by Rachel Ward
Now he stopped. He took his hands out of her clothes and held both her shoulders. ‘Sorry,’ he said. ‘I just . . . you’re so lovely, Bea.’ He kissed her again, tenderly, and she knew everything was okay. He listened to her. He was a good man. She was a lucky woman.
The fireworks had stopped, but they could just see the orange glow thrown out by the massive bonfire at the far end of the rugby field.
‘Good fireworks,’ Bea said. ‘And this was the perfect place to see them.’
‘Were there fireworks?’ said Tom. ‘I didn’t notice.’
She pretended to hit him. ‘Silly. Come on, let’s go.’
They held hands again as they walked back by the lake and the brook, then negotiated the stile and followed the path to the car park. As they got nearer to the rugby ground, they could hear the crackle from the fire as it sent sparks spiralling up into the dark.
‘I love this time of year,’ said Bea.
‘Me too.’
Again, Tom opened the passenger door for Bea. While he was walking round to his side, she did a quick check in the passenger mirror – hair and make-up were in pretty good nick considering. She ran her finger under her eye to fix some smudged eyeliner.
‘Shall we go to yours?’ she said as he started the engine.
‘My flatmate’s in. Bit awkward,’ he said.
‘We can’t go to mine. Maybe eventually, but not . . . ’ Not on a first date. She didn’t need to say it out loud.
‘It’s okay. I know somewhere.’
He eased the car out of the car park and headed away from the town centre. It only took a few minutes to move from suburbia to country lanes. No streetlights. No other cars. He pulled off the road onto a farm track, tucked the car into a gateway and killed the engine.
‘We’ll be fine here,’ he said.
‘Here? In your car?’
‘In the back. More room there.’ He could see the doubt on her face. ‘It’s all right. It’ll be fine.’
He leaned over and released her seat belt.
Later, they lay in each other’s arms. Their clothes were mostly still on because it was so cold. Tom was on the seat, but Bea was half on him and half hanging in mid-air. She wrapped her legs round his in an effort to stop her falling bum first into the gap behind the front seats.
‘This feels so right,’ Tom said.
Bea, clinging on for dear life couldn’t bring herself to agree. ‘Mm,’ she said.
‘Everything. Coming back to Kingsleigh. Meeting you again. It’s all perfect. It’s like it was meant to be.’
Bea’s underwear, which she’d hitched up to stop her bare arse getting frostbite, was digging in to the top of her leg. She wriggled round a little but that made it worse.
‘Well, some things could be better,’ she said. ‘We need a place to go.’
Tom smiled. ‘We’re all right here, aren’t we? It’s going to take a while for me to get my own place. Need to get a promotion first.’
‘Is that on the cards?’
‘I want to get out of the uniform.’
‘Ooh, steady.’
‘No, I mean permanently. I want to be a detective. Detective constable. Then sergeant.’
‘How do you do that?’
‘You can apply, but if I could feed the squad some useful stuff it might help. You know, to do with this murder case. They need all the help they can get, as far as I can see.’
‘Do a bit of detecting yourself?’ Could Tom be another partner in crime-solving? She couldn’t see him teaming up with Ant.
‘Yeah. Information gathering. Local knowledge.’ He paused and then said, as if the thought had just come to him, ‘Is there anything you can think of at Costsave? People acting oddly?’
‘Haha, they’re all pretty odd at Costsave, trust me.’
‘Yeah, but is there anyone who makes you feel uncomfortable? You know what I mean?’
‘Well,’ she said. ‘There are some people who worry me more than others, but I don’t—’
‘Anything you can tell us could be useful. We’re talking about murder here, Bea.’
‘I know.’ She took a deep breath. ‘There’s a guy in Stores. Dean. He’s on the fiddle – at least I’m pretty sure he supplied the local kids with eggs from the store at Halloween. I don’t know if he’d attack anyone, but he’s pretty sleazy.’
‘Okay. Anyone else?’
‘No. I don’t know. I’m not even sure about telling you about Dean.’ And she wasn’t sure, at all. In fact, it felt like she’d done something very wrong. She’d stop there before she did any more damage.
He stroked her hair. ‘It’s okay. I’ll treat everything as confidential.’
She shivered again.
‘I’d better get you home,’ said Tom. ‘Before you catch your death.’
17
The clear Bonfire Night skies had led to an icy cold morning. Bea was trying to hurry across the rec but the path was caked with frost, and slippery. She was late, having spent five minutes too long getting her hair and make-up just right. If Tom just happened to call in to Costsave today, she was damn well going to look her best – megalashes, pillar box red lipstick, perfect foundation with a hint of shimmer. She was looking down, being careful where she put her feet, so didn’t see Ant cycling up to her until he skidded to a halt.
‘Careful!’ Bea shouted.
‘Ha! Sorry! Brakes are all that good. Not too clever when it’s icy.’
He climbed off and wheeled the bike around, falling in beside her.
‘Why didn’t you pick up my call last night?’ he said.
Bea sighed. ‘I was on a date, Ant. I just wanted a night off.’
‘With that copper,’ he sneered. ‘That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.’
‘I know you don’t like him, but, honestly, Ant, what’s it got to do with you?’
‘I like you, Bea.’ He coloured up and she started to smile. ‘Not like that. Not that you aren’t – oh, fucking hell – we’re mates, aren’t we? You’ve been really good to me. I’ve appreciated it.’
‘Yeah, course we’re mates. So?’
‘So, I wanted to tell you some stuff, stuff that a mate would tell you.’
‘About Tom?’
‘Yeah. You see, I’ve been doing my research. The people we agreed I’d suss out.’
‘You had Bob, Lee and Dave.’
‘Yeah, I know and I’ve got some stuff on them. Do you want to hear it?’
‘Yes, of course, but—’
Now Ant was off. ‘So,’ he said, ‘turns out Bob is a bit of a handyman. He does odd jobs for little old ladies, his customers.’
‘Half a pound of sausages and a shelf putting up?’
‘Something like that. He’s changed some light bulbs for a woman in our street, and one of my nan’s friends had him put up a fence that had blown down. He’s some sort of knight in shining armour to the old biddies of K-town.’
‘Let’s walk and talk. We’re cutting it fine already. Okay, so that’s why he’s got all those tools in the boot of his car.’
‘’Zactly.’
‘Who knew? Doesn’t mean he isn’t our man.’
Ant tipped his head sideways. ‘I think it shifts him down the list though.’
‘Yeah, maybe.’
‘Lee at the Leisure Centre seems like a good guy, too.’
‘Yeah?’
‘Volunteers as a footy coach for the under-elevens. Got a Duke of Edinburgh gold award at school too, whatever that is.’
‘Oh, still that doesn’t mean—’
‘ . . . that he’s not our man. No, I know.’
They were passing Kevin’s mum’s bungalow now. Bea looked at the front of the house. The curtains were drawn. No lights were on.
‘I haven’t got anything on that Dave, though,’ Ant said. ‘No one knows him or knows anything about him. But I have got something on Tom.’ Ant screwed up his face.
‘So? Spit it out.’
‘Ah, Bea, I d
on’t know how to tell you.’
They’d entered the High Street now. He turned away from her.
Bea was starting to get impatient. ‘Just tell me.’
‘Okay.’ He turned back to face her, and his face was so serious she felt a stab of anxiety under her ribs. Whatever was coming, this was for real. ‘Word is, he didn’t choose to come to Kingsleigh. He was moved. Inappropriate behaviour. He wasn’t charged with nothing, it was all hushed up.’
‘So what did he do?’
‘He had sex with a woman while he was on duty. He banged her instead of arresting her. That’s what they’re saying anyway.’
Bea tried to process his words. She didn’t like them, wanted them not to be true.
‘But no one really knows,’ she said, clutching at straws. ‘It’s just gossip.’
He held his left arm out wide, while still holding on to the bike with his right hand. ‘I got no evidence, if that’s what you mean, but that’s what everyone’s saying.’
‘Who’s everyone?’
‘People I know who live over in Carlswood where he was based.’
Bea shrugged and puffed out some air. ‘It’s gossip, Ant.’
‘There’s something else.’
They’d stopped walking now, and were standing by the crossing over to the Leisure Centre. Ant scuffed at the ground with his scruffy trainer.
‘Go on,’ said Bea.
‘Has he told you he’s single?’
‘Yeah. No. He hasn’t actually told me.’
‘You haven’t been to his place, though, have you?’
‘No. He said his flatmate was in and it was awkward.’
‘Yeah. Yeah, it would be. He lives with his girlfriend . . . and their little boy.’
Without thinking, Bea raised both hands and shoved Ant in the middle of his chest, so that he let go of his bike and staggered backwards. Both he and the bike hit the metal railings.
‘Oh, fuck off, Ant. That’s not true. You don’t like the guy, I get that, but you don’t need to make stuff up about him. That’s just sick.’
Ant got his balance again, but stayed hunched down holding his arms up in front of him as protection.
‘Bea, I haven’t made it up, I swear. I know you like him. I didn’t want to tell you, I just wanted you to know what you were getting into.’
‘So why not tell me before I went out with him?’
Even as she said it, she knew she was being unfair.
‘I tried. I even came up to your place last night, but I was too late. You didn’t see me. And then I rang.’
She stepped back from him, her arms limp at her sides.
‘But you’ve only had one date, haven’t you?’ Ant continued. ‘So if you wanted to just walk away, it’s no biggie. Right?’
‘Right,’ she said, numbly.
Ant unwound his arms and peered at her. ‘I’m sorry, Bea. I really am.’
‘Yeah. Whatever.’
‘But it’s all okay, isn’t it?’
She didn’t reply and Ant pressed his hand to his forehead.
‘At least it would all be okay if you hadn’t done the deed,’ he said. ‘Bea—’
She needed to get away. She barged past him into the road without looking. There was the screech of tyres as a four-by-four hit its brakes. Ant grabbed his bike and ran after her, waving their apologies at the driver.
‘Bea, what can I say?’
She blanked him. He darted in front of her, peering at her face.
‘Bea, I’m so sorry. The guy’s a scumbag.’
‘Just leave me alone, Ant.’
‘I never wanted to upset you.’
‘Honestly, I just need some space.’
‘Bea—’
‘Fuck off, Ant! I fucking mean it!’
She carried on walking at a furious pace – maybe if she was quick enough she could leave all this behind her. Ant followed at a safe distance, all the way to Costsave. By the time he’d locked up his bike she’d disappeared upstairs into the women’s toilets.
She shut herself in a cubicle for a long time. She didn’t want to cry, but somehow her anger and humiliation combined to spill out of her in unstoppable hot, fat tears. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and felt angrier still at the grey, diluted mascara smearing her skin. She was a mess.
When she’d stopped crying, she emerged from the stall and used wipes and tissues from her bag to clean her face. As she peered into the mirror above the sinks, she was painfully aware of the lack of Dot. If only she was here to commiserate.
She couldn’t think of anyone else she’d like to confide in – although maybe a cuppa with Hermione at lunchtime would fit the bill. After a final inspection in the mirror, she walked along the corridor to the offices. Anna’s desk was empty. Bea tapped tentatively on Gavin’s door.
‘Is Anna in?’
Gavin looked up from his desk. ‘Ah, Bea!’ he said. ‘No, she’s going to be away for a few weeks. Come in.’
Bea went into his office and stood near the door. ‘What? Has something happened?’
‘She’s got a secondment to Head Office, working on our national staff database. She spotted it on the website and asked if I’d recommend her.’
‘It’s all a bit quick, isn’t it? She never said anything.’
He was holding his biro between his first two fingers and tapping it against his thumb. His desk seemed tidier than ever.
‘They needed someone straight away. It was right up her street. I didn’t want to lose her so suddenly, but I didn’t want to stand in her way. As you know, staff development is very important to me.’
‘Wow, well, good luck to her, I suppose. She’s coming back, though, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, she’ll be back. But it does leave me with a problem. And I was wondering whether you’d be able to help out, Bea.’ He stopped tapping his pen and pointed it towards her.
‘Me?’
‘You know I see potential in you. You did a great job with the spinathon, everyone said so.’
Bea narrowed her eyes, half-knowing what was coming next.
‘So, I wonder if you’ll fill in for Anna for the next three or four weeks.’
‘Full-time in the office?’
‘Not quite full-time. Neville and I will cover the confidential stuff. But you could do the routine data entry, dealing with leave forms, sickness reports, all that sort of thing.’
‘I’m not sure about the computer systems. Not sure at all.’
‘There’s a very clear manual, and central IT have a very good helpline.’
‘I don’t know, Gav. I’m happy on the tills, and we’re already struggling with Dot in hospital and, you know, Ginny.’
‘Let me worry about the staffing. Did I mention the honorarium for acting up? Extra responsibility. I haven’t worked it out, but it’ll be about £200 a month.’
‘Seriously?’ Bea thought of Queenie’s disappearing benefits. The money would definitely come in handy. ‘Can I think about it?’
‘Of course. Give me your answer at the end of the day.’
Bea made her way down to her checkout. Now that she might be leaving it for a while she savoured the start-up routine; switching on the till, logging on, wiping the screen, the keyboard and the conveyor belt, checking for bags, a quick squirt of hand sanitizer and she was ready. Kirsty was next to her at Dot’s till.
‘Have you heard about Anna?’ Bea said.
‘Yeah, looks like she’s headed for big things.’
‘Bit sudden, though. Had she said anything to you?’
‘No. P’rhaps she was keeping it under her hat until it was all agreed.’
‘Maybe.’
The store was open. Bea could see Smelly Reg making a beeline for her till. His familiar twang reached her several seconds before he did. Maybe there’d be some advantages to working upstairs in the office!
Halfway through the morning Bea noticed a couple of police cars pulling into the car park. They stopped in the di
sabled bays nearest the front door. Tom was one of the officers getting out and she felt herself going hot and cold. She didn’t want to see him. Couldn’t deal with him. Not yet. Perhaps she could make a break for the loos and stay there until the coast was clear.
‘Look at that,’ her customer said. ‘They’re after someone.’
Bea turned around and saw Tom and three other uniformed guys jogging round the side of the store. A ripple of excitement spread across the shop floor. Bea carried on bleeping the shopping in front of her.
‘You’ve missed a two for one on these tissues. Do you want to go and fetch another box?’ she said.
‘Oh. I don’t know. I’ve got all this packing to do.’
‘Don’t worry. I’ll get someone to fetch it. Ant!’
Ant was staring out of the front window, his giant foam finger by his side.
‘Ant!’
Her voice startled him and he looked round, then sauntered over.
‘Can you fetch another box like this, please?’ She held up the tissues.
‘Yeah. Okay. Did you just see that outside?’
‘There was nothing to see, was there. Not really.’
Ant whistled through his teeth. ‘There is now. Oh my days – they’ve got someone.’
Everyone in the shop turned to the front window, and watched as Dean from Stores was bundled into the back of one of the patrol cars.
‘Dean? Oh crap,’ said Bea, but no one heard her above the sudden screaming from the wines and spirits aisle.
‘Oi! That’s my son!’ Eileen tore past the checkouts and skidded out of the front door. She slammed her hand against the front window of the police car. Officers got out of the car behind and went up to her, trying to talk to her and then physically moving her away from the front car, which moved off slowly and left the car park. She was still shouting, trying to shrug them off. Neville left his post at the customer service desk and went to join them. He stood at the edge of the group, trying ineffectually to make himself heard. Eventually, the constables let Eileen go. Neville spoke to her, but she turned away angrily and headed back into the store. There were thunderclouds above her head as she steamed towards the back door.
