by M A Comley
“Some bug, right?” Annabelle smiled, but it didn’t disperse the worry lines around her eyes.
“You aren’t handling Giles being away well, are you?”
Annabelle shook her head, and tears filled her eyes. “No, I don’t think I am. What about you?”
Kayli sighed and brushed a stray hair behind her ear. “I thought I would be okay, but to be honest with you—and this stays between us—I hate being alone in the house. I miss Mark terribly. We’re in a catch-22 situation: if we tell our men how we feel and they give up their jobs, that could put as much strain on our relationships as if we say nothing.”
Annabelle nodded. “What is it that is affecting you so much?”
“The danger. The not knowing if they’re safe and well. I suppose I’d feel differently if I could speak to Mark every night, but it’s been two weeks since they left, and we’ve heard absolutely nothing from them.”
“That’s exactly how I feel. Maybe we can talk to them together when they return. You know, voice our concerns openly, supporting each other. What do you think?”
Kayli wiped away a tear from Annabelle’s cheek. “I think once Giles finds out he’s going to be a father again, he’ll jack the job in, but don’t quote me on that. I know how his mind works. He’ll do anything to make you and Bobby and the new recruit happy.”
“I think you’re right. If he does reconsider his role, where will that leave Mark? Do you think he’ll jack the job in, too?”
“I wouldn’t have thought so. He’s the security manager, so he has more responsibility than Giles. I could never fathom that one out. Giles was always the higher-ranking officer between them in their army days.”
Annabelle nodded. “I must admit, I thought it was strange too. I feel a little better now. I know wine is out of the question, but do you think I could have a cup of coffee instead? Can’t stand the taste of tea.”
“Of course, I’ll make it now.” Kayli hugged Annabelle before she stood up. “Congratulations. Mum and Dad are going to be thrilled.”
“Let’s keep it between us for now. I better make an appointment at the doctor’s to get it confirmed before I tell Giles. I’ll ring them in the morning.”
“I’m delighted that we found out the cause of why you were feeling out of sorts. It’s great news all round, hon.” Kayli stepped into the kitchen to make two cups of coffee. While the kettle boiled, she stared out the window at the dark sky, wondering what the boys were up to and how Giles would indeed react when he heard the news. Then a selfish thought entered her mind. What if Giles does give up his job to stay at home with Annabelle and Bobby? Where would that leave Mark?
She had no idea if either of them was even enjoying their new roles, but she would find that out when the men returned on Friday. A tiny part of her hoped that Mark regretted his decision to accept the job, but where would that leave him if he did? Back at home, slouching around, complaining that no one was willing to take a chance on him and offer him employment? They were between a rock and a hard place. Friday was crunch day for her family. She had no doubts in her mind whatsoever what Giles’s plans would entail. However, what Mark’s decision would be was lost on her.
“Where’s that coffee?” Annabelle called out impatiently from the lounge. “I think you’ll find a slice of fruitcake in the breadbin if you fancy a piece.”
“Do you want some?”
“Yes, go on then. Cut a slice, and I’ll have a nibble on it, see if I can keep it down.”
Kayli did as was requested and carried the two mugs of coffee and the slice of cake into the lounge. “Hey, you definitely look more cheerful than when I arrived, even after your mishap in the kitchen.”
“It’s taken the weight off my mind. I’m not going to get excited until the doctor has confirmed it, though. I hope he can do that before Friday.”
“I heard that it’s tough getting an appointment nowadays, so tell him it’s an emergency.”
“Will do. Where’s that cake?”
They spent the next few hours reminiscing about the holidays they had shared together as a family before Bobby had come along and about the antics Mark and Giles got up to when they were abroad in Italy and Spain.
Kayli sighed. “What I wouldn’t give for a holiday in the sun right now.”
“Maybe we can arrange for all of us to go away in the summer next year.”
“Umm ... aren’t you forgetting something?”
Kayli’s eyes widened. She swallowed loudly and grinned. “My God, I’ve just had the most amazing idea.”
“Well, are you going to tell me what that is?” Annabelle asked, amused.
“Mark and I could get married on a paradise island somewhere. On the edge of the beach as the waves gently ripple around our legs.”
“That would be sooo romantic, Kayli.”
She noticed her sister-in-law’s smile had altered slightly. “With you and Giles, of course, and Bobby.”
Annabelle’s smile broadened once more. “How cool.” She rubbed her tummy. “Depending on this little one.”
“Damn, I forgot about the baby. We can work out your dates once the doctor has confirmed you’re pregnant and go from there. I bet it’ll be cheaper to get married abroad in the long run too.”
“Not sure it’ll be cheaper by the time you’ve factored in the cost of the flights and the hotel, but it’ll definitely be more fun and less stress for you both. Do you want me to do some research on the internet for you while you’re at work tomorrow, hon? I’d love to help organise it if you’ll allow me to.”
“Are you kidding me? That would be fabulous, but only if you have the time. Don’t feel obligated to do it. I know what a handful Bobby is at times, and you’re not feeling your best with the little one who has just announced his or her arrival.”
“Nonsense, it’ll help take my mind off things.” She raised her coffee mug and chinked it against Kayli’s. “To you and your exotic wedding. Shall we keep things a secret for now until we’ve figured out the costs? Wouldn’t want to cause Mark a heart attack.” Annabelle laughed.
“Well, this new job of his is supposed to be bringing in megabucks, so we should be able to afford it. Of course, we’ll pay for you guys to come too. You’ll just need to find a bit of spending money, that’s all.”
“Gosh, it’s definitely something to look forward to. It’s almost eleven. Do you think we should call it a day now?”
“I think so. Although I doubt I’ll get much sleep now. I’m too excited.”
“You will. You’ll be dreaming about your wedding for months to come. I wish Giles and I had just taken off somewhere; our wedding was such a bloody hassle to organise. I think this is an ideal solution, and what’s more—you get your honeymoon thrown in at the same time. Do you really want us all there with you on your honeymoon?”
Kayli’s cheeks warmed. “Of course! Bloody hell, I’m super excited by the thought now. We should do everything we can to make this happen now the seed has been sown.”
“Right, for now, though, we should call it a day. The bed should be already made up. I’ll just check on that for you.”
“Thanks, Annabelle. This evening has been just what we both needed to put the world to rights. We should do it more often if the boys are going to be away all the time with their jobs.”
Annabelle left the couch and bent over to hug Kayli. “It was a welcome surprise and one that I think we should definitely revisit soon. Goodnight, hon.”
“I’ll just wash up the mugs and be straight up. Goodnight, Annabelle.”
After Annabelle left the room, Kayli gathered the mugs and whisked them into the kitchen before she made her way up the stairs to bed. She had no idea if sleep would arrive soon, considering how excited she felt, but she gave it a shot anyway.
CHAPTER FOUR
Adam Finley left the pub at his usual time after his darts match ended. It was his second year of being on the pub team. They were riding high in the league, and he was billed as their star player.
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br /> Wearing a satisfied grin, he jumped behind the wheel of his car and set off for home. His wife, Anita, would be waiting for him. He’d already rung ahead and ordered a fish-and-chip takeaway to be delivered by the local chippie, and he started to salivate just thinking about the welcoming smell that would greet him when he walked through the front door.
He was about to turn onto the B4054 when a motorbike cut him up, going at a speed of well over seventy miles an hour. The manoeuvre forced Adam to slam on his brakes. He punched the car horn with the heel of his hand and left it there for several seconds, adding a shake of his fist for good measure when the driver looked over his shoulder and issued him with a V-sign.
“Arsehole. Why don’t you have some consideration for other road users? Bloody moron! And they wonder why there are more accidents on the British roads ... is it any wonder, with tossers like that being let loose?” Voicing the sentiment seemed to calm him down. Continuing on his journey, he upped the sound on the stereo and listened to the new eighties’ CD he’d purchased only a few weeks ago on a nostalgic whim. He drummed his fingers to the beat of ‘Club Tropicana’ by Wham! and shook his head. What a waste, Georgie boy. You were so talented. Of course, your music will live on forever, but it won’t be the same without you popping up on our screens now and again. “Why do so many talented musicians die so young? Prince, Whitney, Michael Jackson, and George, to name but a few. What a bloody waste!”
Adam rounded the corner on the long stretch of road and saw a bike pulled up alongside the barrier. Peering over the steering wheel, he grinned. “That’ll teach you, you bastard. I hope you’re stuck there for hours until the recovery vehicle comes to rescue you.”
As he approached the bike, the driver looked up and started gesturing for him to pull over.
“Fuck off. It’s not going to happen, matey. Maybe that will teach you to be more considerate towards fellow drivers next time.” He smiled as he drove past then looked in his rear-view mirror to see what the driver’s reaction was to being ignored.
The driver turned to look down the road after him, his hands planted firmly on his hips. Adam laughed. He had the feeling the driver was a tad irate. Then the man mounted his bike again and started the engine.
“What the fuck are you playing at? Is there something wrong with your bike or not?” He slowed down to see what happened next.
The driver pulled into the lane behind him.
“Unbelievable! You sneaky little shit. What the heck are you up to?”
Adam sensed he should get out of there as soon as he could. He pressed his foot down on the accelerator, and his estate car lurched forward, slamming his head into the headrest. With one eye on the road, he kept the other trained on the rear-view mirror to gauge what the bike driver’s next move would be. He sensed someone was trying to mess with his head.
One minute the motorbike was right behind him, causing his heart to race, and the next, the driver had eased off his throttle and dropped back to within thirty feet again.
Adam was torn whether to pull over and let him pass or continue on his journey. He was only five minutes from home now anyway. The turning he usually took was just up ahead, but Adam was in a quandary whether to take his usual route home or go the long way round instead. That would give him enough time to shake this bastard off his tail. The last thing he wanted to do was lead this lunatic to his front door. Who knows what would happen then? He pressed his foot down harder. As he drove past his usual turnoff, a feeling of regret constricted his stomach, but he carried on driving down the long stretch of road, all the time keeping a watchful eye on the aggressive driver behind him.
The bike kept up the momentum of driving close and dropping back, toying with him. The bizarre behaviour was so distracting that Adam’s car veered dangerously towards the barrier at one point. He was tempted to pull over and jump out of his car to confront the driver. “People shouldn’t be allowed to get away with messing with folks’ minds like this. Frigging psycho!”
The bike zoomed forward, got to within inches of Adam’s rear bumper, then swerved around his car. As the bike drove past him, Adam pointed to his head and shouted angrily, “You’re frigging crazy. I’m going to report you to the police, moron.”
Revving his engine, the driver sped away. Adam let out a relieved sigh as he watched the bike’s light fade into the distance. His breath caught, though, when the driver slammed on his brakes, angling his vehicle across the middle of Adam’s lane.
“What the fuck are you playing at, dickhead? Crap, you’re frigging insane.”
He indicated and manoeuvred into the other lane. The driver stood there, in the middle of the road, watching Adam drive towards him.
Adam shook his head. “He’s a bloody lunatic. The quicker I get past him and out of here, the better.”
Twenty feet ahead.
Ten feet ahead.
Adam drove past the driver. He didn’t see the bullet as it pierced the glass in his passenger window. Darkness quickly descended.
CHAPTER FIVE
Kayli’s mobile rang several times before she tore herself from her dead sleep. She answered it swiftly and quietly, “DI Bright.”
“Sorry to wake you, ma’am. It’s the control centre. We’ve got a murder on the B4054, and a message flagged up on the system telling me to alert you immediately.”
“Shit! Another accident on the same stretch of road?”
“No accident, ma’am. The driver was shot.”
“What? All right, I’ll get dressed and get over there now. Do me a favour and ring Dave Chaplin, ask him to attend the scene ASAP.” Kayli glanced at the time on her phone. It was only one fifteen. “Damn, look at the goddamn time. He’s going to crucify me for this. Give me the exact location, and I’ll be there within half an hour.”
The officer on control gave her the coordinates and hung up.
Kayli crept along the landing to the bathroom. The door was shut, but she could hear Annabelle being sick inside. She knocked on the door and whispered, “Are you all right, sweetheart?”
“Yeah, my coffee is resurfacing. That’s all.”
“Poor you. I’ve just had a call from work. I need to go. There’s been a murder. I’ll have a quick wash in the downstairs loo.”
The toilet flushed, and she heard the lock on the bathroom door slide across. “No, have a shower if you want in here,” Annabelle said, her face paler than a snowman’s.
“Crap, you look terrible. I’ll ring them back, get someone else to attend the scene.”
“Don’t be daft. I’ll be fine. You go. I’m going to collapse into bed anyway.”
“As long as you’re sure. I’ll ring you later to see how you are. Don’t forget to make an appointment at the doctor’s.”
“I won’t. Stop worrying about me and get your skates on.”
Kayli kissed Annabelle on her cheek. “Ring me if you need me, all right?”
“I will. Now go.”
Kayli closed the bathroom door and washed quickly after deciding that she didn’t have the time to have a shower. She dressed in record time and flew out the front door, closing it quietly behind her. She punched in the postcode the control room officer had given her and set off.
When she arrived at the scene, Dave was there to greet her.
“Sorry for disturbing you, matey. Hope you didn’t mind?”
“No bother. I was awake anyway. Suranne was none too pleased, however.”
“Damn, send her my apologies when you eventually get home.”
“She’ll be fine once I explain the situation. This has to be our priority, right?”
“Right. Let’s see what we’ve got. All I’ve heard is that someone was shot. By the looks of things, another car has gone through the bloody barrier.”
“Maybe we should get our guys to patrol this road regularly. This is the second incident to hit this stretch of road in the last twenty-four hours, hardly a coincidence in my book.”
Kayli nodded. “I totally a
gree. We’ll get on that in the morning. Can’t see the need for it now with this much activity on the road.” Kayli and Dave weaved their way through several of the emergency response vehicles to the area that had been cordoned off. She flashed her ID at the officer, who nodded and lifted the tape. “It’s not pretty, ma’am.”
“Murder rarely is,” she replied solemnly.
Dave clung to Kayli’s arm as they worked their way cautiously down the steep verge. “I can’t believe this has happened again. Why?”
“We won’t know that until we find the bastard responsible, gov.”
A uniformed officer approached them. “Hello, DI Bright. Thanks for attending.”
“No problem, John. What have we got?”
“Looks like a drive-by shooting and the driver ended up down here.”
“What? He was shot on the road?”
“That was my initial assessment, ma’am. There’s evidence of glass on the road. My take is the driver was dead before he hit the barrier.”
“Any witnesses corroborating that, John?”
“No one. The SOCO team are here, and the pathologist is on her way. I took the liberty of calling the accident investigation team out too. Hope that was okay, ma’am?”
“That’s exactly what I would have done. Thanks, John. We’ll just take a look at the vehicle ourselves.”
He stood aside. “Be my guest. The fire brigade is about to leave. Not a lot they can do to save the victim now.”
“Understandable. Pass on my thanks for attending.” Kayli stepped closer to the vehicle. What she saw made her stomach tie itself in knots. Bile rose in her throat when she noted the amount of blood covering the damaged windshield. The car had rolled at some point during its descent but had righted itself where it landed. She peered through the shattered passenger window at the driver. His head was half blown away. She retched and stood away from the car.
“Are you all right?” Dave asked.
“I will be. He won’t, though. Shit, I’m hoping he didn’t know what hit him and that death was instant. We need to get an ID on him, Dave.”
