Slur: The Riverhill Trilogy: Book 1

by Heather Burnside

  ‘How about you?’ she asked.

  ‘Great, a bit worse for wear though,’ he grinned as he suppressed a yawn.

  ‘Really, what have you been up to then?’

  ‘Oh this and that, you know; too many late nights, too much rich food and too much to drink.’

  Julie laughed and, feeling encouraged, he continued. ‘You know my trouble, I can’t say no.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Yes, if the company’s right, and there’s fine food and wine on offer, then I’m just a sucker for a good time.’

  Seeing that he had hit the right chord with Julie he sidled up to her and whispered. ‘If an attractive young lady was to ask me for a good time out, then I would be powerless to refuse.’

  Julie beamed as she replied, ‘If it’s a lady you’re referring to then shouldn’t it be you that’s doing the asking?’

  He was amused at her effrontery. ‘Consider yourself asked,’ he quipped. Then, without giving her a chance to reply he added, ‘Name the time and place, and I’ll be there. Give me a ring and let me know.’

  He then vanished just as slickly as he had appeared.

  ‘He’s a bit cocksure of himself, isn’t he?’ commented Norma. ‘He didn’t even give you a chance to say no.’

  ‘That’s because he knew I’d say yes.’

  ‘So you’re going to ring him then?’

  ‘Course I am, I’ve been waiting for him to ask me out for ages.’

  ‘I thought you had a boyfriend.’

  ‘Jesus Norma, you’re beginning to sound like Rita. I am seeing Vinny, but it’s just a bit of fun, that’s all; it’s not like I’ve made my marriage vows or anything.’

  ‘Just be careful, that’s all Julie. By all accounts he’s a bit of a ladies man, and I don’t want you getting hurt.’

  This comment prompted Julie’s curiosity. ‘What’s been said about him?’ she asked.

  ‘Well, you know he used to work at Leicester branch, and I’ve heard he broke a few hearts there. He’s ruthless when it comes to business as well. He’s won the top salesman award for the last two months running, and from what I’ve heard he’s heading straight to the top and will do anything to make sure he gets there.’

  ‘Well there’s nothing wrong with having a bit of ambition. I like to see ambition in a man. And as for breaking hearts, he’s not even been out with anybody at this branch.’

  ‘He has only been here two months Julie, give him a chance. You might be his first victim, that’s aside from anyone he’s been seeing outside the company of course.’

  ‘Most men like to sow their wild oats. He’s just waiting to meet the right one, that’s all.’

  ‘Well suit yourself Julie, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. I think you’ve got enough on your plate at the moment without the likes of Mike Marston adding to your troubles.’

  Julie ignored Norma’s comments. She really fancied Mike. He was a man who was going places and she would accept his offer to take her out; in fact she couldn’t wait. She knew about his reputation, and knew that she was running a risk by going out with someone like him, but the attraction she felt towards him was too strong to fight. Anyway, she decided, she was only going on a date. What harm could that do? It might even lead to something. Men like him usually settled down eventually, and why shouldn’t she be the one to tame him?

  She thought about Vinny. She did feel a bit bad about that but told herself that she shouldn’t do. Julie hadn’t promised Vinny a long-term commitment so he shouldn’t expect one. And as she began to dream about Mike with his air of cool sophistication, Vinny’s rugged simplicity paled into insignificance.

  She was so excited that she temporarily forgot about her problems, but they soon re-emerged, and as she watched the clock approach 12, she knew that there was one problem that she had to deal with straightaway. Norma wished her luck as she picked up her handbag, ready to make her way up to the canteen.

  Chapter 10

  Monday 23rd June 1986

  As soon as Julie walked into the canteen she could sense the antagonistic atmosphere. She gazed towards the table where Jacqueline and her friends were sitting and noted the way in which the girls around the table glared back at her. Her first thought, before entering the canteen, had been to walk over to Jacqueline and speak to her. However, when she caught sight of the hostile glances that she received, she changed her mind. Instead, she approached the counter and placed her order.

  She couldn’t concentrate on selecting her food, as she was too preoccupied. She therefore chose the first item on the list, which was Shepherd’s Pie. Julie then walked over to a table and took a seat. It was the first time in years that she had sat on her own in the canteen and Julie suddenly felt very self-conscious.

  It was difficult trying to appear casual and avoid looking over at Jacqueline’s table. Julie’s natural curiosity caused her to glance at the group of girls. She made several attempts to look elsewhere but found that her eyes kept straying back towards that table.

  After a couple of minutes, she felt compelled to gaze in that direction once more as she heard a loud scraping sound followed by a lot of commotion. It was Jacqueline, dragging her chair back as she stood up and made some angry announcement which Julie couldn’t quite hear. Julie’s heart sank as she realised that Jacqueline was heading in her direction. In no time at all she was standing over Julie, looking down at her.

  The onslaught from Jacqueline was so sudden that Julie didn’t have a chance to defend herself. ‘I don’t know how you’ve got the bloody nerve to show your face in here after what you and your friends have done! I knew that you were a bunch of common tarts, but now I know that you’re even worse. You’re not fit to be seen on the sole of my shoe! Amanda was a lovely girl. She was too good to have a friend like you, and now she’s gone. Well I hope you’re all proud of yourselves, you murderers! The sooner you’re behind bars Julie Quinley, the better off we’ll all be.’

  Jacqueline emphasised this last point by prodding Julie in the shoulder. As Julie opened her mouth in an attempt to defend herself, Jacqueline turned on her heel and stormed back towards her own table. By now the attention of the whole canteen was focused on Julie and Jacqueline.

  Jacqueline, noting this attention, stopped and announced to everybody, ‘Yes, you heard right, Julie Quinley and her friends are murderers! They killed Amanda Morris, by getting her pissed senseless, and the police think that one of the sly cows even gave drugs to Amanda as well. That seems to be their idea of fun. Now that hard faced bitch is sat there large as life when she should be behind bars!’

  As the scandal reached the ears of the onlookers, a hush descended on the room. Julie looked up, and noticed the shocked faces staring towards her. She was speechless and powerless to defend herself. What could she say that would make any difference? The damage had already been done, thanks to Jacqueline.

  In a feat of immaculate timing, Mrs Stubbs, one of the canteen staff, appeared at Julie’s table with her lunch and slammed it down on the table as she announced, ‘There you go, and I hope it bloody chokes you!’ She then walked away.

  Julie’s first reaction was to flee from the room, but Norma’s words kept echoing inside her head and she told herself, “If I run, everyone will think I’m guilty.” She knew that she had to see it through. “I’m going to eat this bloody pie if it kills me,” she said to herself. “I’ve got to try to act as normal as possible; I mustn’t let them get to me.”

  Consuming the meal was a struggle. Julie had never before realised that eating could take such an infinite length of time. Her muscles were tense and she found it a tremendous effort to swallow each mouthful. Her throat was so constricted that she felt as though she would choke. Occasionally, she raised her head and glanced around the room just to let people see that she wasn’t about to bow down in shame.

  She could sense eyes watching her, but every time she looked up, they quickly averted their gaze. This caused her to become even more self-conscious. S
he felt as though her every movement was being noted; the shaking of her hands, the way she struggled to swallow – her face becoming more flushed with each agonising gulp, the way she shuffled uncomfortably on her chair.

  A piece of pie then became lodged in her throat and she lifted her drink so that she could attempt to swill it down. Unfortunately, the cup slipped from her shaking hand. She quickly grasped at it and managed to steady the cup on the table, but not before some of the contents had spilt onto her food.

  As she replaced the cup, Julie heard somebody clear their throat and a couple of people coughed, as though indicating a break in the tension. She couldn’t face going to the canteen staff for a cloth to wipe up the mess, so she searched her bag for a tissue. Julie only succeeded in clearing up part of the drink with her tissue, so she had to face eating the rest of her meal with her plate swamped by liquid.

  She had managed to gulp down the lump of Shepherd’s Pie while her mind had been drawn to other things, and this had encouraged her to devour a few more forkfuls. However, she was still only two thirds through the pie, and was beginning to struggle once more. She knew that she mustn’t leave her food uneaten, as this might suggest that she had rushed away, unable to face people any longer.

  When Julie reached the point where an acceptable amount remained, she arranged her cutlery so that it concealed the biggest lumps of food. She then stood up and pulled back her chair as calmly as she could, in defiance of her rapidly beating heart and clammy hands. Julie then walked from the canteen with her head held high.

  When Julie reached the reception area, she almost broke down in tears of relief now that her ordeal was over. ‘Jesus Norma, that was hell!’ she announced.

  ‘Cheer up Julie, you’ve got the worst of it over with. Things can only get better from now on!’

  Unfortunately, however, Norma’s words couldn’t have been further from the truth. Later that afternoon the manager asked to see Julie in his office and she returned to the reception area after about ten minutes.

  ‘Well?’ asked Norma.

  ‘He wanted me to take some time off with full pay until the heat dies down a bit.’

  ‘Oh well, at least things should have improved by the time you come back. It won’t be flavour of the month anymore. How long has he given you?’

  ‘I’m not doing it Norma.’

  ‘Really, why not?’

  ‘What, and let them all think that I’m guilty? You must be joking!’

  ‘I can understand your point I suppose. What did you say to him?’

  ‘Exactly what I’ve just told you.’

  ‘Well I doubt whether they can force you to take time off and they probably won’t bother trying. They’d be frightened of the consequences after that carry on with John in motor department.’

  As Julie stared at her blankly, Norma continued, ‘You know, the one that took them to a tribunal.’

  ‘Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about that.’

  They were then silent for a short while until Norma added, ‘Well I just hope you’ll be able to handle it Julie, but you know I’ll be here to support you.’

  ‘I know, thanks Norma,’ Julie replied as she replaced her headphones.

  -------------------

  Monday 23rd June 1986

  Julie returned home from work on Monday evening. As she put her key in the front door she was full of apprehension. She was relieved to find, however, that her father’s attitude towards her had improved a little. Julie noticed that his attempts at civility were, for him, a struggle and she guessed that her mother must have had a few words with him. Instead of the friendly banter that she had sometimes had with her father in the past, he remained polite, treating her like a stranger.

  This caused her almost as much distress as his anger had done the day before. As she listened to her father asking her to, ‘pass the butter please,’ as opposed to, ‘give us the butter Julie love,’ she knew that her relationship with her father was in a sorry state, and she wondered if they would ever recapture the affinity which they had once shared.

  At work the next day, there was no sign of improvement. People who had always greeted Julie with a friendly ‘hello’ when they arrived at work now ignored her. Some made deliberate attempts not to gaze in her direction. Others stared venomously at her, causing her to feel ill at ease. Some did still say hello to Julie, but she guessed that the news mustn’t have reached them yet.

  Although Norma insisted that Julie should venture up to the canteen again, she couldn’t face it, and instead, she found herself wandering around the shops during her lunch hour. The situation seemed to worsen as the week wore on and Julie was tempted to take some time away from the place, but Norma persuaded her not to. Throughout the week Norma had remained a tower of strength to Julie, and without her Julie did not know what she would have done.

  Chapter 11

  Wednesday 25th June 1986

  Detective Inspector Bowden received a fax on Wednesday indicating the preliminary findings of the post mortem. It would be a few weeks before he received the detailed pathology report, but the fax, which had been rushed through to him at his insistence, did give an indication as to the cause of death. He sat, slowly digesting its contents, while sipping his cup of coffee.

  Sergeant Drummond, observing that he was giving the piece of paper his full attention, asked, ‘Is it the post mortem sir?’

  ‘Um,’ he grunted in response.

  She didn’t interrupt him further, knowing that he would relate the contents of the fax to the rest of the staff as soon as he was ready. Inspector Bowden believed in following a chain of command and preferred his subordinates to remain subordinate.

  After a couple of minutes Inspector Bowden stood up and took a deep breath, expanding his chest and pulling his shoulders back, like a soldier on parade.

  ‘Sergeant Drummond, I’m going to see the DCI. Can you take all calls please? It shouldn’t take more than a few minutes!’ He then took another deep breath and fixed his face with a stern expression as he prepared to do battle.

  Inspector Bowden knocked on the door of DCI Marshall’s office and was summoned inside.

  ‘Ah, Inspector Bowden,’ said the DCI. ‘Any news?’

  ‘Yes, as a matter of fact there is sir,’ replied Inspector Bowden as he handed the preliminary report to DCI Marshall.

  He allowed DCI Marshall a few minutes to read the contents of the report before he began his entreaty. He knew that the bullying tactics he employed on subordinates and suspects wouldn’t gain him much ground with the DCI.

  Although DCI Marshall was not outwardly dominant, he followed his own stringent set of rules, and if anybody attempted to step outside those rules, he would assert his authority calmly and resolutely. A well-educated and intelligent man, he made Inspector Bowden’s furious outbursts seem like an infant’s tantrums, and Inspector Bowden often left his office feeling impotent and dejected by his lack of influence.

  The DCI forced Inspector Bowden to wait several minutes while he read the report and then re-read some of the more pertinent details. Inspector Bowden recognised the enforced wait as part of a well-used ploy to make him feel ill at ease. It would also give DCI Marshall some time to prepare his response, which was bound to disagree with Inspector Bowden’s reaction to the report.

  Eventually he lifted his head and looked towards Inspector Bowden with eyebrows raised in an inquiring motion.

  ‘I want to charge them sir!’ said Inspector Bowden.

  ‘On what grounds?’ DCI Marshall countered.

  ‘The amphetamines. It’s obvious, isn’t it? Amanda Morris died of a drug and alcohol overdose, proving that they must have given her amphetamines that night as well as alcohol.’

  ‘Steady!’ said the DCI as he raised his hand to silence Inspector Bowden. ‘I do not doubt that the victim died of an alcohol and amphetamine overdose. That matter is not in dispute. However, there is no proof that either of the two suspects gave amphetamines to the deceased prior to
her death. We have already discussed this point.’

  ‘They must have given her the drugs! They were with her all night, and they could have slipped some speed into her drink at any time.’

  Inspector Bowden waved his hands about in agitation.

  ‘Tell me, Inspector Bowden,’ the DCI continued, ‘were both suspects searched at the time of arrest?’

  ‘Of course they were …sir.’

  ‘And were their homes searched?’

  ‘Yes sir!’

  ‘And were any drugs found?’

  ‘You know there weren’t, but that doesn’t mean to say …’

  ‘In that case, Inspector Bowden, there is no proof that the drugs found in Amanda Morris’s body were put there by either of the suspects. Furthermore, both of the suspects have a clean record and no history of drug abuse. So, until you find further evidence, inspector, we will not be able to charge them! Now then, what about other lines of enquiry?’

  The inspector raised his eyebrows inquisitively.

  ‘I’m referring to Mr Leslie Stevens. He has a record, hasn’t he?’

  ‘Well yes sir, but not drugs related. I don’t think it’s him. The man was distraught! Besides, Amanda Morris was already intoxicated by the time she reached home, and a search of his flat showed there were no drugs on the premises.’

  ‘Very well, I suggest you continue digging then until you come up with some hard evidence inspector and that means covering all angles, not just the easy ones.’

  Inspector Bowden retreated looking very downhearted and embarrassed. He noticed Sergeant Drummond watching him return to his desk, and flashed her a warning look to discourage her from asking any questions until he was ready to discuss the case.

  After a few moments Inspector Bowden broke the silence, ‘Come on sergeant, we’re going!’ he ordered.

  ‘Where to sir?’

  ‘To interview more witnesses. We need more evidence. The DCI refuses to see the obvious outcome of the post mortem as concrete evidence!’

  ‘So there were drugs then?’ asked the sergeant.