DI Sally Parker Thrillers Box Set, page 31
part #1 of DI Sally Parker Series
She could hear the tremor in her partner’s voice. “Hey, Bullet, don’t you dare give up on that girl. Think positive. They’re stronger than people give them credit for at times—even I know that. Hang in there. Promise me?”
“I will. But the doc has told us not to raise our hopes. If I think positive, it’s only going to make it a darn sight worse when the day comes to say goodbye to the little one, won’t it?”
“Bloody hell! I’m sorry, Jack. Hey, the doc might be wrong. Don’t write her off just yet. How’s Teresa feeling?”
“Sore. She won’t stop crying, which is understandable. Her mother’s reacting very much the same way. I feel a right shit not joining them.”
“Don’t be daft. I can hear how upset you are. They’ll realise how inadequate you feel, I’m sure. They probably appreciate your strength not to break down right now. Don’t be too despondent, matey.”
“Thanks, boss. You’ve hit the nail on the head, it’s the feeling of inadequacy that’s hard to handle. Needless to say, I’d like to take the day off tomorrow, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. Take all the time you need. I’ll drop by the chief’s office tomorrow to let him know. Give my love to the girls. Ring me with any developments, you hear me? Take care.”
“Will do. Thanks, Sally.”
She hung up and called Dex. Dropping to her knees, she cuddled and kissed the dog on the head. “I’m so glad I have you, boy. Come on, let’s go home before it gets dark.” She placed the slip leash over his head, and they walked back to the house just as nightfall descended.
CHAPTER TEN
Sally smiled when she heard her mother singing as she prepared breakfast for them all the following morning. “You sound much happier, Mum. You’re challenging the birds with that beautiful dawn chorus.” She kissed her mother on the cheek and let Dex out the back door.
“Maybe there’s some truth in that old adage about a problem shared, after all, darling. I can’t thank you enough for the support you’ve shown me over my menopause. Not everyone would be as understanding as you and your father. I’m blessed to have you both in my life.”
Sally sniggered and poured them all a cup of tea. “Just remember that the next time the urge to attack us with a frying pan takes your fancy, okay?”
“I’ll do that, dear. The menopause is loathsome! If I could suck all my productive bits out, I would!”
“Mum! You are funny.”
Her mother studied her with a perturbed expression. “Are you mocking me, child?”
“Don’t be silly. I bet thousands of women in your situation feel the same.”
Her mother smiled and touched Sally’s face gently. “You’re one in a million, daughter of mine… one in a million. Do you have time for scrambled eggs on toast?”
“Try and stop me, as long as I can have it with lashings of ketchup. I can’t eat eggs without disguising them. You know that.”
“That peculiarity of yours has never wavered over the years.”
Her father entered the kitchen and pecked them both on the cheek. “How are my two favourite girls this morning?”
“Full of the joys of spring, except it’s the middle of September. Work that one out, Dad.” Sally chortled.
“That’s good to hear. I could eat two horses this morning, Janine. What’s on the menu, love?”
Her mother chuckled. “The things that come out of a chicken’s bum. Will that do you?”
Sally laughed at her father’s shocked expression and sought out the cutlery to lay the breakfast table.
Her father let out a huff. “I’m beginning to regret asking. Yuck! What a bloody image that just conjured up.”
It was wonderful to share a pleasant, angst-free breakfast with her parents before she said farewell to them and set off for the station.
When she pushed open the doors to the incident room, Sally found the rest of the team already busy at their desks. She glanced up at the clock on the wall to see it was only five minutes to eight. Her chest puffed out with pride for her team’s willingness to attack their day before their shift began. “You guys rock… just saying.”
“You set a good example… just saying.” Joanna smiled. She looked up from her computer, and her face turned serious. “Any news on Jack’s daughter, boss?”
“I’m sure he won’t mind you guys knowing. The news isn’t good, I’m afraid. The little mite has a desperate fight ahead of her. She was born with a heart defect. Needless to say, Jack will be absent for a few days. That reminds me—I need to make the chief aware of the situation first thing. Anything useful turn up from the TV appeal aired last night?”
“A few things. Mainly to do with the second attack. I’ll make some notes and let you have them in a couple of minutes, boss,” Joanna said.
“Sounds positive. Okay, I’ll be right back.” Sally inhaled a few calming breaths as she walked along the corridor to the chief’s office. DCI Green’s secretary was busy putting filter paper in the coffee machine when she walked in the office. “Fresh coffee—you can’t beat it, Lyn, can you? Is he in?”
“He is, and no, you can’t beat fresh coffee. The smell perks me up instantly when the machine starts churning early in the morning. Have you seen Joan recently?”
Sally smiled as her previous chief’s warm features filled her mind. Joan Cradley had retired from the force almost two years before, and DCI Mick Green had filled her shoes less than adequately in Sally’s mind. But then, to be fair, Sally could have been biased, as she and Joan had become firm friends over the years. Being a high-ranking female copper in a man’s world always took its toll, though. In the end, the stress of the job had culminated in Joan bowing out and taking retirement in her early fifties. Since then, Sally had remained in contact with Joan and had visited her on a few occasions in her new home out in the sticks, tucked away from all civilian life. One of Sally’s other female copper friends, Lorne Warner, had gone down the same route at an early age. Although, in Lorne’s case, her calling to be a copper had drawn her back into the Met soon after she’d opted to take early retirement. The force was in her blood, and Sally totally comprehended that sentiment. She had no idea what she would do if ever she were forced to leave her beloved Norfolk Constabulary. Sally shook the thought from her head and replied, “Sorry. Drifted off then for a second, envious of Joan’s life in her tranquil setting. I haven’t spoken to her for about a month. You?”
“I rang her at the weekend. She’s deliriously happy about having yet another granddaughter to coo over.”
“How wonderful. Is it really nine months since she told us about that? I hate the way time is passing us by so quickly.”
“I was amazed by the announcement, too. She asked after you, specifically about the court case. That’s coming up soon, isn’t it?”
Sally’s mouth twisted. “Did you have to remind me? Two weeks, to be honest. The nerves are beginning to jangle a little. It’s one thing bringing the bastard to court; it’s another thing having to face him in the dock, his eyes eating into your flesh. Oops, that’s a tad melodramatic.”
“Will you take someone with you on the day for moral support? I’ll volunteer if you need someone to hold your hand, Sally.”
“That’s kind of you, Lyn. I think—I hope—Mum and Dad will be there with me.”
The chief’s office door opened, and he looked daggers at both of them. “Could we possibly leave the gossiping until lunchtime, ladies? I have a huge pile of correspondences I need to get my head around first thing. That’s a little difficult with you nattering away out here.”
Sally winked at Lyn, whose cheeks had flared up. “My fault, sir. Do you have five minutes?”
He pushed open the door and stepped back for Sally to join him. He closed the door behind them, marched past her, and reclaimed his seat behind his large mahogany desk. “What’s this in connection with, Inspector?”
“I wanted to let you know that I’ve given my partner permission to take a few days off, sir.”
His brow wrinkled heavily. “In the middle of a big case? Is that wise?”
“No, but a necessity all the same, sir. His daughter has just given birth to his first grandchild, and it’s touch and go whether the baby makes it.” His brow relaxed, and he reclined in his chair, linking his hands together on the desk. “Compassion won through in the end, sir.”
“I understand. Well, I hope the baby survives. That must be a horrendous situation to contend with. How is the case proceeding?”
Sally was tempted to shake her head in disgust at the way the chief appeared to change the subject so quickly. Instead, she relented and sighed heavily. “Well, I’m just about to go through the calls we’ve received from the appeal that went out last night. I’ve interviewed a few people concerning the first crime, the murder, and I have to say, although I have one or two suspects in mind, we have no evidence as such to fling at the suspects as yet. However, the pathologist rang me yesterday to say the victim was four weeks pregnant, and I also learned that she had an affair with her brother-in-law.”
“I see. So, that’s clearly the motive.”
“I’d rather get the DNA evidence to back up any accusations, sir. I should have that on my desk either today or tomorrow. It’s certainly a step forward in the investigation and one that could possibly lead in either of two directions.”
“How so?”
“Either the husband or his brother could be the murderer. At least, that’s my line of thinking after contemplating the case throughout the night.”
“You make a valid point, Inspector. So if the DNA evidence regarding the foetus comes back as unexpected, I take it you’ll be arresting the brother-in-law.”
“I’ll certainly be instructing him to come in for further questioning. Not sure I’m ready to go out on a limb and arrest him for simply fathering an unborn child, sir.”
“Nonsense, Inspector. That’s a motive right there—he’s killed her in order to prevent her from telling everyone about their affair.”
“I understand where you’re coming from, sir, but the husband might have found out she was playing away from home. If so, there’s every possibility that he killed his wife in a violent rage. By what I can gather, the marriage was in jeopardy.”
“Ah, well, that certainly throws a different light on things. I totally understand your dilemma. Let’s hope the DNA helps to make things a lot clearer for you. What if the DNA belongs to neither of these men?”
Sally’s eyes widened. “Crap, I never really thought about that, sir. That would make the investigation spin out of control, upside down, and on its head. I’d rather not think about that now. I better get on with the investigation, sir. I just dropped by to inform you of Jack’s predicament.”
“Very well. Do you have a suitable replacement for him within your team?”
“Oh yes, sir, any member of my team is capable of stepping up to the plate. They wouldn’t totally fill the void, but I reckon eighty percent would be covered.”
“Glad to hear it, that’s as it should be. Keep me informed of your progress as usual, Inspector.”
“I will, sir.”
Sally walked out of the office and rested against the closed door. She exhaled a large breath as her heart rate recovered to near normal. Leaning forward, she whispered, “Why do I always feel as if I’ve been placed on the naughty step every time I enter this room?”
Lyn chortled. “I totally understand that. He’s a pussycat really, once you get to know him.”
Sally snorted and walked towards the outer door of the office. “I’ll have to take your word on that, Lyn. He has a tendency to bite my hand off every time I go to stroke him, metaphorically speaking of course.”
Lyn laughed, and Sally shook her head. “Christ, did I really say that out loud? I’m more stressed out than I thought. Have a good day.”
“You, too.”
Sally marched back to the incident room and headed in Joanna’s direction. “I know it’s only been a few minutes, but have you got anything useful for me?”
“A few things, boss. I’ve put them in order of priority.” Joanna handed Sally a sheet of paper just as her phone rang. “Hello, DC Tryst. How can I help?”
Sally scanned the sheet, admiring the way Joanna had prioritised the list, just as Sally would have herself. That task alone boded well for the constable’s future on the team, not that Sally had ever doubted the young woman’s capabilities in the first place. She looked up to see Joanna beaming.
“Thanks for letting me know. We’ll send a team out there immediately. Goodbye.”
“What was that?” Sally asked, cocking her head.
“Julie Smith has regained consciousness and is sitting up in bed.”
Sally dropped the list on the desk and pointed at Joanna. “Great news. You’re coming with me to the hospital.”
“Really? How fabulous. Thanks, boss.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Numerous times during the drive, Sally found herself wondering if she’d been right to invite the young detective constable to be her partner for the morning. If there had been a gold medal in the art of chatting enthusiastically about every conceivable topic under the sun, Joanna would have won it hands down. Sally nodded and voiced lots of yeses at the appropriate times, not wishing to dampen Joanna’s passion by chastising her. However, when Sally parked the car in the hospital car park, she felt obliged to guide the constable’s train of thought back to the task in hand.
“So, here’s the plan. We take things nice and slowly, okay?”
“Yes, boss. Do you want me to take notes?”
“That’s a definite requirement when you’re out in the field with me, Joanna. Leave the questions to me, too, all right?”
“Of course.” Joanna beamed at her.
“Let’s go then.” Sally led the way to the ICU and produced her warrant card for the nurse sitting at the reception desk. “The station received a call saying that Julie Smith had regained consciousness. Is she up to answering a few questions?”
The petite redhead smiled and motioned for them to take a seat, which Sally declined. “I’ll certainly ask the question for you. The doctor is examining her now.” The nurse left the desk and slipped into the room. A few minutes later, she returned with the doctor.
“My patient is still feeling very fragile, Inspector, but when I asked her if she felt up to seeing you, she swiftly agreed.”
“That’s wonderful news. How is Julie’s health, Doctor?”
“Her injuries appear to be healing rapidly. Some patients have the ability to do that. Go easy on her, all the same. Although we’ve carried out a few basic tests, we’re unsure what limits there are with her memory as yet.”
“You have my word on that, Doc.”
The doctor returned to the unit and held open the door for Sally and Joanna to join him. Julie Smith immediately looked their way. Her head was still wrapped in bandages, and the bruising on her face was even more evident than it had been the first time Sally had visited her.
Sally smiled and introduced herself and Joanna. “Hello, Julie. Daft question in the circumstances, but how are you feeling?”
Julie’s eyes fluttered shut then reopened again as she sucked in a large breath. “Glad to still be alive, I suppose.”
“That’s the ticket. Are you up to telling us what happened?”
“I can try. Not sure I’ll be much help, really. The attacker struck out at me before I realised what had gone on.”
“I understand. Did you get a good look at him? Are there any details you can give us?”
“My memory appears to be reluctant to revisit the actual attack at the moment, Inspector.”
Sally raised her hand. “There’s no rush. Take your time. Can you close your eyes for me? I’ll try and walk through the scene with you. Remember, I’m only a few steps away.”
Again, Julie inhaled a large breath and allowed her eyes to close slowly. Sally watched as a pained expression contorted the woman’s young features during the process.
“Where are you, Julie?”
“I’m walking down Chester Road. I’ve just left my friends at the pub, and no, I’m not drunk.” The briefest of smiles tugged at her lips but vanished when she took up her story once again. “He walked towards me. It was dark. I was looking down at the ground, avoiding eye contact. I shuddered. I thought it was because of the evening chill, but I think I sensed some form of danger.” Her eyes flew open.
Sally reached over and patted the back of her hand. “Take your time. There’s really no need to rush, Julie. Can I get you a glass of water?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Sally moved round the bed to the water jug and glass. She handed the young woman a half-filled glass, and Julie accepted it with a shaking hand. “Relax. The last thing I want to do is hamper your recovery. If you don’t feel able to continue today, that’s fine by me.”
“No. I want to do it—if you’re prepared to be patient with me. You need to catch this man before he hurts someone else.”
“Exactly. In your own time. So you were walking, not driving?”
Julie clung to the glass with both hands and closed her eyes once more. “That’s right. He’s much taller than me. I’m five-foot-three. He looked about six feet tall.” She sipped the water again and swallowed noisily.
“What’s he wearing?”
“Black jeans, I think. It’s hard to tell because of the dark. Yes, I think they’re black. He’s also wearing a grey hoodie.”
“Can you make out his physique? Is he slim, or is he carrying a little excess weight?”
“He’s very thin. If it was a girl, I’d put her at borderline anorexic.” Julie opened her eyes and looked uncertainly at Sally as if needing reassurance.
“You’re doing really well. You’ve given us a lot of information already,” Sally said, unsure whether she would be able to give the same level of detail if she’d been in the victim’s shoes.
Julie closed her eyes again and squeezed them tightly. Her grip tightened around the glass of water at the same time. “I think he growled at me. I kept my head down, didn’t want to alienate him at all. There was no one else around. No one would hear me if I cried out for help…”
