CHAPTER TWENTY

 

It was twilight, and the lights were on in the boy’s rooms as Kate drove up the gravel driveway to her home. She’d missed supper, but that was nothing unusual. There was something comforting about arriving back at the Old Police House after a really bad day. The history of the old building kind of put things into perspective. No matter how complex your problems were, in a while, maybe weeks, maybe months or maybe years, they would be behind you, half forgotten, and life would have moved on to the next series of dire troubles or exquisite happiness.

Kate slipped inside the door, closed it and let out a long sigh. She needed food, sleep, company, and more than anything, something thoroughly alcoholic. Although sadly the sleep and the drink would have to wait until the night’s work was over.

Music drifted down from the upstairs rooms; a weird cacophony of hip-hop disco and something that sounded more like a stringed instrument massacre. Kate smiled to herself. At least her two boys were safe and happy, even if their eardrums were in danger of imploding at any moment.

David was at the sink, rubbing aggressively at a heavy roasting pan with a soap-filled pad, and Kate felt a rush of warmth for him. It really couldn’t be easy; being six foot tall, still handsome with all your own hair and teeth, intelligent, and your job was that of a house-frau.

She placed her bag on the table, went over and kissed the back of his neck. ‘Is there anything left from whatever was in that dish?’

He turned and regarded her almost sternly. ‘Since when have I ever cooked for us and left you out?’ He pointed with a soapy finger towards the microwave. ‘Zap it for three minutes, and you can also enjoy one of Jamie Oliver’s inventive takes on a sausage cassoulet.’ He frowned. ‘The boys said it was interesting, but reckoned that either he concocted it on a bad day, or I misread the ingredients. There’s an open bottle of Cava in the fridge. That’s if you’re not turning around and going straight back out again?’

There was a distinct edge to the comment, and Kate winced. ‘Ah, now funny you should mention that, although it’s not for a few hours yet. Can I get you a glass?’ She retrieved a large glass from the cabinet and headed for the refrigerator.

‘Dead right, you can.’ David put the dish back into the still warm oven to dry and closed the door with a slam. ‘Even if I do have to drink alone. So what is it this time?’

She reached for another smaller glass. ‘Oh hell, one glass won’t hurt, and I really need it.’ She poured the wine before answering. ‘It’s confusing.’ She turned the microwave on and flopped down onto one of the kitchen chairs. ‘We have a lead on an illegal drinking club that we believe is in some part responsible for one girl’s death and the disappearance of another.’

David sat down opposite her, his face serious and all trace of irritation gone. ‘And are you raiding it tonight?’

‘No. I’m sending one of my detectives in undercover.’ Kate took a long gulp of the refreshing white wine. ‘And I need to be close in case things kick off.’

The microwave alarm went off, and David stood up. ‘Sit there. I’ll get it for you.’

He placed a knife and fork beside her, and then placed the steaming plate of food in front of her. She smiled up at him. ‘Thank you, babe. And I’m so sorry I have to go out, it’s the last thing I want to do, honestly.’

‘I believe you. Now eat, before you have to run away.’

Kate gave an appreciative sniff. ‘Hey, this smells absolutely delicious. I don’t know why you are always putting your culinary expertise down.’

‘You haven’t tried it yet.’

She took a fork full of food and chewed. She could taste fresh sage and tomatoes along with haricot beans and tasty sausage. ‘Ah, heaven! Comfort food after a well shitty day. Lovely!’ She took another mouthful before asking, ‘How are the boys? No disasters?’

‘No disasters, they’re fine, although I do have a few things to fill you in on.’ David sat back down and lifted his glass. ‘Now, he’ll want to tell you himself, so don’t let on that you know, but Marcus has been picked to head up the school Debating Society. He’s chuffed as little apples and already planning a career in politics.’

‘He’s too damned honest to be a politician, even if he does have the ability to talk his way out of a locked room.’ She sipped more wine and topped up David’s glass. ‘But that’s great, isn’t it?’

David nodded. ‘There’s going to be an inter-school challenge in a few weeks time, and he wants us there to support his team.’ He looked at her thoughtfully. ‘And he does mean both of us.’

‘Unless there’s another murder on my patch, there is nothing I’d rather do than support our son.’ Kate knew her tone was a tad icy, but she was tired and delicious supper or not, the scarcely veiled dig irritated.

Tactfully for once, David did not take it any further. He just drank his wine and then said, ‘More importantly, Eddie’s therapist called today. He thinks Eddie will soon be ready to try a new step in his therapy regime. He wants to do a domiciliary visit next Friday to discuss it with us all. Can you make it?’

There was no sly dig this time. Mainly because David knew that Kate had never missed an appointment concerning Eddie’s OCD.

‘Yes, of course. Just remind me the night before, okay? And what is this new step? Did he say?’ She felt a nagging worry, deep inside. Eddie was doing so well at present, was it really the right time to change things?

‘He said it’s called ERP. Exposure and response prevention.’

Her concern increased. They’d read about it when their son went into Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. And she knew that it would be hard on Eddie. Damned hard if what they’d read was anything to go by. It would mean him facing his demons head on, and whereas she knew that he would not be asked to do more than he could cope with, it would certainly upset his world for a while.

And theirs.

She drew in a long breath and held it. She hadn’t liked the way that last short thought had crept in and she sincerely hoped that her concern was entirely for her son, and not for her demanding career. Whatever, the first thing was to hear the therapist out. If ERP was necessary for Eddie’s recovery, then they’d have to find a way to deal with it. All of them together.

She managed to rally a smile. ‘Oh well, as always, we’ll do what’s best for our cherub, won’t we?’

David smiled back, and she couldn’t help but notice that he had to make as much effort as she had. ‘As always.’

They spent the next hour watching television with the boys and then Kate went upstairs, showered and changed her clothes. As she pulled on a black sweatshirt and dark slacks, she thought about Jon. Why had he invited Gary to stay, when he had always declared that his peculiar gift made living relationships very difficult for him? He had told her that sometimes the spirits seemed to know when he was tired or vulnerable, and would bombard him with cries for help and pleas to get messages through, just as he was settling down to sleep. He also he suffered from nightmares and terrible dreams. Which could be very difficult to explain away to the un-initiated?

Kate looked for some comfortable shoes and wondered what Gary Pritchard would think he if heard his new sergeant screaming the house down at three in the morning. And not only that, had she just never noticed his protectiveness towards Rosie, or was this something new?  She thought it was more likely to be the latter of the two thoughts, and that meant either he had bad vibes about the operation, or he cared more about the woman than he was letting on. And both ideas were worrying.

The whole team needed to be razor sharp when one of them was in a risky situation. There was certainly no room for hidden emotions. As she pulled a pair of black leather trainers from the bottom of her wardrobe, she hoped that Jon was just overtired, and therefore being a bit hyper-sensitive to one of the team taking on an undercover assignment.

As she kissed David goodbye and walked to the car, she sincerely hoped that Jon would have pulled himself together by ten o’clock. Rosie was 100% focussed, and she wanted the rest of the team to be the same.

 

As ten approached, Kate began to feel a mixture of apprehension and excitement. The arrangement was far from perfect. As they had no idea where they were going, they couldn’t plan suitable recon or back-up. They were going to have to wing it, make the most of whatever they could use, when they knew the actual location.

Rosie, wearing an outfit that Kate would have barred any daughter of hers setting foot outside the door in, stared unblinking at Chloe’s phone, willing it to ring.

Jon paced the CID room, but then so did Scott and Gary.

‘Bingo!’ whispered Rosie as she grabbed the mobile.

Everyone stood still and waited.

‘Jubilee Lane. The old rowing club, near the mill.’ Rosie snapped the phone shut, and jumped up. ‘Anyone know it? Because I don’t.’

‘Relax, Flower.’ said Scott, immediately feeding the data into his computer. ‘It’s only about twenty minutes away, on the road to Harlan Marsh. I used to go fishing near there with my dad. The mill is derelict and all sealed up, although we maybe able to find somewhere there to keep an eye on the venue. I’m getting a satellite picture of the terrain now.’

Kate thought for a moment. ‘As far as I remember, the clubhouse is closed too. There was a fire there a few years back and they moved the rowing club to new premises.’ She nodded to herself. ‘And as there are no residences in the lane, and everything else is abandoned, it could be the perfect place for a party.’ She turned to Gary. ‘Go tell uniform of the exact location. I want a unit well out of the way, but close enough should we need them. And softly, softly, please. No blues and twos under any circumstances.’

‘Here we go.’ Scotty brought up an aerial view of the rundown clubhouse, and scanned the surroundings. ‘If we drop Rosie here..,’ he pointed to a narrow lane. ‘…she could walk through and tie up with the main path to the venue. I should think most of the party-goers will come from this direction. That’s from the main road.’ He traced his finger further along the river edge. ‘I think we could find some pretty good cover both along the tow-path and around the mill.’

Kate straightened up. ‘I agree. Everyone ready? So let’s get out there. Rosie? Still up for it?’

‘Am I just? Bring it on.’

Kate could have laughed when she saw the bright intelligent eyes looking out from the ultra-glam and sexy make-up. Rosie’s trendy choice of teen fashion and clever make-up had made her appear about sixteen or seventeen maximum. Then she realised that only one who wasn’t all revved up, was Jon, and he had said pretty well nothing since they arrived. It worried her, but she had Rosie’s safety to consider right now, she would talk to her sergeant later. ‘Check her wire, Scotty. We can’t afford to lose contact.’

‘Already done, Guv. And it’s not standard issue either. It’s one I’ve adapted myself. It’s top of the range. She has the best signal and range that’s available.’

Kate looked around. ‘Then let’s go, folks. And good luck, we have some seriously bad men to get some dirt on.’ She touched Rosie’s shoulder. ‘Be careful in there. The slightest problem and you get out, understand?’