Thankfully Jack arrived home in good time. Penny was waiting for him, about to take a bath and get ready for her evening out.
Jack dumped his briefcase in the hall, threw off his leather coat and went straight up to see Hannah. She was in the play area of her bedroom, with a small TV on and so many toys littered around her that it was like an obstacle course just to go and pick her up. He played with her for a while, then when Penny called out that it was free, Jack carried Hannah into the bathroom.
Jack ran the bath as he undressed Hannah. He tested the water before putting her into the bath, piled high with foam as he had overdone the bubble bath. Hannah was quickly covered in bubbles, splashing around and having a wonderful time. He washed her hair, which caused a few tears as she got soap in her eyes. But he was able to calm her down as he used one of the big bath towels to wrap her up and take her back to her bedroom. He rubbed her hair dry, covered her in talcum powder, and found some fresh pyjamas, whilst Hannah wriggled and chattered away. Penny popped her head round the door to let him know that she was leaving. Hannah began screeching that she wanted her nana, and Jack had to promise that he would read three bedtime stories after making a special eggy bread supper.
Maggie arrived home about an hour later. She hurried into the kitchen as she could hear Hannah shouting. Jack had his shirt sleeves rolled up and had managed to get talcum powder in his hair. He was now attempting to whisk another batch of egg and milk together, as he had burnt the eggy bread on his first attempt.
Maggie kissed Hannah, who was trying to escape from her highchair, and gave Jack some tips on how to make the perfect eggy bread. ‘She had it for breakfast, so I’ll see if we have some nice cookies or maybe add honey.’
Jack eventually got the hang of it and cut the eggy bread into slices, poured some honey over it, and put it on Hannah’s high-chair tray. She ate eagerly, and Maggie left them to it while she had a quick shower. She had been on her feet all day, and was tired out. By the time she came down, Hannah had eaten all of her eggy bread, had downed a glass of milk and was now ready for her promised three stories.
Maggie ordered a Chinese takeaway, set the table and opened a bottle of wine. She went to the bottom of the stairs and listened to Jack reading aloud from Hannah’s favourite book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, smiling as she heard him do all the funny voices, then she almost laughed out loud when she heard her daughter demanding, ‘Again, again . . .’ Jack began to read the story again and Maggie went and poured herself a glass of wine. She fetched her handbag so that she could be ready to pay for the takeaway delivery, but in the end she couldn’t resist going back upstairs.
Standing outside the bedroom, she peeked through the partially open door. Hannah saw her and began shouting ‘Mama!’
Maggie went in and kissed and cuddled her daughter, then told Hannah that daddy and mummy had to go downstairs to have their dinner. Hannah was having none of it and demanded that Maggie read her a story. Jack told her firmly that she had already had her promised three stories, and it was time for her to go to sleep.
The doorbell rang and Maggie told Jack that her purse was in her bag on the table in the hall. He went downstairs and paid the delivery boy, then went into the kitchen to lay out all of the cartons. By the time he had warmed the plates, Maggie was back.
‘She’s asleep,’ she said with a smile. ‘I was worried you wouldn’t get home in time. You weren’t answering your mobile this morning, so I spoke to Laura.’
‘I know, I’m sorry. I switched my mobile off for my meeting this morning and forgot to turn it back on. Then I was in the boardroom with the team, and I left it on my desk.’
Maggie sat down at the table and began spooning out noodles and rice onto her plate, then beef, chicken and some crispy duck.
‘I think I over-ordered!’ she said, pouring herself a glass of wine.
‘Well, I’m starving. It’s been a busy day. Thank goodness Laura reminded me about getting home this evening.’
‘I thought you might be trying to avoid me or had run off with a young beauty,’ Maggie said with a pout.
‘Ha! Chance would be a fine thing! I’ve been up to my ears in this Rodney Middleton case. To be honest, I’m beginning to think I’m just creating more work for myself. If I’d just taken it through to the trial, it would be over and done with.’
Maggie watched Jack eat huge mouthfuls of noodles, whilst talking at the same time.
‘Well, I had a heavy-duty day, too,’ she said. ‘We are totally inundated at the moment, and really short of beds. There are patients being left on trolleys in the corridors while we try and find room for them, and we’re short staffed as usual, down three nurses and two doctors. We’re all completely run off our feet.’
Jack nodded sympathetically.
‘This new DCI is a real pain, too. He’s obsessed with every little thing being reported back to him, and we have to use this bloody CRIS system so he can monitor where we are at all times. I mean, with Ridley we just used to mark it up on the noticeboard. Anyway, just as I was leaving, I was told that I have to be in tomorrow, having not had a weekend off for weeks.’
‘Same for me . . .’ Maggie poured herself another glass of wine then topped up Jack’s glass.
Jack took a mouthful then continued. ‘What if I’m misjudging him?’
‘You haven’t actually told me all that much about it. We’re like ships passing in the night at the moment. What’s he like?’
‘He’s about six feet two, very trim; he obviously works out. He was one of the first black officers to be fast-tracked. He has impressive credentials.’
‘No, not your new boss! The boy who’s been arrested.’
Jack sighed. ‘Well, I haven’t actually interviewed him yet.’
Maggie heaped more fried rice onto her plate, as well as some beef noodles. ‘So, what’s the problem?’
‘It’s just my gut feeling, Maggie, that something isn’t right. He seems to have been able to use mental health issues to avoid a custodial sentence for his previous assaults, but as far as I can see, none of the psychiatrists running around after him can work out what’s wrong with him.’
‘If you’ve not interviewed him, how can you be sure there’s more to the whole thing than meets the eye?’
‘I’m not!’ Jack said abruptly.
Maggie had never seen Jack so frazzled. ‘So why are you digging around?’
‘It’s just a gut feeling. I think he’s a very dangerous individual.’
Maggie began to clear away the empty cartons, tipping the leftovers into the food waste bucket. Jack remained sitting at the table finishing his wine, then poured the last of the bottle into his glass.
Maggie went over and put her arms around him.
‘Why don’t I run you a nice hot bath? Then we can have an early night together. I recall you making me a promise this morning . . .’
Jack barely reacted, and Maggie quickly withdrew her arms and went back to clearing the kitchen.
‘There’s something else . . .’ he said, quietly.
‘If you want to talk through the case with me, go ahead, I’m all ears,’ Maggie said.
‘No, it’s not that. This morning I left early because I had agreed to meet Ridley.’
Maggie turned expectantly.
‘I gave him my word that I wouldn’t mention it to anyone, but I think I need to tell you, Mags. I might have agreed to do something that I’m not sure I can.’
Maggie stopped what she was doing with a look of concern. She could see Jack was clearly weighed down by something.
‘You know you can always trust me, Jack. It’s not as if I would repeat anything to anyone connected to your work. Talk to me. Come on, let’s go and sit in the lounge.’
She took him by the hand and led him to the sofa. She turned on a small table lamp, then fetched a bottle of brandy and two glasses. He sat morosely, head bowed.
Maggie poured them both a large brandy, then put the glasses on the coffee table in front of them and sat down beside him. She was exhausted but was determined not to show it. She had never seen Jack so perplexed, almost childlike.
‘He called me late last night,’ Jack began, ‘and asked me to meet him this morning. He chose this odd location by a Kingston steamboat rental place.’
Jack sipped his brandy and leant forwards, as if distancing himself from Maggie.
‘Go on, Jack, tell me why Ridley wanted to see you?’
He took his time, slowly repeating everything Ridley had told him, then as he finished, he started to get emotional.
‘He bowed his head, Mags, and said, “Help me”.’
Maggie took hold of his hand.
‘Well, I think you’re the best person he could have asked to help him . . . but I have one important question.’
Jack nodded, threading his fingers through hers.
‘Do you believe he’s innocent?’
Jack didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes, I do. It has to be a set up.’
‘Then try, as best as you can, to prove it. If you want my advice, I’d try and find out who the victim is, first. She’s at the heart of it.’
Jack kissed her fingers, then cupped her face in his hands.
‘Have I told you lately how much I love you?’
Maggie laughed and drew him to his feet. ‘You have, but tonight, as promised, you can prove it.’