by M A Comley
Sandra’s chin dropped onto her chest.
When the woman didn’t reply after a few moments, Sally had to prompt her again. “Sandra?”
Sandra looked up, her eyes widening in anger, matching her tone. “Yes, she was good with the pupils, but her methods sucked.”
“You’re not making sense, Ms. Ball.”
“That’s all I’m prepared to say on the matter. Are we finished?”
“Not quite. One last question, for now,” Sally added, wanting to keep the uptight woman on her toes.
“Which is?”
“Did you attend Aisha’s funeral?”
“What sort of question is that?”
“Did you?”
“No. Before you go reading anything sinister into that, the staff drew straws for who would go and who would stay here to keep the school running that day. I drew the short straw. I would have loved to have paid my respects to Aisha. I bore her no animosity whatsoever personally.”
The way Sandra’s eyes surprisingly moistened with tears made Sally believe her. “That’s good to know. Okay, that will be all, Sandra, for now. We may need to question you further in the future.”
Sandra rose from her chair and left the room.
“She was damn jealous of Aisha,” Jack commented as the door closed behind the woman.
“Yep, that’s my take on it, too. But would she set out to purposely harm Aisha physically?”
“Can’t see it myself.”
When they questioned Pamela Albright, she confirmed all that had been said and also stated that sometimes she had to tread carefully when both women were in the same room. Not because she felt Sandra was envious of the way the pupils flocked to Aisha and away from her. Sally asked Pamela if she thought that Sandra could have physically harmed Aisha, but the head of the music department was appalled by the question and refuted the claim outright.
When the interviews were over and it was time for Sally and Jack to leave, Lisa handed Sally the aggressive mother’s address she had sought out, and Sally asked Mrs. Albright to supply, the missing teacher, Jonathon Drake’s address.
Once she was back in the car, Sally noted the time on the dashboard. It was five forty-five already. “It’s too late to go and see this Mrs. Ward now. We’ll leave it until the morning, all right?”
“Fine by me. You want to drop me back to the station, or shall I catch a taxi?”
“I’ll drop you back then shoot off. I have a date this evening.”
Jack shook his head as Sally started the engine.
“What’s that for?”
“I dread to think what you two discuss over dinner.”
Sally laughed and pulled into the heavy flow of traffic. “You’d be surprised. Anyway, if this traffic doesn’t ease soon, I might miss out on dinner altogether.”
“Where are you going?”
“A little restaurant we always go to situated down by the river. It’s always quiet during the week, bedlam at the weekend.”
“Aww... an intimate dinner for two. Ain’t that nice?”
“Stop being such a tease—or are you jealous because you and Donna never get the chance to go out for a meal?”
“You’re probably right. I’m sure the kids would be all right if we left them alone for the evening, but Donna says she’d rather spend time at home with the family. It wouldn’t be right going out on our own. Not that we can afford a slap-up meal somewhere on my pay.”
“Get out of here. Forgo a few cans of beer now and then, and you’d soon save up enough for a nice meal somewhere.”
“That, dear Sally, would be utter sacrilege. I need a few cans to unwind in the evening with my mob.”
“And that is precisely why I don’t intend having any children. The thought might have crossed my mind when I first got married, but it swiftly diminished. Not sure how you guys cope with working full time and then going home to start all over again. Give me a devoted dog to share my time with any day of the week.”
“Maybe you’ve got a point. Let’s see if your point of view alters when you and Simon get hitched. He seems a decent enough chap.”
“It won’t. He’s too old to start wanting kids.”
“Have you discussed it with him?”
“No, the conversation has never come up. Bloody hell, he only asked me to move in with him the other day.” Sally bit down on her lip. She hadn’t meant to blurt out that revelation. She’d wanted to keep the news to herself until she figured out what to do.
Jack twisted in his seat and stared at her. “Crikey, he didn’t waste much time asking you that.”
“Damn! That was supposed to be confidential. Not a word to anyone, Jack, right?”
“Do your parents know?”
“No. I’m not sure what’s going to happen yet, Jack.”
“Why the hesitation? Because of what you went through with that jerk, Darryl?”
“Possibly. I’m confused. I promised Mum and Dad that I would stick around and help out with the house. There’s the mortgage to consider. I couldn’t move in with Simon and expect him to keep me while I’m trying my hardest to keep a roof over Mum and Dad’s heads. It wouldn’t sit right with me. Then there’s the boy wonder to think about. I don’t want Dex being pulled around from pillar to post. He’s settled with Mum and Dad, but I’ve grown used to having him around when I get home from work.”
“Maybe consider having joint custody. Let your Mum and Dad have him on weekdays and you have him at the weekends.”
“Hey, you might be onto something there. However, it doesn’t solve the issue of sharing with Simon and what to do about the mortgage.”
“You’ll sort it. The real question you should be asking yourself is whether you’re in love with Simon or not. If you are, all these doubts wouldn’t be flying around, would they?”
Her cheeks warmed up as she pulled up alongside Jack’s vehicle back at the station. “I think I love him, but I do have obvious reservations that I’m struggling with. Once upon a time, Darryl was just like Simon, and look how that turned out.”
“Not all men are the same, Sal. Look at me. You don’t think I go home every night and knock seven bells out of Donna, do you?”
She turned to face him. “Of course I don’t.”
“Then stop tarring all men with the same brush. I can understand your hesitancy and your inability at present to trust another man with your heart, but from where I’m standing, or sitting, I think Simon is a decent man who is probably guilty of devoting too much time to his job over the years. Has he had many girlfriends or even been married?”
“He’s had a few—nothing major—and no, he’s never been married. He said it took a lot for him to ask me to move in with him and that he’s never felt the desire to ask anyone else he’s dated over the years.”
“There you go then. You’re both highly intelligent people. My suggestion would be to air all your reservations with him and go from there. Living with each other will be full of compromises to begin with, you know that.”
Sally leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, partner. You’re a star for listening and offering a solution. Not every man could be bothered to do that.”
“There you go tarring us all with that damn brush again. It’s not going to be easy for you to make the right decision, given your past, but if you do go ahead and move in with him and things start to go wrong, make sure you let me know right away. I’ll go round there and sort him out. Got that?”
“I hear you loud and clear. Thanks, Jack. Now get home to that adorable wife and wonderful family of yours. Say hi to them from me.”
He winked and exited the vehicle. Sally pulled away immediately, knowing that she was twenty minutes away from home and the time was passing by rapidly.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Sally eventually arrived home at six twenty-five. That gave her twenty minutes to fuss over Dex, say hello to her parents, and get ready for the evening. She would have to exchange her usual shower for a good was
h and douse herself with plenty of smelly body lotion and perfume instead.
“Hello, boy. Have you had a good day?” She cuddled Dex amid his high-pitched moaning, and they both went through to the kitchen, where her mother and father were eating dinner. “Ooo... anything nice?”
“Something simple tonight as you’re off out. Ham, egg and chips, your father’s favourite.”
Sally sat down at the table, pinched one of her father’s chunky chips, and almost risked getting stabbed by his fork in the process. She looked at her mum. “I’ve said before, you don’t have to bother about making a decent meal for me every single night, Mum. I don’t expect it. Jacket spud, cheese and beans would do me occasionally.”
“A working girl needs the appropriate sustenance, love. It’s a pleasure cooking for you. Don’t take that away from me.”
Sally kissed her mother on the cheek. “I love you, but please take some time out for yourself. If ever you want to go out for a meal one evening, alone, just do it. I’m more than capable of fending for myself. Talking of which, I better get my skates on. I don’t want to keep Simon waiting.”
“You go, love. Enjoy yourself. No need to worry about Dex. Dad’s taken him out for three long walks as it is today. He didn’t let him off the lead after your fiasco yesterday.”
She kissed her dad’s head as she swept past him. “You’re a treasure. Thanks, Dad.”
“Get outta here. It’s no hardship. I could do with losing this belly anyway.” He pointed to the slight bulge to his tummy.
“Good luck with that, eating egg and chips.” Sally ran out of the room before either of them could throw something at her. Dex rushed up the stairs alongside her and jumped on the bed. He watched her every move as she riffled through her wardrobe for something suitable to wear. His tail wagged when she pulled out a black skirt and a teal-blue sequined top.
“Too much bling, do you think?”
Dex barked a few times then laid his head on his paws. She had a quick strip-down wash in the bathroom and returned to find Dex lying in the same position. She couldn’t resist placing her hands on either side of his cute face and kissing him on the head. He gave another high-pitched moan. Despite his protest, she knew he loved the affection she continually bestowed upon him. He was her baby, after all.
Five minutes later, she had dressed and reapplied her make-up. She was lucky she had unblemished skin and didn’t need to apply a lot, unlike some women she saw on the streets of Norfolk.
Dex followed her back to the kitchen, where her parents were at the sink, washing and drying up the dishes together.
“I shouldn’t be late back this evening. We have a lot on at work tomorrow.”
“You look gorgeous, love. Have a wonderful time,” her mother said, wearing a proud smile.
Her father nodded. “Enjoy yourself, love. Tell Simon we’re looking forward to meeting him in a few days.”
“I will. Love you.”
Dex trotted along the hallway with her.
“You stay here and look after Mum and Dad for me, lovely.”
His head dropped as she reached for the door catch to let herself out, and her heart broke in two. “I won’t be long. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow, I promise.”
Simon was already seated at the table when the taxi dropped Sally off at the restaurant with a minute to spare. He stood up, hugged her tightly, and kissed her on the lips, then he held out the chair for her to sit down. He was such a gentleman.
“Have you had a busy day?” he asked, topping up her glass from the bottle of red he’d already started on.
“Very busy, without making much progress. What about you?”
“Pretty much the same. I won’t go into detail, wouldn’t want to put you off your meal.”
“Great idea,” she replied gratefully.
He clinked his glass against hers. “You look beautiful tonight. I’d be the envy of the restaurant, if it was full. To us!”
Sally looked around at the empty tables and laughed. “You old charmer, you.”
“Not so much of the old, and I’m telling you the truth. I’m not in the habit of lying.”
Sally felt her cheeks flare up. She took a sip of her wine and reached for his hand across the table. “Thank you. You’re very sweet.”
Simon shuddered and cringed. “That’s the worst word you can use to describe a bloke, just for your information.”
She laughed. “Seriously? Even though you are?”
He shuddered again. “Shall we change the subject? How is the case really going?”
Sally twirled her wineglass by the stem while she spoke. “Slowly. We’ve questioned a few people so far, and all that has successfully done is add to the suspect list.”
“That’s a good thing in a way, right?”
“Ordinarily, I’d agree with you. Not when you’ve only been given a month to solve the case, though.”
“I see what you mean. Anything I can help with?”
“No, you’ve done your bit by dismissing the burglars for us, but you’ve also added to our workload by telling us that you believe all three victims were killed by the same method or same murderer. I don’t suppose you’ve checked your records to make any other comparisons to any more victims that came into the pathology department around that time?”
“Good thinking. I could get one of my team to look into that tomorrow for you if it’ll help. Maybe it will lead to more DNA evidence that will point to the killer.”
“You never know. Stranger things have happened.”
The waiter appeared at their table. “Are you ready to order?”
“Sorry, we’ve been chatting. Can you give us five minutes?” Simon said.
“Sure, it’s not as if I’m rushed off my feet. Give me a nod when you’re ready.” He topped up their glasses before he left.
Sally and Simon picked up the menus and studied them. “I don’t fancy steak. I want something different for a change. Any suggestions?” Sally said.
Simon glanced over the menu at her, a twinkle in his eye. “What about oysters? They’re supposed to be an—”
“Aphrodisiac, I know, cheeky sod. You do know I’m going back to my place tonight?”
Simon looked down at his menu and mumbled, “You can’t blame a man for trying.”
She reached over and playfully slapped his hand. “You’re a trier all right. I’ll give you ten out of ten for that. Come on, help me out.”
“What about something simple, like Hunter’s chicken? It’s smothered in a barbecue sauce and cheese.”
“Sounds delicious. You’ve sold it to me.”
Simon closed the menu, placed it on top of Sally’s on the edge of the table, and called the waiter over. “Two Hunter’s chicken, please.”
“Good choice. It shouldn’t be long.”
The waiter left them alone, and Simon interlocked his fingers with hers. “I hate to bring this up—and please don’t think I’m badgering you into making a decision—but have you thought over what I asked you the other day?”
Sally’s eyes drifted down to their entwined fingers, and she swallowed. She would love nothing more than to say yes, however, all she could find were obstacles blocking their path. Even chatting with Jack earlier that evening hadn’t resolved her dilemma. “Honestly?”
“Yes, honestly.”
“I’ve thought about nothing else, when I haven’t been distracted with the case, that is. Simon, I love you dearly and think you’re a wonderful, caring man—”
“Why do I sense a huge but coming my way?”
“It’s not a huge but at all. However, it is a plea for you to give me more time. If it’ll help, I can talk through what’s going on in my mind, but it would probably sound pathetic to you.”
He shook his head. “If you have genuine reasons for not accepting my offer, then I’m happy to take them at face value and not to judge you at all. I’m aware of what you have gone through in the past. The trust element must be a major concern for you
after what that scumbag did.”
“Truly, it’s not a matter of not trusting you—I do. The problem is that his nibs was a real charmer when I first met him and continued to be that way for the first few months we were married. Then one day, all that changed. He started telling me that he felt I was suffocating him. I wasn’t. We barely saw each other, what with opposing work patterns. I think the thing he regretted most was me moving my stuff into his house. He used to say I was untidy, even if I was reading a book on the sofa.”
“All I’m hearing is that this idiot was a selfish, spoilt brat. I repeat, I’m not like Darryl.”
Sally cringed at the way he spat out her ex’s name. Simon had never had the misfortune of meeting her ex, so he was only going by what she had relayed to him about Darryl. “I know you’re not. If anything, you’re the total opposite, but what if you object to me invading your space after a month or two?”
“I wouldn’t,” he replied, squeezing her hand as if to emphasise his point.
Sally’s eyes unexpectedly welled up with tears. “But you can’t guarantee that. Neither of us can.”
“We’ll work round it if it happens. I’m under no illusion that there won’t be other compromises to be made, Sally, but surely, if we love each other, we’ll be able to conquer any issues that come our way.”
“I have no doubt we’ll be able to overcome any differences coming our way, but that’s not the only problem I can foresee.”
He frowned. “Go on; you can’t stop there.”
“I made a commitment to my parents. I know that sounds strange. Even Jack thought it was silly me bringing it up when I discussed the matter with him earlier.”
An amused grin pulled across his face. “You discussed my proposal with your partner? I’m not sure what to think about that.”
“Oops, have I done something stupid? I just valued his opinion. He knows what I went through with my ex and how it affected me.”
“So do I. I saw the bruises beneath the make-up you wore.”
Sally withdrew her hand from his and gasped. “You did? And yet you never said anything.”
