Caught up in a traffic jam on the way to the hospital, Gardner received a call asking her to hold off on the post-mortem for another thirty minutes.
‘Just as well,’ Gardner said, tapping her hand on the steering wheel. ‘How long does this bloody train take?’
Gardner and Riddick, among many others, were stuck behind a barricade that had come down with very little warning. Despite being at a standstill for almost five minutes, there was still no sign of the train that had put the brakes on their journey.
Gardner gestured at The Prince of Wales public house, which was doing a thriving trade in its concrete, roadside beer garden, despite it only being early afternoon on a weekday. ‘I can see why they built this pub. Having a train cut through my town would drive me to drink too.’
Riddick smiled.
‘What?’
‘Who’s the grumpy one around here after all?’
‘Last time I checked, grumpiness and impatience were two very different things.’ The barricade rose. She looked up at the roof of her car. ‘Thank you, lord.’
‘Well, as there’s no longer a rush, there’s a Costa on the left…’
‘Most sensible thing I’ve heard from you all day.’
After parking, Riddick treated her to an extra-large Americano. She opted out of milk. He, himself, opted for a medium cappuccino. He plonked the tray down on the table in front of her.
‘Coffee in a soup bowl,’ Riddick said. ‘Counts as a gym session carrying that over! We only have ten minutes, you know?’
‘Won’t take me ten minutes.’
‘You drink that in under ten minutes, your bladder will burst.’
Gardner noticed his open wallet on the tray. There was a picture of Riddick with a woman, presumably his wife, and two young girls. She pointed at it. ‘Cute family.’
Riddick looked down at the picture and scooped it up. He closed it, lifted himself from the chair, and slipped it into his back pocket.
‘A wallet in your back pocket? Sense, man! You’re a copper!’
‘Precisely. And everyone knows that around here – so who’ll try?’ Riddick said. ‘Plus, haven’t you seen the way everyone steers clear of me like I’m the local leper?’
‘Yes.’ And it’s actually odd for someone who is quite likeable. ‘Maybe you can now enlighten me as to why that is?’ She picked up her bladder-bursting soup bowl with both hands and took a large, red-hot mouthful.
Riddick raised an eyebrow. ‘Good job we’re heading to the hospital, I hear they’re good with third-degree burns.’
‘Told you, no patience. My husband calls me asbestos mouth.’
‘He sounds romantic.’
Gardner snorted. ‘I wish! So, tell me about your family. Like I said, they look cute.’
Riddick looked away. ‘Yes.’
‘The girls a similar age?’
‘Twins. Lucy and Molly.’
‘Lovely. What they like?’
‘Total opposites.’ Riddick smiled, staring off into space. ‘One goes potty over princesses, the other loves to wreak havoc with a Nerf gun.’
Gardner laughed. ‘And your wife?’
Riddick looked at Gardner. ‘Is this our “getting to know each other” meeting, boss?’
‘Well, I suppose we best have a go at some point.’
‘Don’t be offended; never been one for talking about myself.’ He took a mouthful of cappuccino.
‘At least tell me her name?’
‘Rachel.’
‘What does Rachel do?’
He looked away. This was clearly something he didn’t want to engage with. Not wanting to give him the opportunity to wriggle out of another conversation, she said, ‘Her job?’
‘Her job is to looks after us… Me in particular!’ Riddick said, looking back.
‘Behind every great man is a great woman and all that?’
‘She’s the only great one. You have me pegged all wrong.’
Maybe, Gardner thought. One thing that I am picking up on though is that you’re incredibly down on yourself. ‘Why is there so much self-pity?’
‘I hadn’t noticed.’
Yeah, right! ‘You know Chief Constable Marsh speaks very highly of you.’
‘Just like she spoke highly of your team?’
‘Yes, that was bullshit, but I’m not fibbing about this.’
Riddick laughed. ‘Believe me, Marsh would sooner I were gone.’
‘Why would she put you on the case then? Not like murders are ten-a-penny around here. Pretty sure she wants it solved. Pronto.’
‘You like to talk, boss. Maybe you should cut back on the caffeine?’
‘Talking is good for you. Caffeine not so much.’
He took a large mouthful of his lukewarm cappuccino. ‘Never found talking much use.’
‘Jesus – you really are a barrel of laughs! You’ve a beautiful family. Thank your lucky stars. How many people can say that? Fewer than you think.’ She took another sip of her Americano. ‘I’ll tell you about mine. I have a husband, Barry, who unlike your better half, does very little for the family. However, in fairness, he does bring in a decent income… Anabelle, my daughter, is six, going on thirteen.’ She rolled her eyes.
‘Girls are like that,’ Riddick said with a smile.
‘Seems so. I’ve lost control of her wardrobe.’
‘Independence and young people. It’s the promised land.’
‘Yes. But wearing multicoloured tights to school is a land I’d prefer to avoid.’
Riddick laughed. ‘Are they coming to join you soon then?’
‘Barry is just tying up loose ends down in Salisbury, and then they’ll be up here.’
‘You must hate being without them?’ Riddick said, looking down at his cappuccino, and swilling it around his cup.
‘Yes, I hate peace and quiet.’
‘You’re investigating a murder – hardly peace and quiet.’
Gardner nodded.
Riddick looked at his watch. ‘Speaking of murder, boss, you need to speed up. Our victim will have been opened and closed by now.’
Gardner drank the rest of her bucket of coffee.