Chapter Six

Approaching his house, Matthew immediately noticed there were no lights at the windows. Knowing Rebecca should be home and trying to quash the paranoia that had been his constant companion since the accident, he stepped on the accelerator, bumped the car over the building site that passed for a drive, and screeched to an abrupt halt.

Apprehension overriding any police training to err on the side of caution, he threw himself out of the car, rammed his key into the lock, and thrust the front door wide.

‘Becky!’

‘Here,’ Rebecca called from the lounge, sounding perfectly relaxed.

Thank Christ. His heartbeat returning to somewhere near normal Matthew started breathing again.

‘What’s up, guys?’ Trying to sound casual, he went on in and walked around the sofa, to find the two ladies now in his life each end of it, feet tucked up, a popcorn bowl between them, and the TV paused.

‘Film night,’ Rebecca reminded him, around a mouthful of popcorn. ‘We started without you.’

‘Ah, right.’ Matthew winced inwardly, realising he’d forgotten. ‘Sorry.’ He ran a hand wearily over his neck. ‘I—’

‘Got detained?’ Rebecca gave him a despairing glance. She was smiling though, in that way she did that told him he was a hopeless case but that she might just forgive him if he grovelled sufficiently.

‘Sorry,’ Matthew mouthed again. His eyes flicked towards Ashley then, who, while not totally at ease yet and still hiding behind her hair if she got nervous or embarrassed, certainly seemed at home. That’s good. Matthew smiled quietly. It would take time before she was fully comfortable around them, he was aware of that. Aware also that, as his child protection and safeguard training dictated, he should be careful of not invading her space, emotional or physical. It might make things a little awkward sometimes, but support was what she needed, a caring environment. With patience, they’d get there eventually, hopefully.

‘So what are we watching?’ he asked, giving his wife an appreciative glance, who, with her fiery auburn hair splayed about her shoulders and wearing one of his shirts over her leggings, looked frustratingly tempting.

‘Taken, One and Two,’ Ashley supplied. Then, one hand groping for popcorn, she pointed the remote and pressed play. ‘Liam Neeson,’ she added, dropping the popcorn into her mouth.

‘Great.’ Matthew nodded tolerantly. He wasn’t so sure he was as big a Neeson fan as the ladies appeared to be, though.

‘Have you eaten?’ he asked, over the action on the screen.

‘No,’ was the reply twofold.

‘We’re starving,’ Rebecca informed him as both girls dipped simultaneously into the popcorn bowl.

‘So I see.’ Smiling wryly Matthew headed for the kitchen. ‘So, what do you fancy? I could grab something out of the freezer, if you—’

‘Pizza,’ Rebecca interjected decisively.

‘Pizza’s good,’ Ashley concurred, obviously bearing in mind Becky’s comments regarding his dubious skills in the culinary department.

‘No takers for home cuisine then?’ Matthew asked, turning back.

‘Uh, uh,’ was the definitive answer.

‘A lesser mortal might be hurt, you know?’ Matthew did his best to look wounded. ‘A man’s ego is a very fragile—’

‘Shhhhh.’

‘Right.’ Matthew eyed the ceiling. ‘Double pepperoni with extra mozzarella?’ he enquired after his and Rebecca’s usual preference.

Ashley paused the film again. ‘Erm?’

Matthew glanced curiously at her. ‘Is that okay with you, Ashley?’

Ashley shrugged. And then, there she went again, dropping her gaze, the hair flopping over her face.

‘Ashley?’

Ashley shrugged, not over-enthusiastically. ‘Yeah, it’s fine.’

But clearly not that fine. Matthew read the body language.

‘How about vegetable feast with garlic bread?’ he offered, guessing teenager plus food might possibly equal fad.

Ashley looked up to beam him a smile. ‘Cool.’ She nodded happily.

Definitely progress, Matthew decided. She should smile more often. Obviously she didn’t realise it, but she was extremely pretty. Hopefully, with a little persuasion, she’d come out of her shell and be the confident young woman she should be, instead of cowering at the hands of a bully.

Instantly reminded of Sullivan, like the man didn’t dog his thoughts every minute of every day, the images of Lily didn’t haunt his every waking night, Matthew vowed to do something, whatever it took, to stop him preying on vulnerable young people. People like Ashley, who would stand no chance in his evil clutches.

Right then, determined to help her enjoy some family time, Matthew headed for the hall, thinking it would probably be quicker to collect the pizza than have it delivered. ‘Back in ten,’ he called behind him. Then, realising all eyes were glued to the screen, he shook his head and let himself out quietly.

Ashley waited for the front door to close, then, ‘He’s all right, isn’t he?’ she commented, glancing sideways at Rebecca.

Rebecca glanced enquiringly back at her.

‘Well, obviously I think so.’ She nodded, thinking Ashley might be seeking reassurance. Ashley didn’t know Matthew, but she liked him. That was plain to see. With her family background, though, Rebecca supposed she might find it difficult to easily trust people.

Ashley nodded thoughtfully in turn. ‘A bit like Liam,’ she said.

Puzzled, Rebecca blinked at the screen where Liam the action hero was busy scaling rooves to rescue his daughter. ‘Well, he is tall, I suppose,’ she conceded. ‘I’m not sure he looks a lot like him, though.’

‘No, I didn’t mean in looks. I meant he’s, um, considered,’ Ashley clarified, unfurling her legs, planting her feet on the floor, and tucking her hands under her thighs. ‘He kind of weighs things up, thinks things through. You know?’

Rebecca thought about it. ‘Yes. Yes, he does. It’s his job I think, plus …’ She glanced hesitantly at Ashley again, wondering how much she should confide. A little, she decided, on a need–to-know basis, ‘… he’s had some heartbreak in his life,’ she explained carefully. ‘I think that makes him more sensitive to people’s feelings.’

Ashley turned to fix her gaze on Rebecca’s, her huge, rich cognac eyes awash with such uncertainty Rebecca’s heart slipped a little inside her.

‘Do you love him?’ she asked bluntly.

Rebecca smiled. ‘I do, absolutely. He’s a good man, Ashley.’ She reached to give her shoulders a reassuring squeeze. ‘You’ll be safe here, I promise.’

Ashley nodded again, looking a little less troubled.

‘I’ll get us a drink while we’re waiting for pizza,’ Rebecca suggested, getting to her feet. ‘Coke?’

‘Please,’ Ashley said. ‘Rebecca,’ she stopped her before she got to the kitchen door. ‘Can I ask you something else?’

Rebecca turned back. ‘Ask away,’ she said. ‘We don’t keep secrets.’

‘How come you don’t have any children of your own?’

Rebecca’s heart stopped then, literally skipping a beat inside her.

‘We did have,’ she said, and breathed. ‘A little girl. Her name was Lily.’ Rebecca waited for the familiar feeling of grief to wash over her. ‘She would have been eight now. We lost her in a car accident.’

Sadness like a lead weight in her chest, Rebecca waited, hoping she hadn’t told her too bluntly, too soon. Wouldn’t not telling her now she’d asked be tantamount to lying though?

‘She died?’ Ashley looked so stricken Rebecca had to work at holding back the tears. She simply nodded. She couldn’t trust herself to speak just then.

‘That’s terrible.’ Ashley’s eyes filled up. ‘Do you miss her?’

‘Every minute of every day,’ Rebecca answered honestly. ‘I still carry her, though. In here.’ Mustering up a smile, she pressed a hand to her heart.

Ashley nodded slowly. ‘I do that,’ she said quietly. ‘A friend,’ she added quickly as Rebecca glanced at her quizzically. ‘She died too, but I feel her sometimes. You know, like you said, inside.’

Looking her over, Rebecca swallowed hard. God, what must this poor child have been through in her short life?

‘Are you going to have another baby?’ Ashley asked, stopping Rebecca as she took a step back towards her.

Oh. Caught off-guard, Rebecca’s cheeks flushed at that. ‘Yes.’ She smiled, a touch embarrassed. ‘Well, we’re trying.’

Ashley nodded, again. Clearly she was also one to weigh things up. ‘Sorry about your little girl,’ she offered, after a pause. ‘That must have been really shitty.’

Ahem. ‘It was,’ Rebecca agreed, ‘for Matthew too. I’ll go and get that Coke.’ Feeling very close to tears now, Rebecca turned back to the kitchen. She wasn’t sure she’d done the right thing, but maybe confiding in Ashley was no bad thing. It might be a way of breaking down a few barriers, getting Ashley to share a little more, too. ‘By the way, you can call me Becky, you know,’ she called from the kitchen. ‘All my friends and family do.’

‘Okay,’ Ashley called back, and then attempted to shush Emily, who was practically bursting with excitement.

I told you. I told you, she said, jigging around the room and clapping her hands. They like us.

Me, Ashley thought determinedly. They like me. You’re … not … here.

Duh. Glancing down, Emily swept her hands over the outline of her body. I am, actually.

Aware of Rebecca in the next room, and desperate to be seen as normal, doing what normal kids did, Ashley tried to ignore her.

He is nice, isn’t he? Emily sighed dreamily. Really handsome.

‘Shut up, Emily,’ Ashley scowled.

She probably won’t let him keep us though. Not now they’re having a baby.

‘They’re not,’ Ashley snapped, irritated, because that, in fact, had been the first thought that had flashed through her mind.

Yes, they are. She just said so. They won’t want us if they have a brand new baby of their own, will they?

‘Emily,’ Ashley hissed, ‘will you please shut the fuck up!’

‘Ashley?’ Rebecca came back into the room, tray in hand and her brow knitted confusedly. ‘Who were you talking … Oh, my GOD!’ The tray hit the floor with a resounding crash, as something thudded violently against the patio doors.

‘Becky!’ Ashley launched herself at her, as the apparition splatted heavily against the windows again. ‘What is it?’ she screamed.

Oh God. Oh God. ‘I’m not sure.’ Rebecca’s panic escalated as the creature bashed at the glass, frantically flapping and clawing. And then, it stopped, as suddenly as it had started. Everything was still again, so quiet, Rebecca was sure she could hear her heart beating.

Staring petrified at the large picture windows and seeing nothing beyond them now but the impenetrable ink-dark of the night, she hugged Ashley tight.

‘A b-bird,’ she stuttered, gulping back her own terror. ‘It’s just a bird, Ashley. It’s all right.’

The hairs standing on the back of her neck, Rebecca almost cried with relief, as she realised that that must be what it was. A poor bird had lost its way. Damn workmen. Three times she’d asked them to fix that patio light before they’d gone bust. Matthew would need to bump it up his To-Do list quickish.

‘Come on,’ she said, giving Ashley another reassuring hug, ‘let’s draw the blinds, put the fire on, and tuck up together on the sofa until Matthew comes back.’ Who would be duly despatched again to check for dead bodies, she didn’t feel it prudent to add.

‘So how did it go last night?’ Matthew asked Steve, who was yawning widely as he climbed into the car the next morning.

‘Huh?’ Steve scratched his head, clearly the worse for wear.

‘The wedding rehearsal,’ Matthew reminded him. ‘I thought you were checking out the church, making sure the vicar didn’t think you were too much of a sinner?’

‘Oh, yeah.’ Steve nodded. ‘Good. I managed not to mess up. Lindsey was well-pleased.’

Matthew smiled, noting the slight flush to Steve’s cheeks and the rumpled appearance, which possibly meant the man had dressed in a hurry.

‘I take it you two celebrated afterwards?’

Steve looked a touch bashful. ‘Yeah, we did a bit.’

‘A lot, judging by the state of you.’ Matthew started the engine. ‘I hope you’re up to the job, Detective Sergeant, if you’ll forgive the pun?’

‘’Course I am. A good strong cup of caffeine and I’ll be good as new. Haven’t got any of those strong mints you keep in here, have you?’ Steve reached for the glove compartment. ‘So, had any more thoughts on how we nail Sullivan? We seem to be hitting brick walls whichever way we …’ Trailing off, Steve stared into the glove compartment and then turned his gaze warily to Matthew. ‘I see you have.’

‘Have what?’ Matthew glanced sideways at him.

‘What the fuck is this?’ Reaching into the glove compartment, Steve retrieved the several wraps of heroin therein, and Matthew’s heart sank like a stone.

‘Are you serious?’ Steve asked, now looking at Matthew astounded.

‘Just some insurance, should we need it. Forget you saw it.’

‘Happily,’ Steve replied, stuffing the wraps back in the glove compartment and banging it shut.

‘Have you got those addresses I asked you to dig out?’ Matthew asked despondently, changing the subject.

‘Yes,’ Steve answered shortly, ‘sir.’

On a scale of one to ten for contempt, that was way off it. ‘Have you got something you want to say to me, Steve?’ Matthew asked him bluntly.

‘I don’t bloody believe this.’ Steve laughed incredulously. ‘Yes, I’ve got something to ask you. What are you planning to do with it? That’s if you don’t mind sharing, of course. I mean, I’m only your partner, after all.’

Matthew slammed the heel of his hand against the steering wheel. ‘He killed my daughter! I’m desperate to see him go down, you know that. If finding a stash of heroin in his car is the only way I can get him into custody, then that’s the route I’m prepared to take. Hopefully I won’t have to use it – but it’s there should I need it.’

The two men exchanged glances. Steve’s expression was sympathetic, but not entirely convinced.

Matthew prided himself on being an honest cop – in all his years on the force he’d never broken or even stretched the law – but Sullivan got under his skin and Matthew knew that with the drugs bust and Tony Hayes breathing down his neck, Sullivan was a powder keg just waiting to explode. He’d taken the drugs from the police store as a fallback position if he needed an excuse to arrest the lowlife. But he realised a drugs stash in the car might drop Steve squarely in it. ‘You didn’t see it. If anyone asks, you have no idea what they’re talking about. Whatever happens, I’ll back you.’

‘Oh, well, that makes me feel a whole lot better. I’m about to get married, Matt.’

‘I know. Steve, I … Bloody hell!’ Narrowly avoiding cutting someone up at the roundabout, Matthew swerved and braked hard. ‘Watch where you’re going, can’t you! Prat,’ he growled at the driver, unfairly.

‘Or killed,’ Steve muttered. ‘Definitely sacked.’

‘Steve, just forget you saw it, okay?’ Frustrated, mainly with himself, Matthew ran a hand through his hair. ‘Look, Steve, I’ll get it sorted, okay? I’ll take it back to the police store.’

‘Right.’ Steve’s expression was back to scathing. ‘Look the other way, you mean?’

‘Yes.’ Matthew kneaded his forehead. ‘No.’ He sighed, realising how that sounded.

‘You’re not giving me a lot of waggle room, here, Matt.’ Steve sighed in turn. ‘Make sure it’s booked in today, okay? Or we’ll both be stuffed.’

Matthew breathed out, relieved. ‘Thanks,’ he said. ‘I’ll return the favour.’

‘Not that one you won’t.’ Steve nodded again towards the dashboard, unimpressed. ‘For the record, though, I know you would cover my arse. That’s the only reason I’m turning a blind eye.’

Matthew’s mouth curved into a small smile, guessing that was Steve’s way of telling him they were still a team.

‘So,’ Steve said gruffly, after a moment, ‘what’s the actual plan then, now we’ve established you haven’t taken leave of your senses?’

‘I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Steve.’ Matthew looked grave. ‘I’m still working with you, aren’t I?’

‘Funny.’ Steve’s mouth twitched into a reluctant smile. ‘The man is funny.’

Matthew felt a huge surge of relief flooding through him this time. He would trust Steve with his life. He needed Steve to know he could do the same. ‘We pay Sullivan’s girls a visit,’ he supplied, ‘all of them. Talk to them. Hope they can give us some kind of lead regarding his drug activities, distributors, couriers, drop points. Something around what happened to Brianna. We might get lucky.’

Which wasn’t likely. They’d been down this route before: customs under surveillance, eyes on Sullivan and the suppliers. Result: nothing. Finally, the drugs squad had got one of their own on the inside, but she’d need time to gain the cretin’s trust, gather enough information to warrant going that same route again. Meanwhile, if Sullivan got even a sniff of it, that would be it, game over. The chances of any one of his girls giving him anything to work with were slim to nil, but Matthew had to at least try.

‘And if we don’t get lucky?’

‘DS Collins is undercover,’ Matthew reminded him. ‘She might get something. That’s not going to happen anytime soon, though. I need a way of bringing him in now.’

Steve’s gaze strayed to the dash. ‘I can see why some people would be tempted to have a Plan B,’ he said, glancing again at Matthew.