Black's lips were compressed in a thin line of anger.
'The truth is you have no interest in catching criminals, we all know that, we always have, the only thing you want is your payment in the bank every month, but not once have you ever put the effort in to earn that money.'
'I do the job to the letter, I follow the rules,' Black snarled.
'If following ''the rules'' entails giving a ten-year-old a roasting for dropping litter then yes you're the man, but when a colleague requests your help, and you refuse, then I see that as a dereliction of duty.'
'Well, I don't, as far as I'm concerned Rourke should never have gone into that place,' Black spat, nodding towards the house. 'I was always taught that you had to use your judgement and that's what I did, but I'm no one's keeper, and if Rourke wants his brownie points then that's up to him, but I've lasted this long in the job because I use common sense.'
'You're wrong, you've lasted this long because you're a coward.'
'You bloody tell him, Odette,' Shannon grunted in agreement.
Black threw him a hate-filled look, his body shaking with rage, before glaring back at Odette.
'Are you going to tell him to shut his mouth?' he demanded.
'Doctor Shannon is not a police officer and he's entitled to his opinion,' she replied.
'Typical. You accuse me of not backing up a colleague, and yet it's you who are allowing him to insult me.'
'I'm not interested in scoring points here, Steven, and…'
Black suddenly turned and started to stride away, his torchlight jittering.
For a few seconds, Odette looked on in shock and then the anger was back.
'I haven't finished with you, Black!' she shouted.
He never stopped, never looked back as he strode over the flattened grass, ignoring her completely.
Shaun Rourke cleared his throat before looking down at his sodden shoes.
'Useless wanker!' Shannon bellowed.
All Odette could do was sigh as Black vanished into the darkness.
5
Easing the car into the garage, James Pence turned off the engine and lights before climbing out and closing the car door quietly, the nagging pain behind his eyes growing as he dragged a shaking hand across his face.
When he heard the sound of footsteps on gravel, he turned as his wife stepped into the garage.
'You're late,' she said with a smile.
Walking towards her, he smiled in return before placing his hands on her waist and dipping to kiss her.
'I'm sorry, I was late setting off from the office, and then got held up in traffic, I mean, it's meant to be a smart motorway now, but the truth is it's worse than ever.'
Hannah Pence stroked his cheek with her hand. 'Never mind, your tea's ready so why don't you have a shower and I'll pour us a drink.'
'How's Morgan?' he asked stepping out of the garage and closing the double doors.
'She's in her room, probably on Facebook or her phone as usual.'
'Typical,' he said, before hooking his arm around her shoulder as they walked towards the house.
'She's a teenager so it's to be expected, and I dare say you were the same at that age.'
'Not me, I was in bed by ten every night, lights out, fast asleep,' he replied, narrowing his eyes against the pain in his head.
'Of course you were,' she joked as she bumped her hip into his.
Reaching the house, they went through to the kitchen, by the time Hannah had put the kettle on, he had slipped his suit jacket over the back of a chair and pulled off his tie.
'I'll go and grab that shower,' he said as he turned for the door.
'And I'll pour that wine.'
'Go for it, I'll only be ten minutes,' he said before leaving the room and trudging up the stairs on leaden feet, stopping halfway up to catch his breath, the pain increasing with every step.
Reaching the landing, he paused and tapped lightly on the door to his left before pushing it open, his daughter was sprawled on the bed in a pair of shorts and a small strappy top, her voice low as she talked on the phone, two seconds later, she glanced over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at her father.
'Evening, Morgan, have you had a good day?' he asked automatically from the doorway.
'I'm on the phone, Dad,' she replied, her eyebrow arching higher.
'I can see that, I was just asking if…'
'Yeah, yeah, I'm fine,' she replied before turning away dismissively.
With a sigh, he stepped back onto the landing.
Heading into the bedroom, he ignored the main light and crossed the room, flicking on the muted bedside lamp. Seconds later he had stripped out of his clothing, laying shirt and trousers neatly on the bed before grabbing his towelling robe. Crossing the landing, he entered the bathroom and turned on the shower then sat on the edge of the bath.
Ten minutes later, the room was full of steam, but he remained unmoved, staring blankly at the cloud of grey that swirled around the room. Closing his eyes, he rubbed at his temple, feeling the nagging pain drilling deeper into his brain. Removing the robe, he stepped beneath the powerful spray, the needle-like water pummelling his flesh then he increased the power of the flow, teeth gritted as the water blasted at his body, the heat building in an effort to take his mind off the pain in his head.
Ten minutes later, he had washed the shower gel away, and for the first time that day he felt the pain subside a little, and he sighed in relief, before reaching for a towel.
6
Lasser listened as Odette explained about the body found in the derelict house.
He was sitting behind the wheel of the Audi, the morning rain hitting the windscreen, the temperature in the car chilly as he waited for the heater to do its thing.
When she told him about the fact that the victim's hands had been nailed to the fireplace, he grimaced.
'And the killer just leapt through the window and did a runner?' he asked.
'That's right, it's a fair drop but Shaun said it didn't seem to bother the guy, he just ran towards the back of the house and vanished.'
'Where was Black while all this was going on?'
By the time she had explained about Black refusing to enter the house and then making no effort to chase the killer, Lasser was fuming.
'Typical of that useless bastard,' he snarled before flicking the wipers on.
'You haven't heard the rest. When I arrived, I told him a few home truths and he just turned and walked away, I shouted after him, but he ignored me completely and just vanished.'
Lasser frowned. 'We both know the man is a wanker, but normally he wouldn't do that, he wouldn't ignore a superior officer for fear of the fallout.'
'I was thinking the same thing,' she paused, 'plus Doc Shannon said a few things about Black and…'
'What things?'
'He accused him of being inept and a disgrace, he finished by calling him a wanker.'
'So, he told the truth, and Black didn't like it,' Lasser said as he clicked the seat belt into place.
'That's right, Black also accused me of not supporting him when Shannon was being verbal.'
Lasser ran a hand across the back of his neck, his face suddenly thoughtful. 'Watch the bastard, Odette, I would imagine Black has already put a complaint in, that will be the reason he walked off and ignored you.'
'To be honest, I don't care.'
Lasser smiled grimly as he selected reverse and backed over the small, canal-side car park before heading to the lights. 'What did you find out about the victim?'
'Carl and the team are still searching the place, the woman was fully dressed, her clothing and shoes were wet and smeared with mud, so she hadn't been there long. There was no ID, though perhaps that was taken by the killer, but hopefully Shannon will be able to tell us more when he's done the autopsy.'
The lights changed, and Lasser turned left heading down Red Rock hill, feathering the brakes as the car picked up speed. 'What I don't get is how the killer got
the victim there in the first place and why did he choose a derelict house for the killing?'
He heard Odette stifle a yawn down the phone. 'I have no idea, but the place is falling to pieces. Doc Shannon was worried he was going to go through the floor, the body had to be removed through the bedroom window, it was thought too risky to carry the body through the house and down the stairs.'
'Well, after the night you've had, I take it you're heading home?'
'Truth is, I feel worn out and wet through.'
'No problem, what about Bannister, does he know about this?'
'Not yet, I did think about calling him,' she paused and sighed, 'the truth is I didn't want all this to be a burden, I know he's back at work, but does he really need something like this falling into his lap?'
'I'll call him.'
'Are you sure that's wise?'
'Believe me, Odette, something like this might actually help him.'
'Violent death will help him?' she asked in surprise.
'Come on, you know what he's like, I can guarantee he sits in his office for hours on end, but his mind will be back at the house.'
'But I don't see that as a bad thing if it helps him come to terms with what happened to Suzanne.'
At the mention of her name, Lasser felt the pain of loss and swallowed the distress as an image of Suzanne lanced into his mind, her smile warm and friendly and full of love for those close to her.
With an effort, he managed to ease her from his mind, trying to ignore the stab of guilt as he quickly checked the mirrors. 'Sometimes you can have too much time to think things through,' he said, applying the brakes as he drew closer to the small roundabout at the foot of the hill.
'OK then, I'll leave that up to you.'
'I'm going to head over to get Bannister and then…'
'Why not just ring him?' she asked.
Lasser checked the road was clear then turned left. 'Call it the personal touch.'
'Well, good luck with that.'
'It'll be fine, you just get a good sleep,' he said before tapping at the screen.
Going smoothly through the gears, he frowned as he thought of Bannister, his right foot easing down on the gas, the car picking up speed.
7
Bannister stood on the patio, watching the rain falling as he fastened his tie, the cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, smoke trailing into the dank morning air.
He had woken still fully dressed, his body feeling tacky with sweat, and as soon as he saw the empty pillow by his side the weight had come bearing down like a ton of wet clay, clogging his mind and pinning him to the bed.
Ten minutes later, he had stripped off and stepped into the shower, leaving his clothes on the bathroom floor as he let the water blast into his anguished face.
Now, he took another pull on the cigarette and coughed out the smoke before flicking it out into the rain to join the half a dozen butts that were floating on the waterlogged garden.
When he heard the faint drone of the doorbell he frowned and turned, then it rang again and he backtracked into the house, making his way along the hall before opening the door.
'Morning,' Lasser said as he stepped forward.
'What are you doing here?' Bannister asked, moving to one side to let Lasser in and closing the door behind him.
'I thought it might be better if we went over to the murder scene together,' Lasser explained.
'Murder scene?' Bannister's eyes widened slightly in surprise as they headed for the kitchen.
Lasser started to explain about the unknown victim found in the derelict house, by the time he had finished, Bannister had made them both a brew, Lasser as usual had a hot chocolate.
'And they had to take her out through the bedroom window?'
Lasser nodded. 'Yeah, and I also think Black is going to go and see Carole about the way he was treated by Odette and Shannon.'
'Shannon?' Bannister asked with a frown as he blew onto the hot drink.
'He called Black a wanker for not going into the house with Shaun, and not even trying to follow the killer after he jumped from the window.'
Bannister's face darkened with anger. 'Black needs sacking, he's fucking useless, always has been.'
'You don't need to tell me that,' Lasser said as he lifted the cigarettes from his pocket.
'We smoke on the patio,' Bannister warned, as they headed outside, cups in hand.
Lasser spotted the stumps in the puddled water as he lit two cigarettes and handed one over.
'The truth is, if it had been anyone else on the team then they would have chased the bastard, but Black's a coward and dangerous with it.'
'Odette called him that, but she said Black never even flinched.'
'Hard-faced prick,' Bannister snarled as he blew out a plume of smoke, and then grimaced at the cigarette before flicking it onto the garden.
Lasser said nothing, just took a sip from the cup of hot chocolate.
'Right, standing here won't solve this, so finish your drink, and let's go and check this place out.'
Lasser did just that, and five minutes later they were driving along the narrow lane that led away from the house, tall roadside ferns brushing against the side of the car.
'What does it feel like to be back at work?' Lasser asked, keeping his eyes focused on the twisting lane.
'Fine.'
Holding the sigh in check, Lasser eased down on the gas as the road straightened. 'And how are the girls?'
'They ring me every night,' Bannister paused, 'though to be honest it feels more like an inquisition.'
'They grill you?'
'Good cop, bad cop.'
Lasser slipped into third gear. 'They're just concerned that's all.'
'I know that, Lasser, I'm not an idiot,' Bannister said in a gruff voice.
Lasser thought carefully before saying the next few words, and even as they fell from his mouth he cringed, waiting for the explosion. 'And they're right to be concerned.'
The car lurched forward, the seat belt snapping tight as Bannister suddenly snatched the handbrake up and glared at Lasser, the car coming to a screeching halt.
'What's that meant to mean?'
Slotting the car into neutral, Lasser turned to look at his boss. 'I'm not having a go at you, but it's obvious you're struggling.'
'Fucking ''struggling''!?' Bannister barked, his face flushed with sudden anger.
Lasser felt the atmosphere in the car suddenly become toxic and he wished he had kept his mouth shut, but it was too late now, the DCI was glaring at him, his large hands closing into fists.
'You've lost the woman you love, but's it's OK to tell people how you're really feeling.'
'Is it now?' Bannister fumed. 'You think I should tell the girls how I really feel, tell them I feel totally lost, tell them that I feel like death warmed up, and that I can't see a way forward, is that what you think, and what fucking good would that do, come on tell me that, Mr Know It All!?'
'Forget it,' Lasser said as he dropped the handbrake and moved the car forward.
'No, I won't forget it, I want the all-seeing Lasser to put me straight, to show me where I'm going wrong, to show me how to shrug off the death of the only woman I have ever loved?'
'Like I said, just forget it,' Lasser repeated as he grabbed another gear.
Bannister folded his arms, his eyes still alight with anger. 'See, it's not that fucking easy is it, you sit there and spout shite, but you can't back it up, can you?'
Lasser knew he should have kept his mouth closed but before he knew it, he was talking again. 'I just know that keeping secrets from those you love is never a good idea, it chews you up inside, it ruins you, and if you don't share the way you're feeling then eventually it will finish you.'
'Finish me?' Bannister growled, his brow creasing into a fully-fledged scowl.
'You heard me, I kept Suzanne's illness a secret, and I also tried to bury the truth about my father, I clammed up and it festered, and it was Dot Marsh
who dug me out of the shit.'
'Dot?' Bannister asked in puzzlement.
Lasser nodded, his face serious. 'She said that by keeping her mouth shut about the abuse she had suffered had ruined not only her own life but that of her kids as well, she kept it to herself for all those years, said nothing to anyone, and according to her it turned her son into a killer. She says she has to live with that fact every day of her life, with the guilt, the regret, and that's why I came clean and told Jackie and Tasha about my old man, that's why I told Odette and Carole, and I thank Christ I did.'
'Yeah well, this is different,' Bannister grumbled.
'I know it is,' Lasser paused, 'all I'm trying to say is that shielding the girls from how you're feeling will only make matters worse.'
'Rubbish,' Bannister spat, though Lasser heard a twinge of uncertainty in his voice.
'Look, we've known one another a long time, been through a lot of shit together, and if you keep this to yourself then eventually you will have a meltdown. Then the girls will blame themselves, because deep down they know how you're feeling, because they probably feel the same way themselves. But if you keep quiet then all you will do is lay the guilt on their shoulders when you crack,' Lasser pulled up at the junction and glanced to the right before heading out into the flow of morning traffic.
The silence stretched out, Lasser waited, convinced that the DCI was going to blow his stack again. Thirty seconds later, he risked a quick look to the left in time to see Bannister swipe the tears from his cheeks.
The sight made Lasser cringe inside, he had pushed too far, too fast. 'I'm sorry,' he apologised before turning away and checking the mirrors, his heart along with the car picking up speed.
'You're right, you frigging smart arse,' Bannister mumbled. 'I just don't know how to tell them how bad I feel.'
Fumbling the pack of cigarettes from his pocket, Lasser tossed them into Bannister's lap as he turned right at the roundabout. Seconds later, smoke swirled around the interior of the car.
'How the hell can I burden them with all my shit, what gives me the right to do something like that?'
'Look, you've already said that by the time they've finished talking to you, you feel so worn out that you forget to ask how they are.'
Third Eye - DS Lasser Series 25 (2021) Page 3