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By 7 p.m. on Sunday evening, the barbecue was just about drawing to a close, most people had started to drift away. Brett had really enjoyed it. He’d eaten loads and drunk quite a bit so he was feeling pleasantly relaxed as he lounged in a garden chair waiting for Frank Stevens and his wife to finish chatting and saying goodbye to people. They had offered to drop him in the centre of Persford on their way home. They lived in an outlying village and the quickest way was via the bypass but they insisted it was no trouble to go through the town instead.
Brett gazed at the magnificent manor style house in what must have been an acre of grounds. Piers had mentioned that they had a gardener to come in and keep it under control. It would certainly be a full-time job keeping this patch in order and looking so smart thought Brett. They’d obviously bought it many years ago before property became hideously expensive, he wondered what it was worth today, at least a couple of million he estimated. When Piers said they were having a barbecue he expected a few steaks or burgers and some salads not a whole catered affair with huge gas-fired barbecues on which you could roast an ox along with a lavish spread of cold meats, smoked salmon, salads, quiches and all manner of accompaniments. He’d been to many weddings where the food wasn’t as lavish. Well, it was a nice gesture and a yearly treat for his staff, well the more senior members along with his neighbours who were similarly well-heeled he assumed. However it hadn’t been all work talk, Brett had spent a very pleasant hour or so with one of their neighbours, a charming thirty-something woman called Annabelle. She worked at a firm of solicitors in Persford and from what Brett could tell had been divorced for about a year. She was extremely attractive, witty and presumably quite wealthy and they had exchanged mobile numbers. She suggested he might like to go with her to a party in a couple of weeks at the senior partner’s house. Brett agreed and so they had a date. He couldn’t believe it really. Could this be the start of a serious relationship, too early to tell obviously but he dared to dream?
Frank came along and said they were leaving now and apologised but his wife had got involved in discussing designs for some new bathrooms they were planning at the house. So the three of them left, thanking their hosts profusely and joking that they wished it wasn’t Monday the next day.
**
Nick had been resting most of the day and texting Mark to make sure all was organised for this evenings expedition. It had taken him a while to think of an excuse for why he needed to go out but eventually, he thought of something which he hoped Polly would accept. Over lunch, he grasped the nettle and broached the subject.
‘Mark texted me this morning,’ said Nick, nervously.
‘Oh yes, what did he want,’ asked Polly.
‘He wants me to go round to his tonight and play on his new Xbox,’ ventured Nick.
Sally looked up, frowned and looked unimpressed.
‘Do you think that’s a good thing Nick, you only came out of hospital yesterday and you need to take it easy.’
‘I need to get out of the flat, I’m going stir-crazy in here,’ said Nick suddenly realising this seemed a bit rude considering that Polly had been looking after him so attentively.
‘Charming,’ she said sounding cross, ‘had enough of me already then?’
‘Don’t be silly, but you need to have some time to yourself, have a relaxing bath, watch some TV you like,’
‘I can do all those things without you going out,’ she said. Christ, thought Nick, this wasn’t going too well.
‘Why don’t you see if one of your girlfriends is free, you could go and see a film, have a meal or something, you deserve a break, it’s been a rotten week for you as well.’
‘Hmmm,’ she said, ‘well it’s true I do fancy a bit of a break, I’ve been cleaning and washing all day,’ I could see if Libby is free, she did mention a good film that’s on at the moment. I’d have to check the times as I’ll need to drive you round to Mark’s and collect you afterwards.’
‘No, that’s not necessary, Mark said he’ll pick me up and drop me back here, it won’t be a late night so I’ll be back before you anyway.’
Polly continued to eat her lunch. There was an awkward silence where Nick was willing her to agree.
‘OK then, I’ll ring Libby, sounds like a plan. But no beers remember!’
‘Of course not nurse, he said which raised a slight smile on Polly’s lips. ‘There won’t be any beer as..’ and he hesitated, he’d been about to say that Mark was working, ‘as Mark’s going to have to drive me back here,’ he added, thinking thank goodness he’d not spoiled all that build up and negotiation.
‘Good, I’ll be checking to see if I can smell beer on you,’ she added.
‘You can check me all over when you come back if you like!’ he added grinning. That earned him a slap with the oven gloves.
‘Oooo, mind my bruises,’ he joked.
‘I’ll get some fruit,’ replied Polly.
Phew, thought Nick to himself. He would text Mark whilst Polly was clearing the dishes, they were all set, the difficult part would be waiting for 7 p.m.
**
Detective Sergeant Walters found himself being slightly irritable with his children on Sunday. He was preoccupied with this drug factory which he felt sure was probably at this very moment in operation in Persford and he wanted it closed down. He was keen to start the working week and just hoped that on Monday they would get some information from the library IT specialist about anyone who had been searching for the synthesis of street drugs. A colleague had phoned him to say that on Saturday night they spotted someone dealing drugs in a side street near one of the nightclubs in Persford. The dealer scarpered but they arrested the purchaser, a first-time offender. He admitted buying angel dust, that is PCP and had been told that there was a ready supply, so it was looking as though the supply had started to hit the streets. There was no CCTV in the side street, presumably why it had been chosen for the business transaction. The buyer gave a description of the dealer but it didn’t ring any bells with the police force in town. It seemed as though new players were on the scene. Wayne had been right, the problem was the police were one step behind and trying to play catch up.
