By eleven o’clock Downes’s finest malt had worked its magic, making all the stress of the past week just float away. She had not meant to drink, but one glass led to two, and they were both mellowed, enjoying each other’s company and the fact they were not sitting at home, alone. In the background soft jazz played, a testament to Downes’s eclectic taste in music.
‘I’ve missed this,’ Downes said, stretching lazily on the sofa. He rested his sock-covered feet on Ruby’s lap in the way that only close friends could. In jeans and a T-shirt, he appeared a younger version of the man who rushed around the office muttering under his breath. ‘Is it safe to say we’re back on an even keel?’
The ice cubes clinked in her tumbler as Ruby swirled the honeyed liquid. ‘I’d like to be,’ she said, her eyes still fixed on her glass, ‘but how can I trust you if you’re waiting to trip me up?’ She sighed as she took in his puzzled expression. ‘I know you were ear-wigging on my meeting with Tweedy Steve.’
‘Jesus, Ruby, have you got eyes in the back of your head?’ He threw her a roguish smile, his expression turning serious as he caught the uncertainty in her eyes. ‘Everything I do is out of concern for you. I go to sleep, and all I can see is your face. I can’t. . .’
‘What? Can’t what?’ Ruby said, the last shred of annoyance dissipating.
Downes shook his head. ‘I’m an old man, I shouldn’t be getting myself tangled up with the likes of you. I just think it’s time you sorted yourself out and ploughed your energy into your job.’
‘But that’s not up to you, is it?’ Ruby said. ‘I decide what’s right for me.’ Silence fell between them and her tone softened. ‘But you’re right, it’s time I figured out what to do.’
‘Ach, you can’t ever leave the job. It’s in your blood. And as much as you throw a blind eye to the Crosbys’ shady dealings, I know it sickens you inside. These are the very people we’re fighting the war against.’ Jack leant forward and, picking up the decanter, topped up their drinks. ‘Maybe you’re right, you’ll have to make a decision. I just hope for your sake that it’s the right one. That team of yours would walk over broken glass if you asked them to. Can you say the same about the Crosbys?’
They fell into silence, their thoughts heavy. Ruby sank back a mouthful of her drink. ‘Do you really think Nathan’s responsible for those girls’ deaths?’
Downes shrugged. ‘I’ve been working long enough in this job to be able to look at it dispassionately. You’ve got the biggest heart, and if it was me in trouble you’re the first person I’d want in my corner. . .’
‘But?’ Ruby said.
‘Sometimes you need to step back and focus purely on the evidence. Nathan’s no stranger to violence, and I’m worried that all this fairy-tale stuff is diverting you from what’s really going on.’
‘But the doctor. . .’ Ruby said, too tired to be annoyed.
‘The doctor worked for them in the past, and he’s doing so now,’ Downes said. ‘Can’t you see? They placed the evidence under Nathan’s bed to distance themselves from his crimes. It’s very clever when you look at it, but a ploy nonetheless.’
‘I’m not going to argue, I just feel so guilty sitting here in comfort while there’s a murderer on the loose.’ She swallowed, the remnants of her drink feeling bitter in her mouth.
Downes clamped a hand on her knee and briefly gave it a little shake. ‘Don’t you worry, we’ll get Tanner in. Worrow will have my balls as earrings if we don’t.’
Ruby chuckled. Despite their disagreements, it was great to be back on good terms again.
The minutes ticked by. Downes hummed to some incomprehensible jazz tune Ruby had never heard of.
‘How are you? Everything alright?’ she asked, trying to play down her concerns. Jack was a proud man. He did not accept help easily despite the fact he spent half his life dictating to her.
Jack’s humming stilled. ‘You saw, didn’t you? The stuff belonging to the missus – you saw it when you were snooping around upstairs.’ The words were said with a strained smile.
‘I wasn’t snooping,’ Ruby took another sip of whiskey. ‘I was looking for some painkillers in the bathroom cabinet when I came across her stuff. And then when I came out of the hall, your bedroom door was open and. . .’
‘And you thought you’d take a little peek inside to see what I was hiding. Did you think I had another woman or something?’
Ruby shook her head; apparently too quickly for Downes’s liking, given his frown.
‘Because you didn’t think an auld fellow like me would be able to pull again?’
‘Because I thought you were too much in love with your wife to let her go,’ Ruby said sadly. ‘And that’s nothing to be ashamed of. Not many people experience such commitment in their lives.’
‘But you’re about to tell me that it’s time to move on?’
‘No, if having your wife’s things in the house gives you comfort then where’s the harm?’
‘It’s been over a year,’ he sighed, his eyes taking in the ornaments that were obviously chosen by her – the collection of crystals, the matching ballerinas, the floral curtains with matching pelmet that went out of fashion years ago. ‘I had the electrician round the other day. People just presume she’s still alive.’
Ruby cupped the back of his hand. ‘Well, they will do, won’t they?’
‘I tried. Bagged up all her stuff for charity and put it in the hall. Every day I told myself that I was too busy to donate it. But when I went to bed at night the room just felt so bare. The only thing that could get me to sleep would be a few drinks. . .’
‘And a few drinks turned into a bottle a day?’ Ruby asked.
‘Yeah. I became so dependent that I couldn’t get through work without it and, well, you know the rest.’
Ruby remembered how his drinking habits had worried her. The smell of whiskey on his breath, the flash of the silver hip flask, and the packet of mints he’d consume during the day. Then there were his bad tempers and crumpled clothes. It had taken a lot of willpower for him to detox and find his way back.
‘So one day you had a dig at me for drinking at work. Something just clicked. I came home and threw out all my booze, unpacked Debbie’s stuff and put it all back.’
‘But you’re OK to drink now?’ Ruby said, feeling guilty for coming round.
‘I’m not an alcoholic but I was heading towards it, so, I’ve made a pact – I only drink in company.’
Ruby shrugged. ‘I guess it’s better than being permanently pissed.’
Downes returned her smile. ‘I’m not going to risk my pension so close to retirement. I’ll leave all the risky stuff to you.’
‘Why, Jack Downes, I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,’ Ruby said, her eyes twinkling as she spoke.
‘I think you keep me young,’ he said. ‘I wake up in the morning, and I think, what’s she going to get up to today?’
Ruby laughed. It was the first time that Downes had ever acknowledged her rule breaking as anything positive. ‘Spice of life,’ she said, wondering if he’d be still laughing if he heard about what she’d got up to with Sharon. He shifted position and cosied up beside her, taking the empty glass from her hand. His skin was warm and comforting to the touch. Ruby’s heart jolted in her chest; she knew what was coming next.
‘We don’t have to part ways here, you know,’ he murmured. ‘There’s a spare bed all made up, but if you prefer. . .’
Ruby knew what he meant but when work wasn’t occupying her thoughts, her head was consumed with Nathan. Lately, she had renewed hope that they could get back together and Nathan might be able to play it straight. She was not going to do anything to jeopardise that. She straightened her posture. Downes was good for her, and she would have enjoyed a night of comfort in his arms. Strong and rugged, he was just the medicine to finish a bad day. But it wouldn’t have felt right, not anymore.
‘Thanks, but I’m shattered,’ she said, truthfully, rising from the sofa. ‘If you want, I can come back after work and help you pack away Debbie’s things?’ It was the best she could come up with. . . extending her friendship when she had nothing left to give.
Jack nodded. ‘Sure, that would be grand. You can help me sort what’s of use and what’s not.’
‘Here’s to new beginnings,’ she said, taking her glass and raising it one last time.
‘New beginnings,’ Downes said.