by Clare Revell
He straightened, seeing two teenage girls in school uniform running for dear life along the road in front of them. “Nate, pull over. That looks like Jodie and Vianne.” As the car stopped parallel with the girls, Dane rolled down the window. “What’s up?”
Jodie’s wide eyes looked at him, her breath coming in rapid gasps. “Dad…”
“Where are the pair of you going so fast?”
“Home, it’s a half day.” She glanced over her shoulder.
“Get in. We’ll take you.”
“Thanks.” The girls tumbled into the car.
Nate glanced over his shoulder. “Vianne, is everything OK?”
“Yes, Uncle Nate. We just got slightly creeped out by the bloke at the bus stop. Figured we’d set a new land speed record.”
Dane glanced at Nate. His partner didn’t seem convinced by that explanation either. He glanced back at Jodie. “What did this bloke do?”
“Just looked at us funny, that’s all.”
“He didn’t do or say anything?”
“No, just stared at us. So we ran. We’re fine, Dad.”
He nodded, pulling the sunshield down and keeping an eye on the path behind them as Nate pulled away again. It was only a couple of minutes before they reached the house. His heart dropped as he took in the red paint all over it, with Amy trying to clean it off. “What on earth is going on now?”
He got out of the car, almost before Nate had stopped it. “Amy?”
She turned, her face falling. “Oh. You’re home early.”
“What happened?”
“I heard something, a car maybe, and came outside and saw this. I wanted to clean it off before you came home.” She looked past him, seeing the girls. “Oh.”
Jodie grinned. “Half day. And it’s probably a Halloween prank a little late. It happens all the time around here. Or Mr. Scruffy did it.”
“Who’s Mr. Scruffy?” Vianne asked.
“Come meet him. He’s our scarecrow.” She dashed off around the back of the house, Vianne in close pursuit.
Nate looked at Amy. “Leave it. I’ll sort it. You and Dane go inside and put the kettle on.”
Amy sighed. “That’s just so typically English of you. We have a crisis and you want me to go and put on the kettle and make some tea.”
Nate grinned. “Yes, now go. Mine’s white with two sugars.” He leaned into the car and pulled out the evidence bag.
Dane took Amy’s hand and led her into the house. “You should have called us. We could have used some of that information. It’s criminal damage for one thing. Never mind everything else that’s going on.” He wrinkled his nose at the smell as he passed the wet door. “That’s not paint.”
“No, it’s fresh blood.”
“Then you definitely shouldn’t have cleaned it off. Has this happened before?”
Amy hesitated, before shaking her head very slightly. “Not like this, no.”
“OK. Once Nate’s done, I’ll hose it off.”
She looked behind them. “Where’s your car?”
“It’s gone in for repair.” He shut the front door. “I scraped the paintwork.”
“That was silly.” She headed into the kitchen. “Can’t we just wash this off and pretend none of—”
“Pretend it’s not happening? No, we can’t.”
“Oh.”
He hugged her. “No one blames you for any of this. And if you got the impression that I did, then I’m sorry. I don’t.”
“OK.” She sucked in a deep breath. “So, Jodie says you’re not burning Mr. Scruffy because he’s too cute. I don’t suppose there’s any way that I can get you to reconsider that idea anytime soon, is there?”
“Jodie thinks she’s keeping it, but she’s not.” He kissed her cheek then turned to put the kettle on. “Give it a week, and she’ll be tired of it.”
Amy glanced at the back garden where the girls were posing the scarecrow and laughed. “That’s wishful thinking on your part. He’s currently standing up leaning on your spade. They must have put a pole down his back.”
“That’s what scarecrows do.”
“It’s more like a scare Amy than a scare crow. He’s creepy.”
Dane tilted his head. “Maybe a little.”
Nate came in. “Isn’t that tea done yet?”
“Almost.”
“Cool. OK, you can wash the front of the—” He broke off. “What in the world is that?”
Dane grinned. “Meet Mr. Scruffy.”
Amy shivered. “He spent the morning sitting in a chair under an umbrella reading the paper.”
Nate shook his head. “Haven’t you both had enough of guys?”
“Yes,” Amy said.
“This isn’t a guy,” Dane explained. “It’s a scarecrow. And the kids wanted one. It kept them busy all yesterday afternoon.”
“Rather you than me.” Nate grimaced. “I wouldn’t want anything that scary in my garden—besides which, Ben would probably keep knocking it over. Anyway, if you pass the hose out the cloakroom window, I’ll wash the front of the house off. And then I want my tea.”
Dane turned to do it, shooting off a mock salute. “Yes, Boss.”
Amy laughed. “I’ll do the tea, you go find the hose.”
Dane followed Nate into the hall. He shut the door and lowered his voice. “I assume you took samples.”
Nate nodded. “I’m taking them to the lab on my way back to work. They’ll be able to tell us what sort of blood it is. I’ve taken photos and called it in. We can’t ignore this.”
“Not going to. Something is going on, and I’m not going to rest until I know what.”
Amy walked slowly through the scattered leaves on the way to get Vicky from school. Dane had stayed at the house to keep an eye on Jodie and Vianne. They had spent the entire afternoon moving Mr. Scruffy around the garden. He was currently lying on a towel on the patio, cloud sunbathing, a book over his face. Which was definitely an improvement.
She got to the school, just as the kids came out. Vicky ran out and wrapped her arms tightly around her. Amy hugged her back. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”
She nodded slightly. “OK,” she signed.
“How’s your arm?”
Vicky rubbed it. At least they’d managed to persuade her to leave the sling off now.
“Hurts, huh? But it’s getting better. So let’s go home and find Daddy. He might be cooking dinner.”
Vicky took firm hold of her hand.
“Miss Stabler?”
Amy turned. “Miss Macnin.”
“I did put a letter in Vicky’s bag, but I’m trying to catch as many parents as possible. The school is closed tomorrow and Wednesday. The boiler’s broken down so we have no heating or hot water.”
“OK. Thank you for letting me know.”
“We’re hoping to be open by Thursday.”
“OK.” Amy looked at Vicky “So, you’re off till Thursday. I think it might be time for you to teach me some more sign language.”
Vicky grinned. She signed rapidly.
Amy laughed. “I have no idea what you just said, but it better not have been rude.”
Vicky grinned. “Oops,” she signed.
“I’ll give you ‘oops,’” Amy laughed.
They got back to the house to find a dead mouse on the drive.
Vicky screwed up her nose. “Cat,” she signed.
This was a bit much, especially when next door’s cat was dead.
“Yes, it’s like he is still giving us presents, and not very nice ones.” Amy tilted her head as they walked. As usual, there was a trail of dead critters going to the door.
She let Vicky into the house, and went to find gloves to clear the mice up with. Who was being targeted here? She thought it was her, but maybe it was Dane. He certainly seemed to think so. Was someone using her to get to him? She picked up the dead critters and put them in to a carrier bag, sealing it. When she glanced up, a bloke stood opposite her wa
tching. Then he got in to his car and drove away.
She put the bag and the gloves into the dustbin and headed inside.
Dane stood in the utility room, folding the laundry. “Are you OK, Amy?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She wished she could be honest with him. She didn’t see how he could love her once he knew the truth, and that idea terrified her. I don’t want to be alone. She knew God loved her, despite her record, but now Rosalie was gone, she was alone.
Although, if she were honest, she lost Rosalie weeks ago when she left Filely. She let Rosalie think she was dead. The pain and grief filling her now was how Ray and Rosalie felt when she left her stuff on the beach. Maybe she should call Ray.
She looked at the phone. Slowly she picked it up and dialed.
“Hello?”
“Hello Ray. It’s Amy.”
“Who?”
“Amy. I just wanted to say I’m sorry about Rosalie—”
The phone went dead in her hand. The lights went out and the oven stopped working.
Dane came in. “Did the power go out?”
Amy put down the phone. “Yeah.”
“I’ll go check the fuses.” Dane headed out.
Jodie came in. “The TV isn’t working.”
Amy nodded. “That’s because the power has gone out.”
“Cool.” Jodie laughed. “Want me to go find the candles?”
“In a bit.” Amy said. She looked out the window. “Where’d Mr. Scruffy go?”
“He’s there.”
Amy frowned. “Where? I can’t see him.”
“He’s on the patio. You just can’t see him from here.”
“Well, don’t keep moving him, please,” Amy said, looking at her.
“It’s fun,” Jodie complained.
“It’s creepy,” Amy said.
Jodie folded her arms. “Oh, I’ve got no school tomorrow. It’s an inset day.”
“Letter?” Amy asked holding out her hand.
“No. Just kidding.”
Amy rolled her eyes. “Nice try.”
“I thought so. I just hope we won’t be followed home or to school again.”
“What do you mean?” Amy asked as her whole body grew cold.
Jodie took a deep breath. “A really creepy guy follows me everywhere. He stands outside the school at break time, too. He’s been there a few days now.”
Amy frowned. “Have you told anyone?”
“I just told you. And I told Dad and Uncle Nate earlier.”
“Maybe I should walk you to school tomorrow.”
“Please. Vianne is coming here so we can go together.”
“No problem. I think Uncle Nate is taking your dad to work tomorrow anyway.”
Dane came back into the kitchen. “Well it’s not the fuses. Jan next door says her power is out, too. So I guess it’s sandwiches for dinner.”
Amy shook her head. “I can go one better than sandwiches. You have a gas hob, right?”
“Yes.”
“Then give me half an hour.” She looked at Jodie. “Now go put Mr. Scary back where I can see him.”
“It’s Scruffy not Scary.” Jodie laughed.
“Whatever. Just put him back.”
Jodie went outside leaving the door wide open.
Dane looked at Amy. “You do realize she will move him around the garden deliberately now, don’t you?”
Something knocked on the window. Amy glanced up and jumped as Mr. Scruffy was staring right at her.
Jodie grinned waving Mr. Scruffy’s arms at her. Then she put him back in the garden.
“That child will be the death of me.” She groaned.
Dane grinned. “Told you.” He kissed her cheek. “So I’ll go find the candles while you do dinner. What are you going to do with what’s in the oven?”
“I’ll use it, you’ll see.” She busied herself with cooking.
Please let this work. It’s so easy being around him. Maybe I should tell him once this blows over, and his problems at work are sorted.
17
Amy walked Jodie and Vianne to school. She noticed they were being followed by some young guy. She looked at Jodie. “Go see Mr. Page when you get in. He’ll be able to do something to stop the bloke from hanging around outside school. I’ll be here at quarter past three to collect you.”
Vianne looked at her. “Auntie Adeline wants me to go straight to The Dolls Hospital after school.”
“I’ll walk you there. That’s not a problem.”
“Thank you.” Jodie and Vianne ran in to school.
The power was still off when Amy and Vicky got home. Workmen were digging up the road to find the source of the break. Vicky ran straight into the garden to play. Amy shook her head, watching as she pulled Mr. Scruffy off the pole and into a chair. Vicky then tugged the patio table in front of him and set the plastic princess tea set on the table.
Her mobile rang. “Hello?”
“Hi, there.” Dane’s voice echoed, sending ripples of pleasure through her. “How’s it going?”
“We still have no power.” Amy leaned against the counter. “Vicky is in the garden playing tea parties with Mr. Scruffy.”
Dane chuckled. “That sounds way more fun than we’re having here in the office. Is she signing to him?”
Amy watched her. “No. Her lips are moving, but I can’t hear from here. I don’t want to go outside and spoil the moment.”
“I don’t blame you. Could you do me a favor if you get chance? Pop into the hardware store and get some phone cable and tacks?”
“Is that the one along the High Street?”
“Yeah. I won’t get there before it shuts tonight.”
Amy hesitated. “If I can, yeah.”
“Thank you. That way I can move the phone from the study into the lounge. What’s that noise in the background?”
Amy wandered through to the lounge. “The workmen are digging up the road trying to find out why there is no power.” She watched the men working for a while from behind the net curtains. “Although I have never seen a foreman without a yellow jacket or a hard helmet before.”
“Stop ogling the workmen.”
Amy laughed. “Not jealous are you?”
“Yes. Now go do some hoovering.”
“There’s no power.”
“Fine. Do some laundry then.”
“Uh, there’s no power.”
“Watch TV then.”
Amy screamed with laughter. “Which part of ‘there’s no power’ don’t you understand?”
Dane chuckled. “It’s the combination of the three words that’s confusing me. Well as there’s no power, I suggest you better go to bed and eat cream cakes then.”
“That sounds perfect.”
“Or not, because you can’t wash the sheets when you get crumbs all over them.”
“Go do some work. I’ll see you tonight.” Amy hung up and went outside to check on Vicky.
Dane sat at his desk having gone through all of his back cases. “Did you hear back about the gas man?”
“There were three other bogus calls in your road on the same day. But nothing since. We’re working on getting descriptions, but it was a while ago now. Problem is people remember the uniform and not the faces behind them.”
“Yeah.” He tossed the last file to the desk. “Nothing.” He sighed.
Nate glanced up. “There must be one you’ve overlooked.”
“There isn’t.” Dane rubbed his shoulder. On a scale of one to ten, the pain was probably a seven right now.
“Then maybe we should check out Amy after all.”
Dane looked at him.
“Mate, I know how you feel about her, and believe me I’m not saying this to be mean, or to try and break the two of you up.”
“Yeah, right.”
“I mean you love her unconditionally, right? And so long as she is not on the sex-offenders list, you have no problem with her being around your kids, right?”
Dane nodded.
“Then there is no harm in looking, is there? If it’s not you, what else could it be?”
Dane yawned. “Tomorrow. Right now, it’s late and I’m tired.”
Nate looked at him. “That’s not like you.”
Dane shrugged and regretted it. He rubbed his shoulder and winced. “Yeah, well.” He followed Nate from the room to the stairs.
DI Welsh caught them up as they reached the stairwell. “I have had a call from Liam Page. He is head of English at Headley Cross Secondary. A few of the kids have reported a man hanging around the school gates. I’m putting uniform there tomorrow, but wanted you to both know as you have girls there.”
“Thank you.” Dane looked at Nate. “Maybe we should go through your cases, too.”
Nate nodded. “Tomorrow. I assume there is CCTV footage for us to look at, Guv?”
“It will be on your desk first thing in the morning.”
“Thank you.” Dane walked with Nate, who was chatting on the phone to Adeline.
Nate hung up. “Vianne is at The Dolls Hospital. Amy dropped her off after school. Vianne said she has seen this bloke on and off for the past week or so. I’ll talk to her when I get in.”
Dane got into the car. “This whole thing is making me more than a little uncomfortable.”
Nate started the car. “So, we’ve got a bloke hanging around the school—most likely the one the girls were running from yesterday. Blood on your front door, criminal damage to your car, and lots of nasty calls to your house—all directed at Amy.”
“Don’t forget the gas man that wasn’t. And the arson.”
“And Amy’s friend being kidnapped and murdered.” Nate glanced at him. “That’s way too much to be a coincidence.”
Dane nodded. “If it were anyone else we’d have acted way before now.”
“Yeah. We’ll look into my cases tomorrow, but honestly, we need to run at least a cursory background check on Amy. If not a more detailed one.” Nate pulled up outside the house. “Is your power still off?”
Dane looked up at the dark house. “It looks that way. Either that or the girls have convinced Amy to do a candlelit dinner again.”
