THE JAGGED LINE A Thrilling, Psychological Crime Mystery (Harry Briscombe Book 2)

by Carolyn Mahony

  Footsteps approached Simon’s desk and she shrank back as far as she could into the cramped space beneath it. Had he seen her? Would he notice the computer was unplugged? The chair was pulled backwards and she held her breath – expecting a face to peer in at her any minute, and yank her out. But it didn’t happen. Instead, a pair of feet suddenly came into view as the owner of them sat down on the chair. Silence, then …

  ‘Ah, Simon … Dad here … just got your message. So where is this file? What colour is it?

  She heard the sound of Tony Jordan rummaging through various trays on Simon’s desk above her, then a satisfied sigh as he obviously located it. ‘Ah, think I’ve got it. Petrunesca. Is that the name? Okay … yes, this is it. What time are you seeing him in the morning? I’ll drop it off to you at Rob’s on my way home if you like … Fine. By the way, who was the last person to leave tonight? It’s a good thing I came back, the alarm wasn’t on … Are you sure? Well, it wasn’t on when I came in – must have had a blip. I’ll get Emily to book a service. Okay … see you in about half an hour. Bye.’

  The phone went down, the chair got pushed back and the legs straightened up. Thirty seconds later she heard the alarm keypad being pressed and the sound of the outer door being closed and locked. Then silence.

  Kirsty found she was still holding her breath and she released it slowly, her heart still hammering frantically. Jeez, that was close – she needed to get out of there.

  About to crawl out from under the desk, she stopped, as a new realisation hit her.

  Shit! He’d reset the alarm. The minute she moved from under the desk, she’d trigger it – and then all hell would be let loose.

  She sat for a full minute pondering her choices, before she dug out her phone and dialled Luke.

  ‘Bloody hell, Kirsty, are you okay?’ Just hearing his voice calmed her, worried though it sounded. ‘I saw Tony coming in but I could only text you in case he heard your phone ring. I did walk past and saw him sitting at the desk, so I assumed you’d managed to hide?’

  ‘Listen, I’m fine, but I’ve got a problem. He’s reset the alarm, which means I’ll trigger it the minute I move. I’m not sure what to do.’

  Luke gave it some thought. ‘If it’s anything like ours it will trigger when you move, but if you put the code in quickly enough it should reset it – and hopefully no one will take much notice if it’s only a short burst of activity.’

  Kirsty didn’t particularly like the hit-and-miss aspect of that, but she realised there was no other solution. ‘Right. I’ll leave it a while then, to let him get well away, then I’ll just have to give it a try and see what happens.’

  ‘I knew this wasn’t a good idea. Whatever happens, don’t hang around. Just get out of there. I’ll wait until I see you come out and then I’ll meet you back at the car.’

  ‘Okay. But if I get caught, promise me you won’t get involved? I don’t want you getting into trouble. If the police come I’ll just have to fess up to what I’m doing.’

  ‘I must have been bloody mad letting you talk me into this. What on earth were we thinking?’

  ‘Not now, Luke. You can preach to me when it’s over.’

  She left it another ten minutes before she made her move and she felt stiff and cramped as she eased herself onto her hands and knees. She switched on her phone torch to light the way and copying something she’d seen on television, she wiggled out from under the desk on her stomach, trying to keep below the levels of any sensor as she made her way over to the keypad. It was working. She got all the way there before she was forced to stand up to enter the code.

  The noise the alarm emitted was deafening, but within a few seconds she’d punched the number in and it had stopped. Switching on the light, she walked unhurriedly back to Simon’s office and sat down as if she was working. That way if anyone was curious about the alarm being triggered it didn’t look too suspicious, and she figured it would take at least a few minutes for the police or Tony Jordan to get here if they’d been alerted. It was the longest two minutes of her life as she forced herself to wait – then picking up the computer, she walked calmly out into the reception area. A minute later she’d reset the alarm and was outside again, locking the door as she left. A quick glance around reassured her there were no police sirens screaming their way towards her. She looked briefly up towards Costa’s before taking off in the opposite direction.

  On the corner of the little side road where they’d parked, Luke was waiting for her and he gave her a quick, hard hug before relieving her of the burden of the computer.

  ‘You had me worried.’

  ‘I had myself worried,’ she joked thinly. ‘Thank God he didn’t see me.’

  They headed quickly back to their cars, and she couldn’t help smiling at the sight of Luke with her father’s scarf draped thickly around his neck and the flat cap pulled firmly down over his head.

  They got to his car first and he put the laptop on the back seat. ‘What now?’ he asked, turning to her.

  ‘His flat, I suppose. I just hope his laptop’s there. He’s going to know it’s me, of course, and I don’t know what he’ll say to his father about the office break-in, but I guess that’s his problem.’

  ‘We could ask Mark if he can wipe them tonight. That way, you might even get the office one back before they know it’s been taken. Simon’s not going to want to get the police involved, but if his father was to get in early and realise they’ve been broken into…’

  ‘Luke, you’re a genius, that’s a great idea.’ She looked at her watch. Eight o’clock. ‘We need to be quick, though. Let’s try. Follow me to Simon’s – it shouldn’t take much more than fifteen minutes. Then we can go to Mark’s from there. What time did you tell him we’d get there?’

  ‘He said it didn’t matter, he’s in all evening. Are you sure Simon’s other computer will be in the Barnet flat and not his Whetstone one?’

  ‘No, I’m not. But it was there when he showed me the video and he said he was staying there for a few days. I’m stuffed if it isn’t. I don’t think he’s got round to giving us a spare key for the new flat yet.’

  ‘Well, come on, we’d better get a move on. We don’t know how long it’s going to take Mark to do the necessary.’

  But ten minutes later, Kirsty let out a curse as she heard a crash behind her and looked in her mirror to see that someone had pulled out of a side turning and collided into Luke’s car.

  Pulling over, she threw her door open and scrambled out.

  ‘Luke! Are you okay?’

  She ran to driver’s side of his car, where she could already see him manoeuvring to open the door. A woman had jumped out of the other vehicle and was shouting hysterically in the road.

  ‘Bugger,’ Luke muttered, slamming his car door shut behind him. He approached the woman, his manner calm.

  ‘Why didn’t you see me and let me in?’ the woman shrieked at him. ‘It was completely your fault.’

  ‘Now hang on a minute. I was on the main road travelling straight, and you were turning right out of a side turning. I think you’ll find I had right of way.’

  Luke seemed to catch a whiff of something around the same time as Kirsty did.

  ‘Have you been drinking?’ he said, his eyes drifting to the two children sitting in the back of her car.

  ‘What fucking business is that of yours? I’m not hanging around here to be insulted.’

  Before she’d barely had time to turn around, Luke had covered the distance to her car and removed her keys from the ignition.

  ‘What are you doing?’ she shrieked.

  ‘You’re drunk and you’ve got children in the car. I’m sorry, but I’m not letting you get in and drive off. I’m calling the police and I suggest you phone someone to come and pick your kids up.’ A small crowd was gathering on the kerbside, but Luke ignored them as he pulled out his phone – turning to Kirsty at the same time.

  ‘I’m really sorry about this, but we can’t let her drive.
’

  ‘I know. I need to press on, though. God knows how long all this will take.’

  ‘No, wait. Let’s see how long it takes the police to get here.’

  ‘Luke, it won’t be quick, we both know that and if I want to get the computers returned tonight we need to get them to Mark as soon as possible. I’ll be fine. You get the office computer to Mark as quickly as you can when you’ve finished here, and I’ll meet you there when I’ve got his laptop.’

  Luke didn’t look happy and Kirsty pressed her point. ‘We’ve got no choice, Luke. I’ll call Robbie if you like – check that Simon’s there – and if he isn’t, then I won’t go in.’

  ‘You promise me that?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Okay.’ His manner eased a little. ‘But make sure you call me as soon as you’ve got it.’

  ‘I will. Good luck here.’

  ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t take hours. I’ll see you at Mark’s, then.’ He hesitated. ‘Be careful.’

  ‘I will.’

  She drove off feeling apprehensive but happier than she’d felt in a long time. It was good having Luke back on-board, even if it was only temporary.

  ***

  Harry opened the front door and let himself in. The house felt warm and cosy with good cooking smells coming from the kitchen.

  ‘How’s Gran?’ he asked, as his mother came out into the hall to greet him.

  ‘Not good. She’s not eaten anything today. It’s horrible seeing her like this. But she seems a little more contented in herself, and Claire came in earlier and made her as comfortable as she could – she’s a godsend. Gran asked if you’d go up and see her when you got in. Your dinner’s keeping warm in the oven. I’ll dish it up for you.’

  His grandmother’s breath was rattling in her chest as he sat gently down on the edge of her bed. Her eyes were closed but flickered open when she felt his weight beside her.

  ‘Is that you, Harry?’

  ‘Yes, I’m here, Gran.’ He dropped a kiss on her cheek.

  She gave a weak smile. ‘Good boy.’ The words were eked out between breaths. ‘Will you … sit with me … tonight … after supper?’

  ‘Of course. I can stay now if you like?’

  ‘No, no. As long … as I know you’re … coming back. Promise me?’

  ‘Promise. I’ll be about twenty minutes, then we can carry on with the book if you like. We might even get it finished tonight.’

  ‘We both … know what the … ending will be,’ she said, her lips curving just ever so slightly. Her voice faded away and her eyes flickered shut again.

  ‘I’ll see you in a little while,’ Harry said, getting up. ‘Grab some rest while you can.’

  As he sat down at the table and ate his supper, his mother surprised him by pouring herself a glass of wine and sitting down opposite him. She seemed agitated and he waited patiently. They’d avoided talking about their argument last night, apart from her brief reference to it earlier, and he suspected there was more to come.

  Now she took a breath and said, ‘Harry … about last night.’

  ‘Leave it, Mum. I’m sorry I lost it, but–’

  ‘There are reasons why I did what I did – following your father around the world for most of our married life – and one day if you ever get married, maybe you’ll understand.’

  ‘What reasons?’ He shook his head. ‘I get that you wanted to be together. I get that you put me into boarding school because you felt it was the best thing to do in the circumstances. What I don’t get is why you didn’t come back for holiday breaks? Even if Dad wasn’t able to come, you could have. It’s not as if money was an issue.’

  ‘I can’t tell you the reasons, but you seemed happy enough coming out with Gran when you were younger. It was your choice to stop that as you got older.’

  ‘Because I got fed up with always being the one making the effort. It started out as an experiment the first time I did it. I wanted to go to that kids’ rugby camp, if you remember, and it clashed with when you wanted me to visit. I thought you’d come over here instead but you didn’t. After that I thought if you couldn’t be bothered to come and see me, why should I make the effort to go to some godforsaken dig to see you.’ He sighed. ‘It was childish of me, but once I’d done it once …’

  ‘I don’t want to go over everything again either, but just so you know, I did manage to have a chat with Grandma today – it was a bit one-sided because she seems to be struggling so to speak, but I think we came to a degree of understanding.’

  ‘Does that mean you’ll agree to her dying in the peace of her own home?’

  He knew the words sounded brutal but there was no sugar-coating it.

  His mother looked discomfited as she rose from the table. ‘As that seems to be what you both want.’

  ‘Thanks, Mum. Harry finished his meal and then he, too, rose. ‘I’ll make myself a cup of tea and take it up. She asked me to sit with her tonight.’

  ‘She’ll like that. Give her a kiss from me.’

  Jean’s room had an aura of peace about it when he walked in. He smiled at the little bouquet of flowers and card that Claire had placed on her bedside table. The room smelt fresh and clean and he was quite sure that would have been Claire’s touch that evening when she’d prepared his grandmother for the night. She was a natural carer, anyone could see that, but it touched him that she obviously had a special fondness for his grandmother.

  ‘Shall I read to you, Gran?’ he asked, as he took his seat in the chair beside her.

  She was very drowsy but somehow she managed to half-open her eyes and turn them in his direction.

  ‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘Stay with me tonight, Harry. Till I’ve gone?’

  Something in the way she said it made him focus on her sharply. ‘Gran? Are you alright?’

  ‘I’m fine, boy.’

  Her hand twitched on the bed as if to feel for his, and as he reached for it, his eyes fixed in shock on the two empty pill bottles nestling on the sheet next to her.

  What the–

  ‘Gran – what are these pill bottles doing here?’

  She didn’t answer and he jumped up from the chair, his voice urgent.

  ‘Gran, answer me. Have you taken these pills?’

  Her cheeks relaxed into the semblance of a smile. ‘It’s alright. Just stay with me.’

  He stared at her in horror. ‘How many have you taken? Who gave them to you?’

  But already she was closing her eyes. ‘Don’t … spoil it, Harry,’ she whispered. ‘I beg you. No one needs to … know.’

  His first instinct was to rush downstairs and call an ambulance … the doctor … anyone.

  But he knew what would happen if he did that – everything he’d been fighting so hard to prevent. She’d be rushed off to hospital, have her stomach pumped, and there’d be no getting her home after that.

  He sat down again, forcing himself to think it through, and afterwards he couldn’t remember how long he sat there before coming to a decision. But there came a time when he accepted that he wasn’t going to call the ambulance or the doctor – or even his mother, who’d insist on calling them both. He’d do this one final thing for his gran, and live with the consequences if he had to.

  But someone had helped her – had moved the pills from the cupboard to the bed so she could reach them. And that disturbed him. Who would have done that? Claire? His parents? The GP? One of the Macmillan team? None of them seemed likely candidates, and yet – if he had to choose one …

  The stark reality hit him that the most likely person was Claire.

  He didn’t want to believe it, but he thought back to their discussion last night and the suspicion wouldn’t be crushed. Might she see it as a way of helping them both out – him and his grandmother? She knew he didn’t have the strength to do it, so she’d done it for him. Was that why she’d stopped things from going too far last night? Because she’d known what she was thinking of doing?

  He sat there
for a long time holding his grandmother’s limp hand, trying to come up with the answers, but in the end he gave up.

  It didn’t matter who’d started this. It would be him who finished it.

  Her breathing was still rattling on her chest but it was less harsh now, and she looked relaxed. He squeezed her hand. Now that the decision had been taken off him, he was glad to be here at her side, seeing her through this to the end. She’d loved him, parented him – had given of herself unstintingly. Now it was his turn.

  He leant forward so his lips were close to her ear.

  ‘Love you, Gran.’

  He picked up the novel in one hand, held her fingers in the other, and quietly began to read.

  ***

  It didn’t take Kirsty long to get to Simon’s flat in Barnet, and once there she parked up and sat in her car for a couple of minutes surveying the house. One small light shone from the downstairs flat, but the upstairs was shining like a beacon. She watched as a medium-sized van pulled up outside the house, double-parking while the driver jumped out and opened the rear doors. From inside the van, several people clambered out and made their way up the path to the front door. She watched as the door was opened by Bulldog, and slid quickly down in her seat as his sharp gaze raked the street before he closed the door again.

  About to climb out of the car herself, she remembered her promise to Luke and dialled her brother’s number.

  ‘Oh, sorry,’ she said when he picked up. ‘I just remembered, you’ve probably got Simon there. I was just ringing for a chat.’

  ‘Anything important?’

  ‘Nothing that can’t wait til tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay, well yes, he’s here. He came early, actually, and we’re just serving up pudding because he wants an early night.’

  ‘Fine, no worries. I’ll see you in the morning.’

  She let out a breath, unaware she’d even been holding it. That made things a lot simpler. Even if for some reason Simon got suspicious and dashed back, it would take him at least twenty minutes to get here and she’d be well gone by then.