by L M Krier
'Yes, boss, great news. His name really is John Smith – the wife reverted to her maiden name. And according to Steve's Internet search, there are currently less than twelve thousand of them in the UK.'
Ted wanted a final get-together with Jo before he disappeared for his weekend away. He knew the team would be fine without him, especially with Jo at the helm, but he still liked to be involved at every stage.
'I'm just hoping Linda does the decent thing and gives himself a weekend off, too. I'll be setting off back first thing on Sunday morning, so I'll be in for the afternoon. I know you can cope, it's not that I don't have faith in you…'
'It's fine, boss. You're the SIO, the buck stops with you if we screw up in your absence. Not that we will. And I won't even call you unless it really is something we can't handle. I can always call the DSU if I'm worried. You go and have a good time.'
Ted's mobile interrupted them. Trevor. His tone brooked no argument.
'If you're not on your way out of the door already, you are in serious trouble.'
'I am, I am, honestly,' Ted lied shamelessly. 'Well, I'm just putting my coat on as we speak and then I'm out the door. Jo can alibi me,' he looked beseechingly at his DI and handed him the phone, adding, 'But speak English, so I know what you're saying about me.'
Ted had previously told Jo that Spanish was one of the languages in which his partner was fluent. He grabbed his coat and briefcase, so that at least that part of the story was true, as Jo started speaking.
'Hola, Trev, qué tal? The boss says I have to speak English so he can understand. Nice to talk to you, I've heard a lot about you. And yes, it's true, the boss is just putting his coat on and he'll be with you shortly. Have a good weekend.'
He ended the call and handed the phone back with a laugh. 'And I thought I was hen-pecked.'
Ted smiled his thanks and, with a hasty, 'Thanks Jo, I owe you, big time,' he was on his way.
Chapter Twenty-five
It was never easy, waking Trev in the morning, especially at what was, for him, such an ungodly hour. They'd arrived late at their hotel after a long journey down on the bike, stopping for a meal on the way. Trev had promised to be up and about to help Shewee get ready for the event, so Ted brewed up with the small kettle in the room and made sure he got him up in plenty of time to be down at the stable-yard at the appointed hour.
There was no hotel breakfast available so early, but Trev had assured Ted that there would be food available at the event. Bacon rolls would be on the go first thing for grooms, spectators and any competitors whose butterflies in the stomach allowed them to eat before competing.
A part of Ted was worrying about how things were going back at the nick without him, but another part was looking forward to being able to see a different side of his partner, about which he knew little. Trev had enjoyed a privileged upbringing - the best boarding schools, his own horse, endless holidays abroad. All that had changed when he came out to his parents, just before his sixteenth birthday, and they had reacted by throwing him out to go and live with his much more liberal aunt.
Ted often wondered how much Trev missed his former life. He still rode, occasionally, with Willow. But it was a far cry from what he'd been used to. Ted worried whether life with a middle-aged copper in a modest semi in Stockport was enough for him, despite Trev's assurances that it was. He was pleased that Trev would at least have some contact with his previous life, even if it was only acting as his kid sister's groom.
Shewee was already up and busy when they got to the stables. She had her horse, Blue, tied up outside his box and was busily plaiting his mane, while standing on a box. She looked decidedly green round the gills with nerves.
'Can you do tails?' was her only form of greeting, more of a wail of desperation, in Trev's direction. 'I'm crap at tails. Lola was supposed to help me but she was out on the lash last night and she's still asleep.'
'Morning, brother, morning, Ted,' Trev chided gently. 'Morning, sister, morning, Blue, and yes, it so happens that I'm brilliant at tails, though a bit out of practice.'
He moved confidently round to the back of the horse, speaking quietly and putting a hand on its side first, then got to work on the intricate plaiting. To Ted, completely unused to horses at close quarters, the animal looked huge and Trev's position decidedly dangerous.
'What shall I do?' he asked them. 'Apart from stand here like a lemon.'
'Talk to Blue,' Shewee told him. 'He always gets fidgety the nearer to his withers I get, so you can distract him.'
'Will he bite me?' Ted asked warily.
'Honestly, Ted,' Trev laughed. 'You're used to handling armed criminals and you have four black belts.'
'And Blue's a big softy, until he sees a water jump. Then he turns into a total psycho.'
Ted stepped closer, still apprehensive. 'Hello, horse,' he said tentatively.
The other two burst into giggles at his efforts but continued working away, seemingly efficiently. Ted plucked up his courage and reached out a wary hand to stroke the horse's neck. It felt silkier and warmer than he'd imagined, and the horse didn't seem to mind, so he carried on softly stroking.
'You're a natural,' Trev assured him. 'A true horse whisperer. If you ever get fed up of CID you can put in for the mounted branch.'
'Tell him if he dumps me at the water jump, you'll arrest him,' Shewee said, through chattering teeth. 'I bet you brought your handcuffs with you.'
'If you two are just going to make fun of me, I might as well go back to the hotel and read through the case notes,' he told them, but his tone was good-natured.
The nearer they got to being ready, the more Shewee's nerves were visibly getting the better of her, despite Trev's reassurances and efforts to calm her down. Once she'd finished plaiting Blue's mane, she rushed off to get changed and to try to rouse the sleeping Lola, who was supposed to be helping her.
Trev was busy putting the finishing touches to Blue, applying oil to his hooves and giving his coat a final buff with a silk cloth. It reminded Ted a bit of his days in uniform, with all the polishing he'd had to do for formal occasions. Much as he hated wearing a suit and tie to work now, it was still better than uniform.
Shewee reappeared, smartly dressed for the dressage phase, towing a clearly hung-over friend with her.
'You remember my brother, Trev. And this is his partner,Ted, who is a policeman. His presence here is the only reason I'm not going to kill you for being in such a state when you're supposed to be grooming for me today. At least go and warm Blue up for me while I go and declare,' Shewee told her angrily, thrusting a riding hat at her friend and turning to go.
'Oh, God, I can't ride, I'll throw up,' Lola told her. Clamping her hand to her mouth, she blurted out, 'In fact…' then raced outside, from where they could clearly hear sounds of her heaving and retching.
'Oh, bloody marvellous,' Shewee said, with not much trace of sympathy for her friend. 'What am I going to do now?'
'Give me the hat and I'll warm him up. You go and declare and calm down. Ted will look after Lola, won't you?' Trev said, taking charge.
He led the horse outside, slapped Lola's hat on his head, where it sat rather precariously on top of his glossy black curls, then peeled off the rug which was keeping the animal's hindquarters warm and handed it to Ted. He adjusted the girth then vaulted lightly aboard.
'I'll be down at the warm-up arena,' he told Ted. 'Just follow the signs. Try and get Lola to come with you, the walk should help her. And put the rug round her. We'll need it later and she looks as if she needs thawing out.'
Shewee's friend had at least stopped throwing up but was still looking rough as Ted went over to her and carefully folded the rug round her shoulders. She looked dreadful, at close quarters. Ted had had occasion before to send the local force round to a pub in the area, which was serving alcohol to under-age teenagers. It looked as if he might have to do the same again.
'Are you really a policeman?' Lola eyeing up his short stature dubiou
sly. Although clearly not much older than Shewee, who was fourteen, she was taller than Ted, but he was used to that.
'I am. But I'm not going to waste my breath lecturing you about under-age drinking. All of this is completely new territory to me and I have no idea where I'm meant to be going. So if you're up to it, can you show me where Trev has gone? And then perhaps if there's a refreshment place somewhere, I can buy you some tea or coffee?'
Ted had never seen Trev ride a horse before. He was amazed at the effortless way in which he seemed to be making the animal do whatever he wanted it to, without Ted being able to see how. He stood watching him in fascination, feeling incredibly proud and privileged to be his partner. He'd sent Lola off to get them each a cup of tea, once she'd shown him the right arena, and she was starting to look better. When Shewee reappeared, Lola was able to go off and help her.
Trev was grinning from ear to ear after he had he dismounted and handed the horse over to his sister, before going to find Ted. He was obviously in his element. Shewee's horse, Blue, had been bred from the mare Trev used to own when he competed as a teenager.
'That was incredible,' Ted told him admiringly. 'And unbelievably sexy. Watching you wrap your legs round that great big horse and make it do whatever you wanted it to gave me some decidedly un-policeman-like thoughts.'
Trev laughed delightedly. 'Hold those thoughts until later on. And Blue isn't big at all. He's just a little squirt, with attitude, a bit like Shewee.'
A man was walking past them, glancing towards Trev. Then he stopped and turned back, his face surprised. He was wearing what seemed to be the uniform for the day - moleskin trousers, a waxed jacket, a tweed cap. He couldn't have been much older than Trev but his turn-out made him look more middle-aged.
'Armstrong? Good God, it is you, isn't it? Trevor Armstrong? I saw there was an Armstrong competing today. Is that your daughter?'
'Ferguson,' Trev replied tightly. 'And hardly. This is my partner, Ted. Siobhan is my kid sister.'
Trev slipped a possessive arm around Ted as he spoke.
'Oh,' the man said, the look he was giving Ted speaking volumes. Then he remembered the good manners he'd been taught at a doubtless expensive school and said formally, 'How d'you do? I didn't realise you had a sister, Armstrong.'
'I didn't, back then. Ferguson and I were at school together, briefly,' Trev explained, then said, 'You'll have to excuse us, Siobhan is on early and I don't want to miss her.'
He strode away rapidly, his arm still around Ted, pulling him along, heading for the bacon rolls. Ted said nothing. He knew how much Trev hated to talk about certain aspects of his life before they had met.
Ted found the day much more interesting than he had expected to. It was something completely outside his previous experience, not at all the type of people he usually had contact with. But he was an avid people-watcher and he was not short of material. He was glad of Trev to explain the intricacies of the competition. After the dressage phase, while Shewee went off to change for the cross-country, Trev got on Blue again and Ted watched in awe as he popped the horse skilfully over practice fences. It all looked so fluid and harmonious.
It was a different picture when Shewee was heading for the water jump. Trev had led the way over to see the jump which was her bogeyman, and was mentally willing her on. Blue was trying to bang on the brakes, but with a bit of a kick and a shout, Shewee somehow managed to propel him reluctantly over the fence, clearing it, though with not much style. Trev was so relieved for her that he grabbed Ted in a hug and whirled him round, to disapproving glances from several people around them.
They seemed to have to wait around a long time after the last phase, the show-jumping, to find out the results. Shewee hadn't won, but at a respectable fifth, she was squeaking with delight not only to have got over the water jump, but to be told that she was short-listed for the school team.
After it was all over and Blue was happily tucked up in his stable eating hay, they waited while Siobhan grabbed a shower and changed her clothes then took her with them back to their hotel. She would have dinner with them, then Ted would run her back to school afterwards. Lola had already crawled off back to bed, although they'd invited her along.
It had been a good day and Ted had enjoyed the break away from the nick. He'd had his phone on silent and there were not even any text messages to disturb their enjoyment. Jo was worth his weight in gold if he was holding the fort well enough to allow Ted a short break. They almost made it to the dessert course before an insistent muted buzzing warned him of an incoming call.
Glancing at the screen, he stood up hurriedly, excused himself, and headed out of the dining room, muttering, 'Sorry, I really do need to take this.'
'Ted, remember what I said, I seriously will divorce you if you want us to leave now,' Trev called after his retreating back.
'Does that mean you two are getting married then? Cool. Can I be a bridesmaid?' Shewee asked him.
As soon as Ted found a quiet corner, he answered the call and immediately heard, 'Oh shit, I completely forgot you were away for the weekend. Shit. Sorry, Ted. Bugger. Shit.'
It was the Ice Queen, but not like Ted had ever heard her before. Her voice was ragged with emotion and it was the first time he'd ever heard her use language like that.
'Debs, calm down. Just tell me what the problem is, and what you need me to do.'
'I shouldn't have called you,' she said, her voice unfamiliar in its uncertainty. 'I just didn't know who to call. Robin's away and I just needed someone sensible …'
'What's the matter, Debs? What can I do?' Ted asked calmly.
'It's Justin. He's in hospital. He's… Oh God, Ted. He's in a coma…'
Justin was her older teenage son. Ted could barely begin to imagine how she must be feeling, especially with her husband Robin away. He was not entirely surprised she had called him. Although their relationship was usually stiffly formal, he doubted she had a lot of close friends, like many career police officers, and certainly few outside the force.
'Debs, I'm so sorry. What happened? Is he going to be all right?'
Her voice was sounding wobbly now. 'They say he should make a full recovery, but the next couple of hours are critical. I'm so sorry to have disturbed your weekend away. I just needed a familiar voice. He looks so young, lying there with drips and everything. I haven't even called Robin yet. I was hoping for good news before I spoke to him.'
'It's absolutely fine. I'm glad you felt you could call me. I'm nearly five hours away, unfortunately, even if I had blues and twos, but this is what I'm going to do. You remember I told you I hoped you would never be in a dark enough place to need to discover DC Brown's softer side? Well, you are and you do, so I'm going to call Maurice and send him straight round. You're at Stepping Hill, I assume?'
She started to protest. 'That wouldn't be at all appropriate…'
'Bugger appropriate, Debs. You need someone who's a parent, who understands the pain you're going through. Tonight Maurice will come and hold your hand, let you cry on his shoulder if you need to, and buy you hot chocolate. It's his cure for everything. Then on Monday morning he'll call you ma'am again and stand to attention when he sees you. You can trust him, I promise.'
She was struggling to get her voice back under control as she said, 'Thank you, Ted. I knew you'd know what to do.' Then her tone hardened as she said, 'This was a legal high that went wrong. Robin and Toby have gone off sailing, but Justin really wanted to go to a party with some school friends, so I stayed behind with him. I made him promise to be sensible and not drink or take anything. He clearly thought that something legal wouldn't be dangerous. His father is going to be furious. If he makes it.'
'He'll be fine, Debs. He's young and strong, and in the right place. You go back to him now and I'll send Maurice round. Please let me know how things work out and feel free to call me again, at any time, if you need to talk.'
He cut short her effusive thanks, anxious to get straight on the phone to Maur
ice. He knew he would go to the hospital immediately. It was the sort of man he was. It was why Ted had been so disappointed with what had happened between him and Jezza. It still didn't sit easy with him, but he'd accepted Jezza's version. In a way, Ted was glad he would have a chance to let the Ice Queen know why he had been so eager to keep Maurice on his team. He just wished it could have been in better circumstances.
'Eh, the poor lass,' was the first thing Maurice said when he heard the news. 'I'll go straight away. My girls are here but they're in bed now and Steve can watch them well enough for me. Don't worry, boss, I'll look after her. Then as soon as we're all back in on Monday, I'll get started on rounding up the pond life spreading this filth on our patch. Legal or not, we'll get the word out there that it's not welcome.'
Trev was looking daggers as Ted made his way apologetically back to the table.
'If you're going to tell me we have to leave straight away…' he began, but Ted grinned at him and sat back down at the table.
'Crisis averted. I've sent in Maurice, my secret weapon, so all is well,' he said. He told them both what had happened, anxious to impress upon Shewee the dangers of any type of drugs. He already knew she went to pubs under age and had had stern words with her about it.
'Don't worry,' she assured him. 'Now I've got a chance at the team, I'm not doing any stuff at all, not even a shandy. And I'm going to keep Lola on the straight and narrow too. She can plait tails nearly as well as Trev.'
Ted drove Shewee back to school after the meal, leaving Trev to linger over a cognac, then head up to their room, ready for Ted's return.
'Sorry I had to interrupt the meal like that. Poor Debs. I've never heard her swear before. I hope everything is going to be all right. She sounded in bits, but I know Maurice will take good care of her,' Ted told his partner when he got back. 'Now, you know that mental image you told me to hold on to...'
