Bad Advice

by S M Mala

  ‘Oh, you do like a close shave,’ Nana Gwen said, trying to take a peek under her t-shirt.

  ‘Nana!’ shouted Scottie. ‘Leave her alone! You can’t just turn up out of the blue!’

  ‘Interrupted something, did I?’ she mischievously asked. ‘Good to see you’re still alive. I heard about that poor girl getting murdered at Diane’s place.’

  ‘Yes,’ Ruby replied, watching her lover frown at his grandma. ‘It’s awful.’

  ‘Diane says you’ll be able to go back in tomorrow. They wanted to make sure it stayed closed out of respect.’

  ‘I know. I’m going there after I leave here,’ she replied, putting food onto a plate and noticed Scottie shot her a look of concern. ‘We need to go back in and try to be normal.’

  ‘Samaritans normal? You’re a bunch of fruitcakes for wanting to go back in there.’

  ‘Okay, I’ll ask again as you’re probably going deaf, what are you doing here?’ Scottie said, now really pissed off. ‘I can give you the cab fare back.’

  ‘Don’t you want to hang out with this old dear? I’ll be dead before long and then you’ll regret not wanting to spend time with me. Ruby, love, don’t microwave my food. I do love a cold curry.’

  ‘Me too,’ grinned Ruby, taking the plate and putting it on the table. ‘Would you like a drink?’

  ‘A large glass of vino would go down a treat!’ she said, getting up and walking to the table. ‘And in answer to your question, Scottie my man, I was bored and just popped in on the off chance.’

  ‘Really?’ he said, getting up and walking to Ruby. ‘I thought you were supposed to be at mums tonight.’

  ‘I couldn’t be arsed so I came here instead. She said your woman would be round so I thought I could hang out.’ Nana Gwen picked up her fork and started to eat. ‘Oh, this is delicious.’

  ‘You can’t stay,’ Scottie said going red. ‘I haven’t seen Ruby all week and this is the only time we’ve got. Charlie and Riley are coming tomorrow, why can’t you come then?’

  ‘I’ve got an eightieth birthday party to go to. Free barbeque and booze, need I say more? Let me stay for a few hours and we’ll have some fun.’

  ‘No,’ he replied. Ruby wanted to laugh at his scowl. ‘You eat then you go. Better still, I can put it in a takeaway container and you can have it when you get back home.’

  ‘Let her stay,’ Ruby said gently, getting a large glass of wine for Nana Gwen and sitting down. ‘I’ve not seen you for a couple of weeks.’

  ‘You know Diane told me a few things last week about you,’ she sniffed, taking a sip of her wine. ‘You’re ex stepmother is his boss, I take it?’

  ‘That is so,’ she replied, seeing Scottie look uncomfortable for a moment.

  ‘Doesn’t it make this all very complicated for my grandson?’

  ‘You never call me your grandson unless you want something from me!’ he laughed, making Ruby smile. ‘And it’s not complicated just unusual.’

  ‘Why did you split up if it wasn’t complicated?’ Nana Gwen sarcastically asked. ‘Oh, when Diane’s beyond consoling, she’s a blabber mouth.’

  Ruby let out a deep sigh, knowing the old woman didn’t turn up on the off chance. She too had questions to ask about their situation.

  ‘Helen Trott and I don’t get on. Scottie, like all policemen, thinks the article the paper wrote on them was harsh and unfair,’ replied Ruby quietly.

  Scottie sat next to her and stroked her thigh. She noticed Nana Gwen frown at him as he pulled his hand away.

  ‘It was the truth and some people got banged to rights! That’s what happened,’ the older woman replied.

  ‘And some people got caught in the cross fire including Helen Trott,’ Scottie said diplomatically.

  ‘I didn’t try to set her up,’ Ruby mumbled, knowing they hadn’t really spoken about it since she came back into his life. ‘She can say what she likes but it was Hugh and his team that did the main work.’

  Glancing at Nana Gwen, she noticed the lady was smiling to herself while eating.

  ‘You know what? I think you’ve got really entrenched in the bureaucracy of it all,’ sighed Nana Gwen as Scottie did a double take.

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ he replied loudly.

  ‘Once upon a time you wouldn’t care what other people thought, you’d just do it. Now you worry what your mates and that woman Commissioner thinks. Here, this woman,’ said Nana Gwen, pointing to Ruby. ‘She could have been dead and then what would have happened? You’d have been more distraught since you chucked her and, believe me, that’s not been fun looking at your bloody miserable face!’

  Ruby started to laugh as Scottie sat there, glaring.

  ‘And I don’t know what you’re laughing about. Aren’t you worried someone’s going to come and kill you?’ said Nana Gwen to Ruby.

  ‘Seriously?’ Scottie said, his face now going beetroot. ‘Have you just turned up to piss me off?’

  ‘I’ve turned up because I love you and want to spend time with my dearest grandson, my only grandson. Why are you looking at me like that?’ she replied innocently, biting into a large roti and grinning. ‘Lovely food.’

  ‘I take it in between your observations you’re trying to say something?’ grinned Ruby. ‘Diane must have shared a lot with you.’

  ‘Why didn’t you go to the funerals of the other four that died? Diane and some of your mates went?’ quizzed Nana Gwen. ‘Didn’t you know them?’

  ‘I might have met them but I doubt so very much. I avoided looking at the pictures when the reports came out. It doesn’t feel right.’

  ‘And have you asked Diane more questions because she knows everything?’ Nana Gwen asked, turning to Scottie. ‘I think it’s an inside job.’

  ‘Oh give me strength!’ muttered Scottie.

  ‘I think so too,’ said Ruby as he turned sharply to look at her. ‘No one would get to know things about the people unless they worked with them, one time or another, or knew of them.’

  ‘Like what?’ the woman asked eagerly.

  ‘Stuff,’ Ruby replied.

  ‘Have they taken you down the cop shop to see if you know something? I mean you could be the culprit?’ the woman smirked as Ruby smiled.

  ‘Indeed I could,’ laughed Ruby. ‘But I do have an alibi for much of the time. I was making whoopee with your grandson on the last occasion when Chonika got attacked.’

  She choked her tears down, the merriment fading. Scottie put his arm around her shoulders.

  ‘I’m sorry love. I’m only joshing with you,’ Nana Gwen said gently. ‘Is he fast Scottie? He looks like the type who does it quickly.’

  ‘Out!’ he shouted, standing up. ‘Before I throw you out!’

  ‘Police aye? Manhandling little old ladies? What is the world coming to?’

  ‘I don’t mind him manhandling me,’ grinned Ruby as Nana Gwen sniggered into her biryani and Scottie shook his head. ‘I hope he does it again later.’

  Seventy eight

  He spent the time between Ruby leaving and the boys arriving, to email his colleagues and start looking into the people who worked with the victims at the branches. Scottie felt a little sick typing Ruby’s name as part of the list but he knew she was right.

  It was someone from within.

  But Chonika’s murder was the one that puzzled him the most.

  In the branch, no message on her lips but death by the same way.

  His mobile started to ring.

  ‘Sebastian,’ he sighed, looking at his screen. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘What a greeting?’ came the laugh from down the end of the phone. ‘Any closer to solving the ‘Samaritan Slayer’ or have you been putting your pork sword in other places with a Samarian I know very well?’

  ‘She’s wonderful, thanks for asking.’

  ‘And she took you back? When are you going to arrange for us all to meet up?’

  ‘I can hardly get time to see her alone. My bloody Nana Gwen turne
d up last night and stayed about three hours, getting Ruby so drunk I had to take her to bed,’ he said, letting out a disgruntled sigh. ‘But she made up for it.’

  ‘Nana or Ruby?’

  ‘I shoved the old bag, that is my grandmother, into a cab while gazing lovingly at my drunken woman, passed out cold in my bed,’ Scottie laughed. ‘And Ruby has a habit of saying things that makes me rethink how we’re investigating this serial killer.’

  ‘She’s very bright you know. I’m not sure what she sees in you. What are you doing tonight?’

  ‘Got the boys coming round in an hour and we’re having a barbeque. Why?’

  ‘Gemma’s taken the girls to her mother’s and I’ve got a free pass. Can I join?’

  ‘Why not? My home seems to be a free for all!’

  In the early evening sunshine, Scotty was watching Sebastian barbeque while Charlie sat nursing a beer. Riley wanted to play a game and decided to stay indoors.

  ‘And that’s it in a nutshell,’ finished Scottie, after explaining his feelings for Ruby to his eldest.

  ‘Aren’t you worried about her safety, considering what’s going on? Did you meet her while you were investigating?’ his son asked, looking at him quizzically. ‘You know the woman who got killed, Chonika? Well she did a lot of work with youths in the local community. Whoever killed her is a sick bastard because she was really helping. Not all those Samaritans who got murdered had a good heart.’

  ‘Ruby has.’

  ‘So this woman Ruby, who you really like, is really a Samaritan?’ asked Charlie. He noticed his son was trying not to laugh. ‘I’d never have thought you’d go for someone like that.’

  ‘Like what?’ Scottie asked. ‘Look, your Nana Gwen turned up last night giving me the third degree about it. I don’t expect that from you.’

  ‘Someone with a soul,’ he grinned. ‘A woman who has heart and isn’t totally self-obsessed.’

  ‘Lorraine wasn’t like that,’ Scottie whispered. ‘She wasn’t self-centred, if that’s what you’re implying. Miriam, well yes, that wasn’t my finest hour.’ He hesitated. ‘Or do you mean me?’

  ‘I mean it’s good that you’ve met someone but if she knows she’s going to be second best to your career, then what happens next?’

  ‘Hear! Hear!’ shouted out Sebastian, coughing, due to the smoke going into his face. ‘Your father’s been too focussed on trying to get into the Commissioners shoes, he needs to have fun.’

  ‘I’d be really upset if you ever got that job,’ Charlie said seriously, glancing over at Riley. ‘He, on the other hand, would make sure you arrested all the people he didn’t like including Katya.’

  ‘Riley can’t stand her. I’ve tried but they’re poles apart,’ whispered Scottie, looking at his oldest child and smiling. ‘And how’s your love life?’

  ‘It’s good. Gemma and I are really happy and thinking of getting a place together.’

  ‘Move back to this side of London,’ he said, touching Charlie’s face, who grimaced. ‘Your grandparents miss you and Nana Gwen. She thinks you prefer to hang out with gangsters from the East End.’

  ‘That’s not true,’ he laughed. ‘She asked me if I could score her some weed.’

  ‘Why that deceiving old-.’

  ‘Grubs up!’ shouted Sebastian, walking over with a large plate of charcoaled food.

  Riley ran straight out of the living room and across to the table.

  ‘See you’re copying his style,’ smirked Charlie, looking at Riley’s hair then across at Sebastian. ‘Is it some cool blonde hair association thing going on here with the curly locks?’

  ‘Listen kid, at my age, it’s good to have some hair, I’m telling you. I appreciate what I’ve got,’ grinned Sebastian, sitting down next to Riley. ‘And you, my dearest godson, have said two words to me today. All this games stuff on the box, what ever happened to conversation?’

  ‘But Uncle Seb, this game is really good and mum won’t let me play at home,’ groaned Riley as Scottie handed him over a burger. ‘She says I have to do better at my literacy but I told her, I prefer maths so what’s the point?’

  ‘The point is that you have to try hard at school and not get distracted,’ replied Scottie, smiling at his little boy. ‘Charlie worked hard and he’s done well.’

  ‘Charlie’s a goodie two shoes,’ mumbled Riley. His older brother shook his head and laughed. ‘Well you are. Mum said you always did well at school. I’m just average so what’s the point?’

  ‘The point is, young man, you have the world in front of you and if you don’t make an effort to work hard, then you won’t get the opportunities,’ replied Sebastian, drinking a beer.

  ‘It’s different for you, you’re posh,’ grumbled Riley, making Sebastian laugh.

  ‘That’s what you think?’

  ‘That’s what Katya says. She says if you go to private school and are posh, you do better than anyone else.’

  ‘That’s rubbish,’ said Charlie, eating his burger and shaking his head. ‘She’s just being elitist.’

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Riley.

  Scottie knew his son thought it might be a rude word as he looked eagerly at Charlie.

  ‘She just thinks she’s better when she’s not but you can’t blame her. It’s the people she’s surrounded by.’

  ‘Can we change the subject?’ Scottie interjected, knowing the two boys didn’t like their sister, more to the point, the mother of their sister. ‘Katya’s not here to defend herself.’

  ‘She’s always talking on the phone, she wouldn’t hear,’ whispered Riley as Sebastian chuckled.

  They sat eating and Scottie’s mind wandered back to Ruby. Again, he wished she could be sitting with them, being part of his family and life. That’s what he desperately wanted then he noticed Sebastian was looking at him.

  ‘What are you thinking? I can hazard a guess,’ said Sebastian, piling salad onto his plate.

  ‘Dad, dad, is it true that there’s a serial killer out there and he’s murdering people who are goodie two shoes?’ asked Riley eagerly, his cheeks covered in ketchup. ‘Does that mean he’s going to murder all the good people?’

  ‘Where do you get this information from?’ sighed Charlie, handing his little brother a carton of orange juice. ‘Or are you hoping they’re going to go for your teachers?’

  ‘They’re goodie two shoes so they’re gonna get it!’

  ‘Riley, you shouldn’t be talking about these things. It’s very serious,’ Scottie replied grimly. ‘You know Auntie Diane is really upset about this as she’s a Samaritan.’

  ‘Auntie Diane’s not going to get it. She gets secretly drunk on Bacardi and lemonade, so she’s not good,’ replied Riley with great authority.

  ‘The logic of children,’ sighed Sebastian. ‘Your dad’s new girlfriend is a Samaritan.’

  Riley’s face turned to stone immediately. Scottie noticed his son didn’t look impressed.

  ‘What girlfriend?’ his child asked, holding tightly onto his burger. ‘You never said.’

  ‘Ah,’ said Sebastian. ‘You’ve not told him?’

  ‘He only just told me?’ smirked Charlie.

  ‘Not another bossy boots who’ll try and be my friend?’ frowned Riley. ‘I don’t want to be friends with a girl!’

  He tried hard not to laugh at his child’s expression as he sat up straight.

  ‘I’ve known her for about six months and I like her a lot. She has a son who is eight years old and one day you’ll meet him,’ Scottie said gently.

  Riley didn’t look too impressed.

  ‘And that means I’ll still be the baby and he’ll boss me around and-.’

  ‘He won’t do anything of the sort,’ his father replied gently. ‘Ruby wants to take things slowly and not force everyone together so you might not meet for weeks or months. I met him not so long ago.’

  ‘You did?’ asked Sebastian. ‘You never told me.’

  ‘Uncle Sebastian knows Ruby from years ago.’<
br />
  ‘She’s a doll!’ grinned Sebastian.

  ‘What? She’s made of plastic?’ asked Riley, looking more confused.

  ‘It’s an old person’s expression to say she’s a good looking,’ sighed Charlie when Sebastian flashed a disgruntled look.

  ‘What does it mean? You’ll see me less?’ asked his young son, looking a little upset. ‘You won’t want me to come round anymore?’

  ‘I want you to come and see me whenever you want, that will never change. My kids come first and the same applies to her,’ replied Scottie. ‘I think she’s really nice and so does Uncle Seb.’

  ‘Where’s her husband?’ Riley quizzed, taking a large bite of his burger. ‘Does her son have a dad or is he like Charlie? His dad’s dead.’

  ‘Subtle or what?’ sighed Charlie, ruffling up his brother’s hair who just growled in response. ‘Yeah, so tell us all about this new friend of yours.’

  ‘Her son is called Theo and his father works at a newspaper as an editor. They’re divorced and Ruby also works at a different newspaper.’

  ‘That’s writing isn’t it? I don’t like writing,’ mumbled Riley. ‘I’m not going round to hers. I’m only staying here.’

  Scottie just stared at his troublesome son who didn’t seem impressed by the news.

  ‘What’s bothering you about this whole thing?’ asked Sebastian, leaning closer to Riley. ‘You don’t seem very happy.’

  ‘There’s Charlie and Katya and Trey and Missy and now someone else and it’s just too many. And I get treated like a baby and I’m not a baby. I don’t want someone else to tell me what to do as I don’t like it! And I don’t have to be friends with people I don’t want to, so you can’t make me like that boy if I don’t!’

  ‘You’re all heart,’ laughed Charlie. ‘And do you think I liked the idea of being inflicted with you and Katya? No one asked me and I had to put up with it. The least you could do is be nice.’

  ‘Not if I don’t like them.’

  Scottie looked at Sebastian, who seemed amused by Riley. He knew it was a lot for his spoilt little son to take in.

  ‘She’s also very good friends with Auntie Diane and that’s how I met her, at the birthday party. Now if Auntie Diane likes her and she knows Theo as well, they can’t be that bad, can they?’ said Scottie softly.