Bad Advice

by S M Mala

  There was a loud knock at the door just after eight in the evening. Theo had gone to bed and she knew Hugh would find out what happened with her colleagues.

  Ruby put on her winning smile and opened the door.

  ‘Hello ex-husband,’ she said, realising he was trying to hold it together but was failing fast. ‘Theo’s in bed.’

  ‘What happened to your knees?’ he asked suspiciously, walking straight past her and into the house.

  ‘I didn’t invite you in! I tripped while I was running, hence the plasters.’

  Ruby turned her head to see he was standing in the middle of the living room, glaring hard.

  ‘Have you heard what happened to your colleagues at the branch?’ he asked quietly, taking a deep breath as if trying to calm down.

  ‘I spoke to Annette this afternoon. Mick got it as well. As I don’t like him, I really don’t care but Annette was shaken. She’s fine. Diane is beside herself with worry and has asked the police to give us body armour and stun guns.’

  ‘This isn’t funny!’

  ‘I don’t think it’s funny. I think it’s very worrying and don’t you dare raise your voice at me when you know Theo’s sleeping,’ she hissed angrily, limping towards him. ‘I’m safe.’

  ‘What about our child? Haven’t you thought what sort of danger you’re putting him in? How the hell do you know that mad man won’t come in and give you an overdose of insulin and a strong sedative, then do the same to him! I’m moving back in or you’re moving in with me.’

  Hugh gulped hard and she could see he was being deadly serious.

  It was also the first time she was told what was used to carry out the murders.

  ‘You’re not coming back under my roof and I’m not going to move to yours,’ she said, controlling her temper. The pain in her legs weren’t helping as she tried to go closer to him without bending her knees. ‘I would never let anything happen to my son. Yes, my son! I love him more than anything else. Don’t you ever imply that I’d risk his safety.’ Then she snapped. ‘When you fucked off, to find some time to think through things after I caught you screwing that tramp in my home, I was the one who had to pick up the pieces. What? Two months away! Then you decide you want to come back after no contact with your son? You’re a fucker, do you know that?’

  ‘Don’t bring this up again,’ he said seething and giving her the utmost filthiest of looks. ‘I’ve tried to make amends. I was confused and upset.’

  ‘Then don’t ever mention coming into my home. As if you can protect me?’

  There was a knock on the door and she stood there, unable to move.

  Ruby was so incensed by Hugh’s gall.

  ‘Shall I get it?’ he asked and stormed to the door.

  ‘You can leave on your way out.’

  There were voices.

  She turned to see Scottie standing on the doorstep with a takeaway carrier bag. From the look on Hugh’s face, he seemed confused.

  ‘Have you met?’ Ruby said half-heartedly. ‘This is Jonathan Scott and-.’

  ‘We’ve met before,’ smiled Hugh, flashing Ruby a suspicious glance.

  ‘You do know he’s Diane’s cousin, don’t you?’ she said and noticed Scottie wasn’t revealing anything from his deadpan expression.

  ‘No I didn’t,’ her ex said and looked at the carrier bag. ‘Are the police delivering take-out food as well?’

  ‘Diane’s coming round and Scottie is going to speak to us about being safe,’ she blatantly lied. ‘He asked if we wanted some food and I agreed. Is that alright with you? Come in Scottie.’

  He half smiled and walked past Hugh, catching her eye.

  ‘Now can you see how safe I am,’ she said with a false smile. Hugh examined Scottie’s back. ‘And you’re right. He’s very easy on the eye. I’d ask you to join us but I want to enjoy my dinner.’

  ‘This isn’t over with and Assistant Commissioner Scott?’ Hugh said, glancing over his shoulder. ‘I hope you’re trying your best to find this serial murderer. I hate to think the police are dragging their heels because it’s just Samaritans.’

  ‘‘Just Samaritans?’’ Ruby said, wanting to scream at him. ‘Go away Hugh!’

  ‘You know what I mean.’

  ‘Good night.’

  Ruby walked up to him, ignoring the pain in her knees and shut the door as he left. Standing to compose herself, she jumped when she felt Scottie’s arms wrap around her.

  ‘How’s the invalid?’

  ‘Really not in a good mood,’ she replied, turning on her heels. ‘And you owe me an explanation.’

  ‘Don’t fight. Make love to me instead.’

  ‘Theo’s upstairs and you can’t spend the night. It’s too soon.’

  ‘Let’s eat and you can get it off your chest.’

  Half an hour later, after she started to laugh at her lover trying to crack stupid jokes, she ate another mouthful of curry and grinned.

  ‘I take it you know about Annette and Mick?’ he asked quietly. ‘They’re okay. You’re in the worst condition.’

  ‘I spoke to Diane and didn’t tell her about me. She was so upset.’ Ruby put down her fork and let out a little grunt. ‘Hugh said the people are being killed by a mix of insulin and sedative. I know how he’d know but why aren’t you telling anyone this?’

  ‘Ah shit,’ he said and shook his head. ‘The press haven’t said anything. I take it Hugh knows that if we say, there’ll be a whole lot of people accusing diabetics or insomniacs of the crime. It’s a strange way to kill a person, I admit, but the strength of the sedative shows they want the person to die, but not in pain.’

  ‘And the victim has no idea they’ve been given the dose? That’s horrible,’ she gasped. ‘Hugh’s worried about Theo being here.’

  ‘I’m worried about you. I need to inspect your knees later and put on some new dressings.’

  ‘What about Gary, Diane and the others? Are they alright? I need to go back in and-.’

  ‘No you don’t. I didn’t tell your colleagues about what happened to you but I had to report it. You’ll probably get someone from the station wanting to speak to you. You can’t go back in, not until this is all sorted.’ Scottie stroked her head but she didn’t want to listen. ‘And I know you’re going to hate this but Theo might be better off with his dad for the next few days. Hugh’s not a potential victim.’

  ‘Maybe not from the killer but he certainly is from me,’ she mumbled as Scottie laughed

  ‘And I’ll come and stay. Even better, you should stay with me. There’s no way they’ll come near my home.’

  ‘I can’t leave Theo,’ she groaned.

  ‘Just until after the funeral and we get a better idea of what’s going on.’

  ‘There’s no-.’

  ‘You really have no choice.’

  The following day, Theo went to spend the weekend with his father. It had also been decided that the branch would temporarily shut, given the incidents a few days earlier.

  Scottie was driving her round to his parent’s house for dinner.

  ‘And I won’t get drunk,’ she said when they walked down his parent’s drive. ‘Please don’t tell me I need to rest. We have the funeral tomorrow so-.’

  ‘It’s fine. We won’t stay long,’ he gently replied, putting an arm around her waist. ‘You’re staying with me tonight.’

  ‘You don’t have to put up with me. Actually, Jacinta said I could stay at hers if you parade naked around her flat. I told her you were shy and liked to keep hold of your truncheon.’

  They walked into the house and immediately she saw Diane, who grimaced and seemed on the verge of tears.

  ‘Ruby!’ she sobbed, rushing towards her, nearly squashing her ribs in the process. Then she stopped and stepped back. ‘Why are you limping?’

  ‘Scottie was chasing me and I slipped,’ she lied as he rolled his eyes.

  ‘He always liked to chase the girls,’ laughed Jack, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. ‘That’s
why he joined the police force so he could do it legally and not get done for sexual harassment.’

  ‘Very funny,’ grinned Scottie, putting a protective arm around Ruby. ‘We can’t stay long. There’s a funeral to go to tomorrow.’

  ‘Are you coming back to mine afterwards?’ asked Diane, trying not to cry again. ‘It’d be nice if we could all remember her together.’

  ‘Of course. Theo’s with his dad until after the weekend and I think we should do something nice. She always liked a good party,’ Ruby said then noticed a flash from the corner of her eye.

  She turned to see Nana Gwen dressed from head to toe in an orange sweat suit, three sizes too big.

  ‘Are you pretending to be a fruit of some sort?’ asked Scottie, trying not to laugh. ‘Where did you get that from?’

  ‘Friend of mine, Doreen, came back from Florida and bought it for me. Said it’s all the rage. I think it brightens things up!’ she replied, sticking her nose in the air. ‘Hello Ruby, fancy a piss up?’

  ‘Oh please?’ Jean said, coming out of the kitchen with some nibbles. ‘Ruby, lovely to see you again.’

  She was given a warm embrace with one arm as Jean balanced the plate in her other hand.

  ‘Thanks for letting me come,’ she replied and felt Scottie give her a tighter hug.

  ‘What are you dishing up today?’ grimaced Nana Gwen, sniffing then pulling a face.

  ‘I don’t ask you to come, you just turn up,’ said Jean quietly. Her mother grinned slyly. ‘Coq au vin.’

  ‘Pissed chicken? I love it!’ laughed the woman, walking off towards the kitchen.

  ‘Jack, follow her. Make sure she doesn’t try and spike anyone’s drinks.’

  All through the evening she noticed Scottie was smiling but it wasn’t his normal one.

  He looked worried.

  Then she saw Nana Gwen look at her grandson then back at her.

  Ruby knew the old woman picked up on something as she narrowed her eyes.

  ‘Can I come to the funeral?’ asked Nana Gwen, eating her ice cream and sipping on a glass of Tia Maria. ‘I do enjoy them.’

  ‘Nana this is different. The young woman was murdered and it’s very delicate,’ replied Diane gently. ‘And some of my colleagues have been targeted so we have to be very careful.’

  ‘Just the two of them? Is that right Scottie?’ Nana Gwen flashed Ruby a glance then turned to him. ‘Do you expect anyone else is in the firing line?’

  ‘Mother, you really do pick your moments. Can’t you see Diane’s upset and Ruby works with her too. Can we change the subject?’ said an exasperated Jean.

  ‘The thing is,’ Nana Gwen continued, turning her spoon around and eating backwards. ‘Ruby is the next potential victim. It all adds up.’

  Her heart sank immediately hearing the words said out loud. She glanced at Scottie and his expression said it all.

  He thought so too.

  There was a deathly silence at the table before the sound of Diane sobbing started to get louder. The woman immediately got up and walked out of the room while Larry looked on anxiously.

  ‘I’m just saying how it is,’ Nana Gwen guiltily replied. ‘I don’t mean to upset you but why would three of you get attacked after speaking to the coppers.’

  ‘It was only two of them,’ corrected Jack.

  ‘Three,’ Ruby mumbled and looked down, feeling nauseous. ‘Some kid was playing silly buggers with me. I asked Scottie not to say anything. You know, my son’s father is a journalist. Not only would he have a field day with this, he’d also demand other things I’m not willing to do.’

  ‘What like? Have sex with him? He’s tasty. I wouldn’t mind. Saw his picture on the internet,’ laughed out Nana Gwen and Ruby could tell she was trying to lighten up the mood.

  ‘I better go and see Diane,’ Larry said, starting to stand up.

  ‘Let me,’ interjected Ruby and quickly got to her feet.

  All she had to do was follow the noise coming from one of the upstairs bedrooms.

  When she eventually got to the top of the stairs, her knees not too willing to bend, she followed the sound of the sobs and saw Diane, face down on a pillow.

  ‘Hey, what’s all this?’ she quietly asked and sat down, rubbing her back. ‘I know you’re worried but-.’

  ‘I met every single person that got killed, do you know that?’ said Diane, gulping for air through her tears. ‘I’ve been to five funerals and this is the worst one to deal with. I don’t want to go to any more. It’s horrible and heart breaking.’

  ‘You never told me you knew Cass.’

  ‘I knew her when she was called ‘Sandra’,’ sighed Diane, sitting up. ‘And as each person was identified, I couldn’t remember their names immediately but I knew their faces. It was the same for Annette and Gary. We’ve been doing this for such a long time, you meet so many people.’

  ‘Whoever is doing this doesn’t seem to like the fact they made money out of giving advice but Chonika doesn’t make sense. I don’t get that at all.’

  ‘Who knows?’ shrugged Diane. ‘Why come at Annette and Mick? You know Gary’s wife is scared and wants him to stop. Larry? He’s begging me not to do it for a while until this all dies down.’

  ‘I’m being told the same thing. Why aren’t the police picking up any clues? ’

  ‘Have you asked Scottie?’

  Eighty two

  He stood outside in the garden, talking to Sebastian, knowing Nana Gwen was distracting the others with a story about one of the residents who wanted to do a bit of geriatric partner swapping at the home.

  ‘And she’s okay?’ asked his friend. ‘You know Helen Trott is going to find out about what happened.’

  ‘I’m hedging my bets on this.’

  ‘Don’t fall foul to the wrath of the Commissioner.’

  ‘I won’t. I saw the security footage from the car park. Someone was waiting for Ruby. You can’t tell who it is. They must know about the cameras but it wasn’t a coincidence. All I could tell it was a man.’

  ‘Shit! You can’t keep her hostage round yours, though I bet you love the fact she can’t get away from your sticky paws until after the weekend,’ Sebastian laughed.

  ‘I’m really worried. Tomorrow’s going to be a nightmare. I haven’t told her but I’m going in full regalia with Commissioner Trott.’

  ‘You’re what?’ he heard her say from behind him.

  Ruby was standing in the garden with a glass of wine in her hand.

  ‘Looks like someone has been eavesdropping,’ he sighed and grinned at her furious pretty face. ‘I’ll speak to you later.’

  ‘Look after her. If anything happens there are too many people who’ll come crashing in on you.’

  ‘I won’t let anything happen. Bye.’

  ‘And why didn’t you tell me you saw footage?’ she asked, limping towards him.

  ‘And why were you listening?’ he replied, putting his phone in his back pocket.

  ‘I was coming to get you. Gwen seems intent on eating the family trifle on her own with a massive spoon. She’s a sharp old woman, you know.’

  ‘That’s where I get it from,’ he laughed and stepped forward. ‘I think we should go home. I have to work. Sorry.’

  ‘I don’t mind. I have to work too,’ she said, sipping her wine. ‘My work is better done with a few drinks.’ Ruby took a deep breath. ‘Don’t worry about me, worry about catching Chonika’s killer. I won’t be able to bury myself in your arms tomorrow if you’re wearing your shiny clothing.’

  ‘You complained that my uniform dug into your skin last time.’

  ‘No, that was something else poking into me or should I say, porking into me.’

  ‘Let’s go home and work.’

  He was trying very hard to concentrate but Ruby was yelping with laughter at something on her notebook. Scottie couldn’t help but giggle, even though he had no idea what she was reading.

  ‘You’re distracting me,’ he said, reading some not
es off his tablet. ‘What’s keeping you amused?’

  ‘Some people send me utter bollocks and I’m at a loss on what to do,’ she sighed, still chuckling. ‘I’m so tempted to put a list of the most common problems and give stock answers to them all. Is your stuff more interesting?’

  ‘It’s not to be discussed,’ he said, immediately flicking to something else should she ask about the case. ‘Can I have a look?’

  ‘Of course you can. Come here.’

  Scottie got up and sat next to her as she turned the laptop and skimmed through a few emails.

  ‘Now this one is priceless,’ Ruby sighed and just as she was going to say something, he noticed a folder labelled ‘Hate mail’ at the bottom. ‘Why are you frowning?’

  ‘What’s in there?’ he immediately asked, trying to hide his alarm. ‘Is it bad?’

  ‘I told you before, I get all sorts of crap sent to me and I don’t take any notice. Let me show you this email from a grandmother in Cleethorpes who wants to know if husband swapping should be allowed. Her friend is offering up her hubby for a quickie in return for the use of her sunbed. I reckon it’s from Nana Gwen, considering what she said tonight.’

  Automatically he wanted to open up her email and see what was sent and when. It’s when he looked at Ruby, he realised she knew what he was thinking.

  ‘As you’re letting me stay with you, then you can have a look,’ she replied and flicked open the folder. ‘But don’t go making a fuss.’

  There was no way he could hide his alarm when he realised there were nearly one hundred and it was for that year alone.

  ‘Ruby!’ he groaned. ‘This isn’t right.’

  ‘Have you spoken to other agony aunts about this? They get more than me. People don’t agree with the advice and get very angry so they vent in our direction. They think we’re verbal punch bags.’

  Shaking his head in disbelief, he watched her get up and limp towards the kitchen.

  ‘Can you get me a drink, please?’ he asked, seeing she had the arse by the way she was hobbling. ‘Scotch on the rocks.’

  ‘Of course,’ she replied. He looked at the emails from the past few months. ‘And please don’t say anything after you’ve read them. I forward them on, like I said, and IT deals with them.’