by S M Mala
‘Fuck,’ was all he could say, knowing he had to think on his feet.
‘I told you she was good,’ said Sebastian when they met in a pub late afternoon. ‘If you give Ruby the information, I know she’ll find the link. You never know, Ruby might be the serial killer.’
‘You’re not funny,’ scowled Scottie, nursing a pint. ‘If people in her branch were targeted then this is something more. One person is dead. What’s the plan? To kill them all?’
He hated saying it but it kept crossing his mind.
‘Or to kill one person in particular, who happens to also write a problem page, therefore making money out of it?’ he said gravely, shaking his blonde curls. ‘You can’t keep her hostage round yours. She has a child and this isn’t going to help anything. I see Yates is having a dig.’
‘So I hear.’
‘Jonathan Scott, what are you going to do?’
‘Sebastian Hartley, I have no idea. The only thing I’ve done is to get the team to check all internet access, emails and phone calls. What they did in the last week before they died, anything. There’s a link. Being a Samaritan and making money out of their bad advice can’t be the only thing.’
‘Now if you tell Ruby she gives bad advice, she’d bite your head off. Give her credit where credit is due, she writes a good page. You know, I didn’t know she was ‘Rebecca Martin’. It makes sense why she writes what she does.’
‘You read her column?’ Scottie replied, trying not to laugh.
‘If you love her, you’d read them. I, on the other hand, was looking for light relief and have been known to glance at them, as well as the gardening pages,’ he replied, sticking his nose in the air and grinning. ‘One has to read what mere mortals are into to get an idea of things.’
‘I’ve not read her work but I have seen the type of emails she’s been receiving and it’s worrying. Ruby doesn’t think twice about these people saying vile things. To me, anyone of them could be a suspect. I forwarded them to my email account and I’ve got the team looking at them as well.’
‘And you don’t think that’s going to alert the Commissioner?’ he said, a smack of concern creeping over his face. ‘Listen to me, though I know you won’t. You need to tell Helen Trott what happened on Tuesday and your involvement because-.’
‘They’ll take me off the case!’ Scottie replied sharply. ‘And there’s Diane to think about. I need to know what’s going on.’
‘Don’t jeopardise your-.’
‘Are you not listening to me?’ he said, leaning closer to Sebastian. ‘I’m in love with Ruby and I don’t care. All that worries me is that there’s a nutter out there intent on taking away the first person, in years, I’ve really cared about. I can’t let that happen, do you hear me?’
Eighty five
‘Why that little fucker!’ said Ruby, sat at the end of Diane’s garden around a long bench, reading her ex-husband’s interview with Mick. ‘See, even in the pictures he needs a bra for his man boobs!’
‘He really is something,’ said Gary, shaking his head from side to side. ‘And you know he’s been offered a paid blog by some men’s magazine out of this?’
‘How do you know?’ asked Annette, still ashen after the emotional funeral. ‘And where is he?’
‘Said he didn’t feel comfortable turning up,’ the Welsh man replied and let out a deep sigh. ‘Seems he has another agenda and is worried for his life. He’s convinced the killer is after him.’
‘I’m after him and I really don’t mind being up on a charge for murder!’ hissed Ruby. ‘And all the things he said about me! This is evidence he’s exploiting the situation for his own good.’
‘He has done for months,’ sighed Annette, taking a sip of her wine. ‘I never wanted to say but he has been writing blogs about this whole situation. I suspect he’s happy that we’ve become the next potential victims.’
Ruby put down her tablet and looked at Annette as Gary’s mouth dropped open.
‘I hate to ask how you know this,’ asked Gary, starting to get angry.
‘He spends most of his spare time at the office. One day I logged onto his computer and checked the history. It was there in black and white.’
‘Have you told Diane?’ asked Ruby, glancing at her friend who was trying to be a good hostess while sobbing into her large hankie every five minutes.
‘I mentioned it months ago.’
‘And no one said a thing?’
‘They can’t stop him voicing his opinion, can they?’ she said, flashing Ruby a glance. ‘And why didn’t you mention what happened to you on Tuesday?’
‘I was petrified. He threw cans of coke at the car and when the glass shattered, I thought he’d hurt me.’ Ruby gulped hard. ‘I didn’t want my ex to find out as he would have had a field day.’
‘But your ex is after the police over this,’ said Gary gravely. ‘He seems intent on tearing to pieces the new Assistant Commissioner for Special Crimes. What’s that about?’
‘He’s Diane’s cousin,’ Ruby diplomatically replied, wondering why he hadn’t called or texted her.
‘Do you think he knows something more and is covering?’ asked Annette, glancing over at Diane. ‘She knew all the victims.’
‘And so did we,’ laughed Gary. ‘Diane is no more a serial killer than you or I!’
‘But what about Mick?’ asked Ruby while the pair grimaced. ‘Do you think he could have set this all up to get publicity and a job that takes him off the counter of ‘Greggs’?’
‘Isn’t that him?’ Annette asked. Ruby immediately looked over, ready to give Mick a piece of his mind only to see it was Scottie. ‘He’s rather handsome for a policeman but they can’t be trusted as far as you can throw them. All corrupt you see and they never find the right person who commits the crime. I think they get a bonus for getting it wrong.’
‘You can see what your ex-husband was saying about him being all poster boy charm and stuff,’ said Gary, standing up with a grin. ‘Look guys, I have to go. I’ll keep in touch and when they decide to open us back up, I’ll be there. In the meantime, I’m volunteering at Ruislip as I feel odd about not helping, if you know what I mean.’
‘Can you give me a lift?’ asked Annette, getting to her feet. ‘I just want to go home and seek solace away from all of this. Do you want to come back with us?’
‘No,’ smiled Ruby, trying not to look at Scottie. ‘Larry said he’d arrange for me to get home.’
After kissing them goodbye, she noticed people were starting to wander off and then Scottie glanced over, as if making sure the coast was clear.
‘Your former husband doesn’t like me,’ he said, sitting next to her and putting a protective arm across her shoulders. ‘Poster boy, my arse!’
‘I don’t see why you’re getting upset about it. Even Annette said you were good looking for a copper, though not to be trusted.’
‘There’s more to me than this,’ he said, pointing to his face then down his body. ‘And you can always trust me.’
Ruby tried not to smile.
‘You’re very lucky to be beautifully packaged,’ she said quietly, letting out a little groan. ‘I felt quite sick today. I still feel a little sick now. How can you not want to breakdown when those sobs echoed around the church? It was heart breaking.’
Ruby put her hands over her face and didn’t want to get upset again.
‘You know I have to talk to you about what happened on Tuesday?’ he whispered. ‘I’m going to have to tell the Commissioner. She’ll find out and-.’
‘She gave me the filthiest look today. I wondered if she knew about us.’
‘Oh, she was quite pleasant to me.’
Pulling her hands away, she glared at him.
‘That’s because she thinks your top police totty,’ she sniffed as he grinned. ‘Parading you around like a piece of meat.’
He was about to lean over and kiss her when they heard Diane shout out.
‘Scottie!’ She came runnin
g to the garden. ‘Nana Gwen’s just walked in wanting free food and drink! She’s been on the sauce that silly old woman!’
Ruby noticed Diane’s look of utter frustration as she burst into tears.
‘Okay,’ he said standing up. ‘I’ll sort out the battle axe.’
‘Come here,’ Ruby said, getting to her feet and gently wrapping her arms around her large friend. ‘It’s been a terrible day and you’ve done so well, you really have. Sit down for a moment and let the others sort Gwen out.’
‘There’s only four people left so it’s not that bad,’ sniffed Diane, taking a tissue from her pocket then blowing her nose loudly. ‘She can only do so much damage.’
‘You should take some time away with your family. This isn’t a good place-.’
‘What about you? You were hurt only the other night.’
‘I’m in no more danger than-.’
‘That’s not true and you know it,’ replied Diane, staring into her eyes. ‘This person has got to be found before they-. ’ Diane took a deep breath. ‘I don’t want to go to another funeral. It’s not right.’
‘Hello!’ shouted Nana Gwen, marching towards them.
‘Give me strength,’ mumbled Diane, jumping up to her feet. ‘Why are you drunk?’
‘That’s what happens when you drink,’ the woman replied and sat down opposite Ruby. ‘Guess what? I saw my grandson on the telly and he looked so handsome. Didn’t see you two. They can’t have thought you were worth filming.’
‘I’ll live,’ grinned Ruby. ‘Two days in a row, Gwen. Are you stalking me?’
‘You know I haven’t got any contact details for you and I thought, when you’re not too busy eating pork crackling, you’d like to meet up for a drink?’ The woman smiled mischievously taking out her mobile phone. ‘These lot are such a bore. I need some fresh entertainment.’
‘Sure,’ Ruby said. ‘My number is-.’
‘No!’ shouted out Scottie, rushing towards them. ‘Don’t you dare give her it! She’ll hound you like she does the rest of us.’
‘When I’m dead you’ll regret ever saying that!’ snapped Nana Gwen. ‘So what is it?’
‘I mean it,’ Scottie said, taking the phone out of Nana Gwen’s hand. ‘Ruby’s my friend, not yours.’
‘Typical establishment, doesn’t like to share,’ sniffed Nana Gwen. ‘He never liked to share his stash of booze when he was a teenager. I always thought he was a selfish sod.’
‘He’s not! He works hard. Just because you’re in a bad mood don’t take it out on us,’ hissed Diane. ‘I suppose you want me to find some food you can chew?’
‘That would be lovely,’ the naughty woman sweetly smiled. Diane walked off and Scottie sat down. ‘God love her, but she really is a pain in the backside.’
‘Gwen,’ Ruby said gently. ‘It’s not been a good day for any of us.’
‘I know,’ she sighed. ‘I just wanted to lighten the mood a bit.’ Nana Gwen sighed. ‘I felt so sad watching it on the box. That poor girl’s family. It shouldn’t really be happening in our day and age. You bloody do gooders trying to help and then getting murdered. It’s not right. But I was thinking, it has to be someone from the Samaritans doing this, someone who doesn’t like the way you lot have been behaving. What doesn’t make sense is that young woman. She didn’t do any harm to anyone.’
‘You’re not a detective so leave it to the professionals,’ Scottie said quietly, sitting back next to Ruby as he squeezed her thigh.
‘And what are you doing? Trying to get a daily body search off this one without finding out anything?’ said Nana Gwen, rolling her eyes. ‘How long has this been going on? Seven months or so and still no clues? Come on! You boys in blue aren’t trying hard enough. I bet if you tell me what you’ve found then I could piece it together. Some of my friends could help and-.’
‘This isn’t a game,’ he said quietly. Ruby tried not to laugh at their current, identical, expressions of annoyance with each other. ‘I’ve a team of people looking into it right now and we’ll find out what’s going on.’
‘But how long is it going to take?’ Ruby asked, seeing Scottie flinch. ‘It’s like a ticking time bomb.’
‘I know.’
‘And what about your friend whose number you don’t want to give to an old lady?’ piped up Nana Gwen. ‘How long will it be before someone tries to hurt her again?’
Ruby closed her eyes for a moment, hearing his breathing get heavier. He then let out a massive sigh.
‘He’s doing his best,’ she whispered, grasping his palm as he stared back at her. ‘And that’s all we can hope for.’
Eighty six
When he woke up the following morning, Ruby wasn’t in bed. It was after eight so he wondered if she had gone downstairs, being that she was an early riser. Then he heard the front door open and shut. He darted out of bed and saw her standing downstairs.
‘Where’ve you been?’ he asked, gulping down a yawn as she grinned up at him.
‘To the police station to report what happened on Tuesday. I thought I had to do something. Gwen is right, this needs to be solved. Me worrying over what Hugh might say is irrelevant. Anyway, they knew about it and I didn’t get a hard time for not telling them sooner. I said I was scared and left it at that.’
Ruby smiled and he could see she was both relieved and upset.
‘You should have let me come with you,’ Scottie said, walking down the stairs. ‘I’d have to explain why you called me and-.’
‘I didn’t lie. I said I’d seen you that day and you were the first person I thought of. That’s the truth. Then I told you I didn’t want to proceed with it further.’ She shrugged as he went closer. ‘Don’t you ever put any clothes on?’
‘I was startled not to find you in my bed and-.’ He didn’t know how to say it. ‘You can’t just go out without telling me. The idea was to keep you safe and to do that, I need to know where you are.’
‘Is that for the detective side or just for you?’ she smiled, stroking his chest. ‘I don’t mind either way.’
‘It’s because I’m worried and I love you.’
‘What time is Riley coming today? Do you want me to scarper?’
‘I want you to meet my son,’ he smiled, knowing how the boy was going to act. ‘He might not be too friendly but you know what kids are like. Katya doesn’t want to come round so it’ll be just us three. He’s not staying the night as his mother said they’ve got family visiting.’
‘I can go home,’ Ruby whispered, kissing his chest. She walked away towards the kitchen. ‘It’s perfectly safe.’
‘I’d rather you stay here until Monday. Anyway, I want you to stay the weekend with me.’
‘And what have you got planned for today?’
‘Well,’ he grinned then glanced up stairs. ‘I thought we could spend a few hours in bed to start.’
‘I thought you said last night, while we were making love, you had to work today.’
‘That’s what I meant!’ Scottie laughed. She shook her head and grinned. ‘Do you want to get rid of me so you can ransack my place?’
‘I’ve done that already.’
‘I’ll go in for a couple of hours. Riley should be here about noon. I’ll be back in time. Come on, upstairs for half an hour?’
‘Go to work.’
He sat in the office of the police station and, again, looked through all the reports on what each victim had done before they were killed.
There was nothing out of the ordinary.
The pictures were lined up on the wall and the words ‘Bad Advice’ just stuck out. It was when he saw Chonika’s picture, looking as if she was sleeping, he knew Ruby was right and it wasn’t meant to be her.
A cold chill passed through him. He worried it was Ruby who was the intended victim.
Scottie got scared she might be in serious danger and he wouldn’t be able to help.
His eyes passed over the faces of the deceased and he wondered who they knew that
could have been the link. Something didn’t make sense as he re-read the negative things that had been discovered since the deaths.
Suddenly he remembered that Diane and a few of the other Samaritan had known them. Checking through the files, he realised they hadn’t really interviewed them to find out more about the victims. They had spoken to the people who they currently worked with but not people from their past.
Then it hit him.
It could have been an old colleague, someone they had lost touch with but who held a grudge against these people, one way or another.
‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ he said, shaking his head. ‘Idiot!’
They would have to interview more people, including Diane.
‘Shit,’ he mumbled, knowing he’d be called off the case due to his cousin.
Half of him was relieved and the other half worried, just in case another person was going to be at risk.
‘Scottie,’ he heard, making him jump.
Commissioner Helen Trott was standing in the office, dressed very casually in a jacket and jeans.
‘Oh hello,’ he said, trying not to look confused. ‘I was just going through some of the notes and-.’
‘I think you and I need to have a word, don’t you?’ she said sternly and he knew she must have found out about Ruby.
‘I was on my way back home. Riley’s coming at noon,’ gulped Scottie, putting the file into his case and buckling it up.
‘Can we go for a coffee?’ she asked, which was more of a demand than a request.
‘Sure,’ he smiled.
She turned and walked out.
Scottie’s face froze knowing what was coming next.
The café was nearly empty due to weekend trade being low. He noticed Helen Trott stare hard into her coffee.
‘What do you want to speak to me about?’ he asked lightly, sipping on his tea and grinning. ‘Is it serious?’
‘Ruby Marquis,’ she said and his stomach sunk so fast it felt like it had hit the soles of his shoes.