Calculated Justice

by M A Comley

  “I think I was the same when I carried Charlie,” Lorne said.

  Lorne wished Katy luck then stepped into the incident room while her partner went on her mission to see the chief inspector.

  AJ glanced up when she walked in. “Katy’s here, looking peaky, though. She’s gone to have a word with Sean. How is she at home?”

  “Fidgety. She’s struggling to keep food down most of the time. I’m concerned about both of them. Is this natural, Lorne? Do you think I should whisk her off to the doctor? Every time I suggest it, she snaps my head off.”

  Lorne rubbed his arm. “Bear with her, love. Her body is going through all sorts of changes right now. She loves you. Just keep telling yourself that.”

  He still looked down in the mouth, no matter what comfort he found in her words. “I’ll be glad when the nine months gestation period is up, never mind how Katy feels.”

  Lorne laughed at the words he’d used, as if he were referring to a wild animal. “It’ll be worth it in the end. Right, I’ll just grab a coffee. Can I get you one?”

  “That’ll be great, thanks.”

  Lorne returned, carrying two cups of coffee. She handed AJ his cup and asked, “Any new cases come in?”

  “Surprisingly, no. Very quiet weekend.”

  “Ugh... I know what that means. Prepare ourselves to be inundated later on.”

  The door to the incident room opened, and Lorne was perturbed to see a thunderous-looking Sean accompanying Katy into the room.

  “Lorne, in my office if you will, immediately,” he ordered sternly and left the room.

  Katy avoided eye contact with Lorne as she rushed after her boss. Lorne swallowed nervously as she trotted along the hallway to his office. Sean’s secretary smiled when she walked into the room. Lorne mouthed, “Is he all right?”

  The secretary shrugged then began tapping the keyboard on her computer.

  Lorne felt a large knot tighten her insides. Shit! What have I done wrong now?

  Sean Roberts strode purposefully across his office and threw himself in his chair. She quietly closed the door behind her then tentatively joined him at his desk, waiting to be asked to take a seat.

  “Well? Don’t stand on ceremony for me, Lorne. Park your rear.”

  She half-smiled at him, sat down, and placed her hands in her lap like a nervous schoolgirl. “Good weekend, sir?”

  “Yes. I haven’t asked you in here to exchange pleasantries, Sergeant,” he admonished swiftly.

  “Sorry.”

  “There’s no need.” He let out a sigh and said, “What are we going to do with you?”

  She frowned until her forehead began to ache. “What have I done wrong?” She wracked her tired brain and couldn’t figure out what he was referring to. She hadn’t stepped out of line in months, not to her knowledge anyway.

  His face cracked into a smile. “I love winding you up. It gets easier as you get older.”

  Her hand covered her chest in relief. “You’re sick. Has anyone ever told you that?”

  “Plenty of times.” He chuckled. “Right, back to business now my fun is over. As you’re aware, Katy isn’t feeling in the best of health at present. While I’m sympathetic to her condition, I do have a department to run and—”

  Lorne gasped. “You’re not going to sack her?”

  “If you’ll let me finish. No, I’m not sacking her—”

  “You’re demoting her then?”

  He heaved another frustrated sigh, raised an eyebrow, and reclined in his chair. “Why don’t you have a conversation with yourself? That might satisfy your need to establish the facts.”

  Lorne opened then shut her mouth and pretended to zip her lips.

  “As I was saying, Katy isn’t doing too well at the moment and wanted my advice on how to proceed with her pregnancy and working full time. The last thing I want is to lose her, so we’ve come to an agreement that she will stand down from her role as inspector and become a sergeant again.”

  Lorne’s eyes almost fell onto the desk. “Crap, does that mean an outsider will be joining the team? You made this decision just this morning?” she asked in disbelief.

  “No, I don’t have anyone else in mind. I was hoping to persuade you to take on the role, permanently if need be. Also, no, Katy and I have discussed the issue several times over the past few weeks.”

  “Whoa... and none of you thought to tell me about this? I don’t know whether to feel surprised or hurt by your admission, Sean.”

  “That’s not really answering my question, Lorne, is it? Will you become the team’s Inspector again?”

  She crossed her arms and chewed her lip before she answered. “You know I have to run this past Tony before I accept the position. This has come as a bombshell, sir, totally unexpected to me.”

  “I understand your need to discuss this with Tony. What do you think he’ll say?”

  She blew out a breath that puffed out her cheeks. “Hard to tell. I think he’ll be thrilled and hesitant at the same time. His business is still in its infancy but doing well at the moment. I’d like to be around to give him a hand with that and running the home and kennel, although Charlie is doing a fab job there, too...”

  “Sounds to me you’re searching for a reason to back out of the promotion on offer, Sergeant.”

  “No, not in the slightest, merely stating facts. We made a pact when we got married. Although, I must admit I did enjoy filling in for Katy a few months back when her dad was ill.”

  “So? When can I expect a definitive answer? Tomorrow?”

  “Jeez... no pressure on your part, of course. As a matter of interest, what would happen if I turned you down?”

  He shrugged. “The post has to be filled. If you decline, then I’ll have a surplus of sergeants on the team, and one of you will have to be transferred to another department. On the other hand, this scenario makes perfect sense. All it means is that you and Katy will be swapping roles.”

  “Okay. Can you give me twenty-four hours?”

  “Of course. I’m sure Tony will be the first to congratulate you on your new role as inspector.”

  “Yes, you’re probably right. I just don’t feel comfortable about going back on my word to him. That’s all. What about Katy? If she’s feeling rough—I hate to say it—but won’t that affect her ability to work full time? A sergeant’s role isn’t really any easier than an inspector’s, is it?”

  “I agree. The team are great at covering each other’s backs, though. If she needs to take it easy now and again, I’m sure AJ or Karen will be willing to fill her shoes and accompany you when you need to go out and about. Mind you, after that last case we cracked together, I might even be tempted to tag along for the odd ride, too.”

  “Christ, if ever there was an incentive for me to turn down the promotion, you just did a fab job at presenting it.” She grinned.

  “Cheeky mare. I must get on. Let me know first thing either way tomorrow, okay?”

  Lorne stood and walked towards the door. “You’ve got it.”

  When Lorne returned to the incident room, Katy had obviously filled the rest of the team in on the meeting she’d had with Roberts. They were all looking at her expectantly, awaiting her announcement. “Don’t look at me like that, you lot. I have to chat about this with Tony first.”

  Katy marched into her office and threw over her shoulder, “That’s a yes then. Drinks are on Lorne after work.”

  “Now wait just a minute. I haven’t agreed, and I certainly won’t be in Tony’s good books if I turn up late tonight,” she objected. But the thrill of being an inspector again sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. She shook her head and sat down at her sergeant’s desk. Every now and again, she glanced over at her old office and savoured the memories it evoked. She smiled as Pete’s face appeared in her mind. He was nodding, giving her the go-ahead to accept the challenge. She’d been fortunate enough to have worked alongside two great partners over the years. She hoped Katy could hang in there an
d not give in to being a full-time mum. Does this mean I’ve already accepted the role? She knew she had. She was confident that Tony would back her decision one hundred percent, too. She knew he would call her a numpty for not accepting the role on the spot, but there was a method to Lorne’s madness—she needed to keep her boss on his toes from the word go to prevent him from taking her for granted again. Although, to be fair, that had taken place under the leadership of their previous superintendent. Lorne refused to go back to those days, and she couldn’t really see the same turmoil being thrown at her while Anne White, the new super, was in charge. She liked and admired the woman, who seemed to reciprocate Lorne’s feelings.

  The morning dragged by as Lorne tied up loose ends to several small cases the team had successfully concluded in the last few weeks. Nothing major had needed their attention for over a week, which had given them a much-needed breather.

  Lorne looked up from her computer screen and watched Katy make yet another trip to the loo. Her heart sank when Katy returned, pale-faced and with damp hair. Lorne didn’t envy her partner in the least.

  Just before lunch, Lorne insisted they should get some fresh air and go to the local park to eat their sandwiches for a change. However, that idea flew out the window when AJ answered a call at his desk and signalled that it was a significant call.

  Lorne waited anxiously until he hung up. “What is it? Sounded bloody serious, AJ.”

  “That was a friend of a friend who thought I should know about an incident that he’d heard about.”

  “Get to the point, AJ!” Katy snapped. “Sorry. Go on.”

  AJ looked down at his notes. “Well, it would appear that the wife and son of a very wealthy businessman have gone missing.”

  Lorne and Katy glanced at each other and frowned before Katy replied, “What does that have to do with us? We’re not a missing persons team. We’re a murder squad.”

  “I know. This guy owes me a few favours; he said that something doesn’t feel right concerning the case and thought he would bring it to my attention.”

  “A few favours, eh?” Lorne queried. She turned to Katy. “No harm in checking it out, I guess. It’s not as if we’re inundated with cases right now.”

  Katy snorted and shook her head. Her eyes glinted when she said, “You speak for yourself. My desk is in fear of collapsing under the strain of the amount of shitty paperwork piled on it. Still, that won’t be my problem after today. I’m willing to leave that for the new DI to deal with when she takes over tomorrow.”

  “Huh! Well, that aside, I’m thinking we should check this out.”

  “Then I’m willing to go with your intuition on this one. What’s the address, AJ?”

  He handed Katy the slip of paper, then Lorne and Katy collected their jackets and left the station. During the short drive into the heart of London, Katy rubbed her tummy. “I think you should take the lead on this one.”

  “Still feeling icky? I don’t mind.”

  “Yeah. Thanks, partner,” Katy replied, smiling gratefully.

  They took the lift up to Mr. Lance Hardy’s penthouse office, where Lorne showed the young redhead sitting at the tempered-glass desk her warrant card, and asked to speak to Mr. Hardy. The PA seemed surprised to see them and walked into the office behind her. She returned a few moments later and instructed Lorne and Katy to follow her.

  Lance Hardy looked up from his paperwork and motioned for them to take a seat. Lorne guessed the man was in his mid-to-late thirties; he had strikingly handsome features, and the cut of his suit screamed that he was a very wealthy man. His surroundings, a penthouse office overlooking the financial quarter of London, also emphasised his status. “How can I help you?” he asked, somewhat offhand.

  Lorne looked him straight in the eye. “We hear that your wife and child have gone missing.”

  He seemed agitated by the news and slammed his gold pen on the desk. “Who told you?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “Yes. I thought if I came running to the police, it would put my family in further jeopardy.”

  “I see. So how were you going to deal with the situation alone? Furthermore, how is it possible for you to deal with their disappearance while sitting behind your desk, Mr. Hardy?” Lorne knew she sounded harsh, but to her, the man’s actions and demeanour made no sense at all.

  “Because, if I don’t go about my daily business, Sergeant, my wife will have nothing left to come home to.”

  “Really? You’re putting materialistic things before your family’s well-being?”

  “No, that’s not what I said. In my line of business, if I take a single day off, I could lose millions. In the current economic climate, that option really isn’t available to me at present.”

  Lorne’s pulse raced. Is this guy for real? I’ve met some pretty heartless men over the years, but he’s got to be the top of the pile. “Okay, in that case, you’re guilty of putting your business before your family’s needs. I apologise for not comprehending that in the first instance.”

  He fell back against his plush, leather-padded chair and ran a hand through his short brown hair. “I’m sorry if that’s how it came across to you, Sergeant. It wasn’t my intention. What I’m trying to say is, I fear my wife and son have been kidnapped, and I suppose I’ve been in a quandary ever since. Should I go to the police or not? If I do, would the kidnapper end their lives? I’m sure you’ve encountered this kind of stalemate before numerous times.”

  Lorne could tell he was just trying to justify his workaholic behaviour. “Actually, no.”

  His mouth twisted. “Then I’m sorry if I’m coming across as being a heartless bastard. I love my wife and child. Every waking moment, I think of them. Every damn hour I spend in this office, over a hundred hours a week, is so their lives are the best they can possibly be.”

  “Really? And how does your wife feel about that level of neglect, Mr. Hardy?”

  “Neglect? Are you crazy? Have you not listened to a word I’ve said? Everything I do is for them.”

  Katy nudged her knee against Lorne’s, and she took the hint to come at the man from a different angle. “How do you know your wife has been kidnapped? Couldn’t she have just taken your child and left?”

  He tutted and sighed heavily. “No! My wife loves me. I love my wife and son more than life itself—she knows that. Bethany would never just up and leave. Besides, all her clothes are still at the house. Would someone intent on walking out on their partner truly leave without packing a suitcase?”

  “So, you’re telling us that nothing is missing from your home at all?”

  “No. I’m telling you that my wife and child are missing from my home.”

  “Apart from them?” Lorne asked impatiently.

  “Now that you mention it, there was something suspicious I found in our bedroom.”

  Lorne’s interest piqued. “Such as?”

  “I found a pile of my wife’s clothes on the floor in our dressing room. That struck me as odd.”

  “Is your wife usually house-proud? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “Yes, extremely.”

  “If no suitcases are missing, what about a vanity case, overnight bag, something like that?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure. Not that I’ve noticed, but then Bethany takes care of that side of things.”

  “Anything missing from the nursery, perhaps?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why?” Lorne asked abruptly.

  “I understand what you’re getting at. Yes, it’s because I’m always at work, Sergeant. As I’ve already stated, I work very long hours so my wife can remain at home, bringing up our son. Is that wrong in your eyes, Sergeant?”

  “No. I find it admirable, if you must know. I still need to ask the question, though, Mr. Hardy. Why are you reluctant to report them missing?”

  “May I ask how you know about their disappearance?” he retorted quickly.

  Lorne contemplated her response care
fully. “Your case came into our office this morning.”

  “And how is that possible? Have you asked yourself that, Sergeant?”

  “I’m not sure what you’re suggesting, Mr. Hardy. Care to elucidate?”

  “In my own subtle way, I have been putting the word out about my family. It’s difficult to come right out and ask the media for their help. I’m guessing there will be a ransom, because we’re perceived to be wealthy, which is why I’m trying to do things discreetly. The last thing I want to do is put my family’s life in more danger than it is already. I’m not that insensitive; please don’t assume that I am.”

  “I see. That makes sense. So, how can we help going forward? Would you rather we ignore your case?”

  He sat forward and buried his head in his hands. After a few seconds, his hands dropped onto the desk with a thud, and when he looked up at them, his blue eyes were sparkling with tears. “I don’t know. I’m damned if I get you involved and damned if I don’t. Look at how you’ve come here today and treated me. Not as a victim but as a suspect.”

  “I beg to differ. As an investigator, I’m obligated to try and establish the facts from the outset. If I’ve offended you in any way then I’m truly sorry about that. I repeat, how would you prefer to proceed with this investigation? If you agree to the help we’re prepared to offer you, then we’ll pull out all the stops to bring your family back home safely. If on the other hand, you decline our help, then we’ll walk away immediately and let you deal with the consequences. Hopefully, you don’t regret your decision when your family are reported dead.”

  “See! The options suck, either way.”

  “I’m not trying to make your dilemma an impossible one, believe me. But if you agree to our help, then we can set up tracing equipment on your phones in case the kidnapper gets in touch. However, I should add a word of caution here: once the police are involved in a case, certain kidnapping cases have gone awry. There truly are no guarantees.”

  He shrugged in resignation and held out his hands, placing one higher than the other and then alternating them. “Yes or no. It’s a tough decision to make without taking the time to consider everything, Sergeant. Can you leave me to think things over? I’ll give you a call later, before your shift ends, perhaps.”