‘Mm.’
She frowned at him. ‘I take it he didn’t come quietly?’
‘Do they ever?’
Her eyes were drawn to the window; the snow had started to fall again, big fat flakes that rested on the window ledge like icing on a cake. ‘I thought he was going to kill me, if Spenner hadn’t come down the alley he’d have carried on...’
‘If Spenner had been doing his job then he wouldn’t have got the chance.’ Lasser snapped.
He felt her fingers tighten. ‘It wasn’t his fault...’
‘He told me what happened and as far as I’m concerned he bears some responsibility.’
She tried to give her head a shake and winced again at the effort. ‘Come on you know that’s not true.’ She shifted her legs and the small pile of magazines slid to the floor.
‘Listen, he was meant to be your partner, you should have been together not chasing a scrote like Collins on your own.’
‘That’s part of the problem, I’m not one hundred percent sure it was him, I mean, I thought it was, that’s why I went after him. Besides if I was a bloke, you wouldn’t be so concerned.’
‘That has nothing to do with it, you're a police officer who was let down by someone who was meant to be watching your back.’
She sighed and ran a hand across her face. ‘Maybe I’m not cut out for this job.’
‘You can’t think like that...’
‘Why not when it's the truth?’ she looked at him, waiting for an answer.
‘Because you’re good at the job, we both know plenty of blokes who shouldn’t be wearing the uniform, the fact that you’re a woman has nothing to do with your ability to do the job.
Cathy twisted her mouth as if she'd just tasted something sour. ‘Perhaps you’re right, but I just know that when I was chasing him, I was half hoping he’d just carry on running. When he stopped and turned I felt like running away and that can’t be right.’
‘Christ, Cathy, that’s why uniforms go out in pairs, you’re meant to be a team.’
‘So when you were chasing Collins, did you think of simply stopping and letting him escape?’
He let go of her hand and stood up. ‘That’s different.’
She looked up with a sad smile on her face. ‘I don’t see how. You chased him because you knew you’d be able to take care of yourself.’
‘Yeah well, I was an idiot.’
‘Maybe,’ she replied.
‘You did the right thing, Cathy; you just had a right to expect more from your colleague.’
‘Go easy on him, he feels terrible about what happened.’
‘So he bloody should.’
She plucked at a thread of cotton on the bed sheet.
Just then, the door opened and a young doctor entered, lab coat open revealing a Metallica T-shirt beneath. ‘Morning, Cathy, how are we feeling today?’
Like all patients who suddenly find themselves in the presence of an authority figure, Cathy looked flustered. ‘A little better,’ she lied.
‘Good.’ he smiled encouragingly. ‘Well, we’ve had the results from your scan and thankfully everything seems fine.’
Lasser blew out a sigh and the young doctor nodded as if he understood his relief.
‘Now we want to keep you in for a couple of days just to be on the safe side.’
‘So I should be home for Christmas?’
The doctor thrust his hands into his pockets and pulled the coat tight around him. ‘I don’t see why not, as long as you avoid too much excitement and keep off the booze.’
She smiled. ‘That’s good.’
‘So, have you had any headaches, blurring vision?’
‘No.’
‘Any pain behind the eyes?’
‘None.’
‘Great. Right well I’ll leave you with your visitor, but try and keep it brief, she needs her rest.’
They watched as the doctor swung the door open and strode out into the corridor.
Lasser picked up the fallen magazines and placed them on the small wooden cabinet. ‘So, it looks as if you’ll have to suffer one of my Christmas dinners after all. Now I don’t know how you feel about Brussels sprouts, but...’
‘Listen, I was thinking when I get out of here maybe I should go to my parents for a few days.’
He looked at her in surprise. ‘Oh right.’
‘It’s just that I know you’re on duty over Christmas and I’d be stuck ...’
‘But I could take a few days off. I mean, they owe me holidays.’
She reached out her hand and he took it before sitting back down. ‘I know you would, but I think it would be best if I got away for a few days.’
He could feel the confusion set up home in his brain. ‘Whatever you think best,’ he tried to keep the disappointment from his voice and failed miserably.
‘It’s just that my mother called last night and she kind of insisted.’
‘Sure, I mean, I shouldn’t have presumed...’
‘No, no, it’s good that you did, but I just feel like I need a bit of time to think.’
It suddenly felt stifling in the small room. ‘When you say ‘think’ what do you mean exactly?’
She gave a slight shrug of her shoulders. ‘Not about us if that’s what you’re worried about, it’s just the job really. I need to decide whether it’s really what I want to be doing with my life.’
‘But you love the job.’
She gave him a crooked smile. ‘No, you love the job.’
He blinked. ‘Listen, Cathy, you’ve just been through a shitty experience and I realise you need time to work things through and it’s good you’re taking the time to come to a decision. But you’re good at this, you’ve had a setback...’
‘That could have cost me my life.’
‘You think I don’t realise that?’
She sighed. ‘It’s just ever since DCI Simms died I’ve been questioning my ability to cope with all this.’
‘But...’
She held up a hand and Lasser fell silent.
‘I know you think I’m probably exaggerating, but the part of the job that I can do well, is meaningless.’
‘Oh come on.’
‘Chasing kids from the shopping precinct and helping old ladies across the road, it’s hardly a viable way to make a living.’
‘Rubbish.’
‘When it comes to the real stuff I can’t handle it and you simply telling me that I can, doesn’t make it a fact.’
He could hear the anguish in her voice; see it in her bloodshot eyes and decided to back off.
‘Well like I said, now isn’t the right time to make a decision. Go back to your parents and think things through.’
She nodded and tried a smile. ‘You know when I was young I always wanted to be a vet.’
Lasser grimaced. ‘Forgive me, but I can’t see you standing in a muddy field with your hand up the arse end of a cow.’
‘I’m finding it easier to imagine that, rather than putting on the uniform again.’
The door opened and Spenner bustled in carrying a plastic bag in his hand. ‘I didn’t have enough for three bottles of Coke so I got Tizer instead.’
Lasser ignored him and leaned forward. ‘I’ll come and see you tonight.’
‘No it’s OK, my parents are coming over, and I know you’re on duty till ten.’
‘I can’t believe what they charge for a drink in this place, costs more to stay here than some hotels I’ve stayed in.’
Lasser resisted the urge to turn around and frog march Spenner from the room. Instead, he nodded at Cathy and turned on his heels.
‘What about your drink?’
‘I can’t stand Tizer, you have it.’
Spenner grinned as if he had suddenly hit the lottery big time, Lasser pushed through the door before he exploded.
He stalked along the corridor his right hand fiddling with the cigarette packet in his pocket, his mind brimming with questions and indecision.
Ten
minutes later, he was sitting in the car sucking hard on his second cigarette; the interior was a swirling cloud of smoke. What Cathy had said about wanting to leave the job was all bollocks; he’d worked alongside her enough to know that she was more than capable. However, he could understand her sudden crisis of faith; she had probably been right when she’d said that Collins would have killed her if Spenner hadn’t put in a belated appearance. So why did he get the impression that something had been broken between them, as if they had been talking around the real issue.
Sliding down the window, he tossed the stump into the snow; perhaps he was letting his imagination run riot. He thought about the way she’d looked away as she spoke about going to her parents. It made sense, yet he couldn’t shake the gnawing feeling of disappointment, maybe she knew him better than he knew himself. Could he really see himself sitting by her sick bed nursing her back to health like some would be Florence Nightingale.
He flicked out another smoke and rolled it between his fingers, she was right, it was laughable. Had she been right when she said he loved the job? Christ alone knew, he spent enough time cursing a system that disregarded the victim and allowed people like Collins and Miller to strut around town thieving and dealing drugs, victimising the weak and vulnerable. His relationships with his colleagues was fractious at best, on the one hand you had incompetents like Spenner, nearly two years a police officer and as useful as a chocolate fireguard. At the other end of the scale, you had Bannister, a twat who lorded it over those beneath him like some mini dictator and in between the two stools, duplicitous bastards like Rimmer who would shaft you at every opportunity.
He started the car and pulled out of the parking space, the tyres crunching on the new fallen snow, a fractured broken sound.
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
Dave stood at the back of the shop, brew in hand and the first cigarette of the day clamped between his teeth, in a lame attempt to block out the smell from the bins.
The frigid sun peeped over the six-foot brick wall that encased the rear courtyard, forcing him to squint against the glare. When the small flurry of snow fell onto his shaved head he looked up in surprise, Suzi Beddows peered at him over the rail of the fire escape, her face pinched and drawn.
‘Suzi, what ya doing up there, love?’
‘I can’t get into the flat,’ she sniffed and wiped a hand under her nose.
Dropping the cigarette at his feet, he moved to the bottom of the metal steps. ‘You won’t be able to; the coppers have changed the locks,’ he watched as her face crumpled.
‘Coppers?’
‘Yeah love, someone broke into the flat yesterday, I thought you knew?’
She shifted her feet and more snow drifted to the floor.
‘Listen, why don’t you come in for a brew?’
‘Have you seen Barry?’
‘Not for a couple of days.’
‘I need to find him.’
‘Have you been up there all night?’ She nodded and wiped a hand over her eyes.
‘Jesus, you must be freezing.’
He watched as she picked up a bag and began to climb down the steps, the closer she got the more shocked he became by her appearance, her eyes looked haunted with black bags hung beneath, her skin tainted yellow.
‘Come on, sweetheart, come inside, and get warm.’
‘But...’
‘No buts, you looked knackered.’ He took hold of her arm and led her through the narrow door. As soon as she felt the heat, Suzi began to shake uncontrollably.
‘Wh... what did the p...police want?’
Dave filled the kettle and flicked the switch. ‘I haven’t a clue, sweetheart.’
‘I ne... need...’
‘You need to get warm before you think of doing anything else.’
She looked around the tiny kitchen; the cramps started again, her stomach twisting into knots. ‘I’ve got to go,’ she turned and staggered toward the door.
Dave reached out and put a steadying hand on her arm. ‘Sit down, Suzi,’ he dragged out a small stool and eased her down. ‘Stay there.’
Pouring hot water into the mug, he spooned in three sugars and added a splash of milk. Suzi took the drink, clasping her hands around the hot mug.
‘What have you been taking, love?’
She shook her head her hair covering her face, ‘Nothing.’
‘Come on, Suzi, you can tell me?’
She threw him a quick glance her eyes frantic, when he reached out a hand she pulled away, the coffee slopped over the rim, her hands sprang apart and the cup fell to the floor, shattering on the lino. ‘Oh God, I’m sorry.’
‘Hey, love, it’s no problem.’
She leapt to her feet; the small stool slid across the floor, tottered, and fell. ‘I’ve got to go, please; I need to find Barry...’
‘But...’
‘I need to get out of here,’ her hands fumbled with the lock of the door, fingers skittering around the surface, her face twisted in anguish.
‘Suzi, Suzi, you need to calm down, love. Listen, why don’t I roll you a nice fat spliff, it’ll help you chill, OK?’
She turned and looked at him; her bottom lip ragged from where she'd chewed it. ‘Have you got any coke?’ she mumbled.
‘Never touch it, love, but I’ve got some Acapulco gold, good stuff.’
‘I can pay,’ she dipped a hand into her pocket and pulled out a huge wad of notes.
David took a step back in surprise, ‘Jesus, where did you get that lot from?’
‘I’ve got more.’ Reaching down she grabbed the rucksack and started to pull out handfuls of cash from a side pocket. ‘You could take this and get me some gear, please, Dave,’ her eyes shone with a kind of hopeful fervour.
Dave took a backward step, hands held up in front of him. ‘I’m sorry, darling; I wouldn’t know where to start.’
‘Find Barry, he’ll give you what I need.’
A buzzer went off and Dave placed his cup on the drainer. ‘Listen, give me five minutes to get rid of the punter and then I’ll see what I can do, is that OK?’
She looked down at the money in her hands and nodded. ‘OK.’
‘Good girl,’ as soon as he left the room, he rummaged in his pocket and pulled out the number the copper had given him the day before, he hesitated for a moment before dragging out his phone.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
Lasser drove through the town centre; even though it was late night shopping most of the outlets were closing early. Shop owners giving up on the dream that things would pick up and people would start to spend money that they didn’t have. Desperate to turn the clock back to the glory days when Tony Blair was telling the masses that the perfect life was there for everyone, all you had to do was spend cash to get it. Now people were reaping what they had sown and the new people in power were taking the opportunity to screw people into the ground. He pulled up at a set of lights and watched as a couple of middle-aged men pushed their way into the bookmakers, attracted by the flashing slot machines and plasma televisions that lined the wall, offering the chance to get rich quick.
Munroe’s jewellers was lit like an Aladdin’s cave, the watches, and rings sparkling in the window. He watched as a blond haired man, slid a key into the lock the metal shutters began to slide down slowly over the windows. Lasser pulled the car into the taxi rank and climbed out, by the time he reached the shop the man was wrapping a bright green scarf around his neck.
‘Mr Munroe?’
The man turned and smiled at him. ‘I’m sorry; we’re just closing for the day.’
‘That’s OK, I’m Detective Sergeant Lasser, I attended the scene after the chains were stolen.’
Slipping the keys into the pocket of an expensive looking jacket, the man thrust out his hand. ‘I see, well I’d like to thank you for taking the time to check up on us and just for the record, I am not Mr Munroe.’
Lasser looked at the hand in surprise and then gave it a shake as the glittering prizes dis
appeared behind the shutters. ‘Oh right.’
‘My name’s Plymouth.’
‘So how is Mr Foster?’
Plymouth smiled. ‘As far as I'm aware he’s fine.’
‘It’s just that he seemed concerned about how Mr Munroe would react when he found out about the robbery.’
‘Ah, I see.’ Plymouth moved to one side to let an elderly woman walk past. ‘Well, I tend to move around between the shops and I haven’t seen Stephen for a couple of days...’
‘So he could have been sacked?’
Plymouth shrugged. ‘I couldn’t say, but I wouldn’t have thought so. I mean, I suppose we all tend to worry in the present climate, after all it’s not easy to find a job these days, is it?’
‘And how has business been?’
‘Quiet, then again it always takes a while when you start up any new venture.’
‘So I take it you live out of town, I mean, you don’t have a local accent.’
‘You’ll forgive me, but working in this industry it helps to have a voice that doesn’t sound as if English is your second language.’
Lasser smiled. ‘I can imagine, but Wigan seems like a strange place to sell high-end jewellery.’
‘Oh, I don’t know. The shop in Southport does very well and yet apparently that town has been on the skids for years.’
Lasser pursed his lips. ‘I take it the matter of security has been taken care of?’
Plymouth pulled up the collar of his jacket as a gust of wind hammered down the street. ‘Absolutely, you can never be one hundred percent secure, but let’s just say we’re hopeful the unfortunate episode will be a one off.’
‘Sorry, you never actually said where you live?’
‘Well, believe it or not I live on the Welsh borders.’
Lasser arched an eyebrow in surprise. ‘So, you’re heading for home now?’
‘Not tonight, I’m staying at the Oak Hotel for a few days.’
‘Right, well I suppose I’d better let you get going.’
Plymouth slid his hands into his pockets. ‘There’s no rush, in fact I was going to have a drink, but being new to the area I don’t know where to start.’
Lasser sniffed. ‘Well it depends what you want. I mean, the town might not be as thriving as Chester, but we do have our fair share of watering holes.’
The Way That It Falls: DS Lasser series volume 2 (The DS Lasser series.) Page 18
