by Jay Gill
Rayner was finding it difficult to know where to start. “Hardy and I were working crazy hours. A multiple-murder case, as usual. I remember it was particularly nasty. I’m trying to think of the guy’s name – Richter, Edward Richter. That’s the guy. Real sick bastard.
“Anyway, this guy had us working all hours. Richter was really going to town on his victims. Hardy and I just couldn’t find enough hours in the day. We were desperate to stop him. He just seemed to be one step ahead of us the whole time. It was as though Richter knew what we were thinking. We wondered at the time if he had someone inside the department feeding him information. You know, giving him the heads-up on our progress.
“We thought we might never get a break in the case. We felt like we were getting close, but not close enough. We’d been working a few days back to back, and Hardy was ready to drop. We both decided to take a break. Go get some sleep. Spend some time with family. We agreed we’d take a couple of days off. Hardy was going to surprise Helena and the girls.”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Rayner smiled as he recalled the moment.
“Hardy and I both decided it was best to ease off a little and let the information we’d gathered sink in. Recharge our batteries, then continue.
“Hardy’s kids were young back then. I think Alice had been at school a couple of years and Faith was just getting ready to start. I love those girls. It still hurts to remember what they went through, losing their mother the way they did.
“I can remember it like it happened only yesterday. We were just packing up to leave when out of the blue Hardy gets a phone call. I can still see his face and the fear in his eyes. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it.
“We rush over there and find Helena in the street. I’m pushing everybody back. Hardy is ahead of me, and I tell everyone to get back, get back. Hardy is down beside her, holding her. Holding her so tightly. Comforting her. Screaming for an ambulance. Helena was down, pressing on her wound. Hardy’s hand was over hers. He was talking to her. Telling her, ‘Everything is okay. It’ll be okay.’
“The tone of his voice changed as he realised she couldn’t hold on. I remember him saying, ‘No, don’t leave me. Please, Helena, don’t leave me.’
“All I could do was stand and watch as she slipped away. My best friend’s world came crashing down right in front of my eyes, and there was nothing I could do. It broke him. I’ll never forget the look he gave me. He wanted to die. He wanted to go with her. It was the worst day of my life.”
Rayner’s eyes were full of tears. He was quiet while he composed himself, putting away all the information he had unpacked so he could continue.
Emma put out a hand and stroked Rayner’s arm. “I’m sorry. Truly I am. It wasn’t just Hardy’s life that changed that day.”
Rayner forced a smile. He wiped away his tears with bear-like hands. His voice breaking, he said, “Isn’t it strange how memories can stay so vivid? You think you’ve got your emotions under control, but of course they’re still there, just below the surface.”
He blew his nose with a tissue and continued. “Hardy was left a widower, and Alice and Faith were left without a mother. He needed Helena. We all did. When I think of Helena and Hardy, I understand what it means to be soulmates. That’s what they were: soulmates. For a long time, Hardy wasn’t himself. How could he be?”
“How did he change?”
“He threw himself into his work, working day and night. We caught the filth that killed Helena, a piece of crap called Tony Horn. It wasn’t hard to track him down. It brought Hardy no comfort, of course.
“Eventually, after an anonymous tipoff, we took down Edward Richter and put him away. And I thought Hardy was going to slow down. Take some time to mourn and be with Alice and Faith. But he jumped straight back into another case, then another. He didn’t give himself time to adjust after each case. No downtime. He was full on. Fortunately, his parents were around, and for a while they picked up the pieces. They stepped up and helped with Alice and Faith. Alongside Monica, of course, whom you must have met?”
Rayner smiled at the thought of Monica and added, “If Helena was Hardy’s soulmate, then who says lightning never strikes twice? Monica was an angel sent straight from heaven. I know it sounds twee, but with Monica by his side, he found his way back to the land of the living. I truly believe that.”
“Tell me about Tony Horn.”
Rayner’s eyes went cold. “He’s a junkie lowlife and first-rate liar. Do not believe a word that comes out his mouth. He says whatever he has to say in order to save his own neck. He has convictions for burglary, aggravated assault, theft, robbery, dealing – a list as long as your arm. Always looking for cash for his next fix. The day he ran into Helena she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He tried to snatch Helena’s bag, but she wasn’t having any of it. She held onto it and refused to give it up, so he pulled a knife. She fought back, and the piece of shit stabbed her. He’s now serving life in prison. I hope he’s having a hard time. I really mean that.”
“Is there anything else you know about Horn or Helena that you think I should know? I don’t see how any of this relates to Lyle. Did she have any connection to Tony Horn?” asked Emma.
“She could just be messing with your mind. She’s one crazy bitch. My advice is to go speak to Horn but take everything he says with a pinch of salt. The guy is a loser. A dead end.”
She decided not to tell Rayner she had already visited Tony Horn in prison.
They talked for a while longer. Rayner was interested in how Hardy was getting on. He felt bad he hadn’t visited his old friend, even though he knew Hardy wanted space. A chance to find himself, a chance to settle into his new life. But he knew once he and Hardy got chatting, the conversation would inevitably turn to talk of Scotland Yard and his ongoing investigations. Rayner, being a friend, hadn’t wanted that. He’d wanted his buddy to enjoy his new life without thoughts of murder investigations.
But now Rayner knew Hardy was back on a homicide case of his own.
“I’ll be down in Dorset soon,” he told Emma. “I need to visit Hardy Senior. I hear his heart attack was nasty. It’s also about time I visited Hardy and the girls. How are they all holding up? I spoke to Monica very briefly and passed on my love. She said Hardy Senior was making good progress.”
“James is shaken up, of course. Everyone is. From what I know, he’s doing okay. He will probably open up to you more than me. If I’m honest, I still feel like a bit of an outsider.”
“He’ll get used to you. Give him time. He has a hard time letting people in, but he’ll come around. From the way you handle yourself and from what you’ve told me, I get the feeling he trusts you – although you can’t see it yet.
“Look, if there’s anything you need, call me, day or night. If Hardy trusts you, I trust you.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Lyle found her parking space beneath a large green magnolia tree whose blossoms had long since fallen. She checked her hair in the rear-view mirror. She was a redhead with blue eyes today; she was always a redhead when visiting Mother.
She introduced herself to the receptionist as Kelly Allerton and waited in the seating area a few minutes before being taken to her mother’s room, where she found her in distress about someone or something that Lyle didn’t quite understand.
In a soothing voice, Lyle comforted her, shushing her the way one would calm a child.
“Your mother is a real sweetheart,” said the nurse. “We love her dearly. She does get like this from time to time. It seems she’s hoping her husband, your father, will visit her soon and whisk her away for their honeymoon.”
Lyle continued to stroke her mother’s hand. “He’s dead. Thank God,” she said. Without looking up, she said, “You can go now, nurse.”
The nurse shrugged, pulled a face, mouthed the word “Bitch” and left the room.
Lyle called after her, “Shut the door behind you.”
For the ne
xt long while, she sat with her mother. She read to her, brushed her hair and told her stories about what she was doing, how well the business was doing. She asked her mother how well she was being treated, but it became clear her mother thought she was at boarding school, not a care facility.
Lyle got out the photo album and they flicked through pictures together. She pointed out photos of herself as a young girl and her mum and dad holding hands and smiling.
“There were some good times too,” she said, as much to herself as to her mother. “I remember this day; do you remember it? We went to the shops together and we both bought new dresses for the summer fair. That was a hot day – I remember you bought us both ice creams and they were melting all over our hands before we could eat them – we had to rush to finish them. Do you remember, Mum?”
Her mother smiled and nodded. “I don’t like Melvyn. Not Melvyn,” she whispered.
Lyle wrinkled her brow. Who was Melvyn, and why didn’t her mother like him? She leaned in closer to ask the question, but her mother had drifted off again.
She sat and watched her mother as she slept. She was no longer the woman in the photos, the young mother full of joy. Things should have been different, for both of them.
A big man carrying dinner swung open the door; his presence filled the room.
“Wake up, Mrs Allerton!” he boomed. “Your din-dins is here. Come on, wake up.” Then, not having noticed Lyle in the chair, he muttered, “You don’t want to sleep away what little time you have left, now, do you?” He stepped forward and gave a start as he noticed Lyle. “Hello there. Nobody told me Mrs Allerton had a visitor today. Who might you be?”
“Her daughter. I’m guessing you’re Melvyn.”
“Has someone been talking about me?” He tapped his name badge, which read Melvyn Barclay. “That’s me, in the flesh. All of it – one too many pizzas.” He chuckled heartily at his own joke.
Theresa Allerton was awake now, and Lyle watched as her eyes followed Melvyn around the room. Her mother recoiled slightly as he put down the dinner tray and pushed it in front of her.
“Here you go, Mrs Allerton. You’ve got fish and vegetables tonight.” His eyes flicked towards Lyle. “It’s your favourite, isn’t it?”
Her mother didn’t say anything. She watched Melvyn.
“All right, well, I’ll leave you to it. I’ll be back in a little while to collect the tray and bring you a nice hot cup of tea. We’ve got apple pie for dessert as well. You’ll like that. I’ll put a little scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for you. See you in a bit.”
Lyle got her mother comfortable and helped her start her dinner. “I will have to go very soon, Mother,” she said as she sliced up the piece of fish. “There is someone I need to go and see.”
“Where’s your husband? I haven’t seen him in ages. Where are your children? My grandchildren – where are my grandchildren?”
“I’m not married, Mother. You know that.”
Her mother’s brow creased with sudden anger. “Who would have you? Who would have a useless bitch like you?”
Lyle felt herself tense; those were the words she’d heard her father use about her mother. The screaming filled her head. The sound of the punches, the sound of a chair screeching across the kitchen floor as Mother tried to get away.
“I love you, Mother. I’ve really got to go. But I’m going to come back again very soon.” She leaned over and gave her mother a kiss.
On her way out, Lyle took a look around. There was someone she wanted to have a word with before leaving. It didn’t take long before she spotted Melvyn and a skinny young woman smoking outside a set of glass doors in the recreation area.
Melvyn saw Lyle and leaned in towards the young woman to say something, a half-smile on his face. The young woman sniggered and nodded. They watched as Lyle came closer, both feigning disinterest and wearing smug smiles, as if they had some sort of upper hand.
Lyle pushed open the glass door. She marched up to Melvyn and got her face up close to his. His back was up against the wall. She took another step and pressed her chest against his. Now toe to toe, he could feel her hot breath on his neck. As his bravado evaporated, he found himself forced to look away.
After an uncomfortably long silence, Lyle turned her head and looked at the skinny girl. “Samantha Dickson.”
The skinny girl touched her name badge and nodded. “Yes?”
“You and I will have words another time – that, I promise you. Right now, though, you can go.” Lyle turned and looked at Melvyn again, then addressed Samantha once more. “I need a serious conversation with your friend Melvyn.”
Samantha looked at Melvyn and then at Lyle. She dropped her cigarette, crushed it out with her foot and scuttled off as quickly as she could.
Lyle pressed herself even closer to Melvyn. “You so much as lay a finger on my mother again and I will cut you up into chunks. I will cut you into pieces and put you through a meat grinder. Then, I’ll bag you up and send you to Battersea-fucking-Dogs’ Home, where those sorry-looking dogs will eat you up and shit you out. Do you understand? Nod your head for me if you understand.”
Melvyn nodded.
She pressed a finger into his fleshy cheek until his lips puckered and said, “Good. And if I hear your girlfriend, Samantha, or anyone else, has laid a finger on my mother or even says anything I think might upset her, I will go after them, and then I’ll come after you too. Do you understand? Nod for me if you understand.”
Melvyn nodded again. He could feel himself sweating uncontrollably.
“Good boy. From now on you’re going to be my mother’s guardian angel.”
Lyle reached into Melvyn’s trouser pocket and pulled out his packet of cigarettes and cigarette lighter. Keeping her face next to his she put the cigarette in her mouth and lit it. Melvyn squirmed and tried to turn his face further away. He could feel the flame of the lighter and pictured the hot tip of the cigarette next to his face. She inhaled deeply, then blew the cigarette smoke directly into his face. “Not a finger, Melvyn.”
He nodded once more. “I understand.”
She took a few steps back and watched as he stood up straight. Pathetic.
“From now on, Melvyn, you’re to be the poster child for every member of staff. If they step out of line, I’m coming after you. I want you to start taking a regular bath as well. You stink.”
Melvyn nodded again and whispered, “Whatever you say.”
“Open your mouth for me, Melvyn.”
He looked at Lyle and, with only a moment’s hesitation, did as he was told.
Lyle took the cigarette from her mouth and turned it before placing it in his mouth.
“Good boy. Now finish your cigarette and enjoy the rest of your break.”
Chapter Forty-Nine
Dave Howes was feeling pleased with himself. He hated confrontation and was happy with the way he’d stood up to Emma.
Getting her back in the sack had been a bit of luck. His only concern now was whether Rebecca would find out. He thought it very unlikely that the two women would ever speak, so he quickly put it to the back of his mind.
With little traffic on the A31 New Forest dual carriageway, Dave kept his foot pressed on the accelerator. It would be at least an hour’s drive to Rebecca’s house in Southampton, and he wanted to get there as soon as possible. He thought he should let her know he was on his way. Recalling his night with Emma had put him in a playful mood, and he wanted to remind Rebecca how much he loved her.
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his mobile phone. Balancing it on his thigh, he found Rebecca’s number and hit Call. He picked up the phone and put it to his ear.
Rebecca didn’t answer, so he left a message. “Hi, Becks, it’s me. I’m on my way. Sorry it’s all taken so long. You know how Emma can be. She made things really difficult. It got so late that, rather than drive back at night and disturb you, I ended up sleeping on a mate’s sofa. Anyway, Emma and I straightened things
out. I’m all sorted. I got all the stuff I wanted, and I’m on my way over. I never need to see her again. Love you. Did you miss me? I’ve been thinking about you. A lot.”
A silver Volvo came up close behind Dave’s car. He didn’t notice the car until it pulled around him and came up alongside with its blue lights flashing.
He dropped his mobile phone onto the passenger seat. He was well over the speed limit and immediately took his foot off the accelerator.
“Damn it. Shit.”
Shock and fear surged through his body. The police car remained level, and Dave turned to look at the officer at the wheel. She waved a hand to indicate he should pull over.
He pulled over onto the hard shoulder and slowed to a stop. The unmarked car pulled in behind him, its blue lights still flashing.
Reaching across to the passenger seat, he switched off his mobile phone. He opened the glovebox and tossed it inside.
In his mirrors, he watched the police officer making notes. Then the officer got out of the Volvo and walked up to the passenger side of his car. He opened the window.
The traffic officer leaned over and looked in. “Good evening, sir,” she said.
Dave replied casually. “Good evening, Officer. Did I do something wrong? Is everything okay?”
“You were recorded driving in excess of the national speed limit. You were also driving while using your mobile phone. Licence and insurance, please.”
He passed the officer his driver’s licence and explained that his insurance was at home.
“Come with me,” she instructed him. “I need to run some checks. We need to fill out some paperwork. Step this way.”
He followed the officer to her car. She motioned him into the passenger seat.
“This shouldn’t take long,” she said. “I just need to run through some paperwork and then you can be on your way. You will, of course, receive a fine and six penalty points on your licence. If it were up to me, it would be an instant disqualification, but there you are. It’s not up to me.”
