Bad Advice

by S M Mala

  ‘Oh my, oh my!’ Jacinta continued, starting to blush and then glanced at Ruby with a stupid smirk. ‘Yes, well I take it you’re not free for lunch unless you want to come out with us?’

  ‘You’re leering,’ whispered Ruby, who was trying not to laugh.

  ‘I had a quick bite already,’ replied Scottie, smiling at them.

  He walked to the kitchen and put the kettle on.

  ‘I’m in love,’ mouthed Jacinta, following in a daze towards the dining table and sat down.

  ‘Would you like a cup of tea?’ he asked.

  Ruby watched Jacinta balance her head on her hand, sighing in appreciation.

  ‘I wouldn’t mind getting arrested by him, any day,’ grinned Jacinta. ‘Are there more like him hidden away?’

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Ruby asked. ‘I know it’s not to just take me out to lunch.’

  ‘What?’ her friend replied, shaking herself out of a trance. ‘Actually it is. Hugh told me to take you out and ask you some questions.’

  ‘About what?’

  ‘He knows, as well as I do, that you’ve probably been snooping around regarding the murders. Spit it out! What do you know?’ she hissed.

  Ruby leaned closer and kissed her friend’s nose, seeing Jacinta roll her eyes. Cups of tea were then placed on the table.

  ‘I’d like to know too,’ added Scottie, who sat next to Ruby and put his arm around her waist. ‘I take it you have a skill that I didn’t know about.’

  ‘She’s very good at sniffing things out… like good looking blokes,’ giggled Jacinta. ‘I’ve heard so much about you.’

  ‘Shut it, sweetheart,’ Ruby mumbled. ‘Or I’ll tell Scottie what you got up at boarding school and get you arrested for sending me hoax emails.’

  ‘Oh, you got my last one?’ laughed out Jacinta. ‘It’s very funny.’

  ‘No it’s not!’ huffed Ruby, pretending to look upset as she turned to Scottie. ‘She sends me things to see if I read all the emails and letters. Her last one was from a middle aged woman who had fallen in love with her horse and was it wrong to help him get a happy ending.’

  ‘Makes them run faster, that’s what I heard,’ joked Jacinta as Scottie laughed. ‘But I have to admit, she does read everything and replies in her totally arse over tit blunt way.’ She put her cup down and stared at Scottie. ‘This one here is my best friend. I’ve known her for over twenty five years so I’m very protective of Ruby. I work for her ex-husband but my loyalty lies with her.’

  ‘Are you a hard cutting edge journalist too?’ he asked and Ruby watched a little frown line appear on his forehead.

  ‘Oh goodness gracious! Like fuck I am! I do the fashion, can’t you tell?’ laughed out Jacinta. Ruby admired her friend’s trendy chic outfit. ‘All that serious stuff isn’t down my street not like her. My idea of ‘serious’ is this season’s colour. Usually black or something vile that you throw away after a week.’

  ‘And you know Hugh very well?’ Scottie asked. Ruby took the opportunity to stroke his smooth back, noticing her lecherous friend was watching her with a grin. ‘Do you think he’d be happy to know she’s fallen in love with me?’

  ‘I know for a fact he won’t be happy with any man that gets into Ruby’s knickers. God, remember when I accidentally told him you went out with Paulo, an old university friend. Hugh went ballistic.’

  ‘You didn’t ‘accidentally’ tell him. You did it on purpose and I swore I’d never go out with another man again,’ sighed Ruby, recalling the bad evening and the even worse sex.

  ‘Didn’t even hit the sides, that’s what you said,’ Jacinta laughed. Ruby grimaced, turning to see Scottie had raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh, didn’t you know?’

  ‘Thank you,’ sighed Ruby, gently stroking his back. ‘We’d been separated for nine months and it was a mistake. A rebound shag. You were the first one since then and I want you to be the last.’

  Sipping his tea, he grinned into his cup then looked at her from the corner of his eye.

  ‘I can get the guy arrested if he was that bad in the sack,’ whispered Scottie.

  ‘My god, then you’d have to arrest all my exes, believe me,’ chuckled Jacinta. ‘So what’s going on with you two? Will I have to put up with her being miserable for weeks on end like, when you broke her heart last time? Give me the heads up so I can book us a few weeks in Cuba or something to get over it.’

  ‘This is for keeps,’ Scottie replied, grabbing Ruby’s hand and kissing it.

  Her gut was somersaulting rapidly and she wanted to take him straight to bed then noticed Jacinta grinning.

  ‘That’s going to be problematic with Commissioner Trott. How can you work with her? She’s a cow!’

  ‘Jacinta!’ Ruby shouted and shook her head from side to side. ‘She might be nicer to work with than to-.’ She couldn’t think of a word.

  ‘Yes?’ her friend cajoled. ‘Can’t think of anything? Unless you’re a bloke then I’m sure there’s a list.’

  ‘I better go,’ Scottie said, standing up and reaching for his shirt.

  ‘Don’t go because of me,’ smirked Jacinta.

  Ruby’s heart crumbled a little, not wanting him to leave.

  ‘I have a car waiting around the corner to take me back to the office.’

  Both the women sat in silence watching him get dressed.

  ‘Don’t get up. I’ll see myself out,’ he smiled, turning to Jacinta. ‘Lovely to meet you. I hope to see you soon.’

  ‘Oh yes, you certainly will. I come with the package.’

  ‘Look after that package. It’s very precious to me,’ Scottie said, leaning over and giving Ruby a kiss on the lips. ‘And I’ll call you later.’

  ‘Good,’ she said, stroking his cheek.

  Strolling off quickly, he went out of the door and Ruby just sat there, letting out a massive sigh.

  ‘Fuck me!’ said Jacinta, taking off her jacket and fanning her face. ‘You get to sleep with that? It’s not fair.’

  ‘I wish I got to sleep with him more but this case seems to have them baffled.’

  ‘Let me take you out to lunch and we can play detective.’

  ‘You’re not going to tell Hugh anything I say. I won’t get paid for it and he’s the super sleuth considering he wrote that book,’ she said standing up. ‘Let him figure it out.’

  ‘Why wasn’t he wearing a shirt?’ Jacinta asked.

  ‘He’s hot or haven’t you noticed?’

  Seventy Six

  ‘We need to find out everything about them, dig a little deeper,’ Scottie said a few days later, looking at his watch for the hundredth time.

  He was meeting Ruby at his house, later on that evening, and wanted to get home and freshen up.

  ‘But we have,’ sighed Dave, shaking his head.

  ‘Did you know this Rawles bloke was seeing someone who went to the Samaritans for help? This all could be tied up that the victims had betrayed someone’s trust while working there.’

  ‘How did you figure that out?’

  ‘I know people,’ he sighed and glanced at the message on his phone from Charlie saying he was coming round to see him the following day. ‘And talking of people, I have to go.’

  ‘What are you up to?’ his friend asked, while he grabbed his jacket and flung it over his shoulder.

  ‘I’m meeting someone for dinner and I don’t want to be late.’

  ‘You got a new woman?’

  ‘Listen mate, don’t say anything. You know what the Commissioner’s like, all work and no play. Tonight I certainly want to play.’

  He sloped off, avoiding the Friday night drinks and drove back to his home. To his delight, Ruby was sitting on the doorstep reading something on her tablet. As soon as she spotted him parking, she grinned.

  ‘Hello there,’ he said, getting out of the car.

  He hadn’t seen her properly for a few days. The last time was when he turned up for a quick one at lunch.

  ‘Hello PC Plod,’ Ruby s
miled. He walked up to her and she got to her feet. ‘Had a nice day in the office?’

  ‘Come inside.’

  Opening the door and turning off the alarm, he then turned and stooped down to kiss her gently on the lips.

  ‘I’m going at noon tomorrow, so you know how long we’ve got,’ she said and stroked his face.

  ‘You can stay.’

  ‘I think you should spend time with your sons and I should spend time doing DIY. But first, I’ve ordered an Indian takeaway from your local which is arriving in half an hour. We can be sociable and have dinner together.’

  Scottie smiled and grabbed her hand, kissing it then pulled her a little closer.

  ‘I love you very much,’ he said, his chest constricting while his stomach twisted. ‘You do know that, don’t you?’

  ‘Jacinta’s in love with you. She told me to tell you, when you dump me, she’ll be waiting,’ laughed Ruby, resting her head against his chest. ‘I told her, no chance in hell am I letting you go.’

  He wrapped his arms around her and they stood in the position for a few moments before she stepped back.

  ‘It’s a lovely evening so I think we should eat outside, do you agree?’ Ruby asked, walking away.

  He stood rooted to the spot, watching. Scottie had really missed her this week and, due to work and her family commitments, it had been impossible for them to see each other.

  This he hated.

  Opening the doors to the patio, he stepped out and breathed in. It was barbeque time as the scent wafted up his nostrils. He knew the boys would want the same thing tomorrow.

  Startled out of his thoughts by the sound of plates being put on the table, Scottie saw Ruby opening a bottle of wine. He walked towards the raised bedding and sat on the sleeper edge, just admiring her. Ruby kicked off her sandals in the living room and put on some music while getting the cutlery. Scottie couldn’t tear his eyes away.

  Then she was singing along to something and started to dance, all the time laying the table. Suddenly she stopped and looked at him.

  ‘You don’t like my singing? Theo is forever telling me to sing quietly,’ she laughed, walking towards him and handing him a glass of wine. ‘Are you tired? You seem a little quiet.’

  ‘I’m just observing how gorgeous you are. About the other day, I didn’t mean to turn up just for a quickie. I felt bad when I left.’

  ‘I don’t mind and I felt good.’

  ‘Jacinta seems very funny.’

  ‘She’s very jealous that I’ve got you. And you do have a habit of walking around topless to get what you want, do you know that?’

  He laughed, pulling her closer and burying his head in her breasts.

  ‘Over three weeks we’ve been back together and I really regret us splitting up,’ Scottie said in all honesty, inhaling her sweet scent of perfume and skin. ‘Every time I see you, I realised what a prick I was. I should have got you to explain rather than jump the gun. I’m not like that, that’s not me. I’m more than reasonable.’

  ‘I promised myself I wouldn’t get hurt, I really did, but you caught me sideways and, I don’t know. After Hugh I didn’t think I’d fall in love again and when I did, it was with the last person in the world I would have wanted to. A high ranking police officer, who works directly for Helen, and is still under the age of forty.’

  ‘Hey,’ he said pushing her back, seeing her cheeky grin. ‘I’m very mature for my age.’

  ‘You’re very lovely for your age and before we have a wonderful evening, can you tell me what’s going on in the case without compromising your position?’ Ruby asked, running her fingers through his hair, which made him close his eyes, loving her touch.

  ‘You know I’m not supposed to say anything especially as it is closely linked with you.’

  ‘Her funeral is on Friday,’ Ruby said quietly and he noticed she pursed her lips. ‘Her grandmother is flying over from the Cameroon to attend.’

  Scottie stood up and walked her towards the table, sitting her down as he grabbed her legs and rested them on his lap.

  ‘I’m worried about you,’ he whispered, stroking her hair. ‘I got the guys to research on the other victims and there are things cropping up left right and centre about their behaviour. I was pretty shocked to find Cass was a member of the English Defence League.’

  Ruby hollered with laughter when he said it then put her hand over her mouth to stop.

  ‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ she said, shaking her head. ‘I told Hugh she was being a fascist on some of her columns.’

  ‘The two first victims, they weren’t actually straight up. One took money for advice. The other pretended they had psychic abilities and extorted a lot of money from very vulnerable people. Derek Rawles was sort of trawling young women, striking up relationships until something better came along. Chonika doesn’t make sense.’

  ‘I know that,’ she smirked. ‘And there was nothing written on her lips?’

  ‘Nothing.’

  ‘How were they killed? I’ve heard it was poison by injection but you’re not telling us what it is.’

  ‘Who told you this?’

  ‘Jacinta found out.’

  ‘I can’t tell you anything else,’ he said gently. ‘You still work for the press and you know very influential people in that arena.’

  ‘I didn’t tell Jacinta anything. I made her take me to the most expensive restaurant we could find locally. Anyway, she doesn’t really care as she thinks you coppers will figure it out.’

  ‘What did you say to that?’ Scottie smiled, seeing her think deeply before flicking him a glance.

  ‘I said that I was with the cleverest man on the force but he might need my help as he’s not that smart, more pretty, if I’m honest.’

  ‘You little minx!’ he laughed.

  ‘Jonathan Scott,’ Ruby said, leaning closer. ‘Do you think we’re going a bit fast? I don’t want us to hurtle into this only to find out there’s a glitch, like Helen.’

  ‘Or Hugh?’

  ‘Or your job? Don’t put that on the line. I know how much it means to you. It’s not worth it if there’s the possibility she’ll sack your sorry arse.’

  ‘On what grounds? Being in love with her former step-daughter, who was part of the team that shafted her lover,’ Scottie replied and let out a deep breath. ‘What’s the point of having success when you wake up alone in the middle of the night, wishing the person you loved was with you?’

  The kiss took him by surprise. She grabbed his face and smothered his mouth with hers, delving her tongue deep into his head. Slowly Ruby pulled away and smiled.

  ‘Don’t make me fall in love with you anymore than I have done, I can’t cope,’ she whispered.

  ‘Ruby, I want us to be together.’

  ‘We are.’

  Seventy seven

  He’d kissed every inch of her body a few hours later. Ruby lay naked in bed, looking up at him. Scottie was now placing tiny kisses on her face while caressing her breasts. Slowly his hand moved down between her legs. She spread her thighs wider apart and he stroked her inner lips.

  It was very light in the bedroom as she sighed, arching her back. He started rubbing her gently, picking up speed. He leaned down, capturing a nipple in his mouth, sucking at her breast. She knew her orgasm was close.

  Groaning out when the tightening around her womb combusted into a fully blow rocket of ecstasy, she shook and gasped, then looked up at him. Taking his dick, he slowly put it into her pulsating hole. Ruby buckled when feeling him fill her up.

  He balanced on his hands so the only thing touching were their groins, moving slowly in and out, in a rhythm they’d both became accustomed to. She put out a hand and touched his face, feeling her breasts wobble with every slow thrust he was making.

  Ruby didn’t want to close her eyes, all the time looking at him, feeling her breathing become heavy. Scottie gently stroked her breasts, squeezing them gently and sucking on each nipple.

  Then he start
ed to get faster, still with long strokes and she bent her thighs up, so he could go in deeper. He grabbed one of her thighs and pulled it higher, grinding into her and she yelped from the intensity of the pleasure. The speed was picked up and he screwed her for as long as he could, pulling in and out, going from side to side until he flung his head back and came with a deep throaty moan.

  All the time she watched his face, the way he was looking at her and was overwhelmed by a very intense feeling of love she had never experienced before.

  This threw her as she wondered if she had loved Hugh the same way as she did this new man in her life.

  It dawned on her when Scottie leaned down to kiss her gently, she probably never did or it was different.

  That’s when she started to laugh.

  ‘You’re a sensitive little thing,’ she said, stroking his thigh, when they sat in the living room later on.

  He was wearing a dressing gown and she wore one of his t-shirts

  ‘You laughed after we made love,’ he said sulkily.

  ‘I was just thinking about something and it struck me as quite funny,’ Ruby sighed, feeding him some more ice cream. ‘I didn’t mean to do it. I love you and that’s the most perfect thing in the world.’

  ‘I think you’re strange,’ he said, taking the spoon and eating a large mouthful. ‘I like it.’

  ‘That’s good and-.’

  His door buzzer jumped her as he frowned for a second.

  ‘Expecting another delivery or another woman?’ she grinned.

  He shook his head and stood up.

  ‘I better go and see who it is,’ Scottie sighed, getting to his feet and walking to the door.

  She listened to see who it was but as she turned, she got the fright of her life as Nana Gwen was walking at high speed towards her.

  ‘What’s this? A sleep over? How comes I wasn’t invited?’ the old woman smiled and sat right next to Ruby. ‘Hello darling, how are you? Got any spare food for an old woman?’

  ‘What are you doing here?’ Scottie said, looking pissed off as Ruby grinned.

  ‘Lovely to see you and we have plenty of food,’ Ruby laughed, giving the cheeky woman a kiss on the cheek while getting to her feet.