by El Edwards
I spent the drive home wondering how I might confront the lying brothers. I wanted to speak to Declan but I didn’t want to go alone. I was tougher than I looked but something about him scared me. When I got home I decided to ring Rob and invite him to join me for a little meeting. Norma had given me Declan’s address. I just had to hope that he’d be home and happy to take visitors when we called with him.
As per our arrangements, Rob arrived outside my house at exactly nine the following morning. Lazy bugger, he beeped his horn instead of getting out and ringing the doorbell.
“Got us a coffee, not that you deserve it, lazy git,” I said.
“What? I was just trying to be efficient.”
“Yeah, alright then.” I handed him a coffee and then told him the address.
“You sure? That’s pretty fancy.”
“That’s what his mother told me.”
The address Norma had given me was for an apartment in a new development near the harbour. Much fuss had been made in the local paper about the starting price on the new homes. Quite how unemployed Declan could afford to live there was a mystery to both of us.
“Does he know we’re coming?”
“Of course not. Unless Norma told him, but I doubt it. He’s not in her good books at the moment.” I told him about the incident in the shop.
“Odd. They’d usually make an arrest, give them time to collect evidence.”
“That’s what I thought but she said he got off with a warning.”
Rob shrugged. “Might be worth asking him about it today. Unofficially of course.”
I smiled. Officially we both knew why we were there, it was our only hope of gaining entry, but once inside there was plenty I wanted to talk to Declan about. Starting with his whereabouts some two weeks previously.
Entry to Declan’s apartment was controlled via an intercom system but we were lucky enough to arrive at the same time as a man with three heavy looking shopping bags. Rob held the door open for him and then slipped inside. I quickly followed behind and together we took the three flights of stairs that lead to Declan’s place. He was about to knock when I stopped him.
“Let me.” I tapped on the door gently. “Nothing says ‘copper’ like the way you knock on doors,” I explained.
Rob put his finger over the peep hole and smiled. “Nothing says ‘private investigator’ like spying one through your front door.”
We waited a minute or so and I was about to knock again when we heard Declan’s voice. “Who is it?” All hint of swagger was gone.
“Declan mate? It’s Rob. Got the results back from the lab. Thought you’d like to see.”
I was impressed with how low-key and friendly Rob sounded. He was following the official line to the letter.
“Thought you said they’d take a couple of weeks?”
“Someone owed me a favour. Open up and I’ll show you.”
I held my breath and crossed my fingers and when I heard the click of a lock I almost jumped up and down with delight. I grinned at Rob and he smiled back.
When Declan opened the door to see me standing next to Rob he looked briefly surprised but the oily charm was soon back. “Charlie Diamond, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Like Rob said, we wanted to chat with you, about the results from the lab.” I hoped I sounded more convincing than I felt. Inside my tummy was in bits. Part of me couldn’t believe I was about to willingly step inside a locked flat with this creature. “Can we come in?”
He stood to one side to let us pass. “Straight down the corridor, first door on the left.” I felt his eyes on my backside as I walked but then Rob’s hand touched the side of my arm. It was a movement so slight, Declan would almost certainly have missed it, but I knew exactly what Rob was doing. He was telling me that we were in this together, that I didn’t need to be afraid, that it would be okay. New resolve flooded into my body and I pulled my frame up a little taller. Once we were sat together on Declan’s sofa, I turned to Declan and gave him the warmest, most genuine seeming smile I could muster. There was no way this little creep would ever know how he made me feel.
“Nice place you’ve got here.” Nicer than mine and I’ve got two jobs!
Declan smiled. “Thanks. It’s only a rental but it does the job.”
“Wish they paid coppers enough to have a pad like this,” Rob said. “Looks pricey.”
“I got it cheap. I know a guy.” Declan shrugged. “You said you had the lab results? What they say?”
“Nothing conclusive unfortunately.” Rob pulled a face. “Sorry to have wasted your time mate.”
“It’s no problem. Kept the old folks off my back for a bit.”
“Your mum mentioned you’d been in a bit of bother?” I kept my tone light. “Shop-lifting I think she said.”
Declan rolled his eyes. “What a set up! The boss was talking shit about my old man, didn’t like it when I told him what I thought, so he set me up.” He nodded in Rob’s direction. “Even your lot knew it wouldn’t stick. Got a warning but it won’t go on me record.”
Everything he’d said so far backed up what I’d already heard from Norma and all his previous hostility seemed to have evaporated. For the first time since meeting him, I actually felt confident as I asked my next question.
“Do you ever travel to get work? There can’t be much round here.”
“I get bits and bobs. I’m pretty handy with the electrics, got a bit of work on some of the building sites.”
“Any recently? Couple of weeks ago?”
I peculiar expression flashed across Declan’s face. “What is this?” He turned to Rob. “Thought you wanted to talk about lab results, not set her on me.”
Rob smiled. “You must forgive Charlie. She’s like a dog that won’t let go. Everyone’s a suspect, even me.” He held up his hands and shrugged. “It’s easier to just answer her questions. She’s usually quiet after that.”
“Yeah alright, I was on a site out of town, but you wouldn’t know the place.” He looked at me and gave me a sickly sweet smile. “Happy now?”
I felt butterflies dance in my tummy. No, I wasn’t happy at all, but there didn’t seem to be much I could do about it.
FORTY-ONE
Twenty minutes later, Rob pulled up outside my house and turned to give me his full attention. “Do you have any plans tonight?”
“Same as usual, just me and the girls. Why?”
“Do you think they’d mind if I dragged the three of you out for dinner? I promise not to quarrel with you this time.”
“I’m sure they’d love it.”
“Excellent. Okay if I wait inside while you ladies get ready?”
“Of course.”
And without another word, we climbed out of his car and headed inside. Walking into the house behind Rob, I could see from the expression on Louise’s face that she had questions. After the day we’d had, the two of us were buzzing with adrenalin, the energy was palpable. I couldn’t blame Louise for seeing us together and suspecting something more than simply two colleagues arranging dinner together after a busy day. She took one look at us and ran up the stairs, presumably to fill Grace in on all the gory details. She wouldn’t care that almost all the details were a fabric of her imagination, she would be too engrossed in the gossip. Faced with a now empty room and just Rob for company I felt a little awkward.
“Would you like a drink or something while you wait?”
“No thanks. I don’t suppose you ladies will be that long, will you?”
“That all depends on where you’re planning on taking us for dinner. Quick bite to eat in The Bont and we’ll be ready with just a slap of lippie but if you were thinking of going somewhere nice, we might need a bit more time.”
“It wasn’t meant to be a big deal Charlie. I just thought it would be nice. It’s been a good day and I wanted it to last a bit longer.”
I smiled. “I know. And you’re right, it has been a good day. What did you make of Declan’s pho
ne call though?”
“From Shaun? Not a lot. Should I?”
“You didn’t think it was odd him phoning? They’re meant to be estranged but they sounded very friendly to me.”
“Yeah maybe,” he agreed. “Oh, speaking of odd … I might as well get this over with now.”
“I’m not going to like this am I?”
“Probably not. I spoke to the inspector, or tried to at least, but he didn’t want to talk about it.”
“Did you tell him what we know?”
“Sort of. I had to be careful but it didn’t matter what angle I came at it from, he shut me down.”
“What does that mean?”
“Means it’s probably part of something bigger. There’s no way they’d let this carry on like that otherwise. He got quite grumpy about it. Said it wasn’t his problem any more.”
I was about to ask him what our next move was, I couldn’t believe he’d just walk away, there had to be some plan for what we did next, but I was interrupted by the sound of two pairs of footsteps thundering down the stairs.
“Rob! Hello!”
“I hear you’re taking us out for dinner again? I hope you’re going to behave yourself this time.”
“Girls, leave poor Rob alone.” I looked at them and when his back was turned, flapped my hands at them, begging them to be nice. “Are you ready to go?”
Having agreed that everyone was ready, we traipsed back out to Rob’s car.
“Where are you taking us this time?”
“It’s a surprise. But what I will tell you is there’s definitely something for everyone.”
“Oh, I’m not vegetarian anymore,” Grace said. “I missed bacon too much.”
Rob hid a smile. “Good to know, thanks Grace.” He drove for less than two minutes before pulling into the carpark of our local. “Surprise!”
“Bont?”
“But we were here two days ago.”
“Shouldn’t be too hard for you to find something you like to eat then, should it?” Rob smiled and looked at me. “Do you mind? I’ve not had a good steak in ages.”
“Don’t mind at all, we love The Bont, don’t we girls. Come on, let’s see if our favourite table is free.” I linked arms with my daughters and dragged them, half-skipping, in the direction of the pub. I glanced over my shoulder at Rob. “You coming?”
He quickened his pace and was soon walking alongside us as we headed in the direction of a table to the rear of the pub. I grabbed us a couple of menus on our way over and we were soon settled in our favourite spot. Grace and Louise sat on the bench, leaving me and Rob to sit together opposite them. I saw the girls nudge each other and I gave them my best evil glare.
“Have you two had a good day,” Grace asked, her face the picture of innocence.
“Really good thanks. Isn’t that right Charlie?” Rob looked at me and smiled.
“Yep, great.” I wasn’t entirely sure what my children were playing at but I didn’t like the direction the line of questioning was headed.
“No dangerous situations today then?” Louise said. “You kept our mother safe and well?”
Rob nodded. “Safe and very well. Don’t worry girls, you can rely on me. Didn’t even need to snog her face off to do it this time either,” he added proudly.
He snorted with laughter but the girl’s mouthes dropped open like a pair of cartoon characters.
“Didn’t even need to what now?”
“Wait, when did you …”
Shit! I glared at Rob. Just as we were starting to relax and have a nice time too, he had to go and spoil it.
Rob looked confused. “What?” It was only then that he realised what he’d said and in front of whom he’d said it. “You didn’t tell them, did you?”
I shook my head slowly.
“Sorry,” he mouthed at me.
“Idiot,” I replied. I turned to the girls and smiled. “I should probably add some context to uncle Rob’s previous remark.”
“Uncle Rob now is it? It’s okay, you don’t have to explain anything to us Mum. We know all about the miracle of life, the birds and the bees. If you ask me, I think it’s about time too. How long has it been since Dad left?”
“That’s not really relevant Grace.”
“I think it’s very relevant,” added Louise. “I mean, it’s not like you’re getting any younger.”
“Gee, thanks Lou.”
“Sorry Mum, but it’s true.”
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more embarrassing, Oliver and Amy, one of teachers from the village primary school and his pretty young wife, walked past and Grace called out to them. “Eh, guess who our mum’s been snogging?” And she waved her hands in Rob’s direction.
“I think I’m going to kill you,” I whispered to Rob.
“Sorry.”
FORTY-TWO
I woke the following morning with a thick head and a graze on my left knee. I didn’t remember falling over, although judging by the dull pressure I felt inside my skull, I decided it was entirely possible I consumed far too much alcohol after Rob’s little stunt, which could quite easily have resulted in my taking a tumble. I sniffed the air and soon found myself being tempted downstairs by the scent of bacon. Unlike Grace, I would never contemplate being a vegetarian and when she admitted to being lured back by bacon, I could totally understand why. Having fallen off the vegetarian wagon, Grace had been making up for it ever since.
As anticipated, I walked into the kitchen to find Grace at the stove frying. “Hungry?” She asked.
My tummy growled. “Starving! Where’s Lou?”
“Shower.” She put a plate of bacon sandwiches and a pot of coffee on the table in front of me. “Eat.”
I didn’t need telling twice. After I’d eaten and taken a couple of sips of coffee, my thoughts turned to the previous evening. “What happened to my knee?” I lifted up the leg of my pyjamas and showed her the graze.
“Oh Mum!”
“What did I do?”
“You got down on one knee and asked Rob to marry you, then you fell over and he had to carry you home.”
“I didn’t! Did I?”
“Of course you didn’t you muppet!” Louise said, walking in on the end of our conversation. “Leave her alone,” she said to Grace. She turned back to me. “You did fall though. How are you feeling?”
“I’ve been better.”
“What were you thinking? You know you can’t handle more than two glasses of wine!”
I felt like I’d woken up in an alternate reality where I was the child and Grace and Louise were my responsible adults. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had to explain myself, especially not to a seventeen year old.
“Sorry Mum,” I said, giving her a cheeky smile. “I think it was just a reaction to Rob saying what he did.”
“It’s no big deal Mum. We know he loves you and you’re going to end up together.” Grace sounded so matter of fact about it and the way Louise nodded in agreement, it was clear that none of this was news to either of them.
I choked on my coffee. “It’s a big deal to me. And I’ll thank you not to decide my fate for me.”
“Just trying to move things along Mum. Save you both some time. It’s not like you’re getting any younger.”
“Did you tell Rob your theories?”
Louise looked shocked. “What do you take us for?”
“Yeah Mum, we’re not complete amateurs,” Grace agreed. “But he wouldn’t say no.”
“There’s not enough coffee in all the world to make this conversation palatable today. Thanks for the breakfast, and the pep talk, but I’ve got work to do.” And with that, I beat a hasty retreat. I needed to go and see Beverly and the sooner I could get out of the house and away from my offspring’s interrogation, the happier I would be.
Beverly handed me a coffee and I followed her out into the sunny garden where I could sit with my sunglasses on, no excuse needed for why my eyes looked a little worse for wear.
She’d sounded pleased to hear from me when I’d invited myself round and when she told me Shaun was away with work, I happily accepted her invitation of coffee at her place. I’d been all set to lure her away to a coffee shop but he’d saved me a job.
Beverly sat opposite me, an expectant look on her face. “Any news?” She did her best to sound bright but I could tell from her tone that she was starting to lose hope.
“Nothing concrete, but I still have lots of angles I’m exploring,” I added hastily. “That’s why I wanted to see you actually. I need to ask you some questions but it might not be easy to hear.”
“Do you think she’s dead?”
“Oh no, nothing like that. Sorry, should have said, I had a letter telling me to stop looking for her. She’s very much alive and well.”
Relief flooded her face and I felt a twinge of guilt. “Oh thank goodness. I thought you were going to ask me about … Never mind what I thought.” She straightened her back. “How can I help?”
“It’s about Declan,” I said. “And Shaun.” I spoke slowly, watching her face as I did so.
“What about them?”
“I’m trying to get a picture of their relationship but I’ve been getting conflicting accounts. Do they see each other much?”
Beverly shook her head. “I wouldn’t say so. They ring each other, sometimes Shaun helps Declan out with a bit of cash, but no, they don’t see all that much of each other.”
“And Declan’s never been round here?”
She shook her head firmly. “Never. I can say that absolutely. I’ve never even met him so he’d have no cause to come here.”
“And Shaun is only here when you’re here?”
“Mostly. I think maybe once or twice, if I’ve gone into work early or something, he might be here. He’d take Tortoise out for a walk for me sometimes. Nicer for him than at his parent’s place.”
“Oh?”
“They’re not the easiest of people. They treat him like a child, baby him, so he prefers to stay here when he can.”
“I understand. The relationship’s still quite new though, right?”