Jake waved the palm of his hand above his head from front to back. ‘Way over my head, but go on. I’ll get Kirsty to explain it later.’
‘We already know that certain drugs, like benzodiazepines, are mediated through the bacterial action of the body after death.’
Jake nodded, as he picked at some Kung Po chicken left in the plastic container, listening carefully.
‘There have been numerous studies that show all sorts of actions after death at a microcellular level over the last few years,’ Kirsty interjected.
Tanya agreed. ‘But, it’s notoriously difficult to identify whether a substance was there, pre- or post-mortem. Toxicology and the human body has its down-side in cases like this.’
Jake took a moment to reflect on what he had just been told. ‘So, how are you going to be able to help, if it’s so difficult?’
‘The first thing we need to do is analyse the molecular structure of the substance, to see if there is any common ground to work with. Most drugs, particularly these designer recreational drugs you see coming on to the market and sold as legal highs, only need to have one molecule changed to move them from legal to illegal or vice versa.’
‘If I get Kirsty to give you one of our samples, could you do something with it?’
‘We can certainly try. The company I work for has a huge database of drug types. I’m sure we could come up with some sort of answer.’
‘It would certainly help me and Jake if you could,’ Kirsty said, ‘because, Jake’s investigation is going nowhere.’
During the conversation, Tanya’s daughter had come down from her room and had been standing, listening to the conversation from the kitchen. Jake hadn’t heard her come downstairs. She entered the room and Tanya acknowledged her with a wave of her hand.
‘Come and meet my friends, darling,’ she said, flapping her hand vigorously. The young woman fully entered the room and shook hands with Kirsty and Jake, and he realised he’d met her before.
‘Sorry, about earlier,’ she said, ‘man trouble. I’m Simone.’ She smiled weakly as she introduced herself.
Jake saw that Simone was tall for her age, slim with brown perfect skin, soft and smooth. She had black hair, in light curls, not too long, just about collar length. She was wearing a pair of blue skinny jeans that hugged the contours of her legs and an oversized tee shirt. Above all, there was a defiant attitude between her and her mother.
‘That’s OK, darling. We all have to cope with that sometime in our lives.’ Tanya looked knowingly at Jake. He smiled.
‘I know, Mother, but let’s not air our dirty laundry in public, if you don’t mind,’ Simone gave her mother a dark stare.
Jake noticed that once Simone had joined the group, the conversations became more vague, no more discussion was had about Jake’s problem, although if she was doing the PhD thesis which Tanya said she was doing, it would probably have been in Simone’s interest to talk a little about it. He didn’t push it and the rest of the evening continued and finished as amicably as it had started.
‘You look perplexed, Jake,’ Kirsty said as they left Tanya’s house.
Jake looked at Kirsty.
‘I didn’t say anything in there, but I’ve already met Simone,’ he said in a low voice
‘Oh, where?’
‘I went with Dave Harte to see the owner of a company who’s currently working for Lord Fulborough. The thug that Tanya’s talked about was Ian Morton.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Kirsty said.
‘Morton was the one who took the bribe to hide that second body at Fulborough Wood.’
‘No wonder Tanya’s not very happy.’
‘It makes me wonder how involved she is with Morton.’
Kirsty nodded slowly, then changed the subject. ‘I really enjoyed tonight, Jake,’ she whispered into his ear as they got to the car.
Jake’s heart raced, pumping blood around his body so fast he could hear it thump-thumping away in his ears. He had some great and some bad thoughts at that time, wondering what to do next, but before he could move around to the driver’s side of the car, Kirsty planted her soft warm sensuous lips on his. They moved together, as Kirsty pressed herself harder against Jake with his back to the car door. He gently pushed her away, brushing her hair from her face. He gazed into those deep sparkling green eyes. He was in torment. He could easily take unfair advantage of her when they got back to her apartment.
‘What’s the matter, Jake?’ she whispered. ‘This is what you want, isn’t it?’
‘Course I do, you know that, but… ’
‘But what?’ She leaned into him again and put her head on his chest. Something she had done many times before, but not in this circumstance. He stroked her hair, as they stood in silence just holding each other.
Jake felt Kirsty shaking in his arms and looked down at her and saw she was quietly sobbing. ‘What’s the matter? Tell me?’
‘I miss him so much, Jake, and I want you so much as well. How can that be right?’
The drive home from Tanya’s back to Kirsty’s apartment was done in silence, the atmosphere electric.
Jake occasionally glanced at Kirsty, discreetly trying not to make it obvious, but he couldn’t. He was sure he could detect a smile from her, as she watched the world go by, out of the passenger window.
Despite having been in Tanya’s company, he was more than aware of how close Kirsty was to him, while sitting on the sofa. More than aware of the way she leaned in across him to pick some more chicken or rice from the bowls in front of him. And even more aware of that perfume, which sent his senses into overdrive. He had to ask himself whether she was just toying with him. But he knew her better than that, didn’t he?
Jake drew to a stop outside Kirsty’s apartment. She looked at him and smiled.
‘Thanks for this evening, Jake. I really enjoyed seeing Tanya again, after all this time, and I’m glad you came along with me.’
‘Yes, it was good, wasn’t it? Even if your friend had a wry sense of black humour.’
‘She always did have.’
There were a few moments of silence.
‘I’d better let you go,’ Jake said.
‘Yes, I suppose you had.’ A beat. ‘Do you want to come in for a coffee?’
Jake felt the heat rising in his face. ‘Er… better not. On early in the morning.’
‘OK. Some other time then?’
Was that an invitation? Jake wondered. ‘Kirsty, erm…’
‘Yes, Jake, just say what you want. We’ve known each other long enough.’
Another beat. ‘Would you like to do this again – soon?’ he whispered.
Two beats. He looked towards Kirsty.
‘Yes,’ she said grinning, ‘I would, just the two of us.’
Jake smiled and visibly relaxed.
‘See, it wasn’t that bad was it?’
‘Bit out of practice, that’s all.’
‘I know.’ And with that, Kirsty opened the door and got out. As an after-thought, she leant back into the car. ‘Phone me tomorrow,’ she said and closed the car door.
Jake got out of the car and handed her the keys.
She smiled. ‘I’m sorry I got a little carried away on Tanya’s drive.’
‘Nothing to be sorry for, Kirsty. Nothing to be sorry for at all.’
She took a step towards him, kissed him, caressed his arm then walked away. Jake watched her walk up to the front doors of her apartment. He must have stood there for another five minutes with a huge grin on his face before getting into his car and driving away.
24
The following morning, Jake didn’t telephone Kirsty. Instead he visited her at the hospital pathology department. He was in a buoyant mood. The evening with Tanya had allowed them both to relax, as they laughed and joked and told stories about work and l
ife in general. It was good to relax in front of Kirsty, in front of them all. In fact he felt better than he had in years.
He’d been kept awake most of the night thinking about Kirsty, her leaning in closer to him. Recalling how stupidly nervous he’d been and how the conversation they’d had was, he knew, about to change the way they saw each other.
But that was the previous night. He pushed the doors open to the pathology lab. The staff there all knew him so they just acknowledged or waved at him, as he made his way to Kirsty’s office, humming nonchalantly to himself.
He tapped on Kirsty’s open office door and walked in. The smile on his face went when he saw Fletcher Randall sitting in the chair opposite Kirsty.
‘Inspector.’ Jake acknowledged his rival as soon as he entered. He looked at Kirsty questioning. Randall waved a hand at him, as if giving him permission to enter Kirsty’s office.
‘Dr Kingsfield here,’ Randall said, ‘was giving me the low down on the second body we recovered in Fulborough Wood.’
‘Oh, right,’ was all that Jake could say. He felt that his presence had interrupted something. Not that he had any intention of letting Randall know that of course. He was here perfectly legitimately, but couldn’t help feeling becoming trapped into a triangular fight to keep Kirsty’s affections.
Why did he feel like this? Why was he being so paranoid? Was what happened the previous night just a drunken tryst? Get a grip.
‘Jake,’ he heard Kirsty’s voice, ‘Jake.’
‘Sorry, miles away – you were saying?’
‘The inspector here was saying that he’s going to find it hard to discover the identities of either remains.’
‘I have no doubt of that, considering the length of time that they’ve been in the ground. At least my DBs are still intact – usually.’
‘Thanks, Dr Kingsfield for that info,’ Randall stood to leave. ‘I’ll get my team working on it, to see if we can come up with anything else and Jake, perhaps we could have a chat about your involvement in all this in the next couple of days? Get your take on it?’
‘Be glad to,’ Jake replied unenthusiastically.
Randall turned and left Kirsty’s office, slapping Jake on the shoulder as he went. In the doorway, Randall turned back to Kirsty. ‘See you later then?’ He winked.
‘You might,’ Kirsty replied.
‘What does he mean by that?’ Jake asked when Randall had gone.
‘He’s invited me out to dinner.’
‘Oh,’ Jake replied, deflated. ‘Did you accept?’
‘I told him I’d think about it, that’s all.’
‘It’s just that I thought… ’
‘Thought what?’
‘Never mind. It doesn’t matter.’
‘You’re worried he’s going to steal me away from you?’ She giggled.
‘No, no. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.’
‘You’re a bad liar, Jake. DI Randall was telling me that he’d lost his wife and that he could relate to how I felt. The offer of dinner was as a kindred spirit, nothing more.’
Jake nodded slowly, said nothing and pondered his boots. Kirsty went over to him and put her arms around his neck. Some of Kirsty’s colleagues were looking towards the office. Jake heard a wolf whistle and some clapping going on behind him. Kirsty smiled, leaned past him and closed the door.
‘I think they’ve all been waiting for that,’ she said in good humour. ‘I meant what I said last night, Jake. It wasn’t the drink, although I’d had a lot. But as I said, I want you to be more to me than just my family liaison… if, and when you’re ready to have me. In your own time, with no pressure, and anyway,’ she said releasing him and becoming more animated. ‘I enjoyed last night. I enjoyed being with you without all that kit on,’ she said, gesturing to Jake’s uniform, carrying baton, spray, taser, phone, radio, and other stuff that the modern uniformed copper has to lug around.
‘I enjoyed it too, Kirsty. Thanks for inviting me.’ And you’ve given me a lot to think about, which he kept to himself.
Changing the subject, she asked, ‘What do you want me to do with these samples then?’
Jake cleared his throat. The policeman’s armour was back in place. ‘We’ll get the SOCO driver to take one of them over to Dr Nicholls, once we have authorisation.’
‘OK. How long will that take?’
‘Well, I’ve asked for it to be done today.’
‘OK.’ Kirsty walked over to her coffee machine. ‘Coffee?’
‘Please.’ Jake plonked himself down in the chair Randall had vacated. He couldn’t help but think that he was still going to be in a battle. A battle he was desperate to win, whatever Kirsty thought.
‘I went to see Beccy Burnett this morning about using Tanya’s company to do some research.’
‘And what did Beccy say? How is she, by the way?’
‘She’s different since her promotion. Hard to think that Beccy was my crewmate not so long ago. Anyway, I had to fight our corner.’
‘What was the problem?’
‘Two reasons.’ Jake took the cup Kirsty handed to him. ‘A. It’s highly irregular and B. Tanya’s not on the suppliers list.’
‘Don’t they trust you to identify those who can help you or us?’
‘Probably not. Either that or they don’t trust Tanya or the company, for whatever reason.’
‘As much as anyone, I’d have thought you could convince her to allow it.’
Jake took a sip of coffee, looked up and smiled. He tapped the side of his nose. ‘She’s going to see what she can do – no doubt have a chat with Marland first.’
‘He’ll refuse, won’t he.’
‘Not necessarily, if it gets explained to him right.’
‘Let’s hope so.’ Kirsty sat back in her chair and looked at him directly. ‘You look worried.’
‘What should I be worried about?’
‘About me and Tanya.’
‘I’d be lying if I told you otherwise.’
‘Don’t worry about either of us, Jake. I know Tanya. She won’t do anything to rock the boat. She’s a good doctor.’
‘But you haven’t seen her for years. She may have changed.’
Kirsty remained quiet.
Jake continued. ‘I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about Randall’s motives towards you.’
Kirsty glanced out of the window. She turned back to face him, the strain on her face obvious. ‘Do you know anything about him?’
‘No, other than he transferred in from Happy Valley.’
‘Did you know he’s ex-Army?’
‘No. Is that how he got that scar on his face?’
‘I think so. I don’t know.’
‘I see.’ Jake wondered about Randall’s motives. Empathy? Understanding? Jake tried not to show his frustration.
‘But,’ Kirsty said, leaning forward and placing a hand on his knee, ‘he knows how you are with me, because I told him. I think he’s a gentleman. I think he has his own nightmare to cope with. He said he wouldn’t interfere.’
‘Unfortunately, I’ve heard that one before.’
‘Do you trust me, Jake?’
‘Of course.’
‘Then trust me on this.’
It was Jake’s turn to look out of the window. Pensive.
‘We’re OK, you and I, and if it makes you happy, then let’s go public about us.’
That drew Jake’s attention. ‘Really?’.
‘Yes, but only when you’re ready.’
Jake smiled. ‘Dinner then – tomorrow?’
‘Yes.’
As Jake left, he said, ‘Don’t forget that you have to attend Stephanie Parkers tribunal tomorrow.’
Kirsty looked dour faced. ‘I don’t really know why I’ve been summoned to attend.’ Sh
e sat down in the chair behind her desk with a thump.
‘She asked you, character witness and to confirm what was said in the pub. Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. You’ll be in and out of the Chief’s office in no time at all.’
‘Hmm,’ was all Kirsty replied.
‘Trust me, I’m a police officer,’ he said, grinning.
Kirsty returned the smile then waved him away.
25
Emerging from the Chief Constable’s office, Jake watched Stephanie Parker approach him, after spending almost five hours in a disciplinary tribunal. He hadn’t expected it to last for such a short time, more like a whole a day or even longer. But her solicitor had been extremely elegant in her defence and had clearly won over the Chief early on in her opening arguments.
Jake had been called as a character witness and to confirm the things she had told him twelve months earlier, after Jim Kingsfield’s funeral. Jake watched her produce the letter sent by Bingham Tyler about his regret at doing what he did to her. He knew that she regarded them as just words on paper, there was no real remorse in the words, she’d concluded. She couldn’t think of anything else, after what he did to her.
She managed to keep her dignity. She didn’t break down when she gave her evidence, and remained calm and professional. Jake was dismissed after giving his evidence to the tribunal. He indicated to Stephanie that he would wait outside until the end of the tribunal. Parker was also thankful that Kirsty Kingsfield gave evidence on her behalf, to confirm the meeting between them. Jake knew that Kirsty was not exactly supportive of her and Parker did accept some responsibility for what had happened. Parker said that she was determined to make it up to her if she could, but at that moment didn’t know how.
They were both waiting for her in the chairs outside of the Chief’s office.
‘Well?’ asked Jake.
‘I’m a little stunned,’ replied Parker, who by this time was tearful and had removed a tissue from her small handbag to wipe away some tears.
‘Why are you stunned?’ asked Kirsty, still sitting.
‘I didn’t expect the panel to take me back,’ she turned towards the Chief’s office, as her solicitor also emerged. Parker shook hands with her, thanked her, and confirmed that she would be in touch soon. The solicitor nodded agreement and went on her way. They watched her go before saying anything further.
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