The First Cut (Terrence Reid Mystery Series Book 2)

by Mary Birk

  And Patty Cady wouldn’t have ever made the mistake of thinking that Darby Reid was Harry’s bloody assistant. She wouldn’t have had the cheek to insist Darby go away just when the interview was getting down to things.

  The telephone next to Allison’s computer rang. Her mother. Frustration made her want to cry. Did anyone else at High Street’s mother call them at work? She wanted to ignore it, but if she did, everyone would wonder why she let her phone keep ringing. Besides, if she didn’t pick up, her mother would ring her mobile. And if Allison ignored that, her mother would probably call the Superintendent to find out if Allison was all right.

  Allison’s mother worried about Allison being police, even though her job never involved anything dangerous, worried about Allison being around so many men all day, even though she barely dated, and even, ludicrously, worried about Allison working for a Catholic, even though the Superintendent never mentioned his religion.

  “Busy here.” Allison kept her voice low. Maybe no one would realize it was her mother. She tried to look businesslike and nodded, pretending to take notes as she listened as if it were a work call. The whole family still treated her like she was a little girl. While her mother nattered on, Allison mentally reviewed her finances. In a year, maybe she’d be able to move out. She’d still have her older brothers hovering around her, but it would be harder for everyone to keep tabs on her if she didn’t live at home.

  Finally, Allison decided she’d listened long enough. “Right. I need to go now.” She hung up, glancing around the room to see if anyone had been paying attention. Everyone seemed intent on their own work. Good.

  She let her eyes drift over to the Superintendent’s office where he was meeting with his sister. Maybe money had something to do with their confidence. Those boots Darby was wearing today must have cost more than Allison made in a month. Two months. On the other hand, Harry was confident, and he wasn’t rich. So, money, and what went with it, the right schools and connections, certainly didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t what really made the difference.

  It was attitude. They all had that same confident attitude. Trying to emulate the guv was a bit of a stretch, and trying to imitate Harry would be idiotic. It was bloody hard to translate what worked in a man’s demeanor to what worked for a woman. But she could try to adopt Darby’s confident attitude.

  Allison arranged her face in an imitation of Darby’s self-assured, superior expression, tilting her computer screen so she could see her reflection. She definitely looked more confident, but not really like herself. She needed a more sophisticated haircut to go with the attitude.

  Harry’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “What’s got you so cheesed off, sweetcakes?”

  She looked over at him hastily, hoping he hadn’t noticed her looking at her reflection. “I’m not cheesed off. And stop calling me that.”

  “You look cheesed off. Your nose went into the air, and you look like you’ve been sucking on a salty lemon.”

  She tried to give Harry the withering look she’d been practicing at home. “I was thinking.”

  “About lemons?”

  “You’re hilarious. About work. Maybe you should try doing that as well.”

  “Aren’t you little miss la-di-da?” He seemed to think, then grinned. “Oh, I get it. You’re trying to act like Lady Interpol.” He gestured to the Superintendent’s office.

  “You’re an arse. Leave me alone.” Her face flushed at being found out so easily. She hated Harry.

  Frank wheeled his chair over and handed Harry some reports, then turned and looked sympathetically at Allison. “Harry, leave the poor kid alone.”

  Allison knew he was trying to be supportive, but it annoyed her to be called a kid. She bet no one called Darby Reid a kid, let alone poor kid. They wouldn’t dare. Putting on her most aloof manner, she said, “Frank, I can handle DS Ross and his insulting behavior on my own.”

  Frank blinked in surprise at the rebuke in her voice. Quickly recovering, he nodded. “I’m sure you can, DC Muirhead. Excuse me for interfering.” He turned his wheelchair toward the lift.

  No one spoke until the door to the lift closed and the machine whisked Frank away.

  Then Harry looked over at her, his face showing his disappointment. “I wouldn’t have thought it, Allison but you can be a right bitch.”

  His words stung, but she kept her face impassive. He’d started it, and she hadn’t meant to sound snooty to Frank. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. I’m just trying to do my job without personal comments from you. We’re colleagues, not friends, so I’d appreciate it if you would keep your remarks to me professional, and I’ll do the same for you.”

  “Sod off.”

  * * * * *

  Still feeling the sting of Harry’s words, Allison watched as the door to the Superintendent’s office opened and Darby came out, followed by her brother. The Super motioned to Oscar and Harry, and they all went into the conference room to go over what Allison suspected was some new account information the two had uncovered. Normally if the Superintendent forgot, Harry or Oscar would ask that she be included so she could learn. But this time neither Harry nor Oscar even looked back at her.

  She’d felt like an outsider ever since her outburst to Frank. She couldn’t remember ever feeling so tense an atmosphere between her and the others, and she hated it. Why had she snapped at Frank? He’d been nothing but good to her. It was Harry’s fault. He’d goaded her into it. But still, she felt like shite.

  Lost in her self-recriminations, Allison almost fell out of her chair when Darby’s imperious voice interrupted her thoughts

  “You’re to come with me, DC Muirhead. I’ve a meet with someone from my agency who’s working with the Germans on the investigation about the materials used to make the bombs. Some of the purchases were made with credit cards that were paid by offshore accounts. We’ll get what they have and try to match it with what we’re doing here. With any luck, it’ll lead us somewhere.”

  Allison swallowed, nodded, trying not to show her relief. Maybe she hadn’t been left out deliberately. Probably everyone had known she was going to be needed elsewhere.

  “What are you waiting for? Get your coat.”

  “Aye.” Allison wasn’t sure she wanted to be quite like Darby Reid; no one else talked to her like she was a mere lackey. When the blokes teased her, it might be patronizing, but it at least seemed affectionate. “I’ll be right with you.”

  Darby frowned, tapped her watch. “We need to leave now.”

  “Right, be ready in a tick. I just have to tell Frank something.” Knowing she was risking the other woman’s displeasure, Allison ran down the stairs to the bottom floor.

  She found Frank studying schematics of the reconstruction of the bombing scene at Heidelberg University. He looked up as she came in, but didn’t say anything.

  Allison felt her face get hot, but decided there was nothing for it but to eat shite. “I’m that sorry about how I acted, Frank. I’m just tired of having to prove myself every moment, and Harry’s teasing, and everything, but I shouldn’t have taken it out on you.”

  He shrugged, and then smiled. “I shouldn’t have called you a kid. I’m sorry about that, as well.”

  “That’s okay. From you I know it wasn’t meant as a put-down.” She nodded toward the stairs. “I’d better go. Lady Interpol awaits.” She pushed the tip of her nose up with her finger.

  Frank laughed, and she ran over and hugged him before flying up the steps, her heart lighter.

  Her day got even better. After that rough start, Darby Reid treated her like she was, if not an equal, as something close to it. A protégé, maybe. Darby was nothing like Harry. She was complimentary about Allison’s work, listened to Allison’s opinions, and commended Allison’s ideas. And now they were on a first name basis.

  After they’d finished their meeting with Darby’s Interpol colleague, Darby dropped Allison back off at High Street with the data they’d collected, before going on to an
other meeting.

  “Thanks for taking me with you.”

  Darby smiled. “No thanks needed. I think we’re going to make quite a team.”

  Chapter 30

  OSCAR PRINTED OUT a screenshot from Richard Ramsey’s work computer. “We’re not going to find any deleted files here. This hard drive was replaced just like the one on the home computer.”

  Harry groaned. It had been a long day. Already it was dark outside the High Street office, and so far, they’d made little progress. “With Von Zandt senior and junior going in and out of Ramsey International like they owned the place, that’s no surprise. What about on the other computers there?”

  “Big fat nothing. There’s no trace of anything except routine Ramsey International business.”

  Harry nodded. “Someone made sure we’d find nothing. The guv will be disappointed, but I don’t think he was really expecting much. These credit card purchase records might pay off, though.”

  “We could use a break. That might make bringing in Interpol worth it.” Oscar didn’t say what Harry expected they were both thinking. Darby Reid was trouble waiting to happen.

  Harry grunted. “I don’t think we’ll hear back on the cardholder information until tomorrow. I expect they’ll be held in the name of some trust set up in an offshore bank, but that information is easier to get than it used to be.”

  “Easier, maybe, but still a bleeding pain.”

  “Looked like you were getting special attention from the guv’s sister.” Harry shifted his eyes to his computer screen, suppressing a smile.

  “Lucky me.”

  “What did she want?”

  “I’m not sure. Not me, I’m sure, but she tried to act like it.”

  “Dangerous, that one.” Harry weighed his next words. He’d never acknowledged that he knew Oscar was gay, and Oscar had never shared anything that would invite inquiry on the subject. “Not too bright if that was the route she took to get to you.”

  Oscar shot an assessing glance his way. “No.” His eyes behind the thick glasses didn’t waver.

  Harry grinned, sending the message that it didn’t bother him, and that he wasn’t willing to pretend he didn’t know anymore. Oscar gave a tight smile, but Harry thought his message had been delivered.

  “We need to keep an eye on her.”

  “Do you think the Superintendent sees it?”

  Harry shook his head. “She’s family. And he’s distracted.”

  “Yeah, something’s not right with him. Like where’d he’d go off to so early? And taking the morning off yesterday? It’s not like him.”

  Harry shrugged. “He was watching the clock all day and shot out of here at six on the nose. If it were me, I’d say it was a bird. Being it’s him, I’d still say it’s a bird. For him that means it’s his wife, and that’s unlikely given there’s no indication she’s even in the country. But the evidence points that way.”

  “Good for him, then.”

  “Why do you say that?” That Oscar even had an opinion on the subject surprised Harry.

  “He works more than all of us. Whether it’s his wife, or someone else . . .”

  Harry interrupted. “It wouldn’t be someone else. It’s her or something else entirely. Nothing was on his calendar for tonight, so it’s not one of his regular do’s like those dinners and things he’s always going to.” They all knew those social commitments were part of Reid’s job. The guv hated going to them, but as with everything else that was expected of him, he just did it. Gruesome life, Harry thought. Church, run, work, stiff-collar parties with stiff-arsed people, and no sweet, soft bird to sink into at night. Then the same thing over and over, day after day.

  Oscar nodded. “If we could find the old hard drives, I could restore them. But I doubt that’s going to happen.”

  “Tomorrow I’ll check with Patty Cady. Maybe she saw something, or heard about Ramsey’s work computer hard drive being replaced.”

  “Great.” Oscar logged off. “I’m calling it a night. There’s only so much disappointment I can take.”

  “Me, too. I’m meeting a dolly bird five minutes ago. Where’d Darby and Allison get off to?”

  “Darby left to go to dinner with DI Lawrence.”

  Harry raised his eyebrows. “A meeting of giant egos. I’d like to be a genetically enhanced fly listening to the two of them talk. And Allison?”

  “She’s below with Frank working on something.”

  “They made it up, then?”

  Oscar nodded.

  “That’s good. I’ll just pop down and tell them we’re leaving.”

  Chapter 31

  TERRENCE RAN HIS FINGERS down past Anne’s naked breasts to her flat, taut abdomen. “I’m enjoying the sight of you like this. Your legs, girl—and what they lead to. I’m just damned glad Darby took herself off to a hotel. Making love before dinner is difficult to manage when you have a houseguest.”

  Anne put her hands on his face and kissed him. The lovely man-smell of him filled her nostrils. Her husband. Her love.

  He pulled her on top of him. “I’ll need a bit of recovery time, but we can do this again after some food. I’ll order something delivered. Indian food sound good to you?”

  She winced at the thought of spicy food with the way her stomach had been acting.

  “Not yet, Terrence. I need to talk to you.”

  “You can do anything you like with me, girl. I’m entirely in your power.” He smiled and held her head against his chest. For a moment she lay still against him, enjoying the feeling of him stroking her hair.

  After a time, she moved off and rolled over beside him so that they were facing each other. Her fingers trailed along the side of his face.

  “I’ve got something to tell you.”

  He smiled. “So tell me.”

  “I’ve been trying to figure out what to say, but I can’t think of any way to tell you that isn’t going to be awful.”

  “Just tell me.” He kissed her gently. “It can’t be that bad, Anne. You’ve come to me, you’ve not chosen Grainger. Anything else you tell me has to be better than that.” He ran his fingers along her neck, and then down further to caress her body.

  She swallowed. “I hope you say that when you hear what it is.”

  “Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it.” He placed soft kisses all around the edges of her lips.

  Anne closed her eyes and received his blessings, afraid they would end as soon as she told him. But maybe not. They would deal with it, he said. Whatever it was, they would deal with it.

  “Go on then, lassie, tell me what’s wrong.”

  Her heart clenched as she struggled to get the words out, and when she finally did, her voice trembled. “I’m pregnant.”

  He pulled back slightly, and she saw him go pale, saw him swallow, knew he was praying.

  “And that is bad news because?”

  “Oh, Terrence, don’t make me say it.” Her voice caught.

  “It’s Grainger’s baby?” He pulled farther away from her, and she felt a cavern open between them.

  “I . . . I don’t know.”

  She saw a fog of disbelief and confusion overcome him.

  “Terrence, I’m so sorry.”

  “Isn’t there a test they can do?” The pain in his voice cut through her.

  She shook her head. “An amniocentesis could tell us, but my doctor said they won’t do one just for that. It’s too risky. I asked him if there was some other way—I begged him, but he said no—nothing safe.”

  “Oh, God.” He looked sick, but then she saw anger take over. “God.” He expelled his breath loudly.

  She felt her tears start to fall, and put her face into her hands, gulping in air. “I’m so sorry.”

  “I can’t believe I have to ask this.” She heard him swallow. “Weren’t you using anything when you were with him?”

  Anne flushed. “Most of the time.”

  “Sweet Jesus.”

  “Terrence, you and I didn’
t use anything at all.”

  He bit his words out through clenched teeth. “We’re married, Anne. I want to have children with you. You know that. And I guess I stupidly thought that going in bareback was a husband’s privilege, as long as the wife was willing. And you certainly seemed willing.” He sat up and ran his hands through his hair.

  “I’ve been in agony trying to figure out how to tell you this. I knew how much it would hurt you. It’s been killing me to have to tell you.”

  He raised his face to her, and the hurt she saw in it broke her heart. “Now what? What in Christ’s name do we do now?”

  She was quiet for a time, composing herself, hoping whatever words she found would bring him back to her. She took a deep breath. “I know this might be expecting too much. And I understand if you say no, but I was hoping that you might still want me to be with you. That we could just go on together, and figure out how to handle it however it turns out.”

  He was quiet for what seemed an eternity, but finally spoke. “I think that is asking too much, and not just of me.”

  Anne said nothing; she couldn’t think of anything to say.

  He went on, his voice now devoid of emotion. She knew that tone. She’d lost him.

  “Have you told Grainger?”

  She nodded.

  “Before me?” That same uninvolved tone hid the raw emotion she knew he was feeling.

  “It was something I had to do in person, and I needed to leave California to come to tell you. I was hoping I wouldn’t be going back there. That I would stay here with you.”

  “So, how exactly are you seeing this play out, girl? You come with me, and then what happens if the baby isn’t mine?”

  She twisted the sheet between her fingers. “I guess I was thinking that, if that was the case, I would just make sure Andrew could see the baby as much as possible. But the baby and I would live with you.” She heard the pleading in her voice, but she couldn’t stop, couldn’t make her voice sound as uninvolved as his had become. “People raise children they had with previous spouses all the time. It will work out. I know this is hard, but we can do it.” She tried to stop more tears from coming; she needed to keep as much composure as possible so that she could convince him that they could handle this together.