The Keeper

by Diane Saxon

  ‘That’s bollocks, sir…’

  Shaking his head to stop her going any further, Gregg let out a gusty sigh.

  ‘If I may…?’ The deep tone of Adrian Hall’s voice had Jenna whipping her head around to face him as he leaned with casual negligence against the closed door of Gregg’s office. His arms were also crossed over his chest. She hadn’t even realised he was there.

  One eyebrow shot up as her gaze clashed with his. The stranglehold on her throat released and anger roiled thick and black in the pit of her stomach. Anger at this man, this stranger, who was going to pacify and reason with her. It wouldn’t work, she’d damned well investigate. She’d find her sister.

  ‘I have to be on the case. There is nothing going to stop me investigating this,’ she ground out.

  With an indolent shrug, he pushed away from the door and took a step towards her. His sheer size should have intimidated, but Jenna wasn’t about to let him or anyone else overwhelm her. She had a job to do. Her sister to find.

  ‘I can stop you.’ His smile was tight and brief.

  With an insulted gasp, she opened her mouth ready to blast him off his big feet if required, but he raised his hand in a stop motion and moved his attention back to Gregg.

  ‘May I suggest something?’ Unruffled, it appeared, his voice poured liquid calm into the room.

  She frowned at him as he moved across the office towards her.

  ‘A compromise.’

  He folded his huge frame into the small chair opposite hers, crossed one leg over the other. He hunched over and steepled his fingers, tapping them against his mouth as he stared at her, dark gaze intent in his study of her before he flicked a look at Gregg’s puzzled face and then back again. He dropped his hands onto his thighs and tapped his knees with long fingers.

  ‘Chief Superintendent Gregg asked me to advise on the case because of the complexity of it.’ He leaned closer, his gaze so intense all thought of arguing went out of her head and her one focus was to listen to what he was to say. ‘An unidentified body is always complicated, admittedly. Add into the mix the involvement of your sister and her dog, and we have a puzzle. Sergeant, taking into consideration the participation you’ve already had with this case and the knowledge you carry regarding your sister, her dog, the area and your discovery of the body, I would say the last thing we need to do is remove you from this case. We don’t need a hostile witness.’

  Looking up at Gregg, Adrian leaned back in his seat, making it groan in protest. ‘I believe if there’s going to be a challenge in court, it will happen regardless. From Jenna’s description of the entire incident from start to finish, she has already, technically, compromised the crime scene.’

  Offended, Jenna reared back and spat out. ‘I have not compromised the scene.’

  ‘Sergeant, technically, and if the courts so decided, you will have already compromised the scene just by being there. Forensics will pick up your fingerprints for elimination purposes, a stray hair, a nail end.’ He raised a finger as she opened her mouth to argue and silenced her with the quick rise of one black eyebrow. ‘However, and here is my point, if you are removed totally from the investigation, then, in my opinion, from a Prosecution point of view, we also endanger the case. We effectively remove the continuity of evidential information. The short of it is – we need you, Sergeant.’

  Jenna turned her head from Adrian to Gregg and back again while the tension in her chest eased, and she gave a slow nod of her head.

  ‘I don’t agree. In my opinion, Sergeant Morgan should take compassionate leave and go home.’ Gregg paced across the room, turned his back and rested his hands on the windowsill as he stared out at the thick cloud of fog that engulfed the station. ‘If I allow Jenna this, not only does it endanger the case but also her career. It could damage her reputation irretrievably. There are too many scenarios that could end up with her getting suspended. If it goes to court, she could lose her job.’

  ‘But if you don’t allow her to stay on the case, you end up with a hostile witness, because I have a feeling your sergeant here will not just sit back and watch the case come together.’ Adrian flicked a look at her and this time his smile quirked in genuine amusement and, she suspected, a glint of admiration. ‘I think Jenna is of more use to us onside.’

  ‘I can’t disagree.’ Gregg turned to rest his backside on the windowsill, before running a hand through his thick, steel-coloured hair. ‘I have no doubts about your professionalism, Jenna, but how do we keep you out of trouble?’

  Her entire life on the line, she sucked air in through her teeth. The best it appeared she could do was listen to these two men discuss her future without any input from her. The decision was in the balance and she thought if she contributed now, it may just tip that balance in the wrong direction. So, she held her tongue, gazed at the Chief Crown Prosecutor and hoped he could come up with a resolution agreeable to them all. Without knowing him, she had an inexplicable desire to put her faith in him.

  The vague tremble in her core which had threatened to shake her apart since Fliss’s disappearance balled in the pit of her stomach.

  ‘If we let you do desk duty, we still have the same problem. Any piece of information you handle regarding this case, or these two cases, because, as it stands right now, we have no idea if the body of this woman is linked with the disappearance of your sister. It could be an amazing, twisted coincidence. But it will be checked into.’ Adrian stood. He buttoned the jacket of his perfectly tailored suit, without a crease in sight; the man looked like a male model as he towered above her. ‘The only way around this, I think, is if you are shadowed for every moment you’re on duty. And when you’re off duty, nothing to do with the case is to happen. You have no communication whatsoever with the station or anyone in it.’

  ‘She has a partner, DC Mason Ellis…’ Gregg waved his hand in the general direction of the meeting room, but before he was finished Adrian shook his head.

  ‘Can’t be a police officer. It could implicate them, especially as she’s his senior officer.’ He pushed fingers through his thick hair, paced across the small office to the cold, unused coffee maker in the corner. He ran an absent finger across the dust on the top, remained silent for a moment longer before turning to face them both. ‘It needs to be someone entirely impartial. Someone not connected with the sergeant.’ He placed his hands on his hips, his eyes darkened with intent, making Jenna’s world narrow in on him. ‘I would suggest it’s me. I do it.’

  At Gregg’s lifted eyebrows and Jenna’s frown, he continued.

  ‘I can’t see any other way.’ He spread his hands wide, as if appealing to the room in general, a trick she suspected he used often in court. ‘If you’re shadowed by me, everything you do, every movement you make is monitored and recorded, then we can work this. I have to be on the case anyhow, it’s just going to take up a lot more time than I thought. The quicker we can get the case solved, the better it is for my workload.’

  Cynicism curled her lip. ‘Give me five minutes, Adrian, I’ll hop out there and identify the murderer and… while I’m at it, I’ll just track my sister down in the local supermarket and drag her back home like a naughty schoolgirl, just to oblige your workload.’

  ‘Jenna!’ Gregg’s hawk-like stare did nothing to stir any shame.

  Adrian glanced at Gregg and shrugged her remarks off.

  ‘I need coffee and twenty minutes to clear my diary. Can I use your office?’ It wasn’t a request, but it sounded polite enough. The man exuded authority. As Jenna came to her feet, ready to leave, he pinned her with a stare. ‘The only way for this to work, Jenna, is for you to be with me every minute you’re in the station or on police business, otherwise there will be holes in your evidence.’

  ‘Will I be able to pee in private?’ She couldn’t stop the quick lash of words.

  He narrowed his eyes at her, shifted his weight as she lowered herself with studied care back down into her chair.

  ‘I need a coffee and
you need to stay with me until I clear everything with my office. You can’t work the case, but you can be on hand to advise and inform. Possibly even suggest.’

  At the short, sharp rap on the door, they all turned as Mason strode into the room, looking for all the world like he was about to take a swing at someone, chest puffed, shoulder’s back. He just needed to roll up his sleeves and he’d look like a bare-knuckle fighter with his broad shoulders and rugged features. Not much younger than her, she had no doubt he would always have her back.

  ‘Sergeant?’ He addressed her and only her. If ever she needed a hero, Mason was her man. But she didn’t. Not today. So, she smiled at him and waved him deeper into the room, indicating the chair the Chief Crown Prosecutor had vacated.

  ‘Have a seat, Mason, we’re just about to have coffee.’

  The other two men in the room remained standing and she noted with a twinge of amusement that they had both casually crossed their arms over their chests. Declining her offer of a seat, Mason stared down at her. The testosterone in the room nudged up a notch.

  Jenna leaned back in the chair, glanced at the three men, all of whom appeared to only want the best for her, and yet she wasn’t in the mood to watch them squabble. She simply felt weary.

  ‘Chief Crown Prosecutor, Adrian Hall, has suggested he accompanies us on our duties in order to give credibility to any further evidence and maintain the continuity and integrity of the case.’

  ‘Just a minute.’ Adrian interrupted. ‘There’s no reason why I should monitor PC Ellis and in fact it could quite possibly make my workload untenable and cause undue restriction on the investigation of the case.’

  ‘But, she’s my partner…’ Mason attempted to butt in.

  ‘Is there any reason why you should be closely monitored by a senior Court official, PC Ellis?’ Steel threads ran through Adrian’s voice as he pinned Mason with a stare, hard and accusing. ‘Do you have a relationship with either Detective Sergeant Morgan or her sister that we should know about?’

  Mason’s chin came up, brilliant blue eyes connecting with stony brown ones. ‘It’s DC Ellis…’ he pointed out, his voice deep and unusually loud. It wasn’t often she witnessed Mason getting flustered. ‘… And no, Chief Crown Prosecutor. I have worked professionally with the detective sergeant for over three years. I know her sister and we have all socialised together, but I do not now, nor have I ever, had a sexual relationship with either of them.’

  Adrian’s lips twitched up at the edges while heat raced up Jenna’s neck. ‘Good, that lets you off the hook then. No monitoring for you.’ Dismissive of Mason, he dipped his head to check his phone.

  Gregg, however, had not yet had his say. His quiet voice, in direct contrast to those of the younger men, grabbed everyone’s attention without a quibble.

  ‘Adrian, I haven’t yet agreed with your suggestion.’ He picked up his telephone and dialled. ‘Lesley, would you mind bringing four coffees in please.’ Gregg circled to the back of his desk, sat heavily in his chair. ‘Sit.’ He commanded and as both men hesitated, he looked each in the eye. ‘Take a seat, gentlemen, you do not come into my office for a pissing competition with each other. Now, sit.’

  Jenna ground her teeth. Couldn’t they see she just wanted to get on and find her sister, every minute lost meant they were less likely to succeed? The first seventy-two hours were the most crucial. After that, the chances of finding any missing person became slimmer. She didn’t give a flying fuck who monitored her, who partnered her. All she wanted was to find her sister.

  The desire to pull her hair out by the roots and scream blue murder almost overwhelmed her, but she reeled it in, biting down hard so nothing came out of her mouth.

  ‘Jenna, I apologise. I’m sure the last thing you need now is internal arguments.’ Gregg glanced at the other men in the room. ‘You will respect Jenna’s rank and her personal position here.’

  He paused for a moment while Lesley brought in a tray with coffee, milk, and sugar; waited patiently while she served them all and thanked her graciously as she pulled the door shut behind her while Jenna tapped her fingers and restrained herself from jumping up and running from the room.

  Gregg raised his cup of heavily sugared white coffee and took a sip. ‘Adrian, as you can imagine, I’m not happy about this situation. However, as far as suggestions go, I think you’re right. If Jenna is removed completely from the case, it nullifies everything that went before the discovery of her missing sister.’ He placed his cup down, tapped his fingers on the desk. ‘I have to agree though, if Mason and Jenna stay partnered, it’s a waste of highly qualified and experienced resources. No matter how busy Jenna becomes, she is still going to be restricted by being monitored and by the hours she’s going to be allowed to work because of the monitoring.’ Gregg’s index finger tapped with a little more vigour than required. ‘I think what we initially need to do is a handover session, so all material evidence is accounted for and Jenna follows through with gathering of information this morning at the site of the incident. From there, Jenna, if you’re comfortable, you can pick up other cases.’

  Jenna found herself nodding with enthusiasm. ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘However,’ he continued, ‘if at any time you become overstressed with the workload, the situation, the emotional pressure, you are to take time off, seek the guidance from Occupational Health and, above all, keep me in the loop. Is that understood, DS Morgan?’

  ‘Perfectly, sir.’ She’d agree to anything if only he’d let her out of there, so she could get on with her damned work and find her sister.

  As though he could read her thoughts, Gregg trained his gaze on her for a long moment until she squirmed in discomfort and was forced to nod again.

  ‘I understand, sir. I do.’

  Satisfied, he nodded once and turned his attention to Mason while Adrian spoke in lowered tones into his phone. ‘So, DC Ellis,’ Gregg held the man with his stare, ‘you need a new partner, and I have just the man.’ He picked up the phone, dialled once more while a small smile kicked up the edges of his mouth. ‘Lesley, send PC Downey in please.’

  ‘PC Downey?’ Mason spluttered ‘He’s got to be all of twelve.’

  ‘He’s almost twenty-one and I think his age is irrelevant.’

  ‘He doesn’t even shave.’

  The finger Gregg had been tapping on the desk halted and pointed directly at Mason. ‘You have a new partner. Or a disciplinary. Take your pick.’

  The door edged open and the young officer who had raised his hand in the conference room peered around it, eyes blinking in a rapid flutter. His Adam’s apple did a ferocious dance in his skinny neck and Jenna wondered if he was about to turn tail and run down the corridor to find his mum. Either that or pee himself where he stood. She caught Adrian’s sly grin before his gaze slid to hers and she knew from the quick wiggle of his eyebrows he’d had the same thought.

  ‘Sir?’ PC Downey’s voice warbled as Gregg held him immobile with his sharp stare.

  ‘PC Downey. How would you like to be assigned to plain clothes for this murder and missing person’s investigation?’

  A deep red flush swept up the young officer’s scrawny neck and spread in a wild slash across his high, sharp cheekbones. ‘Yes, sir. I mean, I would, sir. It would be an honour, sir.’ He bobbed his head in short, rapid motions and Mason tapped his fingers to his creased forehead, his lips curling. Jenna could almost hear the string of fuck words reeling around his mind.

  Gregg leaned back in his leather chair and raised a hand to stop the outpour. ‘DC Ellis, take your man, teach him well. Keep your sergeant informed.’

  Expression flat and dead with none of the amusement Jenna would have expected, Mason surged to his feet and paced to the door, towering over the young PC. He cast a last disgruntled glance over his shoulder at them before he flung open the door and disappeared into the corridor beyond, leaving PC Downey to follow.

  As the door swung closed behind the new team, Gregg gave his crin
kled forehead a weary rub, his attention focused back on Jenna.

  ‘Sergeant, it’s been a long day already.’ He glanced at his watch; a quick flicker of surprise dashed through his widened eyes and Jenna checked the time on her phone. The day had hardly begun. ‘Go sort yourself out while your partner makes his plans. Keep me informed.’

  She drained her cup of coffee, it might be the last one she had the opportunity to grab for the rest of the day.

  As she made for the door, Adrian finished his phone call and trailed after her as Gregg’s voice stopped her once more. ‘Jenna.’ As she turned and met his gaze, the sympathy she’d been trying to avoid filled the slate-coloured depths of his eyes while his voice soothed. ‘I’m available to you twenty-four hours a day. Whatever you want. Get Lesley to give you my private numbers.’

  She blinked at the quick prickle of tears that threatened, while he settled back in his chair. His calm grey eyes were once again blank. The brief nod of his head dismissed her.

  12

  Saturday 27 October, 10:15 hrs

  ‘Fliss, I just don’t know how you manage to get yourself into these scrapes. Honestly, can you just, for once, try and avoid trouble?’

  Fliss watched her thirteen year old sister dab firmly at her knee with antiseptic wipes as she sat on the kitchen counter at home. The blood was thick and sluggish, and her knee hurt like hell. She’d normally swing her leg, but she held it stiff to stop the pain. The rhythmic throb of it vibrated through her pulse. It wasn’t her fault the bough of the tree had been too fragile to bear her weight. How was she to know it would snap and dump her on her knees on the patio slabs below?

  ‘You’re going to get hell from mum. She loves her apple tree, and I think you just ruined half her crop.’