Dead Secret

by Noelle Holten

  ‘Well, this is an unexpected but pleas—’

  ‘Save it, Julie. What the hell are you trying to do?’

  ‘Whoa. Back up – can you tell me what I’ve allegedly done this time to get those hackles up?’

  Maggie bit her tongue to hold back what she really wanted to say. If she could have reached down the phone line and grabbed this woman, she would have done so without any hesitation or concern for the consequences.

  ‘Your bloody news report. Who’s your source?’

  ‘DC Jamieson, you know I can’t tell you that. Have I touched a nerve … again?’

  ‘Your story will only serve to raise people’s anxieties and, on that note, what the bloody hell possessed you to hint that we have a serial killer on the loose? We’ll have vigilantes to contend with next – is that what you want? We have no …’ Maggie stopped herself before she said anything further.

  ‘You have no what?’ Julie waited, but Maggie wasn’t going to give her anything she could twist into a story.

  ‘Don’t push me, Julie. While I have you on the line,’ Maggie paced the hall as she tried to calm herself down, ‘can I offer a little advice?’ Maggie didn’t wait for a reply this time. ‘Before you start spouting your mouth off, you should get your facts right.’

  ‘Well why don’t you tell me what I’ve got wrong and I’ll be sure to update it in my next report?’

  ‘I’m not pissing about here. Do you ever think of the victim’s family or the unnecessary fear your sensationalistic bullshit raises? I thought you classed yourself as a journalist with integrity. Isn’t that how you want people to see you, especially when you have the power to work with agencies to do some good? But noooo. Instead, you report fiction to get the juiciest story – like one of those rag papers … You should have been a crime writer not a news reporter.’

  ‘Oooh ouch. Should I be offended by your rant? How about you use all that anger and energy towards finding the guilty party and leave me to do my job?’

  Maggie was about to respond when she heard dead air. She threw her phone back into her bag. ‘The bloody nerve!’ she screeched.

  Andy came running out into the hallway, his eyes wide. ‘Hey. What’s happened?’

  ‘Argh. Sorry. I was just speaking to that reporter from the Stafford Gazette – that woman infuriates me.’ Maggie’s fists were clenched by her sides. She had to keep them there or she would be tempted to punch the wall, but she wasn’t about to ruin her décor for Julie bloody Noble.

  ‘Is that all?’ He laughed. ‘Dinner’s ready. Go have a seat and you can tell me all about that woman as we eat.’ He winked.

  Maggie ignored the implications of the wink, and her mood changed for the better when she saw the dining room table. Andy had set the table using the plates he had bought her with his first pay cheque after he moved into the house. She ran her finger over the ridge of the plate. It was the little things that brought her back to earth when her anger levels rose. The plates were white with the Wonder Woman logo in the middle. Andy used to call her that when they were growing up because Maggie always looked out for everyone while trying to get through her own stuff. Sometimes she didn’t know how she even kept going.

  ‘So why are your knickers in a twist then?’ Her brother knew her better than anyone and he wasn’t wrong. Had it been any other reporter, Maggie wouldn’t have let them get under her skin. But this one had, and Maggie didn’t know what she wanted to do about it.

  ‘I’m just pissed off that every time I think I’ve made some headway with Julie, she does something to really piss me off. I bumped into her earlier today at a café and she bought me a coffee. I’d kind of given her a lecture but … I don’t know. I thought we had moved forward, I guess. Then I see the news and she must have known that would grate on me – but she didn’t even warn me.’ Maggie reached across and put some potatoes on her plate as her brother dished out the stew he had made.

  ‘You have that look you used to get when you had a crush on someone. Sounds to me like you’re really fond of this Julie.’ Andy smiled. ‘And it’s about time you had a bit of fun. You work so hard, and I feel like a broken record but what’s the harm in asking her out, unless she’s straight?’

  ‘No, she’s not straight but that’s beside the point. Have you heard anything I said? She gets on my nerves. She’s always messing up my cases … and … and …’ Maggie slumped. ‘I think she’s pretty clever, exciting and there’s something about her that intrigues me. Okay. You may not be wrong.’ She stuffed her dinner in her mouth before she said anything else. Maggie was tired of hiding her feelings all the time. There had been a spark the first time she had met Julie Noble and, although the journalist knew how to push her buttons, Maggie couldn’t help how she felt. She took risks at work all the time – maybe she needed to do the same in her personal life.

  Andy raised his hands in the air and cheered for himself. ‘So, you’ll ask her out?’

  ‘Ask her out? Too soon for that … or … maybe I will, but not tonight – I need to calm down. I have a case to concentrate on and the timing just isn’t right. How can someone so interesting be so infuriating at the same time? Don’t answer that.’ She laughed. ‘Anyway, I promised Kate I’d call, and I’d rather hear about your holiday plans. Spill.’ Maggie listened as her brother waffled on about places he wanted to go but her mind was definitely elsewhere.

  A new case would be just the thing to focus on so that she didn’t have to deal with her own feelings – everything else would have to take a backseat for the time being.

  Chapter Eleven

  After dinner, Maggie settled herself on the couch while Andy went upstairs to search the web on her iPad for some holiday destinations for him and his friends. She hoped she could do the same in the not-so-distant future. Salem nestled beside her while Scrappy glared at him and Maggie from the chair opposite. ‘There’s plenty of room for you too, Scrapps. Don’t be such a grump.’ She patted a space beside herself, but he wouldn’t budge. Her brother often joked with her that she and Scrappy had a similar personality. She couldn’t see it herself though.

  Maggie pulled out her mobile, swiped the number and waited as the phone rang at the opposite end. Hearing Kate’s voice, she smiled.

  ‘Hiya! I’ve got someone here who wants to say hello …’ Maggie put the phone on speaker and held the device next to Salem. After Kate said a few words, Maggie returned the phone to her ear. ‘You should see the eyes I am getting from Scrappy.’

  ‘Ah bless. Thanks for that. I’m missing him madly. I know it hasn’t been that long, but it feels like it has been ages since I’ve been able to snuggle with him. Anyway, it’s great to hear your voice too. How’s things?’

  Maggie briefly updated Kate on the events of the day and the clash she had with Julie Noble earlier.

  ‘Another case to keep you busy. As for Julie – I thought I noticed a spark there. Why not put aside the professional Maggie and spend some time focusing on your personal side? It’s all work, work, work with you. I didn’t want to say anything about Julie before because I know how you are about your private life.’

  ‘Not you too!’ Maggie sighed.

  ‘Oh really? Who else agrees with me then?’

  ‘Andy. He thinks I should ask her out. I mean do I even want a relationship? I’m not lonely – never have been. And work keeps me out for long hours.’ Maggie tried to think of some more excuses before Kate used some logic and knocked her back.

  ‘Why can’t you just have a bit of fun? And by the way, a relationship isn’t about filling a void of loneliness you know. You can be perfectly happy but want someone else to share your life with. You’ve always struck me as the type of person who won’t pursue anything unless you felt there may be a future in it.’

  ‘You know, I sometimes hate how good you are at reading people.’ Maggie’s lip curled. ‘But with a new case, and Julie’s bloody news reports – the woman can’t separate fiction from fact – I don’t think now is the right ti
me to even go there.’

  ‘It’s far easier to see things in others, and I’d be shite at my job if I couldn’t read people, wouldn’t I? You’ll always have an excuse. Just bite the bullet and go for it.’

  ‘If I say okay, can we drop it and talk about something else? How have you been?’ Maggie tried to hide how annoyed she was that both her brother and Kate seemed to know more about what she should do than she did. Once again, she was allowing negative thoughts to invade her head – her father sitting on her shoulder reminding her that two women being together is wrong. She knew that people wouldn’t understand why she cared so much, but she did. She wanted her father to be proud of her. Maggie shook her head and listened as Kate directed the conversation to the investigation.

  ‘Can you tell me any more about the new case?’

  Maggie noticed how quickly Kate ignored the question about how she had been. As much as she wanted Kate back in Stafford, she knew it had to be in her own time. The fact that she was interested in discussing the case could be taken as a good sign, but Maggie wouldn’t push her.

  ‘A teenager was found with head injuries at Castle Bank Industrial Estate. Looks like it could be a robbery that went wrong, as the victim had no phone, wallet, or ID on him, and the suspected weapon was left at the scene. Hopefully forensics will find some prints and it will be an open-and-shut case.’

  ‘Without knowing more specific details, I’d agree from what you said. Probably of similar age. As soon as you started talking, I remembered that there had been a spate of those type of robberies in Markston. Might be worth calling the Integrated Offender Management Unit and make some comparisons.’

  ‘Oh really?’ Maggie paused. ‘Do you recall how long ago they were?’

  ‘I’d say a couple of months, maybe a little more, but don’t quote me on that. My memory still needs a bit of work.’

  ‘Thanks for the tip. I’ll give them a call and run it by Nathan tomorrow. Before I forget, seems DCI Hastings has gone AWOL. Rutherford says he’s off sick, but something about her caginess doesn’t sit right with me.’

  ‘Well, that is curious. Maybe he is genuinely sick but asked her not to say anything; it could be more serious than a cold. Hey! Didn’t you say you were going over to Lucy’s tonight? Please say hello to everyone for me.’

  ‘I was but she said there was something happening at the haven and we’d catch up later. To be honest, I’m a bit shattered anyway, so it probably worked out for the best. Think I’ll go have a hot bath and crash. We’ll speak soon.’ Maggie ended the call.

  Before heading for the bath, Maggie sent Lucy a quick text to make sure everything was okay. Lucy sent her a thumbs-up emoji and then wrote:

  Will catch you up later. X Luce

  Maggie wasn’t going to pretend she wasn’t relieved. Right now, all she wanted was the bath and her bed.

  DI Rutherford had asked them all to come in early and she wanted to make sure she was well rested.

  Her gut was screaming at her and she just wished it would shut the hell up. They had barely moved on from the last case – she didn’t need another one on her plate so soon.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lucy woke with a start and rubbed her neck. Her phone bleeped and she reached across and grabbed it off the side table. The nightmares about her abusive ex-husband, Patrick, still hadn’t stopped but at least they weren’t every night any more.

  She looked at her phone. Three new messages and they were all from PC Mark Fielding.

  Mark was always checking up on Lucy, not as a police officer but as her friend; she had been keeping him at arm’s length despite her feelings. It was still too soon – too raw – but one day she knew that her emotional scars would heal, and she hoped that Mark would still be in her life. She smiled when she opened each message and cursed herself for not getting back to him sooner. He’d probably been worried all night. She fired a quick text back to let him know she was fine and mentioned she’d call him later to update him. She wanted to speak to him anyway to see if there had been any DV call outs in the area over the last few days. It may help in putting together Ronnie’s story without having to press her for information. Ronnie’s complete denial was concerning but not uncommon, and Lucy wouldn’t be the one to push her over the edge. When Ronnie was ready, she would talk.

  It was still early, and Lucy wanted to be dressed and ready before Ronnie woke up. She looked over at her, tossing around but still asleep. Lucy could easily imagine what she was thinking about. She shuddered. Lucy wouldn’t let any more memories of her ex-husband invade her thoughts today.

  Lucy stood and crept out of the communal lounge. Her own room was on this main floor and she went in, grabbed a T-shirt, cardigan, and a pair a jeans from her wardrobe and threw them on before heading into the kitchen. She filled up the coffee maker and waited as the smell of fresh brewed coffee teased her nostrils.

  The creak of the floorboard just outside the kitchen door alerted her to the fact that her guest was up. Lucy couldn’t help but wonder who was she running from? As concerned as Lucy was for Ronnie, she couldn’t deny that she was also concerned about the abuser coming to the haven. Yes, she had panic alarms everywhere, but that didn’t mean the police would arrive in time if someone came around to finish what they had started. She shook the thoughts from her head, as the only way the haven address would be known would be if a person was referred by an agency and she wasn’t accepting referrals for men at the moment. She still had some work to do in that area.

  Lucy remained straight-faced despite her shock at seeing Ronnie when she walked through the kitchen door. The bruises on her face, her fat lip, and cut arms brought Lucy back to a place she didn’t want to be. A horrible thought came to her then.

  Had she been too ambitious in opening the haven when her own experience of domestic abuse still bobbed on the surface of her mind?

  Ronnie waved weakly, and her eyes quickly averted to the floor.

  Lucy removed her cardigan and draped it over Ronnie’s shoulders. ‘Here, take this – I’ll get another one. Help yourself to some coffee. I’ll be back in a minute.’

  Lucy watched as Ronnie pulled her arms through the sweater and wrapped the belt around her. There was something peculiar about the girl’s demeanour, but Lucy cast her suspicions aside and put it down to whatever it was Ronnie had just experienced. Lucy ignored the little alarm ringing in the back of her head.

  I just can’t put my finger on what it is …

  She shuffled back to her room, rubbing her neck because it was still sore from sleeping on the small two-seater, and she grabbed her hoodie off the back of the door. When she returned to the kitchen, Lucy sat across from the girl and smiled.

  ‘My friend, Vicki, will be here shortly. She’ll be working here when I finally get this place open, and I know she wouldn’t mind me telling you but she had a very traumatic background too. Abusive partners. Drug and alcohol issues.’ Lucy admired how far Vicki had come in the last year.

  The woman’s eyes widened, and she got up to leave. Lucy reached out and gently grabbed her hand.

  ‘Hey, there’s no need to run off. Vicki won’t bother you. I just wanted you to know so you aren’t surprised when she arrives, in case I’m not around. I promise. But if you did want to speak to someone, she’s a very good listener. And if you want to go out, get some fresh air or anything, you’re free to – don’t feel you have to hide away. All I’d ask is that you take one of the haven’s mobile phones, so that if you get lost you can call – the number for the house is stored in the phone and I can come get you. My personal mobile number is also there. Okay?’ Lucy let go of her hand, and she sat back down but wouldn’t look at Lucy and she took that as her cue.

  ‘I’m going to jump in the shower; the hot water may help this crick in my neck.’ Lucy tapped Ronnie on the shoulder. ‘Will you be okay if I leave you for a bit?’

  Ronnie nodded, and Lucy returned to her room. She unplugged her mobile and sent a quick text to Vicki t
o explain the situation.

  Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll tread carefully.

  * * *

  I should be there in a minute or two. X Vicki

  Lucy smiled. Hiring Vicki was a great decision. Although Lucy had personal experience as a domestic abuse survivor, she was still a Probation Officer and those who came to the haven for help would always feel reluctant in case Lucy broke their confidence. One of the rules to stay at the haven was that there was a possibility that police or other agencies would be contacted if any staff member felt that either the person, the public, children or someone else was at risk of serious harm.

  Lucy heard the front door open.

  ‘I’m here, Luce! Thought I would check the emails – then grab myself a coffee,’ Vicki called out.

  ‘Just jumping in the shower. I won’t be long!’ Lucy smiled. She didn’t like the idea of leaving Ronnie alone for too long – that’s when a person’s thoughts could consume them. Vicki would make her feel at ease soon enough.

  When Lucy had finished her shower, she walked into the office and saw Vicki’s crutches against the wall. She sat in the spare seat beside Vicki and gave her an update on Ronnie’s situation.

  ‘Sounds like she’s had a horrendous experience, but she’ll open up when she’s ready. You know how this works.’ Vicki squeezed Lucy’s arm.

  Movement in the kitchen caught their eye on the video monitor. They watched as Ronnie walked to the sink, flicked the kettle on, and stared out the window. When the steam came out of the spout, Ronnie picked up the kettle and then poured the boiling water on her arm.

  What the hell?