by S M Mala
‘I see,’ she said, a little put out and noticed Scottie grin. ‘I understand. What do you say about your dad?’
‘I say he runs a really big newspaper with hundreds of reporters and he’s really important,’ Theo said proudly. ‘And now I can tell them your friend is really high up in the police, which is cool.’
‘And I’m not?’
‘You are but not like them,’ he said, going a little red. ‘You’re the best mum in the world.’
‘Yes I am,’ she nodded and knew this was her queue to say something. ‘Theo, you know I love you very much, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ the boy replied, eyeing her suspiciously.
‘And if you want to know the truth, I love Scottie very much too.’ There was a nod and a quick glance at the man in question. ‘And he loves me.’
‘Yes.’
‘I know this is going to sound really fast as you hardly know him but…’ She didn’t know what to say, how to tell her son this piece of news. Looking over at Scottie, she could see his expression was more of wonderment than of support. ‘I’m going to have a baby. A little brother or sister as I promised you a few years back but the dad is Scottie.’
Her heart was thundering in her chest.
Theo stared at her for a moment then shook his head. Her heart sunk.
‘It doesn’t mean I’ll love you less, that will never change. I will try my hardest to make sure it won’t be an awful thing for you. I know you need to take this all in.’
She couldn’t think of anything else to say, feeling her breath leave her lungs.
‘I’m not sharing by bedroom or moving out of it,’ he said quite firmly, looking at the pair of them. ‘My toys remain mine and I won’t change any nappies. If the baby cries, I won’t look after it or be told I have to keep an eye. You promise me?’
‘I promise,’ Ruby said, letting out a marginally small sigh. ‘Scottie will have to move in and help. He won’t take over your space or even try to be a replacement dad. He’ll be a friend, if you want it or not. But I won’t accept rude behaviour towards him. I know you’re a good boy. If you’re unhappy then you’ll have to tell me. Always be open and honest, that’s what you have to promise we keep on doing.’
‘Can I be excused?’ he asked.
Ruby nodded, watching him leave the table and run up the stairs.
‘I don’t think he’s happy.’ Ruby put her head in her hands feeling upset. ‘It’s all so fast and new to him. It’s just been me and him for a while and now it changes again.’
‘Listen to me,’ Scottie said, moving closer. ‘It’s really hard for the kids. I had to take on Charlie and then Missy and Trey. They don’t know what to do half the time. They think they should automatically love this person because their mother does but it’s difficult. Theo is a smart child and his dad is still around, so he won’t feel too left out. I’ll try my hardest to show him I respect his home, him and his mother.’
‘I worry about Theo, that’s all. He wanted me and his dad to get back together. That would make him really happy.’
‘Then I’ll have to make you really happy instead and he’ll see I’m a very good guy.’
‘He thinks you being high up on the police is cool, whereas he doesn’t tell anyone what I do.’
She heard Theo stomp down the stairs and was holding something behind his back.
‘There,’ he said, holding out one of his teddies that he didn’t play with since he was little. ‘The baby can have this but not my Sonic toys, okay?’
‘Okay,’ Ruby smiled then grabbed her son, hugging him fiercely as he flopped into her arms, knowing a struggle was out of the question. ‘I love you Theodore!’
‘Theo, my name is Theo,’ he said and glanced over at Scottie. ‘Are you any good at computer games? Mum’s pretty rubbish.’
Scottie was certainly nowhere near rubbish as he gave her a back massage later on that evening. Theo was fast asleep and Ruby lay naked on her bed, face down. Her head was still hurting but it was the pain in her shoulders she couldn’t overcome.
His hands glided up and down her back, rubbing in a massage bar gently into her skin.
‘I’ll massage you every day up until the baby is born then I’ll smother you in stretch mark cream,’ he laughed into her bottom, kissing each cheek gently. ‘And even when you’re too big for us to make love, I’ll pleasure your every need.’
‘And what if I can’t do the same for you? You know my hands really swelled up when I was pregnant with Theo. I couldn’t move my joints and I thought I had arthritis. That’s not going to help if you want me to give you a hand job, is it?’ She laughed for a moment. ‘Though I will try. I know you like your sex.’
‘I love sex with you,’ he groaned.
She felt something stick in her spine while his mouth covered her back in small kisses.
‘Yes, I can certainly feel that.’
Ruby turned around and gently pushed him back so he was balanced in his knees. She couldn’t help but smile when she saw his extremely taut and muscular body. Then her eyes focussed on his face and she felt something twist in her gut, an almighty surge of love sweeping through her.
Sitting up on her knees, Ruby wrapped her arms around him and inhaled his scent. Scottie always smelt manly and sweet, it was a lovely combination. Gently she stroked his chest and caressed his waist, running her hands down his stomach.
‘How many sit ups do you do a day?’ she grinned. ‘Even if I did a million, I’d never get a flat gut.’
‘Five hundred,’ he whispered into her ear. ‘And I like your round, curvy body. It’s soft.’
‘You are really full of shit,’ she laughed out and looked straight into his cheeky twinkling eyes.
Then she felt a twinge in the back of her head as his smile faded.
‘Are you still in a lot of pain? Even when I go back in tomorrow, there are police outside keeping an eye.’
‘I know,’ she sighed and buried her face in his neck feeling scared again. ‘What did I do so bad to deserve the attacks? I know this thing about ‘Bad Advice’ but I don’t do that. I don’t give bad advice, I tell the truth. I’ve never pretended to be a psychic or even got money off vulnerable people. I stopped the paper from putting up a helpline that charges the poor bastard who calls in £3.00 a minute.’
‘There might be two people doing this now. One committing the killings and the other attacking you guys, maybe for the publicity.’
‘I have to protect Theo and my baby,’ she said, immediately holding her tummy. ‘I don’t want anything bad to happen to both my children.’
‘Neither do I,’ Scottie said, grabbing her face. ‘I was upset on Thursday night because I was worried they could have hurt you and our child. The baby we had no idea you were carrying. I wanted to tell my parents but I knew we had to be sure.’
‘After the first proper scan we’ll tell them, including your kids.’
‘We could do it at the party. That’s a good a time as any. And we should hold it at my home. It’s a great place.’
Ruby pushed him on his back and started to place kisses all over his stomach and moved up to his neck. He grabbed her face so she’d move towards him but she pulled away and decided to head back down.
Capturing him in her lips, she sucked and licked, looking up to see what he was doing. Scottie was focussed on her, watching her giving him pleasure, then he started to close his eyes and took a deep breath as if holding on.
‘Sit on me,’ he said as she let go and straddled his hips.
As she slowly lowered herself down onto his shaft, he gave one massive push and he was all in, making Ruby let out a little whimper. She felt an orgasm pulsate around her groin. Supporting her hips with his hands, he bent his legs and started moving very slowly, not wanting her to do any work, then he picked up speed.
It was times like this, she realised he was incredibly strong, holding her as if she was light as a feather and manoeuvring her around with ease. She looked at his body, the muscles in
his arms, the way his stomach rippled when he was thrusting.
He was a magnificent package. Looking at him in action just made her want to come.
Her hands were pressed onto his chest and his hips were going faster. She was having a hard time holding on to his perspiring skin. He pulled out and gently laid her down on the side where her head wasn’t hurt, pulled up her leg and took her from behind.
She felt his fingers between her legs, rubbing her very quickly, using her own juices.
Ruby buried her head in the pillow when she felt the pulling build up as the muscles spasm took over, and she shook from the orgasm. He started to move faster and groaned into the back of her head, rubbing her slowly. She felt his body stiffen then collapse.
‘I’ll take you from behind,’ he gulped. ‘When you get very large or I’ll just bury my head between your thighs. That’ll keep me happy.’
‘Whatever,’ she sighed, smiling to herself. ‘As long as it keeps you loving me.’
One hundred and ten
He just wanted to laugh.
Scottie felt ridiculously happy and couldn’t help smiling at everyone. Even Dave frowned at him a few times before cornering him alone, later on Tuesday morning.
‘Are you okay?’ his friend asked, obviously concerned. ‘Your woman got badly hurt last week and you’re grinning. Did you get hit as well?’
‘That’s not funny,’ replied Scottie, taking in a deep breath. ‘And Ruby is still shaky but getting better. We have to find out who did this.’
‘We do have a lead but it’s very vague,’ the man replied.
Scottie smiled, once again, recalling the morning and how elated he felt, especially on hearing Ruby throw up, knowing it was all down to their baby.
He felt a lump in his throat from the emotion but swallowed hard.
‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ Dave asked.
‘Indigestion,’ he said, tapping his chest and grinning. ‘What about Jeremy Tyler? Any leads?’
‘He wasn’t a nice man. Groomed teenage boys when they needed support. Seemed he liked to deal with young men who were having trouble coming to terms with being gay, so he helped them. To be honest, he seemed to have helped himself. Most if his previous partners, from what we discovered, he met through the Samaritans then on teenage helplines. He’s a pretty disgusting piece, preying on vulnerable blokes.’ Dave shook his head. ‘You know what, Scottie?’
‘I know what you’re going to say,’ he replied, sitting at the desk and looking at the display of faces, leads and a map. ‘It’s like the serial killer is really a vigilante, trying to strike back at the people who abused their position. They’re bad for killing but are they wrong on who they picked? Is it a warning for other bad do gooders, I wonder?’
‘And if that’s the case then why hurt Chonika Adams? There’s not a stain on her character.’
‘It was a mistake, we know that.’
‘So the intended victim was one of the others working at the branch. Does that mean they’re all potential targets?’
‘Ruby’s been hurt twice. If these attacks are being randomly done by someone else, then surely the real killer might not be happy about this turn of events.’ Scottie noticed the Commissioner was walking towards them. ‘And I’m not going to let anything happen to her.’
‘Scottie,’ Helen Trott said, all smiles, which unnerved him for a moment. ‘I’m pleased to see you.’
‘You saw me yesterday and demanded I come back in,’ he shrugged, seeing Dave try hard not to smile. ‘I brought my suit in for the evening. I can’t do a late one as I have to get back home.’
‘You’ll have to stay for as long as it takes,’ she said and he noticed the woman was checking him out. ‘And how was your week off?’
‘It was wonderful up until Thursday then oddly enough it got better,’ he said but couldn’t help himself from grinning. ‘She’s going to have protection until we find out what’s going on?’
‘We’ll make sure there is surveillance until we decide otherwise,’ Helen Trott said quietly. ‘For obvious reasons, we don’t have the budget to guard everyone twenty four seven.’
‘It’s imperative she’s kept safe,’ he replied seriously and noticed a flicker of confusion on his boss’s face. ‘Two attacks in the same amount of weeks is not good. She’s a victim.’
‘We know Scottie and you must protect your new love just in case something happens. I hear you!’ she said, turning on her heels and marching off.
‘Is she jealous?’ sniggered Dave. ‘Looks like it.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘Is it really true that Ruby Marquis was Commander Sidney Murray’s step daughter who he adopted? Only you Scottie could pick the child of her belated husband,’ laughed Dave as Scottie did a double take. ‘And before you ask how I know, I’m a good friend and I did a search on her when you were going through your broken heart moment. That’s when I realised she was also one of the journalists from years back. I have to keep a look out for a friend, you know.’
‘And you’re a policeman, so that goes without saying, doesn’t it?'
Again, he laughed and shook his head. Walking to the wall of pictures and clues, he knew the answer was staring at him straight in the face but he couldn’t figure out what the connection was.
They thought it was Diane but hadn’t dug deeper into any others who could have easily committed the crimes.
For a second he thought someone at a higher level might just be setting him up for a fall.
One female in particular.
Scottie shrugged it off.
Sitting at the dinner table later on that evening, Scottie found the room to be noisy and filled with all the high ranking police officers. It was a belated celebration for the officers who had been promoted. He noted there were a handful of women, some black and Indian colleagues and one notable chap who was Chinese.
Other than that, it was a sea of white faces.
Then he thought about them finding out about his relationship with Ruby and her hand in the investigation. Scottie wondered if they would accept him then.
It bothered him, the chance of losing his job but then he thought about the strong possibility of being happy for the rest of his life. There was a woman he loved and who loved him.
They were going to get married.
She was having his baby.
And could also be the possible next victim of a serial killer.
Immediately he felt sick with worry.
He was not focussed on the conversation as he ate his meal in silence. All the time it went around his head why Diane had been picked on. Dave had obviously dug around when it came to Ruby so he must have done the same thing to her other team members.
His mind flicked back to Mick Dawson and how rude he was to Ruby when they met in the police car park. It was unfathomable that someone could be so cruel to her. But she gave as good as she got when it came to that man.
Then he recalled something Ruby said about Mick Dawson being the same size as Chonika with bigger tits. He suddenly stopped eating.
The intended victim was Mick Dawson not Chonika.
She just happened to be there at the wrong time.
Instantly he got to his feet and excused himself, receiving a filthy stare from Helen Trott as he did so. He called Dave.
‘Listen, sorry to disturb you but what was Chonika wearing the night she was killed?’ he asked, making sure no one overheard him as he stood in the corridor.
‘Are you that bored?’ his friend asked.
‘Tell me.’
‘Jesus! She was in a tracksuit or something on the way back from the gym. Why?’
‘Maybe the intended victim was Mick Dawson. I heard they had the same build so it could be that Chonika was stabbed with the needle and the murderer realised they’d made a major mistake. That could explain why they never left the message on the mouth.’
‘Which means, potentially, he’s the next victim?’
‘The way t
hings are going at the moment, with everything he’s writing, he could well be.’
‘What should we do?’
‘It’s someone close to them. And we did a thorough background search on all of them?’
‘There’s nothing on these guys. They’re squeaky clean. Mick Dawson isn’t so pure. He has a link to a gang that used to cause trouble at football matches when he was younger.’
‘We need to find out more,’ he said and heard some heels clanking behind him. ‘I better go. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
‘Are you coming back in?’ Commissioner Trott asked, shaking her head from side to side. ‘You’ve left your food half eaten.’
Scottie turned to look at her. She seemed a little pissed and her cheeks were quite red.
‘I’m not that hungry,’ he replied, wanting to call Ruby. ‘I’ll be back in a moment.’
‘Can’t you leave her alone for a second?’ grimaced Helen Trott. ‘I’m sure she’s fine.’
‘She’s more than fine, she’s perfect.’
‘Oh give me a break,’ Helen said, turning around. ‘I’ve known her a great deal longer than you and she’s far from perfect.’
He walked behind her, down the corridor, as she stopped at the door and turned to look at him.
‘I think you and I need a little chat, don’t you?’
‘Why?’ he asked, seeing she was smiling, which softened her features.
‘This will be finished soon. Let’s go for a drink, unless she won’t let you?’
‘Fine,’ he shrugged, not wanting to. ‘Ruby won’t mind.’
They were at her private member’s club as he watched her knock back a glass of scotch and smile. Scottie made sure his drink was diluted with enough water so he didn’t get too drunk.
His mind was itching to work on the case and his body yearned for Ruby.
‘I’m not the bad person in this,’ she said, slurring her words. ‘I got her letter about removing me from my home.’
‘She actually sent one?’ he asked, thinking Ruby was joking. ‘Is she letting you off the back rent?’
‘That madam owes me for keeping it in a good condition,’ shrugged Helen Trott. ‘I’ll contest her for costs and no doubt she’ll kick up a stink. You don’t know Ruby as well as I do. She’s not this fluffy little do gooder you think she is. She’s a hard-nosed journalist when she wants to be. Sidney used to talk to her about cases and I think that’s why she was interested in journalism. Finding out the facts without being involved in the force.’