one of these barns?”
“Let’s face it, he could be holed up anywhere with Chatley.”
“You’re not wrong. Something has got to come our way soon, surely?”
Bob drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Maybe we should be considering what we’re going to do if nothing comes our way. Not that I want to come across as being a defeatist.”
“You could have fooled me.” Sam sniggered and then got serious again. “I’d rather not think that way for now. We need to throw all our weight behind finding David Chatley and returning him home to his dutiful wife.”
“And what if he’s already dead?”
“I refuse to consider that until we discover a body.”
4
The rest of the day was spent with Sam on the verge of pulling all her hair out and biting her fingernails down to the quick. They returned to the station, none the wiser. She had the sensation of failure draped around her aching shoulders by the time she got home at six-thirty that evening. Inserting her key in the lock, she heard a strange noise coming from inside the house. Sam entered the hallway and found Sonny lying on his soft, furry bed. He didn’t leap up to greet her, which was strange for him. A loud bang caused the cottage to shudder. She flew into the kitchen to find Chris flat on his back on the floor, with a kitchen cupboard on his chest and a cloud of plaster dust filling the air.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Sorry, I was hoping to surprise you.”
“You’ve done that all right. Are you okay? Do you need a hand?” She glanced down at the smart suit she was wearing and decided to stay where she was for the time being.
Chris heaved the unit off his chest and cast it aside. He tentatively got to his feet and brushed the dust and the splintered wood off his clothes. “There, see, nothing’s broken.”
“That’s a relief. What in God’s name are you doing?”
He continued to brush the debris off his T-shirt and out of his hair. “I had a brainwave this afternoon. I found myself with a few spare hours on my hands, so I came home, took Sonny for a walk by the river and then decided to make a start on ripping out the kitchen.”
“Why? We haven’t even looked at any designs yet. Isn’t there a process you need to go through first before you tackle the destructive part?”
“Hey, look at it this way: now we’re more likely to choose something together quickly rather than hang around debating whether we’re doing the right thing or not.” He leaned forward, searching for a kiss.
Sam pulled her head away. “No way, buster, not until you’ve cleaned up a little. I can’t believe you went ahead and did this without us discussing it first.”
“Babe, don’t be angry. I seized the opportunity while it was open to me, that’s all.”
“Where’s all the stuff gone out of the cupboards?”
“In the dining room.”
She went next door and gasped when she saw the mess. Piled high on her beautiful mahogany dining table were the contents of the cupboards he’d pulled down. He hadn’t even bothered to put a protective covering down. Shit! What the fuck was he thinking? I can’t cope with this, not today, not this week. But I’m stuck with it, what’s the alternative?
He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. She flinched, not expecting any form of affection from him. She wasn’t in the mood for it either, not after him destroying their home without consulting her first. The anger mounted, seared her veins. Sam took a step forward, out of reach. “In case you hadn’t noticed, Chris, I’m livid about this.” Facing him, she shook her head, emphasising her point.
His head dipped. At least he had the decency to look sheepish. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d be thrilled with the prospect of having a new kitchen.”
“What? You’re totally missing the point here. Changing a room, especially a kitchen, requires a major discussion, on both our parts. This is not about me being a little put out by a bit of mess.” She swept a hand in front of her, gesturing to the items sitting on, and no doubt scratching the hell out of her antique table. “This place is a tip. Have you any idea how long we’re going to have to live with a mess like this, without preparation?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t think, all right. I admit it. Not everyone is as smart as you. A meticulous thinker and planner.”
“There’s a reason for being like that, Chris, we both work full time. Are you telling me you’re going to be able to devote the next few days to completing the job, or at least getting halfway through it?”
He shuffled his feet and his gaze drifted to the mess on
the table. “I never thought.”
“That much is obvious.” Sam let out a guttural growl, squeezed past him and removed Sonny’s lead from the coat rack in the hallway. “Come on, boy, I suddenly need a bout of fresh air.”
“What about the mess? I was hoping you’d help me clear it up.”
His words were the final nail in his coffin. She stormed out of the house, with Sonny striding alongside her, and slammed the door without responding.
Jesus! What bloody planet is he on at times?
Her speed increased. Sonny whimpered when he stopped to cock his leg and she almost pulled him over. She bent down to stroke him. “I’m sorry, mate. Let’s go to the park, I’ll try and calm down in a second or two, I promise. Bloody men! What are they like, eh? Why do they never stop to think?” Poor Sonny was looking up at her, cocking his head to the side. She smiled and ruffled his head. “What would I do without you around to ease my woes, eh?”
They continued their walk and arrived at the park in Harrington a few minutes later. After checking there weren’t any aggressive-looking dogs around, she let him off the lead. He ran over to the huge oak tree and watered the base of it. Then he had a mad fit. He ran and ran, darting in and out of the trees, then returning to be by her side before he scampered off again. They continued to walk until they reached the small stream at the end. Sonny loved nothing more than messing about in the water in all kinds of weather. Usually, she tried to keep him from getting too soaked, especially during the week when she was working. Her evenings generally consisted of putting her feet up in a warm, cosy environment.
Well, those plans were out of the window for the foreseeable future now.
“Go for it, Sonny.” Another dog, a golden Labrador, joined him in frolicking in the couple of inches of water, and they both ended up soaked within minutes. “Dogs will be dogs,” she said to the Labrador’s owner. He was dressed in a suit and her enquiring mind wondered what job he did for a living.
“Ain’t that the truth? He couldn’t even wait until I got changed tonight, was barking at the door as soon as I got in. Guilt for leaving him for longer than usual got the better of me and here we are.” He glanced down at his light-grey suit. “I fear my suit and water aren’t going to be a good combination in a few minutes.”
Sam laughed. “You read my mind. I was thinking the same about my get-up, too. Why do we do it?”
“Because we love our dogs, I guess. I’m Rhys, by the way.” He extended his hand for her to shake.
“Sam, sorry, Samantha, I rarely use my full name, can’t stand it.”
“I love it. It suits you. What do you do?”
Glancing over at the two dogs still frolicking in the water, she muttered, “I’m a copper, for my sins.”
A smile lit up his handsome face and cute dimples appeared. “You are? How cool. Why the glum face? Or is that me being too nosey?”
“Bad day at the office and an even worse one when I got home. Hence coming down here in my work clothes and not bothering to get changed into my dog-walking gear.”
“Sorry to hear that. I’m a good listener, if you want to bend my ear.”
She flicked her hand, dismissing the suggestion. “I’ll be fine. What career warrants you wearing a snazzy suit like that?”
“I’m a psychiatrist. Just moved to the area.” His piercing blue eyes twinkled.
“Interesting. Where are you based?”
“In Carlisle at present, but I’m hoping to open up an office in the Workington area soon, hence me moving here.”
“That’s brilliant news. In that case, we’ll probably be bumping into each other a lot.”
He smiled and nodded enthusiastically, and her cheeks warmed under his intense gaze. “That would be wonderful.”
Shit! Does he think I’m coming on to him? Bugger, how do I get out of this one? “Well, I’d better get home, make sure my husband hasn’t totally wrecked the house in my absence. Come on, Sonny, time to go, pup.”
He grinned, his gaze piercing hers. “Wrecked the house?”
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you about it one day.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing the tale. Nice meeting you, Sam, and Sonny of course.”
“See you soon, we’re down here all the time.”
“Before you shoot off, are there any other good places to take the dogs to have some fun around here?”
“Lots. And if you don’t mind driving a few miles, try Ennerdale Lake, there’s a fabulous pub on the doorstep up there, the Fox and Hounds. They serve ginormous meals though, so make sure you’re truly hungry before ordering.”
“Sounds like a wonderful day out. Maybe we could go together one day.”
Well, that’s a bit forward of you. She might have thought it, but it did little to prevent something igniting inside that she hadn’t felt in years.
“That would be lovely, I’m sure the dogs would be up for that as well.” Her cheeks flushed even more as her mouth inexplicably ran away from her. What the fuck am I playing at? Too late now, I can’t unsay the words. Bugger. She attached Sonny’s lead. “Bye then.” She scampered away, feeling like a naughty teenager.
“Nice meeting you,” he shouted after her.
“You too,” she replied, consciously staring ahead of her, refusing to look over her shoulder, sensing he was watching her.
Oh, shite! What have I just done?
Nothing.
I haven’t done anything but speak to a bloody stranger, it’s no good reprimanding myself when I haven’t done anything wrong.
Shut up! Stop talking to yourself and, furthermore, answering yourself at the same time. I’m a bloody mess, that’s what I am.
To crown it all, she hadn’t been paying attention to what Sonny had been up to and felt water dripping down her bare legs. “Gee, thanks buster. Talk about shitting your thanks. Let’s get you home and dried off.” Before leaving the park, she plucked up enough courage to discreetly peer over her shoulder. Disappointment struck when she saw Rhys was no longer in sight. Where the hell did he go?
To her knowledge, there was only one entrance to the park. Maybe she was mistaken about that. It didn’t matter. He was off-limits, she reminded herself.
Sonny shook off the remains of the stream left in his coat and looked up at her. “You, cheeky bugger. I’ll pay you back for that when you’re least expecting it, buster.”
She continued the journey home, and throughout the walk, her mind kept drifting back to her brief encounter with the handsome stranger called Rhys. She came back to earth with a bump, hearing the commotion going on in the kitchen as soon as she opened the front door. Jesus, here goes, ready for round two.
She dried Sonny on a dog towel she kept by the front door, settled him in his bed and ran upstairs to get changed. Dressed in her scruffiest jeans and an old T-shirt, she rejoined Chris in the demolition zone.
“All right. Now you’ve forced my hand, let’s get the units ripped out and the kitchen back into some semblance of order. What am I saying? How can that be when we’re tearing the place apart?”
Chris planted a slobbery kiss on her cheek. She wiped it away and shook her head at him. “This does not mean you’re back in my good books, let that be a warning to you.”
“Okay. But will a genuine apology help?”
“Not this time. We’ll discuss where we go from here after we’ve finished.”
“I’ll treat you to a takeaway later.”
As if on cue, her stomach rumbled. “Did you have to mention food?”
He smiled and pointed at her to grab the other end of the worktop he was about to move. “We’ll put it straight out in the garden, if we can manage.”
“Sod that for a lark, it’s going to weigh a ton. What are you going to do with it?”
“It’s no good to anyone, not with the amount of chips in it.”
Sam searched the floor and spotted a hammer. “This should do the trick. We need to break it up; that way, we’ll be conserving
our strength for what lies ahead instead of moving it in one piece, putting extra strain on our backs and legs.”
“I knew there was a good reason I married you, you’re so practical.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ya think? If you truly believe that, why on earth did you start demolishing the damn kitchen by yourself with no form of plan in place?”
“Pass. Ask me another.”
She couldn’t stay angry at him for long. She picked up a small piece of wood that had disintegrated once it had hit the floor and threw it at his head. “You’re impossible at times.”
“I know, but you still love me, right?”
“Luckily for you, yes, I do. Although I have to ask myself why most days.”
He gasped. “You don’t mean that, do you?”
“No. I don’t mean it. Can we get on, please? It’s been a long day already.”
Together, they got down to the strenuous work of breaking up the worktop and then ferrying it outside to the back garden. Great, now this is going to be a mess for months as well as the damn kitchen.
At around nine, they were both totally knackered and in need of sustenance. Sam had instructed Chris to order their food well ahead of time, ensuring they finished at a reasonable hour. The last thing she either needed or wanted was to be still knee-deep in broken kitchen units without any sign of the food arriving at ten o’clock. She went upstairs to fetch an old blanket out of the spare room and covered the sofa before either of them sat down. They ate the fish and chips they’d decided to order in the wrapper, saving on the washing up; let’s face it, it wasn’t as if they had a sink left in the kitchen, anyway.
“Okay, now our dinner is out of the way, we need to have a frank and honest discussion about what we’re going to do next,” Sam insisted.
“As in, putting things back together again?”
“That and actually picking out a bloody kitchen in the first place. What possessed you to do this, Chris? To turn our lives upside down without us even talking about it?”
“I just thought I’d do it and suffer the consequences later. I thought you needed a pick-me-up, you’ve been working flat out for months.”
