Hush Hush

by Mel Sherratt

  When questioned briefly late last night in hospital, Leon had denied having anything to do with Washington Place. They had nothing to place him there either. They had nothing to place anyone there, but they would question Leon further when he was fit to be interviewed properly. The investigation into the parties had been passed on to the Sexual Exploitation Team for further investigations. Regan Peters was helping them with enquiries. She and Allie had offered to be around for her whenever she needed them.

  ‘Morning,’ Sam said as she came to her desk and sat down.

  ‘Hey. Did you manage to get any sleep?’

  ‘Like a baby. I was exhausted.’ She smiled. ‘Your cheek doesn’t seem as puffy today.’

  Grace’s hand moved to where Jade had kicked out at her. It was still a little tender and bruised, but she had hidden it well with make-up.

  ‘All I can say is I’m glad she wasn’t wearing heels.’

  Sam smiled and then picked up her mug. ‘Want a brew?’

  Grace nodded and watched her colleague walk down the office towards their cramped kitchen. She herself had got up during the early hours of the morning and fired up the treadmill, blasting out a quick three miles, hoping it would get rid of the pent-up stress. She’d had to stop several minutes in because she couldn’t see for her tears. In the end, she’d given into it and poured out her sorrow. It hadn’t eased everything, but it had been cathartic.

  Now, it was good to get back to normality. Routine – hot drinks, banter, paperwork. Lots of paperwork. She’d better make a start.

  Laughter rang out in the room. She looked up and across the open-plan office that she had come to call home. Grace breathed in the ambience. It was so good to hear. Everyone in this type of role needed to let off steam somehow. The day-to-day jobs that officers were sent to, the things they had to deal with, was it any wonder people were stressed?

  Alex’s empty seat caught her eye, but she didn’t want to think about him. He’d been checked over at the hospital and released a few hours later. He’d cracked after his ordeal with Jade, and everything had come out. How he had been asked by Jade to mess around with Grace and used to find out what was going on during the investigation. However, he denied taking money from Eddie and Leon Steele in return for intel. Of course, everything would be looked into further, and they needed to see if they could gather evidence before approaching Eddie and Leon. Grace didn’t know whether she would look forward to that or not.

  She was glad now that she had come to Stoke – no matter how hard the past three weeks might make the future for her. She was up for it, ready for whatever the people of Stoke-on-Trent threw at her. And she was ready to string the Steeles up for whatever part they played in anything. She would do that. She and her team. Her first role as detective sergeant and the case had been solved. She just prayed the next one wasn’t so close to home.

  ‘Morning, boss,’ Perry said as he arrived at his desk. He put down the cake tin he’d brought with him. ‘Lisa made these.’

  ‘Cakes!’ Sam got back to her desk, lifted the lid and oohed.

  ‘Mine is the one with the marshmallows on the top.’ Perry pointed out the one he wanted.

  ‘Which one is mine?’ Grace asked.

  ‘The one with the star on, of course.’ Perry sat down at his desk and switched on his computer.

  ‘I hope there isn’t one for Alex,’ Sam said. ‘Can’t say I’ll miss him.’

  ‘I don’t expect anyone will miss him,’ Perry agreed.

  ‘Aw, I was actually getting to like the insensitive soul,’ Grace grinned.

  Perry looked at Grace after a moment. ‘So how are you doing?’

  ‘I’m good.’ She smiled, realising he was talking about her outburst after Jade had been arrested. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘And Eddie?’

  ‘Eddie?’ She frowned, unsure what he was getting at.

  ‘Does he still want you to be on his team?’

  Grace baulked. How did he know that?

  ‘Allie rang me. She gave me a right bollocking; told me to be kind to you.’

  Grace blushed. It seemed she did have friends, after all.

  Perry grinned and then his face turned all serious. ‘I can’t imagine what you went through as a child, but after what you did to get a conviction, I’ll always have your back in the job.’

  ‘Me too,’ Sam said, smiling at her.

  Grace smiled too. It was good to hear at last.

  SEVENTY-NINE

  Grace left the station early that night and drove through the city traffic to Steele’s Gym. After a day of monotony following the recent excitement, her mind had had time to be still, which had given her breathing space.

  It was business as usual by the looks of the full car park at six p.m. Life went on, no matter what. It didn’t surprise her to see no one manning the reception desk. She marched in and through the gym. She wasn’t going to knock on the office door to announce her arrival. Instead, she was going to walk right in.

  But she did take a deep breath first.

  ‘You have some nerve coming here,’ Eddie growled.

  His harsh tone didn’t shock her any more.

  ‘How is Leon?’

  ‘He’s doing okay.’

  ‘That’s good to hear. And Kathleen?’

  ‘Coping. Look, quit with the happy family chatter. What is it that you really want?’

  ‘We need to talk.’

  ‘I’ve got nothing to say to you.’

  ‘I have plenty to say to you.’ She leaned on his desk. ‘Did you know what Dale Chapman had done to Jade?’

  ‘Not until years later,’ he confessed. ‘She never told us he was Megan’s father either.’

  ‘You had no idea?’ Grace found that hard to believe.

  ‘You have to understand, it was survival of the fittest.’ Eddie looked pained. ‘We didn’t want to know what was going on in case we got dragged into it as well. He locked us up too, in the cupboard under the stairs. I still have a fear of enclosed spaces.’

  Grace gulped. George had done that to her before starting to use the garage.

  ‘As far as we knew though, she was just being imprisoned,’ Eddie went on. ‘That’s what Kathleen told us too. I wish I’d done more to help her, and I’ll never forgive myself for that.’

  ‘Is that why you lied for your sister?’

  Now his face was poker straight.

  ‘You all knew that it was Jade who killed your father, didn’t you?’

  ‘Our father.’

  ‘I repeat, your father. And answer my question.’

  ‘No comment.’ Eddie sat back in his chair.

  ‘It’s why none of you pushed the matter when the case went unsolved, isn’t it?’

  ‘You have a mighty fine imagination, Grace.’

  ‘Sadly, I can’t prove any of that.’ Grace didn’t rise to the bait. ‘But I will be keeping an eye on you. This is my city now – my home – and I want whatever you’re doing to stop.’

  Eddie smirked. ‘You’re having a laugh, aren’t you?’

  ‘Do you see a smile?’ She made a circle around her face with her index finger.

  ‘There really is no Steele in you,’ Eddie said snidely.

  ‘Good, because I never want to be a Steele!’

  Eddie came from behind his desk. He walked towards her, stopping a few inches away from her face.

  He held up his hand. It seemed more of a peace offering than a threat, but she was still wary.

  ‘The offer to join us is still open,’ he said.

  ‘Not negotiable.’ She pointed a finger in his face. ‘I have your cards marked.’

  As she turned and left the room, the silence was palpable.

  Once she’d closed the door, she marched out of the building. The sky had darkened, but her mood had stayed optimistic. Yet, only when she got into her car did she breathe freely again. Eddie still reminded her of their father, but he didn’t scare her as much because of it any more.

  She�
��d let him think things were equal between them, but one thing couldn’t be more certain. As a person, she might not be strong enough to stand up to him. But as a police officer, she always would be.

  EIGHTY

  Grace got out of her car and walked towards the garden of remembrance. In front of her was peace and serenity, overlooked by an autumnal sun that had brought with it a fresh but cheery day. No matter how many times she came here, she always ended up with a lump in her throat. She supposed it was to be expected, but this visit was a necessity, a trip in between her usual ones to her mum’s grave and Matt’s final resting place.

  Matt had been cremated, so thankfully she hadn’t felt as if she was leaving him behind when she’d returned to Stoke. He hadn’t wanted to be buried. He didn’t want to give her, nor his family, the burden of having to come and visit, tend to a grave and replace dying flowers. So, at his parents’ home, they had planted a bush in his memory.

  Grace realised now that she missed his family. She’d always got on with his sister, Steph, and his younger brother, Benjamin, but being the loner that she was, once Matt was no longer there, it had seemed awkward. She’d let visits between them get longer and longer. It had been easier to deal with.

  She turned and headed down a pathway, hedges either side that led to a large circle of lawn, benches dotted around its circumference. Flowers were blooming, leaves dropping and the sense of peace she felt overwhelmed her. She sat down: there would be no tears today.

  Matt would have been so proud of her, cracking her first case as a detective sergeant. He would have been pleased how she had handled things, despite the mistakes she had made. She missed him so much, every day, but she was ready to move on now.

  She hummed a little to herself and then smiled when she realised the tune. ‘Pretty Amazing Grace’ would always remind her of Matt, and the life they had shared, even if it had been cut short. He used to sing the song to her all the time, and she hadn’t been able to listen to it since.

  She got out her phone and looked up the song, sung by Neil Diamond. Digging out her earphones, she listened to it, its words of peace and love and hope surrounding her with the same.

  It had been two long years without him, yet it wasn’t hard for her to imagine he was sitting by the side of her now, or to feel her husband’s hand as it rested on the top of hers.

  ‘I want you to know that although I’m moving on, you will always have a place in my heart that will never be open to anyone else,’ she whispered. She put a hand to her chest. ‘Right here. But I … I think you would have liked the man who’s walking towards me now.’

  Simon said he’d give her time alone before joining her. He’d done the same during the week. Even though they had seen each other at work, he’d sent her text messages – chatty how-are-you types, nothing more committed. They’d talked and she’d invited him to visit with her today.

  ‘Hey you,’ he said as he joined her.

  A hand went through his hair, something she had noticed he did when he was nervous.

  ‘Hey yourself.’ She looked at him, feeling an instant blush come to her skin.

  ‘So, what do we do now?’ Simon asked after they had sat in silence for a few minutes.

  ‘I think you should take me out.’ She nodded. ‘On a proper date. Make me laugh, make me feel again.’

  The smile he gave her could have lit up any city at night. ‘I can certainly try,’ he replied.

  She returned the smile shyly. A brighter future, that’s what she needed. She had to let someone in or else face being lonely for the rest of her life. It might not lead to anything, but it could take her some way on the journey to finding happiness again.

  She had to give her and Simon a chance. There was no need to be lonely any more.

  The wind blew her hair and it whipped across her face. Finally, she felt able to say goodbye to her husband. Or au revoir, for now.

  With Simon by her side, she turned and walked out of the garden the way she had come. She didn’t look back.

  She didn’t feel burdened with the grief of it all any more. This is what Matt would have wanted. And this is what she wanted too. Her home for now was in Stoke-on-Trent. Let the Steeles do their worst. She was made from stronger stuff than them.

  She was an Allendale.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  This book might have my name on the cover but there has been an awful lot of teamwork in the background making it happen. Thank you to my agent, Maddy Milburn, who has been with me on my journey for several years now. She and her team are just the best. She’s my partner-in-crime and her enthusiasm and vigour for my work is second only to her friendship.

  Thank you to everyone at HarperCollins and Avon who have taken me under their wing – Charlie, Kate, Oli, Anna, Sabah, Dominic, Elke and Molly. I am feeling incredibly lucky to work with you all. Special thanks to my editors extraordinaire, Helen Huthwaite and Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks, who not only loved the idea of the series I was creating, but then helped me to develop it into something I am so proud of. I’ve always said that editors add the sparkle to my words: you two sprinkled everything with glitter.

  Thanks to my besties who share the journey with me – Alison Niebieszczanski, Caroline Mitchell, Talli Roland, Cally Taylor and Sharon Sant. You guys are always there for laughter, bubbles, writer chats and cake – a support group second to none! I really can’t thank you enough and hope there is always more to come. And to a certain group of CSers. Every day, I laugh with you. You all know who you are.

  A huge thanks to everyone at my local newspaper, The Sentinel and StokeonTrentLive. You continually fly the Sherratt flag and I am so grateful to you all. Particular thanks to Martin Tideswell for all you do for the city through your passion and dedication. You rock, Mart.

  Thank you to Laura Alcock for allowing me to use the fabulous name of your business, Posh Gloss. As well, a huge heartfelt thank you to Gareth Higgins, MBE, who bid a handsome sum of money in aid of local charity, The Donna Louise, to be named as a character in this book. When I contacted Gareth, he told me that he’d bid for the prize for his dad, Mick Higgins. Thanks for your kind donation, Gareth. I hope I did you proud, gentlemen.

  Thank you to all the bloggers and reviewers who give up their time to help me. I can’t mention everyone by name as there are far too many and I would be afraid to miss one out. But each and every minute you spend reading my books and spreading the word about them means so much more than I can ever put into words. As well, a huge thanks to my loyal readers, some of whom I now call friends, who have sent me messages of support. Whether it be via email, tweets or Facebook, each one makes me believe that little bit more.

  Finally, to my husband, Chris. Thank you for your unwavering support, love and honesty. For raising me up when I’m feeling down – and for twisting my twists just that little bit further! And for not complaining too much at the amount of times I burn our meals. I could never do, and would never want to do, anything without you beside me. Love you to bits, fella.

  AUTHOR NOTE

  To all my fellow Stokies, my apologies if you don’t gel with any of the Stoke references that I’ve changed throughout the book. Obviously, writing about local things such as The Sentinel, Hanley Police Station and Staffordshire University would make it a little too close to home, and I wasn’t comfortable leaving everything authentic, so I took a leaf out of Arnold Bennett’s ‘book’ and changed some things slightly. However, there were no oatcakes harmed in the process.

  TICK TOCK

  Is time running out for Grace and her team?

  Mel Sherratt returns with a thrilling new book

  April 2019

  Click here to buy now.

  About the Author

  Mel Sherratt is the author of eleven novels, all of which have become bestsellers. In 2018, she was named as one of her home town of Stoke-on-Trent’s top 100 influential people. She lives in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with her husband and terrier, Dexter.

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