by M A Comley
“Okay, let me have your attention, ladies.”
The room fell silent.
“Thank you. Dara, you said that Jordan works in the city but also has an office near home. Is that right?”
“Yes, he spends most of the working week at the office not far from his house. He only pops into London when there’s a major board meeting going on.”
“That’s great to know. I want to pick him up tomorrow evening. I bet he knocks off work bang on time, yes?”
“He does. He always states that the firm gets enough blood, sweat, and tears out of him in eight hours. Why should he work any longer than that? He leaves at six on the dot every night, rain or shine.”
The more she heard about the man, the more Felicity disliked him. She’d never even heard of an accountant living and working by the clock. Yes, she was looking forward to meeting and dealing with Jordan. “Then I think we should make arrangements for a group of us to meet at five tomorrow. We can all pile into my car and wait for him to leave his place of business at six. We’ll pounce on him like we did Don.”
“No. You can’t do that. Look how that ended,” Dara argued.
“This will be different, I can assure you. You’ve intimated in the past that he has a roving eye where the ladies are concerned.”
Dara nodded reluctantly.
“Well, that’s going to be to our advantage, isn’t it, ladies?”
The women raised their glasses and cheered.
“We have enough beauties around here to tempt him. We’ll take a decoy car. Who’s willing to act as bait?”
The room fell quiet again, until Kaz, a beautiful brunette, cleared her throat and put her hand in the air.
“Kaz, I think you’ll do just fine. We’ll run through the details later. Do you have a problem with scheduling this for tomorrow evening?”
“Not in the least. I’ll drop the kids off at their grandmother’s house for tea and come here. It’s not far from my mother’s house anyway.”
“Good, good. Maybe those of you with children should make similar arrangements? We could be looking at a late night tomorrow if things go according to plan.”
“How late?” Dara asked. “You will set Jordan free that evening, won’t you?”
“I can’t promise that, Dara. It really depends on how Jordan behaves himself. It would be better if you made provisions for your kids to stay overnight somewhere just in case the evening lengthens into an all-nighter.”
Dara’s horrified expression returned. However, Felicity chose to ignore it this time for fear they’d end up going in circles if she acknowledged it. Another hour of drinking and small talk passed, then they got down to the nitty-gritty of cementing their strategy. Once that had been thrashed out, the group drifted away, leaving Felicity to ensure everything was ready for the new arrival the following evening.
She went into the cellar, to the room where the punishment would take place, away from the sanctity of the altar and the goodness that entailed, into the depths of despair where their victims were sure to crap themselves once the torture had commenced. Behind the black curtain, she checked the stocks, which the others were unaware of. When she had sanctioned the builder to erect the articles in the cellar, he had smiled broadly, and she knew instantly what the sick bastard had been thinking before he even opened his smutty mouth.
“Into a bit of S&M, are you, love? Give me a call if you need a new volunteer.”
She had laughed loudly at the suggestion but quickly found herself playing along because it would be the perfect ruse to avoid suspicion if the stocks were ever found. “Damn, and there I was, thinking I was being discreet. You won’t say anything, will you?” Then she had shocked the man by leaning in and whispering, “My other half loves it. We take it in turns. She prefers being chained up more than I do, though, fancy that.”
The fat builder’s eyes almost dropped out of their sockets. “She? So you’re a lesbo, then. Er…I mean a lesbian.”
“Oh, yes. A woman has specific needs only other women recognise and can fulfil.”
“You’re kidding. Listen, love, you’ve been with the wrong type of blokes. Spend a night with me, and I’ll show you what you’ve been missing out on all these years. Hey, you can bring your partner, too. I’ve never had a threesome before, but I’m definitely up for that.”
Felicity’s smile remained firmly in place. Inside she cringed and cursed herself for putting such thoughts into the man’s head. He was gross beyond words, and until he’d completed the job, she’d kept her distance from him.
Men, all they ever think about is sex. Well, she intended putting a stop to that, starting with this Jordan fella. He had made Dara’s life hell, cheating on her with every woman willing to smile his way during their marriage, and pitifully, Dara had just accepted it as the norm. She checked the locks on the shackles then pulled the curtain across to disguise the equipment. She went home, and sleep eventually came that night, early morning actually, as one by one, the pieces of her cunning plan slotted into place.
CHAPTER FOUR
Lorne checked on Onyx and her pups first thing the next day. It was only six thirty, but the dogs’ plight had filled her mind all night when sleep evaded her. If she had been alone, she would have checked on the dog at two or three in the morning to put her mind at ease, but she didn’t want to wake Tony. Onyx raised her head when Lorne entered the kennel. Crouching beside the sorrowful pooch, she stroked her. The dog’s tail twitched and soon fell into a regular rhythm, thrashing against Lorne’s leg.
“Hello, gorgeous. Feeling a little better, are we?” She shuffled closer and pulled the blanket covering the cold kennel floor into a bunch under her backside, positioning herself next to the dog. Two of the pups stirred and latched onto their mother’s teats, wanting their breakfast before the others woke up. Onyx stretched a little so that her head brushed Lorne’s lap. She touched the dog’s head and slowly ran her hand down her body, noting that the dog’s skin felt cooler to the touch beneath the T-shirt. There was no denying though that even if the medication was beginning to take effect, the poor dog still had a very long way to go before she regained her fur. Not for the first time, Lorne cursed the person who had given this dog such a terrible start in life, and she silently wished the same fate would descend on that human in the near future. Of course, there was little chance of anything as satisfying as that truly happening.
Lost in angry thoughts, she neglected to feel the dog licking the back of her hand, which had come to a stop on the dog’s side. Lorne smiled at the first sign of trust Onyx had shown toward a human after being let down so badly. She spent another peaceful ten minutes with the dog then headed back into the house to prepare breakfast. She was in the mood for the works.
A noisy yawn preceded her husband into the kitchen. “Do I smell bacon?” He slid his arms around her waist and rested his head on her back.
“You do. I thought I’d surprise you and Charlie, for a change. Did I keep you awake last night? I hardly slept.”
“No. I felt you move a few times, but I was exhausted and fell back to sleep fairly quickly. Was Onyx on your mind during the night?”
She flicked the bacon and rotated the sausages in the frying pan then turned in his arms to face him. As they kissed, Lorne felt the stresses of Onyx’s situation drift away. “Yeah, I think I’m finally getting somewhere with her. I’ve been out there for a while, and she reacted to my touch by licking my hand. I think the medication is doing the trick. Her skin feels cooler. Let’s hope the infected skin and scabs heal quickly. I sense her being around for a good few months yet.”
“I’d rather hang on to her for a while anyway. Let’s make her road to recovery a special one, eh? I’ll get Charlie to spend a little time with her every day, walking her in the exercise pen without the pups for a few minutes every afternoon. How’s that?”
“Sounds just what she needs to get back on her feet again. What if she was from one of those awful puppy mills?”
/> Tony shook his head. “I doubt it. Those places are all about the money. If that was the case, the unscrupulous owner would have kept the puppies and dumped her.” He motioned toward the pan. “Is that nearly ready?”
Lorne nodded. “Yes, can you give Charlie a shout for me?”
The family shared their first breakfast in a long while, then Lorne showered and set off for work, wondering what the day would bring for Don Alder’s case.
• • •
Katy and AJ were sharing a joke at his desk when Lorne pushed through the incident room door.
“Morning, both.” She smiled and winked at them.
Katy’s eyes rolled up to the ceiling. “Good morning, Lorne. How’s the pup doing?”
Lorne sat down at her desk and booted up her computer. “She seems a little more trusting today. I’m hoping that’s a sign that she’s feeling a little better. Her skin isn’t so inflamed, so that’s a blessing, I suppose. What’s on the agenda today, boss?”
“That’s what AJ and I were discussing when you came in.”
Lorne raised a quizzical eyebrow and swallowed the sarcastic comment teetering on her lips. “And?”
“And we think we’ve managed to trace the sister and the wife, the last known address we have for them anyway. We’ll head out this morning and take a gander, all right?”
“Oh, how did that come about? The landlord is still away on holiday, isn’t he?”
Katy left AJ’s desk and walked towards her office. “It’s called detective work, detective. You wanna try it sometime?” she fired over her shoulder before she closed the door.
Lorne jabbed a thumb in Katy’s direction. “Get her. Are you going to let me in on your secret, AJ?”
“I searched a few databases and stumbled across the answers, Lorne. There’s no telling if the information is what we’re looking for yet. But it might well lead onto some valuable info.”
“You’re the man for obtaining such info, so well done, you. I just need to make a quick call, and I’ll be with you.” Lorne tapped a few keys of the computer then placed a call. “Hello, I wonder if you can help me. I run a rescue centre for abandoned dogs and wondered if you would be interested in running a story about us?”
“That sounds interesting. Can I have your name, and I’ll get one of our programme directors to give you a call back.”
“Thank you. It’s Lorne Warner. I’ll give you my mobile number, if that’s okay? I’ll probably be out most of the day—I usually am.”
“I thought you said you run a rescue centre. You mean you’re constantly rounding dogs up to take in?” The young woman waited for clarification.
Lorne laughed. “No, I’m also a detective sergeant in the Met.”
“Cool. So you’re a glutton for punishment and a workaholic, to boot?”
“I have a supportive family running the rescue centre. Phew, that should clear that up. The reason I’m ringing is because I’ve just taken in a very sorry-looking dog, covered in mange. I’m desperate to get the word out about her. You know, maybe someone will be able to identify her and tell us who the owner is so that we can prosecute them. But the main reason I’m eager for some exposure is to try to find a loving forever home for her and her pups.”
“Pups?”
“She has four, all adorable and, thankfully, mange free.”
“Bless, what a terrible shame. Let’s see what we can do. Hold the line please.”
Lorne tapped her pen on the desk while she listened to music on the line until the lady returned.
“Okay, we’re going to squeeze you in on our usual pet slot. Is that all right? The vet could give a few pointers on how to detect if your dog has mange and what to do in the event to combat the condition. How does that sound?”
“Bloody brilliant. I never dreamed I’d get this kind of response from you. I’m so grateful. When?”
“Can I make the arrangements and get back to you later today?”
“Yes, of course. Sorry, I didn’t get your name?”
“It’s Tara. I’m an animal lover, too, Lorne, and I’d just like to thank you for saving at least a few of the dogs out there who’ve been abandoned. People like you should be recognised more in the Queen’s birthday honour list.”
Lorne’s cheeks flared up. “Nonsense, I don’t do it for the recognition. I do it for the sake of the dogs. No dog deserves to be treated like that. Thanks again, Tara. Speak to you later. I really appreciate your help.”
“No probs. Speak soon.”
“That sounded promising, Lorne,” AJ said, glancing up from his paperwork.
“Maybe I caught her on a good day. I’ll just let Katy know. Talking of which…” She lowered her voice and called over, “Any news in that department?”
AJ shook his head and checked to see if the coast was clear before he replied, “Not sure, really. I think she’s having problems with her folks. Mind you, there’s always some form of trouble in the way. Maybe we’re just not meant to be together.”
Lorne left her desk and crossed the room towards him. “Hey, don’t be so defeatist. If ever a couple belonged together, it’s you two. Hang in there, sweetheart. If it’s meant to be, nothing will stand in the way of true love.”
As if on cue, Katy’s office door opened, and she joined them. “Should my ears be burning?”
“Nope. I was just telling AJ that I’ve managed to grab a spot on the local TV station.”
Katy frowned. “What? To do with the case?”
“No. To do with Onyx, the doggy we found. They’re going to feature her in the regular pet slot. I call that a result, don’t you?”
“I should say. Okay, now you’ve sorted out your personal business on police time, what say we get back to trying to solve the crime in hand?”
“Where would you like to start?” Lorne asked as the rest of the team noisily marched into the room.
Katy’s eyes shot up to the clock on the wall. “Only just, people. Two minutes to nine is cutting it a bit fine.”
“Yes, boss,” Karen, Graham, and Stephen all said in unison, looking a little sheepish.
“AJ, while Lorne and I are out, tracking down and questioning Alder’s relatives, can you get the rest of the team organised? Finish up last week’s cases and delve deeper into Alder’s past maybe. There must have been some kind of motive for the attack, even if it’s the unlikely scenario that he bumped into a prostitute on the street.” She clicked her fingers. “See if he had any previous convictions for curb crawling, anything of that ilk. We need to find something in case Lorne and I draw a blank while we’re out.”
“Okeydokey. I’ll get on it now. Leave this rabble for me to sort out.”
“Bloody cheek,” Karen, the young detective constable complained light-heartedly.
Katy smiled and pointed at AJ. “He’s the boss when we’re not around. Any complaints land on his desk, not mine. See you later.”
Lorne and Katy left the station and drove to the first address AJ had given them. The flat was about a five-minute walk from Alder’s flat. “Here we are, number six.”
“Let’s see if his sister is in. We might be lucky at this time of day, unless she’s an office cleaner or something similar, just on her way home from work.” Lorne eyed the peeling paint of the windows and doors.
“Only one way to find out.” Katy strode up the narrow path and knocked on the front door of what looked like a maisonette, with Lorne bringing up the rear.
A woman in her mid-to-late fifties opened the door with a scowl etched into her wrinkled face. “Yes?”
“Alice Alder?”
“Who wants to know?”
Katy pulled out her ID. “Detective Inspector Katy Foster of the Met. Are you Alice Alder?”
“Yes.” A nervous pitch developed in her tone. “What do you want?”
“It’s about your brother Don.”
“Have you arrested him?”
“What makes you think that? Should we be arresting him
, Ms. Alder?”
“No…what other reason would there be for you to visit me out of the blue like this?” She gasped then covered her mouth with her hand.
“I’m so sorry, but your brother was found dead outside the Sloane Hospital yesterday. We’ve been trying to trace you ever since.”
The colour drained from the woman’s face, then she turned and headed back into the flat. Lorne and Katy shrugged at each other and followed her up the hallway and into the lounge. The first thing Ms. Alder did was reach for a cigarette. She stood in the bay window, looking out at life still going on outside, seemingly lost in a world of her own.
Katy cleared her throat. “I know it must be a shock to hear the news, Ms. Alder, but if there is anything you can tell us that will help us catch your brother’s killer, it would help.”
Slowly with a furrowed brow, the woman stared at Katy. “Killer? He didn’t die of natural causes?”
“No, I’m sorry. Although I’m led to believe by the pathologist that your brother suffered a heart attack around the time of the attack, our first impressions that he’d died a natural death were quickly discounted. We found blood at the scene. During the post mortem, it was determined that your brother had received a blow to his leg, we think from a stiletto.”
“What? A woman did this?” Ms. Alder sat down heavily on the patched-up sofa.
“At this point, that would be our assumption. But there’s always the idea that the killer might be male and that the stiletto was used to put us off the scent. That sort of thing wouldn’t be unheard of in crimes such as this, where no other clues are found at the scene.”
“I see.”
“I have to ask—your brother was married until recently, wasn’t he?” Katy said.
Lorne took out her notebook, ready to jot down information.
“He was, to Julie. To be honest, I’m still not sure what went wrong with their marriage for it to end so abruptly. One month, we were all talking about going away together for Christmas, and the next, Don told me they were getting a divorce.”
Lorne filled the momentary silence by asking, “Did they say on what grounds?”
