by G H Mockford
I pushed myself away from the trig point, but my legs were seized up even though I had only been standing still for a minute or two. By the time I’d built up any momentum it was already way too late and they were both gone.
A few heartbeats later, I heard a sickening crump from below.
Rees and the uniform ran over and I joined them at the edge. I inched forward, hardly daring to look over, when I heard grunting and then I saw dark hair blowing in the wind.
‘Will someone bloody pull me up? I don’t think I can hold on much longer!’ Stokes was hanging a few feet below me, desperately holding onto a climber’s rope.
Eighty-Four
The B&B’s driveway was filled with police cars and ambulances by the time we got down from the rock face. Paul was in the back of one, handcuffed until Rees told the officers from Staffordshire Constabulary to remove them.
The owners of the B&B had been rescued from the garage and were receiving treatment in the back of an ambulance. More than anything the couple seemed to be glad to be together and be able to hold one another after their ordeal. Bethany Andrews, who also had her own ambulance, was a little dehydrated, but otherwise was physically none the worse for wear after her experience.
I was sat in the back of a police car with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders. The wind had whipped across the top of the Brow and it had left me frozen to the core. Staffordshire Police seemed all too happy to let Rees and Stokes take us back to Nottingham. No doubt they wanted to be rid of the headache as quickly as possible. Soon the convoy of vehicles, including Paul’s car, left the area. I caught a glimpse of a scuba team as we passed a reservoir and thought of Richard, my erstwhile friend. No one deserved what happened to him.
I could only assume Paul had a similar experience to me once we reached Central Police Station. We were kept separate, no doubt so we couldn’t cook up a story together. I spent the best part of the day being either interviewed or told how lucky I’d been. We’d come close to death, and I had to admit that if it hadn’t been for DC Stokes’ quick, calm mind, it might have all ended very differently. With a warning that there would be an investigation and enquiry into Connor’s and Rollins’ death, not to mention our own actions, I was finally sent home. It was almost seven in the evening and dark once again as I waited in the public reception area for Paul. When he turned up, he was accompanied by a uniformed officer.
‘Would you like a lift?’ Paul asked. I nodded, too tired to talk, and the officer led us through the station to where Paul’s car had been stored.
Finally left alone, we both sat in the car. We waited in silence for a minute or so and then Paul said, ‘I was certain that he had her. Where do we look now? What should we do next?’
‘You still haven’t told them? You should go back inside and tell them the truth, right now.’
‘They asked about Rollins and the pregnancy. They asked if I’d asked you to find out who the father was. I didn’t deny any of it, I even told them about the pregnancy test.’
‘But did you tell them you’ve not seen her? That she’s missing?’ Paul’s only response was a slight shake of his head. We sat in silence for a little while longer and I wondered what Paul was thinking. The not knowing must be tearing him apart, so why wasn’t he doing something about it? He must have been in turmoil and I could only assume he had his reasons. Very good reasons.
Paul started the ignition and I asked if he would take me to the hospital. I was desperate to see Sarah. All I wanted – needed – to do now was tell her that everything was over. The last time I was there, I had disappeared as soon as she fell asleep, and she must have been wondering where I was.
When we arrived at the QMC, Paul pulled into the car park. ‘I’m coming in too. Miss Alec might know something more, something you didn’t ask her about.’
DS Rees had made it quite clear that I wasn’t to talk to anyone. I wasn’t sure if telling Sarah about any of this would be good for her health. ‘I don’t think she knows anything about Charlie,’ I replied.
Paul nodded and didn’t say anything for a while. ‘I should go and see Bill, my neighbour, he's here at the moment. He broke his hip.’
I was going to speak about Charlie again, but knew I might as well give up trying to convince Paul he should talk to the police. I decided if he didn’t do it by the time we parted company. I would ring DC Stokes. I wasn’t willing to have it hanging over my conscience if anything bad had happened to her.
We made our way up to ICU and were asked to wait in the relatives’ room while they checked that Sarah was up to receiving visitors. I made Paul and myself a cup of coffee to try and perk myself up before I saw her, but I was forced to down it as the nurse returned much quicker than I expected.
‘I’ll go and find Bill so you can have some privacy, then I’ll come back and take you home, okay?’
I nodded, pleased he’d decided not to interrogate Sarah. Paul disappeared and then I followed the nurse through the security doors. Now it was time to put all my energy into Sarah. She was the one who needed me now.
I was relieved that she was looking much brighter, and my smile was rewarded with an even bigger one from her. I stood beside her bed suddenly feeling uncomfortable, not sure what to do, or what to say.
‘Are you going to kiss me, or just stand there?’ Sarah asked, breaking the awkwardness with her mischievous smile. I bent down, my eyes closing at the last moment as my lips brushed hers. I was about to pull away when I felt her hand sink into the hair on the back of my head. She held me there, kissing me.
Once I had managed to free myself from her, I said with a cheeky smile, ‘My Mum warned me about girls like you.’
‘Oh? What did she say?’
‘I’m not sure it would be polite to repeat it, besides, I don’t think it’s true in your case.’
‘Flatterer, but maybe once I’m out of here, we can find out?’ We both smiled at each other. ‘Enough talking, Freeman, kiss me again.’
I did and continued until a nurse made it quite clear that enough was enough. I stood and looked at Sarah, holding her hand, strangely comfortable with the silence and bizarre surroundings. We must have looked like a couple of love sick teenagers.
‘So, where have you been?’ she asked, and I paused for a moment as I thought about the danger I had put myself in. What if I'd died? Sarah would never have forgiven herself.
I tried not to tell her like I’d been ordered, but just like when I lied about the previous weekend, Sarah saw straight through me and in the end I told her everything.
‘What about Charlie?’ she asked, her voice urgent and anxious.
I shook my head, not really sure what to say. This wasn’t over until we found Paul’s daughter, and just because it wasn’t her in the B&B it didn’t mean that Connor didn’t have her.
‘You’re a hero. My Prince Charming, but now you need to let this go. You need to let the professionals take over.’ I nodded and thought that maybe she could talk some sense into Paul. ‘You look shattered,’ Sarah said. ‘Go home and have a shower, for god’s sake. You stink. Then, have a good sleep and come back and see me tomorrow.’
‘Ok, but only because it’s you who’s telling me,’ I said with a smile. Sarah beckoned me with her finger, and I was in the middle of giving her a goodbye kiss when we were interrupted by a cough. I was about to apologise to the nurse when Paul stepped up beside me.
‘Sorry to interrupt,’ he said.
‘You’re Char’s dad, aren’t you?’ Sarah said. I felt her fingers lock around mine.
‘Yes, I am. Nice to meet you again, Miss Alec. Shame it’s not under better circumstances.’
‘Alex was just bringing me up to speed. I’m sorry to hear about Charlie.’ Paul nodded, I guessed he wasn’t sure what to say, or maybe Sarah had made him feel bad. ‘We met at Parent’s Evening, didn't we?’ Sarah asked, clearly the blow to the head hadn’t affected her memory, but Paul was hardly someone you could forget. He nodded and she added, ‘Sh
e looks like you.’
‘Really? I think she looks like her Mum.’
‘Maybe, but she has your eyes.’
‘Thank you. Charlotte, her Mum, always said I had lovely eyes,’ Paul said, a little redness rising in his cheeks.
‘You have kind eyes. I can see why Alex forgave you for–’ Sarah stopped mid-sentence and glanced at me sensing that maybe she’d said something wrong. Paul turned away, presumably to cover his embarrassment and guilt, but then he began to walk away, crossing to the far side of the ward.
‘Where are you go…?’ I started to ask him. Then I saw what had caught his attention.
Jackie Goodhand was stood at the bed nearest the exit. ‘I had better go over and see if she and James are okay.’
‘James? From school?’ Sarah asked.
‘Yes. Connor attacked him too. Look, I’ll just nip over and then I'll come and say bye before I go for that shower.’
‘Alex, come here.’ I bent down, closed my eyes and kissed her, hoping that there would be many more to come and that I could indeed be the Prince Charming she wanted me to be. The intimate moment was interrupted by shouting. Paul’s shouting.
‘It was either your boyfriend or your fucking brother!’ Paul said in a raised voice. I rushed over to him and grasped his upper arm. His head snapped around and his eyes flashed with anger before calming when he recognized me.
‘I’ve not seen Charlie. I’ve been here for the last twenty-four hours,’ Jackie said as she picked up James’ hand and held it against her tummy. ‘This is James, my boyfriend,’ Jackie said pointing to the figure in the bed, ‘some sicko attacked him in his home and put him in here, so he can’t have Charlie. Why would you think he or Connor would do such a thing anyway?’
‘James was the last person to see her alive when he gave her that lift home,’ Paul continued. ‘It was your fucking brother who put him there,’ Paul said stabbing his finger at James’ motionless body, ‘and it’s a good bet he’s done something nasty to Charlie too. Connor’s also attacked Miss Alec, killed Mr Rollins and–’
Jackie staggered for a moment and James’ hand slipped from her stomach as she fell back into the chair beside the bed. ‘Why would he do that? Why are you telling me these lies? My brother wouldn’t hurt a fly.’
‘Paul, leave it, now’s not the time or the place,’ I said, but when I pulled on him he just shrugged himself free.
‘I think you had better do as your friend asks,’ said Dr Howell as he appeared behind us, ‘or I’ll call security. We have a ward with critically ill patients. I can’t afford for them or their families to get upset.’
Paul whirled around, and I got ready to grab him for fear he would finally snap and fly off the handle, but he didn’t. Maybe it was all those years in the army, but he seemed to recognize Howell as the authority figure and stopped. Paul nodded his head and stomped off the ward.
I quickly apologised to Jackie and Dr Howell, crossed to the ward door, blew Sarah a kiss and followed after Paul, leaving Sarah alone and without an explanation.
Eighty-Five
Rees scanned the menu even though he knew exactly what he was going to order. When it came to food, like when it came to many things, he was a creature of habit. He only hoped that eating a curry this late wouldn’t keep him up all night. The days of his youth, when he could eat what he liked, sleep undisturbed, and not exercise were rapidly disappearing.
‘What are you doing?’ Stokes asked from across the table. The days weren’t disappearing, Rees realized, as he held his stomach in, they'd gone. ‘You know they’re talking about bringing in fitness standards?’ Stokes teased.
‘I’ll remind you of that in twenty-five years’ time when you come to visit me in the old people’s home, and you have a tummy too.’
‘Never gonna happen,’ Stokes said with a smile.
‘Visiting, or the tummy?’
‘That depends on if you keep your easy going demeanour, or if you turn into a grumpy old man.’
Rees looked at the young DC not quite sure if he was being funny or not. ‘You know, I said the same thing about my Da’s stomach when I was your age, and he said “just you wait, bach.”’ Rees chuckled at the happy family memory. His father had been a policeman too.
The waiter arrived and delivered their drinks. Rees raised his glass of Cobra. ‘To a job well done.’ Stokes nodded and touched his Coke to his boss's glass.
‘It was a bit bloody touch and go for a while though,’ Stokes said with a laugh. ‘I thought the riots back in 2011, when I was still in uniform, were hairy, but…’
‘You’re telling me! You nearly gave me a heart attack with that stunt you pulled, not to mention that bloody fell running you forced upon me.’
‘You know, there’s still something not right about this brew?’ Stokes said as he put his Coke down.
‘That’ll be because it’s non-alcoholic,’ Rees said, taking a long draw on his beer before cracking the poppadums the waiter had just dropped off.
‘It just doesn’t add up. Something’s not right.’
‘That bruiser certainly wasn’t telling us the whole truth, and Alex Freeman’s still holding out on us, I tell you. I don’t think the gun was Goodhand’s like they claimed either, but…’
‘I think you’re right’ said Stokes, ‘but that’s not what I mean. Don’t you think it’s odd that Goodhand and Blackmore live opposite each other and then end up in Staffordshire?’ he reached out, grabbed a fragment of poppadum and loaded it with chutney.
‘Yes. Something must connect them, and not just Rollins,’ Rees said as he lifted the food to his mouth, the diced onions spilling off the edges and tumbling down his tie. ‘Good job there wasn’t anything sticky on that, eh?’
‘Maybe then it wouldn’t have fallen off,’ Stokes suggested before adding: ‘Why go all the way to Staffordshire?’
‘We know that. He’d booked the B&B.’
‘That’s not what I mean. Why would Freeman and Blackmore travel all that way to rescue a teacher that we know Freeman doesn’t like? Why not just call us? There’s got to be something more to it, something we’re not seeing or, more likely, they’re not telling us.’
‘Should we get them back in?’
‘You’re asking me?’ Stokes said with a smile. ‘I think there’s something at Goodhand’s house that we’ve missed.’
‘The CSIs have been all over it. And the body dogs. They didn’t find a thing. The DCI also seems to think the recent murders in the city are also connected to our case. Funny, I wanted to be a part of that murder team. Looks like I was in the end. Anyway, they didn’t find anything remarkable. No bodies certainly.’
‘Well they missed the keys at Sarah Alec’s, but that’s not what I mean. Maybe there’s some clue. Something that will fill in the gap. Something that will explain why Freeman and Blackmore would make all that effort.’ Stokes suddenly pushed his chair back, got up and grabbed his suit jacket.
‘What are you doing?’ Rees asked.
‘Come on, Boss. Let’s go back. Let’s check it out.’
‘I’m not the SIO anymore, Uriel. Now it’s a multiple murder, Carson’s taken over. We can’t just wander into Goodhand’s house.’
‘The scene’s been opened hasn’t it?’
‘Well, yes, but…but, what about the food? We can insult The Khyber Pass by passing up their meal.’
‘Leave it. Come on,’ Stokes opened his wallet and threw forty pounds on the table and headed for the door.
Quickly shovelling some more poppadum into his mouth, Rees grabbed his coat and began to follow his young protégé. The waiter came out with the food. Rees stopped and asked the waiter, ‘Can we have it to go, please?’
Eighty-Six
We drove back to Paul’s. As we turned the corner onto his street, we found it was occupied by a handful of police vehicles, and at the far end, BBC, Sky and ITV film units. Paul stopped the car and I watched him studying the busy activity. He put the car in reverse, cru
nching the gears. I thought we were leaving again, but he just went around the corner to park.
‘Do we try for the front door?’ Paul asked.
‘I don’t know, depends what everyone knows about what’s been going on, and if they know who we are,’ I answered. ‘I’d imagine the police haven’t released our details, but they might still want to talk to us as you live opposite. We were told to talk to no one, remember.’
‘Come on.’
As we neared his front door I sensed movement out of the corner of my eye and saw a woman and a TV crew rushing towards us. Speeding up, Paul reached out for the door and we got inside just before she got to us. Almost immediately, there was a knock on the door.
‘Let’s go in the kitchen,’ Paul said. I followed him through and he shut the door, sealing out the rapid, repeating rhythm being played on the door. ‘Coffee?’
I nodded and sat at the kitchen table as Paul busied himself with the kettle.
‘I think we were right,’ Paul suddenly said.
‘About what?’
‘About James. I think it was him, after all.’
‘Okay,’ I said feeling a bit dubious.
‘There must be a reason why Connor attacked James, right?’ I nodded, I agreed with his logic. ‘He must have attacked James for the same reason he attacked Rollins.’
‘Okay, let’s say you’re right and James does have Charlie, then where is she?’
‘It’s obvious isn’t it? We were there, at his house, but we never actually checked it out because we interrupted Connor.’
‘The police checked it, surely? Besides, I don’t think he’s the type.’
‘The type? Listen to what you’re saying. He’s going out with Jackie, a girl he went out with last year when she was still a student at your school!’
I had to give him that one. ‘Call the police, Paul. Let them deal with it now. James’ in hospital and I don’t think they’ll let you back into ICU.’ I wondered if they might ban me too, especially as I wasn’t a relative.
