by D. R. Bailey
“It was,” Imogen chuckled, “Then our receptionist called him a cock head in Spanish.”
This was met with a fresh bout of mirth from Brogan. After which he became serious.
“So, he’s been threatening you, has he? What a fucking fuckmuffin. It needs thinking about though, this. Can’t have people like him interfering with the justice process. It’s not right.”
Whatever Brogan might be, he passionately believed in following due process. When it came to the ultimate fate of criminals, however guilty they may be or not, he relied upon the courts to give the decisions. He was a firm believer in fairness, and in the justice system itself. Interference of this nature was, to him, unthinkable.
The mains arrived, and the conversation moved on to other topics. Bernadette asked him how his star unit The Foxcatchers was doing, and he talked about some of their recent cases. He complimented the steak and said how much he had enjoyed it. Bernadette was pleased as he was a very likeable man, and he obviously liked good food.
“Well now,” he said once they had all finished, “I’ll see if I can take care of this little issue for you. Stop that little fucker in his tracks once and for all. Do us all a favour in fact and get him off our fucking backs.”
It seemed he had been turning the problem over in the back of his mind while they had been eating and discussing other things.
“What are you going to do?” Bernadette wondered.
“Oh, nothing untoward, don’t worry. But let’s just say everyone slips up from time to time, especially MP’s and perhaps there’ll be someone there to discover it when he does. He’s been a pain in the backside for months, and this is the last straw. You’re doing the decent thing defending an innocent man by all accounts. I don’t hold with that sort of underhanded dealing. It stinks. It’s interesting to watch how hard they fall the higher they are.”
He wouldn’t say anymore, or exactly when, but Bernadette felt reassured he would do something. Brogan was known for being as good as his word, she knew that much.
“Well, if you can get him to leave us alone, it would be good, not that he was going to stop me from doing the right thing.”
“I’m sure but you don’t need this kind of thing hanging over you. Just leave it with me. If he bothers you in the meantime, don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you.”
“Glad you called me and thank you for the glorious lunch. I think this was mutually beneficial all around. Not to mention your very pleasant company.”
“Would you like some dessert or coffee?”
“I would love it, but I won’t, thanks. I’ve got to watch my waistline. Plus, I’ve got a meeting to go to, alas. So, I’ll have to love you and leave you both. Nice to meet you, Imogen.”
“It’s our pleasure.”
They both gave him an affectionate hug, as it seemed to Bernadette they were now on those terms.
“We’ll do this again,” said Bernadette.
“Absolutely, just say the word.”
Brogan smiled, called up his driver and left the restaurant with a cheery wave goodbye.
“He seemed nice,” said Imogen as they resumed their seats.
“He’s a good sort, and it’s handy to have friends like him in the Garda.”
“Yes, indeed, but you don’t think he’s going to…”
“What? Plant drugs on him or something? No, I doubt it. Jack has an impeccable record. He’s not going to ruin it. However, he seems to have ways of pulling strings, and so let’s not worry too much about Kavanaugh.”
“No, I feel better already.”
“Me too.”
“Shall we have a coffee?”
“Yes.” Bernadette called the waiter over. When he had gone, she said, “Eve wants to get a maid’s outfit.”
“Really? Do tell?”
“She wants to do roleplay. I think she might be getting one this week for our Shibari session.”
“Let me know how it goes, I might get one for D’Arcy.”
“The naughty maid gets spanked I suppose,” Bernadette giggled.
“Variety is the spice of life.” Imogen smirked.
“I’m sure, I’m surprised you haven’t got one already.”
“I did think about it. I’ll ask Eve where she gets hers from.”
“Has Eve…” Bernadette said lightly, venturing onto the forbidden ground of the wedding.
“Ask no questions, get no lies,” Imogen admonished her, “Also you don’t want me to tell Eve you’ve been prying.”
“Oh, good God no, I’ll be upstairs naked with my hands on the bedroom wall again. Not that I didn’t enjoy it last time.”
“If you want me to drop you in it then, just say,” Imogen said laughing.
“No, no, not this week anyway. I don’t want Eve to think I broke my promise.”
“Yes, you’ve had enough drama for a while I’d say.”
“And I’d say you’re right.”
They both laughed. Bernadette’s relationship had been a bit of a roller coaster ride at times, but she wouldn’t change it for the world or Eve.
✽✽✽
When they got back to the office, Bernadette had not been long at her desk when Imogen came in.
“You will never guess what,” Imogen said brimming with news.
“Sit down, tell me!”
Bernadette moved to sit on the sofa next to Imogen and looked at her expectantly.
“We’ve got the prehearing date on Friday, I just heard from the court.”
“What?” Bernadette was slightly flabbergasted. These types of cases were usually much longer in terms of elapsed time than that.
“I know, it’s a bit strange, don’t you think? I spoke to them before and they said it would be weeks. Suddenly they said, oh no, a gap opened up in the schedule and it’s to be Friday.”
“Hmm, I think someone is possibly interfering behind the scenes,” said Bernadette with a frown.
“What, you don’t think?”
“Kavanaugh, yes I do. He’s obviously trying to wrong foot us now, because we won’t cooperate. If he pushes the proceedings up the agenda then he thinks we won’t have enough time to prepare,” Bernadette said crossly.
“More fool him then, because actually, we are pretty much ready for the prehearing conference at the very least.”
“Yes, it actually suits us to push this a bit harder, you’re right. Although I am sure now, he’ll push them to have a hearing as soon as possible.”
“You don’t think he’ll try to influence?”
“You’re thinking he’ll try to get a judge who will favour the extradition, aren’t you,” said Bernadette pursing her lips.
“It crossed my mind, now you’ve said that I think it’s a distinct possibility.”
“Fuck! Well, I would seriously hope he can’t do so, but even if he does, judges are quite a cantankerous lot and they don’t take kindly to being told what to do by anyone in my experience.”
“I hope you’re right.” Imogen looked worried.
It was true, Bernadette reflected, the choice of judge could influence a case and its outcome. No matter they were supposed to be impartial some were known to be more lenient than others, and sentences could certainly vary as could judgements.
“He is trying to load the dice against us, it’s pretty clear. I’ll tell you what, I will call Brogan and drop this one in his ear.”
“Oh goodie, can I listen in?” said Imogen eagerly.
“Why not?”
Bernadette retrieved her phone and dialled Brogan up on speaker. He answered almost at once.
“Bernadette,” he said with a smile in his voice, “To what do I owe the pleasure of this call? I mean, we only just spoke not an hour or two ago.”
“I hope you don’t mind, but I wanted to run something by you,” she said tentatively.
“Of course, go ahead, what’s up?”
“It’s about
Kavanaugh.”
“I thought it might be but carry on.”
She detected a slight note of rising tension in his voice but persevered.
“We just unexpectedly got our prehearing for the Callum cased moved up to Friday. On the pretext that an opening came up. But we’re a little suspicious of it. We are wondering if perhaps Kavanaugh might be able to influence something like that, and also perhaps influence the choice of judge? What’s your view? I’d be interested in your thoughts.”
There was silence from the other end of the line. Bernadette looked at Imogen and wondered if Brogan was still there. They were not to know, unlike his colleagues who were used to his ways, that this was simply a precursor to an imminent explosion. It was not long in coming.
“What do I think?” he said furiously, “What do I fucking think? I’ll tell you what I think. That never a more villainous fucking scum bastard walked the earth than that jumped up overpaid idle interfering fucking moron! What a fucking nerve of the man. What a tossbag flimflam piece of work. An absolute fucker of a man, a turdball of the highest fucking order and then some. Abusing his fucking privilege left right and fucking centre. It makes me so mad, I tell you, so fucking mad, I could drink an entire bottle of single malt, which I won’t of course and don’t tell my wife I suggested it…”
As they could tell he was blazing angry, the last part was wholly unnecessary. Since they didn’t know his wife either, it was unlikely they would divulge such an intention.
“Anyway,” he said in much calmer tones, “I think you’re right, it’s exactly what the tool moron is up to and no mistake.”
Both of them were unused to Brogan’s unusual turn of phrase and expressions which were unique to him and his style. Far from being intimidated, they found it quite amusing.
“So, do you think he can influence the choice of judge?”
“Oh, undoubtedly to an extent, although if I know the judges, and some of them are almighty bags of wind, I can’t imagine they will take kindly to being told what to do. No indeed.”
Brogan’s opinion of the justices of the land was apparently not very high.
He continued, “Met more than my fair share at these fucking do’s I have to go to, you know. Blasted memorials and conferences, and waste of time fucking functions. The only good part about them is the food and drink. All the fucking judges are there, fuckers that they are most of them. Pompous fucking arses. I can’t see them being happy to have that jumped up shitbagging pussball pushing them around at all.”
“That’s good to know at least,” said Bernadette smiling at Imogen who was suppressing a fit of the giggles.
“Anyway, this is all you know, under the radar, between yourselves and me, mum’s the word.”
“Of course, naturally.”
“Good, good, well anyway, all the more reason to find something on this fucker, yes indeed,” Brogan mused, as much to himself as them.
“Can I ask you something else?”
“Yes, of course.”
“There’s an operation going on at the moment, to investigate Balik Transport. We think that’s where the Vietnamese women were put onto the truck which went into the UK. It’s being run by DS Olivia Thompson. Although it doesn’t seem to be getting too far as we understand it. The evidence from that might be very useful to the case, you see…”
She let this idea float to see what Brogan might do with it.
“Is there indeed? Well, I wasn’t aware of this, but now I am I’ll make some enquiries myself and see if I can’t put a rocket under a few people.”
“Thanks, much obliged if you could.”
“Not to worry, as I said, happy to help. It’s a mutual cause and beneficial to us both to get the tossbag out of our hair. Bear with it for the moment if you can.”
“Thank you, Jack, we really appreciate it.”
“My pleasure, any further developments, you let me know.”
“I will.”
“Bye.”
He disconnected and Bernadette shot a triumphant look at Imogen.
“He’s certainly a useful ally,” said Imogen, “If he really can neutralise Kavanaugh.”
“I wouldn’t underestimate Brogan by all accounts, and maybe I should suggest inviting him and his wife to our wedding.”
“Yes, why not.”
“Good, well, we’ve got to prepare for the conference on Friday, but I think we should also go down and tackle Andrew about the PA. He’s had enough time to think about it.”
“Yes, let’s do that. We’re on a roll after all.”
The two of them made their way to Andrew Bond’s office. He was typing nineteen to the dozen as usual in front of his computer, with a desk strewn with paperwork, receipts and files.
“Oh, it’s the gruesome twosome come to plague the life out of me again,” he observed without looking up or stopping what he was doing.
“And we love you too,” said Bernadette sliding into a seat.
“Oh, come on, Bernadette, you know you only come here when you want something, and now I’ve got it in stereo.”
“If you’re referring to my gorgeous and beautiful junior partner then…”
“Right, I guess you’re not going to disappear, so fine!” He stopped work and turned to face them. He was wearing a blue pinstriped shirt without a tie for a change.
“You’re looking remarkably casual.” Bernadette smiled, knowing he took pride in his appearance.
“Well, it’s nothing, I’m just busy, don’t need to wear a tie when there are no clients to see,” he said defensively.
“She’s just teasing you, softening you up, Andrew darling,” said Imogen.
“I know exactly what she’s doing and don’t you start on the Andrew darling business.”
“Goodness somebody got out of bed the wrong side today, or perhaps Jessica gave him the cold shoulder,” Bernadette quipped.
“My personal life is none of your affair,” he said tartly.
“Ha! She had a go at him, I’m sure of it,” Imogen giggled.
He looked a little deflated at this.
“As it happens, we did have words,” he admitted, “Fair ruined my day it has.”
“Ah, poor Andrew, tell Aunty Bernadette what happened,” Bernadette said turning on her most sympathetic voice. In truth, she had a huge soft spot for Andrew no matter how much she teased him.
“Well, it was nothing really, I mean, it’s just that she had her hair done you know, yesterday, and well, I didn’t notice. Then when she asked me, I couldn’t see anything different. She had got a new outfit and everything.”
“Oh dear.”
“Anyway, she’s out today buying new plates to replace the ones she smashed on the floor.”
Jessica was known to have quite a temper on her. Bernadette wasn’t surprised to hear this. She was very Irish in that respect and incredibly fiery and volatile.
“I suppose she hasn’t forgiven you?” she said gently, seeing there was genuine chagrin in his face.
“No, and I did get the cold shoulder last night just as you said, made my own breakfast this morning, and she’s not talking to me at the moment.”
“But she told you about the plates?”
“Well yes, she texted me.”
“Then she is talking to you and of course, she feels contrite, but you will have to make the first move,” Bernadette told him sagely.
“God I’m so useless in that department, always have been,” he said helplessly.
“Flowers, buy her the biggest bunch you can afford, put a sorry card in it and have it sent right away.”
“Then, buy her some chocolates too,” Imogen added.
“Oh, she’s not fond of those.”
“Lingerie then, works a treat.”
“I wouldn’t know where to begin.”
“Well, let us take you shopping, darling,” said Bernadette, “We will help you choose some.”
�
�But… but I’ve got all this work to do.”
“Trust me, your relationship is far more important.”
He sighed. “Oh fine, OK, just give me half an hour then.”
“Make sure you order those flowers,” Bernadette admonished him.
“Yes, yes, of course, I will. Anyway, what did you actually come down here for?”
“Well, we’re wondering about that PA, you were looking at figures, we talked about it?” Bernadette said.
“Oh that, yes fine, I looked at the numbers, Alison is clocking up far too much overtime, and another PA makes sense, so go ahead. I’ve got some amounts for salary ranges, and so on I will email them to you.”
“Great, thanks, right well, we will leave you to it and come back in half an hour by which time you will have ordered those flowers am I right?”
“Yes, yes I will, just go away,” he said smiling, “And thank you, both of you.”
“It’s our pleasure, you see, we do love you to bits really.”
He sighed again and turned back to his computer.
“Flowers,” Bernadette said as they slipped out of the door.
“Poor soul,” said Imogen, “Married to a redhead.”
“I’m sure D’Arcy would concur,” Bernadette said wryly.
“We’re not quite married yet.”
“No, but you will be.”
“Yes.”
They reached the kitchen and got themselves some coffee.
“While we’re at the lingerie I might as well pick something out for D’Arcy,” said Imogen.
“I had the same idea,” Bernadette laughed.
“Great minds think alike.”
“Indeed, they do, darling, indeed they do.”
✽✽✽
When Bernadette got home, Eve was at the door to greet her.
“OK,” said Bernadette, accepting her kiss, “Just how did you know I had got home? More of your witchery is it?”
“I wish I could say that to keep you guessing, sweetheart,” Eve laughed, “By I saw it on the CCTV. I was in the living room drawing and there you were.”
“Sure, of course. I might have guessed.”
They had CCTV and a new entry system installed courtesy of D’Arcy when they were handling her case. Her ex-boyfriend had become threatening and dangerous, D’Arcy was concerned for their safety. She had insisted on putting in the security system.
