Hush Hush

by Mel Sherratt

  Jade burst into tears. ‘I knew I should never have told you.’

  Toast forgotten, Grace sat down at the kitchen table. ‘You should, and it was very brave of you to do so. Can you tell me what happened?’

  ‘I’ve been seeing him for a few months and when he got rough with me during sex, I told him to stop and he didn’t. Afterwards, he apologised and said it would never happen again.’

  ‘And did it?’

  Jade nodded. ‘Several times.’

  ‘Is …?’ Grace paused, realising it was none of her business.

  ‘Yes,’ Jade replied. ‘It’s his baby.’

  Grace grimaced.

  ‘I … I love him, Grace, and I thought in time he might change, get to love me too. But I realise now he’s using me,’ Jade went on. ‘That’s why he does what he does. I’ve been a fool. And it was so hard to keep from Megan – and my family.’

  ‘The pregnancy?’

  ‘No, the fact that I was seeing him at all. He’s a fed. You know how our family feel about them. Keep up, Grace!’

  Grace frowned, shocked at the change in Jade. One moment she had been crying, the next she was as mad as hell. She had never heard her like this.

  ‘Can you meet me at the station?’ she asked. ‘I need to book you in to see someone.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  ‘It’s a serious allegation, Jade, and—’

  ‘You don’t believe me!’

  ‘I didn’t mean that!’

  ‘Forget I ever said anything.’

  ‘I can’t do that now.’

  ‘You’re all the same, you people!’

  Why was Jade telling her this only now? Had Alex done something to upset her yesterday? Was that why she’d seen her screeching out of the car park?

  The line went dead.

  ‘Jade? Shit!’

  Nick wasn’t at his desk when Grace arrived at the station, but Sam was and she had been hard at work. Grace was so thankful to have her on the team. The woman was one of the best unofficial CCTV and intelligence analysers she had ever worked with. Meticulous down to a fault, Sam didn’t mind the hours lost watching for one- or two-second clips that could turn a whole case on its head. Just like she was about to do now.

  ‘Have you had any sleep?’ Grace asked her DC.

  ‘A little. Craig has man flu: he’s been snoring all night so I couldn’t sleep. I came in at six; he’s taking Emily to breakfast club.’ She took a sip from her coffee. ‘Something was bugging me about a tip-off I had after the press conference yesterday, so I went a bit wider with the search.’ She paused the TV image. ‘Watch,’ she instructed. ‘This is shortly after the time of the attack on Elliott Woodman.’

  Grace stood by her side. An image came on the screen of four young men walking along Victoria Road, Fenton. One of them had a distinctive hoodie on.

  ‘That’s the boxing club logo!’ Grace almost squealed, recognising the pattern and colour straight away.

  Sam nodded, then pressed play again.

  Grace watched one of the figures drop something into a passing bin. She turned, mouth wide open. ‘Gloves! Did we get them?’

  Sam nodded. ‘Uniform have just brought them in.’ She handed her an evidence bag. ‘They don’t seem to belong to the ringleader and, of course, we could wait to get forensic evidence. Or …’ She pressed fast-forward on the remote again, stopping after a few seconds, where she freeze-framed something for Grace to see.

  Grace stepped closer to look, and then grinned. Sam had found an image of the four men. Three had hoodies drawn real close to hide their faces, but one hadn’t. Grace pointed to the one she recognised.

  ‘Trent Gibson!’

  Sam gave a little bow.

  ‘You beauty!’ Grace beamed. ‘I’ll get on to uniform, see if they can bring him in. If not, we’ll nab him ourselves.’ Behind her, she spotted Perry coming in. ‘I need a quick word with you both in private, before Alex arrives.’

  SIXTY-SEVEN

  After she had contacted control room and a patrol car had been sent to collect Trent Gibson, Grace was sitting with Perry and Sam in the staff canteen. She explained what had happened the night before.

  ‘I know I haven’t earned your trust, but I wanted to tell you before I told Nick,’ she finished. ‘To make sure I’m doing the right thing. My head is on the line for so much stuff at the moment that, even though I know Alex’s behaviour was wrong, I feel I need proof.’

  ‘Have you told anyone else?’ Perry asked.

  Grace shook her head.

  ‘I think you’re right to let Nick decide,’ Sam said. ‘If Alex has been feeding the Steeles – anyone for that matter – with intel, then he deserves to go.’

  Grace looked across the canteen. ‘But what happens if it backfires? It’s my word against his and I—’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Perry offered.

  ‘Me too,’ Sam said.

  Grace blew out the breath she had been holding and nodded. ‘Okay.’

  They went downstairs and back on to their floor. Alex was at his desk now. Grace walked past him, head held high, with the rest of her team behind her.

  Nick sat quietly through everything she told him. Occasionally, he shook his head. Most of the time, he scowled.

  ‘You know I’ll need to speak to him,’ he said once Grace had finished. ‘It’s a serious allegation. It will have to be looked into.’

  ‘Yes, sir. I do.’ Grace swallowed.

  Nick stood up, went to the door and beckoned Alex into the office.

  ‘What’s up, boss?’ Alex glanced sheepishly at them all in turn.

  While Nick spoke, Grace watched for Alex’s reaction.

  ‘That’s ridiculous!’ He glared at Grace. ‘You’re lying.’

  ‘I’m not the liar here,’ she insisted.

  ‘I’m telling you, she’s making it up!’ Alex pointed at Grace.

  ‘So you didn’t attack her last night?’ Nick wanted to know.

  ‘Of course not! We might have had words, but I didn’t hurt her if that’s what you’re suggesting.’ Alex looked at everyone else in turn. ‘I can’t believe you’ll take her word over mine. She’s been here five minutes!’

  ‘And you’ve been underhand before,’ Nick replied. ‘She hasn’t.’

  Alex lowered his head momentarily.

  ‘Why the hell would you get involved with the Steeles?’ Nick shouted.

  ‘I haven’t!’

  The air in the room was loaded as each one of them remained quiet.

  ‘She’s lying,’ Alex repeated.

  ‘Why would she do that?’ Nick asked again.

  ‘To take the scent off herself!’

  Grace couldn’t keep quiet any longer. Alex had tried to bully and ridicule her in equal measure. It was time some home truths came out.

  ‘Is Jade Steele making up her pregnancy too?’ Grace spoke quietly.

  ‘For fuck’s sake,’ Perry muttered.

  Alex baulked. ‘She never told me about that.’

  ‘Is it yours?’ Nick demanded.

  ‘How the hell would I know?’

  ‘Okay, I’ll rephrase myself. Could it be yours?’

  Alex stalled long enough for them to make their own opinions, his cheeks turning a deep red in seconds. Perry lunged at him, a fist in the air. Grace stopped it as Sam pulled him away.

  ‘Hey, cool it!’ Nick said, arms raised. ‘How long have you been seeing her?’ he addressed Alex.

  ‘Not long. I’ve been trying to get information out of her.’

  ‘None that you have come forward with?’

  Alex shook his head. ‘She’s not been very forthcoming, but I’m working on it.’

  ‘How much information have you used against Grace?’ Perry’s fist clenched and unclenched at his side. ‘You had us thinking it was her who was ratting us out!’ He shrugged off Sam, reassuring them both he was calm.

  ‘Was it you who sent the photo to the Stoke News?’ Grace wanted to know.


  Alex frowned. ‘What photo?’

  ‘Oh, come on!’ Grace cried.

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about!’

  ‘So, what did you learn during pillow talk?’ Perry pinched the bridge of his nose, unable to look at Alex.

  Grace glanced at him, wondering if he was doing something with his hands rather than punch out again. She knew she wanted to.

  Nick’s face was the darkest Grace had seen it. ‘Give me your warrant card.’ He held out his hand.

  ‘You can’t suspend me!’ Alex cried.

  ‘I need to take advice, but for now, just get out of my sight. Wait for someone to call you before you come back here.’

  Alex turned in disbelief. Then he pointed a finger in Grace’s face. ‘I’m not finished with you yet.’ He shoulder-barged her as he left the room.

  Nick shook his head. ‘Let’s get back to work and crack on while Jenny is out of the office. I can keep this from her for now.’

  Grace waited behind, and closed the door when Perry and Sam had left the room. ‘I need to tell you something else. I didn’t want to say it in front of everyone.’ She told him about Jade’s allegations that morning.

  ‘What the hell has he got himself involved in?’ Nick groaned and rested his head in his hands. ‘Do you believe her?’

  ‘I don’t want to sound disrespectful to anyone who has been raped,’ Grace replied, ‘but I don’t know what to believe. There’s something about Jade that doesn’t sit right. I’m wondering if she’s bitter because things have cooled between them and she’s left carrying his child.’

  ‘Christ, if so, there’s his job gone. It was on the line anyway.’ He thought for a moment. ‘Let’s get a rape crisis referral for Jade Steele, just to be sure. A special victims’ officer might not be available to visit today, but at least we can try to do something.’

  She nodded, and then paused. ‘You mentioned something underhand he’d done before?’

  ‘He’s on a yellow warning for cajoling with a witness. It was more hearsay, but a complaint came in that alleged he tried to get them to withdraw their statement. Of course, he denied it.’

  Grace pulled a face. ‘He deserves to lose his job.’

  ‘I’ll need to bring him back in if he’s left the building, speak to him under caution and get his side of things.’ Nick nodded. ‘Thanks for telling me.’

  Grace turned to leave. ‘Are you certain I’m okay working this?’ She wanted to know she had his back. Nick would be in as much trouble as her if Jenny got wind of what was happening.

  ‘I trust you, Grace.’

  ‘Thank you, Nick.’

  Outside, Grace spotted Mick coming towards them, waving for her attention. She opened the door.

  ‘Trent Gibson has been booked into custody,’ he told her. ‘But someone else has handed himself in.’

  ‘Let me guess,’ Grace said. ‘Kyle Fisher.’

  Mick nodded. ‘He wants to talk to you.’

  SIXTY-EIGHT

  It was the second time in three days Eddie found himself back at Hardman House. He’d tried Jade’s home first, but when he found it empty, he’d wondered if she would be here. His mum said she seemed to be spending a lot of time here lately.

  Knowing Kathleen was at work in Posh Gloss, he used his key to get in. Sure enough, Jade was in the kitchen when he went in. One look at her face and he knew she was running scared. He grabbed her roughly by the arm as she stepped back from him.

  ‘I’ve just had a call from Alex,’ he told her. ‘What’s your game?’

  ‘What do you mean?’ There was a shake to her voice.

  ‘You’ve accused him of raping you! What’s going on?’

  ‘I haven’t done that at all!’

  ‘Don’t insult my intelligence!’ He stepped towards her, hands raised. ‘He told me you were pregnant.’

  ‘He’s lying! Please don’t hit me!’

  Jade screamed so loud that Eddie froze. Images of his mother came back at him and he put his hand down immediately. He had never hit a woman, nor would he start now. But Jade made him so angry. He could never work out when she was lying or telling the truth. She had become so adept at fooling people.

  ‘I haven’t done anything,’ she cried.

  Eddie leaned on the worktop and looked out of the kitchen window. For the life of him, he couldn’t think why Jade would want to spend time here. Well, there was one reason, which was clearly proving its influence. Kathleen.

  ‘I told you last week to back off.’ He turned to his sister. ‘You need to stop what you are doing – you’re going to get found out. I can’t protect you then.’

  ‘I don’t need protecting.’ Jade pointed at her chest. ‘I can look after myself. I always have and I always will.’

  ‘No, you haven’t! Look what a mess you’ve made of your life. You’ve played the victim for too long. It’s time you woke up to what you’re doing, got some help and looked after Megan. Where is she today? Is she at school?’

  Jade shrugged.

  ‘Have you spoken to her?’

  ‘She texted me. She’s staying with Freya.’

  ‘Is that wise? Lorna has enough to contend with at the moment.’

  ‘Freya needs Megan.’

  ‘Megan needs you!’ Eddie grasped her shoulders. ‘She needs a mother to look after her. Don’t you want her to have a stable relationship with you, and with men, so they won’t use her?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’ Jade burst into tears. ‘But I don’t know how to be a good mother.’

  Eddie took her into his arms while she sobbed. She was such a liability, but this wasn’t all her fault. Jade had never had a mother as a role model. She had been made into what she was by their father. How Eddie wished he’d been able to stop him and his friends when they were younger. But by the time he found out what was going on, it was already too late.

  ‘I love you, Jade,’ he spoke into her hair. ‘But you need to get a grip.’

  He felt her nod against his chest.

  ‘You promise me?’

  ‘I promise,’ she sniffed.

  Eddie left the house. His phone rang as he got to his car. It was Trudy.

  ‘Have you seen Leon this morning?’

  ‘No, why?’ Eddie replied.

  ‘He didn’t come home last night. Ed, I’m worried about him after all these murders.’

  ‘Let me make some calls and I’ll get back to you.’

  Eddie cursed after he’d disconnected the call. When did he become his brother and sister’s keeper? It was like being a parent looking out for Jade and Leon at times. Even so, Leon missing was a huge worry.

  He tried his brother’s phone but got no reply either. Although there was one place that Trudy wouldn’t have tried. He searched for Clara’s number and rang her.

  But she hadn’t seen or heard from Leon either.

  Where the hell was he?

  Grace was sitting across from Kyle Fisher in an interview room. He was holding back tears, his right eye sporting a large black bruise.

  ‘You wanted to speak to me about something, Kyle?’ she said. ‘Does it concern Elliott Woodman?’

  Kyle chewed his bottom lip and then nodded. ‘He wasn’t supposed to die. We were only told to give him a warning beating.’

  Grace frowned. ‘Who is “we”?’

  ‘I’m not saying any names.’

  ‘That’s okay. Did you enjoy your takeaway?’

  Kyle squirmed in his seat but said nothing.

  ‘We can see four people on CCTV, after you got something to eat on Victoria Road. We’ve identified one of them as Trent Gibson. Is this correct?’ Grace raised her eyebrows at him.

  Eventually, Kyle nodded.

  ‘Who told you to beat him up?’

  He shook his head at this. ‘I’d be dead by the end of the day.’

  Grace wanted to tell him that this was Stoke-on-Trent, not the East End of London, but after what she had witnessed over the past few days, she decided against
it. The boy was scared. She needed to keep him onside.

  ‘So, the warning beating,’ she said. ‘Did you know it was going to be Elliott Woodman?’

  ‘No! I swear I didn’t. I couldn’t even warn Elliott either. It was too late.’

  ‘What went wrong?’ Grace asked.

  ‘Gibson got too rough. We tried to stop him but he kept on hitting Elliott with a bat.’ Kyle thumped a curled-up fist into the palm of his hand. ‘It was as if he became possessed. So I told him last night I wouldn’t be doing any more jobs. That’s what he did to me afterwards.’ He pointed to the bruise around his right eye. ‘I’m not doing time for him. I played my part, but I wasn’t a murderer. Elliott was my mate. I tried to stop him!’

  ‘You still took part.’ Grace leaned forward. The tears in his eyes were falling now. He was just a kid, mixed up in something that had got out of hand. But he would still have to answer for his actions. He could have walked away. He could have said no. Peer pressure had won again.

  ‘How much were you paid?’ she asked next.

  ‘One hundred quid each.’

  ‘You and …’

  Still he said nothing.

  ‘You’re willing to go to jail for Elliott’s murder?’ Grace couldn’t hide the disgust in her voice.

  ‘There was no mention of murder. We were only going to give him a beating!’

  ‘Who paid Trent?’ Grace demanded.

  ‘No one.’ Kyle shook his head. ‘He paid us.’

  Grace couldn’t be certain he was telling the truth. The things she’d learned about the Steele family over the past fortnight made her think they were involved. She knew Kyle was scared of something – or someone. She took out her notepad and flicked through to a blank page.

  ‘How did you get your money? Your payout for doing Elliott over.’

  ‘Gibson gave it to us. I haven’t spent it. It’s in my bedroom.’ He glanced up, the glimpse of the boy inside the man creeping through now he knew there was no going back. ‘I wish I hadn’t got involved. I’m having nightmares thinking about the state his head was left in.’

  ‘An innocent young man was murdered. I hope those visions stay with you for the rest of your life.’ Grace pressed him, part of her strategy to get him to give in and tell her who else was involved. ‘How you could do that to one of your own, I can’t imagine. You clearly have no morals.’