“The Chief Super’s asked for a news blackout. It’s all very hush-hush.”
Pippa nodded. “I’m sure Mr. Edwards knows what he is doing.”
Red cocked her head. “Is that it?”
“Is what it?”
“Is that all you’ve got to say?”
“What did you have in mind? A Shakespeare recital? How about a sonnet?”
“I mean the holiday. In the Lake’s. If you want to cancel…”
“Cancel? Because of that half-wit step-brother of yours?” Pippa waved a dismissive hand. “He’s hardly likely to come after you again, Cassandra, is he. And if he does I’ll be there to protect you.”
Red smiled. “I just hope you feel the same way in the morning.”
“Why wouldn’t –” Pippa’s response was cut short by the shrill of Red’s mobile. Pippa reached out and grabbed it. Hit the answer button. Put on her best barristerial voice.
“Philippa Crichton-Ward speaking. Yes, Cassandra is here but she is only responding to emergency calls, Anna, so kindly call back tomorrow.”
Red snatched the phone from Pippa. “Give me that, you drunken hussy. Anna? It’s Red. Everything okay?”
Pippa watched Red’s face as the smile disappeared and the worry lines engraved themselves in its place. “I’ll meet you outside. Don’t do anything till I get there.”
Pippa sat back, eyes glazed, as Red pulled her jacket on. “Sorry, Counsellor. You’ll have to make your own way home.”
“What is it this time?” Pippa asked, unable to muster any anger. “Another murder?”
Red shot a parting glance at Pippa. “Not if we get there in time.”
Chapter 169.
Red pulled up opposite the Romney Hotel at five to midnight. She could see Anna and Harris in a car across the road, and knew Terri and James Mackenzie were also nearby. They had been unable to raise Taylor or Metcalf.
“An elderly couple went in about ten minutes ago,” Anna said over the radio. “Apart from that, all quiet. As per instructions, Guv, we’ve made no contact with management. Though by the look of the place there will only be one person on duty at this time of night. It’s hardly the Ritz.”
“Any idea of the after-hours access procedure? Did the elderly couple walk straight in, wait for reception to open the door, or what?”
“Straight in, Guv. The old man pushed the door open as he came up the steps, then stood aside to let the old lady through.”
“That’s called being a gentleman, Jez,” Mackenzie said. “You should try it… One sec. IC1 male approaching. It could be our potential victim. Hold communications.”
Red scanned the street. In her nearside mirror she picked up the target, heading towards her. She eased back into her seat. Grabbed her mobile and began mouthing words and gesticulating with her hands, as if she had just pulled over to answer a call.
She breathed a sigh of relief as the target crossed the road before reaching her. Watched as he paused outside the steps to the Romney Hotel. Watched as he glanced up and down the road briefly, then took the steps at a spritely pace, pushed the front door open and disappeared inside. One minute to twelve. The radio crackled back into life. Mackenzie.
“What now, Guv?”
“We wait,” Red said. “Whoever this Samantha is, they didn’t get the message about the change of times. Which means she or he will be turning up at twelve-thirty.”
“You’re not convinced then, Guv? About Kevin?”
“It’s like Jez said, Anna. This Samantha could just be one of Nikki’s friends. She might have given out Nikki’s home number weeks or months before.”
“We’re going to look pretty stupid bursting in on them if this is all above board,” Mackenzie warned.
Red answered with gritted teeth. “Not as stupid as if we have a fourth body on our hands in the morning.”
Chapter 170.
“Guv, I think she’s here.” Terri Miller shielded her eyes from the street lamp to try get a clearer view. “A woman just got out of a taxi. About one hundred yards behind you. Heading this way. Your side of the road. Too far to make out any detail, but she’s going to have to walk right past your car. If it is Kevin he’ll recognise you.”
Red hit the ignition, switched the lights on and indicated. Waited a few seconds, trying to look casual, then eased out and pulled away. “I’m going to have to go round the block. Too suspicious to do a three point turn. Keep watching. Especially you, Jez. We need to know for sure if this is the brother.”
“Yes, Guv,” Harris said. “I can just see her now. Or him. Looks like a woman to me.”
Red took the first turning. “Don’t let appearances fool you. If it is Kevin we have to assume he is very convincing. Convincing enough to get his victims to undress and allow themselves to be tied to the bed.”
“It’s too dark to see much, Guv. But the walk is the same as on the CCTV images.”
“I second that, Jez,” Mackenzie said. “Identical.”
“Nikki was a trained model,” Anna reminded them. “So will Samantha be, if she’s for real.”
“The suspect’s wearing dark glasses, Guv,” Terri said. “In the middle of the night? That’s got to be suspicious.”
“Sensible ploy. Lessens the chances any passers-by will recognize them.”
“Okay, she’s outside the Romney,” Mackenzie updated. “Going up the steps. Guv, she’s not going straight in. She’s ringing the bell. Now she’s going in. Very quick response from reception. Presumably they were expecting her.”
“Jez, did you see her face?”
In the passenger seat in Anna’s car Harris had his head buried in his hands. “No Guv. But I saw the dress in the hallway lighting as she went in.”
“And?”
“It was the one I bought Nikki for her birthday. The one I saw in her wardrobe this morning.”
Chapter 171.
Red pulled to a halt outside the Romney Hotel steps. From one direction Anna and Harris came running. From the other Terri and Mackenzie.
Red pushed against the door. A sign in the corner advised, This door will be locked midnight through 6am. Use your night key or ring for Reception.
Red hit the bell. Nothing.
She hit the bell again. Still nothing.
“Probably too busy watching telly.”
“We can bust it in,” Harris suggested helpfully.
“And let the suspect know we’re on our way up? Great idea, Jez.” Red pressed the bell a third time.
The intercom buzzed into life. “I’m sorry, we’re not taking any further bookings tonight.”
“Police,” Red said. “Open the door. This is an emergency.”
A long pause. “You could be anybody.”
“Detective Chief Inspector Rose, Metropolitan Police. You have five seconds to open the door or we’ll break it down. And you’ll be on an obstruction charge.”
There was a long silence, as if the receptionist was weighing up the pros and cons. Then the buzzer sounded. The bolts clicked back. Red rammed the door open with a balled fist and ran the short distance to the reception, throwing her ID in front of the startled girl at the desk.
“The woman who just came in. Brunette. Black dress. Which room?”
The receptionist stared at Red. “She’s not a guest. Just visiting.”
“Visiting which room?”
The receptionist shrugged. “It could be any of them.”
Mackenzie leaned across the desk, ID in one hand. “You had an elderly couple turn up just before midnight, and then a lone male. White, five-eleven. Smartly dressed.”
The receptionist nodded.
“Which room, for God’s sake?” Red shouted.
The receptionist jumped back like a startled rabbit. She turned to the computer screen, Tapped the keyboard. A long pause. “Thirty-two. Third floor.”
Red led the way, Terri and Harris close behind. Anna and Mackenzie brought up the rear. By the second flight of stairs they were slowing.
>
“How do we play this, Guv?” Mackenzie asked.
“By ear,” Red said. “We need to catch him in the act. So far as I know, it’s not an offence to dress up in your sister’s clothes.”
They reached the third floor and paused for breath. The corridor ran straight to the end of the building. Doors on either side. Room thirty-one was next to them. Room thirty-two directly opposite.
Red motioned for silence. She eased her way quietly forward and put her ear against the door. Shook her head. Mouthed, Nothing.
“He could be dead already,” Terri whispered.
“Or tied and gagged and about to go under the knife,” Mackenzie said. “Guv?”
Red closed her eyes, looking for inspiration. What would Bill have done?
“Guys? The door?”
Harris stepped forward. “I’ve always wanted to do this.”
Red put up a restraining hand. “Jez, if it is Kevin…”
“I know, Guv. Trust me.” Harris leaned back against the wall opposite, raised his right foot, and launched it with all his strength at the centre of the door. There was a loud whump. A howl of pain. Harris grabbed at his ankle.
“You pillock.” Mackenzie pushed Harris out of the way. “You aim for the lock, not the centre. Didn’t they teach you anything at Hendon?”
Mackenzie leaned back against the opposite door, propelled himself forward, boot smashing against the lock. Wood splintered. The door crashed open, exposing the hotel bedroom. A brunette wig and sunglasses on the bed. The bed covers disturbed but not turned up.
Red and Harris went in together. Anna, Terri and Mackenzie close behind. As one their eyes fell upon the figure laying on the floor at the side of the bed. A hand-bag at the side. Calf length leather boots. Nikki’s birthday dress. Kevin’s face. Eyes closed. One eye already beginning to blacken.
Red leapt down beside him. Felt his neck. “He’s alive.” She tried to pull Kevin’s arm from beneath him. Couldn’t. She reached over and rolled him onto his side. Stared in shock at the pair of regulation handcuffs securing his wrists.
“What the…”
The en-suite bathroom door opened. A man appeared, drying his hands on a white towel. IC1 male, five-eleven. Smartly dressed. The man Mackenzie had described entering the hotel at one minute to midnight.
He beamed at smile at Red. “DCI Rose. What kept you so long?”
Chapter 172.
“Silver. DI Cal Silver. We spoke on the phone a few weeks ago?”
Red stared at Silver. Mackenzie, Harris, Anna and Terri stared at Red.
“Special Branch?” Silver said.
“Tahlia. But…” Red juggled myriad competing questions.
“It’s a long story. The short and sweet version is we were running a parallel investigation. Escort agencies, prostitution rings, the usual stuff. Nikki Marshall came onto our radar. Just one of a number of girls we’d been watching. We had no idea she was in the frame for the murders. Then of course she got herself killed. Like you, we thought that was the end of it.”
“Then how…”
“Did I get to be here tonight? Well let me assure you it was all cleared in advance. I don’t make a habit of meeting escort girls in seedy hotels. But we knew the Marshall house — or at least the Marshall landline – was being used to arrange rendezvous. When they continued after the Marshall girl was killed we became concerned. Put two and two together.”
“Why the hell didn’t you tell us? You knew this was our investigation.”
Silver smiled. “How stupid would we have looked if we were wrong?”
“But you could have been hurt,” Terri said. “Killed, even.”
“I came prepared.” Silver held up a canister. “Pepper spray.”
“That put him out cold?”
“No, my fist did that.” Silver nursed his knuckles theatrically. “Anyway, guys, he’s all yours now. I haven’t called in a report. So I do mean all yours. As far as Special Branch are concerned, I was never here.”
Chapter 173.
Red leaned over Pippa’s sleeping body, planting a kiss on her cheek.
“I see you got home safely then, Counsellor,” she said to no-one in particular. “Hardly worth me going to bed now. The alarm will be going off in less than an hour. At least I’ll have some good news for the Chief Super.”
Pippa stirred, rolling on to her side. Red stared at Pippa’s dark hair, flowing over her shoulders. She thought of Kevin’s wig. Reached out and caressed Pippa’s dark locks. “There’s no substitute for the real thing, lover,” she whispered. “No substitute at…” The whispered voice trailed to silence.
Red lifted Pippa’s hair from her sleeping shoulders. Her other hand reached out and gently touched the mark on Pippa’s neck.
“It’s lucky I’m not the suspicious type like you, Counsellor, or I’d think that was a love bite.”
Chapter 174.
“You smell like strawberries and cream, Rubes.”
“That’s because I’m a princess, Cassie. I’ve told you before.”
“Of course, how could I keep forgetting?” Red pulled a brush through Ruby’s golden locks one last time. “There, one hundred strokes! Now, how about I read you some more Rapunzel whilst your hair dries? We can’t have a princess going to sleep with wet hair now, can we?”
“Bor-ing! I want a different story. Mummy got me some new books the other day.”
“Did she, now?” The relief was evident in Red’s face as she turned to the bookshelf. “Okay, let’s see. We’ve done Snow White. We’ve done Rapunzel. What about The Golden Goose?”
“Nope.” Ruby screwed her nose up. “That goose looks mean.”
“You’re right. He does. What else do we have?” Red hooked a finger into the top of a book, sliding it out. “Hey, you know you’re going to France soon with Daddy, right?”
The child’s eyes lit up. “Is it tomorrow?”
“No, honey. At the end of the school holidays. But it won’t be long. Anyway, some of these fairy stories happen in France. This one for instance.”
Ruby examined the cover. “That monster looks fierce.”
“He is fierce. But he’s special monster too.”
“Who’s that girl?”
“She’s the other star of the story. She’s French too. Her name’s Belle.”
“Let’s read it!” Ruby rubbed her hands gleefully.
Red eased onto the child’s bed. “Okay, Rubes, here we go. Beauty and the Beast. Once upon a time...”
THE END
Rose Red Rhymes
Crime thriller short stories
Ring-a-Ring O’Roses
by
Saffina Desforges
Chapter 1.
“A-tishoo! A-tishoo! We all fall down!”
Red and Ruby collapsed onto the bed in a fit of giggles.
“Read it again, Cassie!”
“Not tonight, hun. Princesses need their beauty sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
“Oh, please. Just once more?” Ruby cupped a tiny hand to her mouth. She leant in, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “Mummy won’t know.”
“What won’t Mummy know?” Philippa Crichton-Ward QC stood in the doorway, arms folded, eyes firmly on her daughter.
“Oops!” Red grabbed Ruby by the waist. “Nothing, Your Honour, promise.” To Ruby. “Come on, gorgeous. Let’s get you tucked in. It’s nearly Halloween. We don’t want the goblins and ghouls getting you.”
Ruby scrambled beneath the covers. “What are ghouls?”
“Nothing for you to worry about, sweetheart.” Pippa shot a warning look at Red. “Time you were asleep.”
“Is my costume nearly ready, Mummy?”
“Almost, darling. Deimante will take you to pick it up from Grandma’s Monday after play-school.”
“Why is Ella and Jack allowed to stay at Grandma’s tonight and I’m not?”
“It’s why are Ella and Jack allowed, not why is, Ruby.” Pippa ignored Red’s loud tut.
“And Grandma is still working on your costume. It wouldn’t be a surprise if you got to see it before Halloween, would it. Now, sleepy time, or we might have to cancel the picnic tomorrow.”
Ruby hurriedly closed her eyes.
Red planted a kiss on Ruby’s golden mane. “Goodnight, Rubes. Sleep tight.”
“Shhh. I’m asleep,” Ruby whispered. “You’ll wake me up again.”
Pippa quietly pulled the door closed. In a loud whisper, “Cass, you’ll give Ruby nightmares talking about goblins and ghouls.”
“Give over, Counsellor. She’s loving all this trick-or-treat stuff.”
Pippa waved a dismissive hand. “Ruby may well be, I most certainly am not. Legalised begging, that’s all it is. I don’t know how I ever let you talk me into it.”
“Something to do with having the kids out of the house so you could catch up on your case work, as I recall.”
“Yes, well rather you than me, Cassandra. And make sure you take the children well away from here. The last thing I want is our neighbours thinking my offspring are in need of their charity.”
Red palmed her forehead. “Give me strength.” She turned for the bathroom. “I’m off for a soak. You can bring me a glass of wine if you like, seeing as I’ve been on story duty. Again.”
~
Red watched the blue Radox swirl in the water as she pulled off her t-shirt, mussing up already dishevelled hair.
“Start without me, why don’t you.” Pippa passed a glass of wine to Red.
“Cheers, Counsellor.” Red pecked Pippa on the lips. “Hey, I hope you’re not planning on joining me?”
Pippa looked uncertain. “I thought that was the idea?”
Saffina Desforges' ROSE RED Crime Thriller Boxed Set Page 64