by Emily Selby
'True enough. What's the next step, Roy?'
'You need to come to the solicitor's office, so we can sign the documentation. I'll be there shortly. Can you come?'
Katie glanced at the clock. She'd not done much work over the past few days. More guilt to stomach...
'My tea break is in about an hour. Would that work for you?'
'Perfect, I'll have time to prepare the paperwork.'
With the agreement reached, Katie ended the call and threw herself into work. She needed to achieve something before sneaking out of her office again.
The visit to the solicitor was straightforward. Katie was in and out within a few minutes and thank goodness for that. If it had taken much longer, she might start doubting her decision again. Or let the guilt that she had disappointed Roy, and moreover Mrs Dunbar, who’d bequeathed her the workshop in her will, take over.
Katie decided it was the right thing to do. Now, she had to learn to accept her decision.
She also needed to talk to Julia about it. This weekend. For sure. She'd take Julia to see the house from afar. Or maybe she could ask Michael to borrow the keys, so they could have another look at the house.
What a great idea.
Katie stepped into a quiet back alley, by the pharmacy and pulled her phone out of her handbag. She fumbled with the keyboard, searching for Michael's number.
The pharmacy door opened. A slim woman wrapped in a long coat rushed out. She tripped on the doorstep and wobbled.
Katie jumped to her help. She caught her elbow. The woman regained her balance.
'Ah,' she groaned. 'Sorry!'
'Are you alright, er ... Mrs Fischer?'
'Yes, I'm fine.' The woman pulled her arm from Katie's grip and glanced at her. 'Who are you, and how come you know my name?'
Katie's cheeks burned. 'I work at the police station. And... And...' Katie scrambled for words. 'You told me your name,' she blurted. 'Ava Fischer, isn't it?'
Her cheeks couldn't get any hotter. The little white lie would have to do.
The woman held her gaze with even more suspicion. Her lips were trembling even more than on the day of the police interview. Beads of sweat glistened on her pale forehead.
'You're shaking. Do you need any help? Would you like me to call anyone, Mrs Fischer?'
Ava Fischer flinched. 'I'll be fine. I need to take my medication,' she said and looked around.
'There is a bench, over there,' Katie pointed to the nearest bench, just a dozen yards away. 'I'll walk with you.'
'You don't need to. I'll be fine,' the woman insisted and took another wobbly step.
'My name is Katie,' she offered, not leaving the woman’s side. They crossed the street and made it to the bench. Ava slumped onto it and looked close to collapse.
'I'll get some water from the pharmacy,' Katie offered and rushed away, returning a minute later to find Ava Fischer popping a tablet into her mouth.
'Here it is, just in time,' Katie handed her the cup filled with water.
Ava drained the cup. 'Thank you,' she said. 'And I'm sorry if I came across as rude earlier. I'm not feeling very well.'
'You should see your doctor.'
'I've tried to see a local GP but had a really hard time. I've- I mean, with all this commotion, I've run out my tablets. I needed an emergency supply from the pharmacy.'
'And you've just taken it?'
'Yes. I need to wait 'til it takes effect.'
'You look pale, I'll stay with you to make sure you're okay, Mrs Fischer.'
'There’s really no need, and please, stop calling me that name. My maiden name is O'Reilly. I can now officially return to it,' she added.
'Sorry, Ms O'Reilly. When are you going back to Ireland, or wherever home is?'
'Home... yes, I suppose it's still Ireland. Although, I've travelled a lot. When you travel so much, home is where your heart is, wherever you go.'
'I've heard you've ended up as far as New Zealand.'
'Indeed. I've worked there on and off.'
'As a nurse?'
The suspicious look in Ava's green eyes returned. 'You seem to be well informed...'
'Oh, I've heard you met Mr Fischer when you nursed his father.'
Ava's eyes narrowed to a slit and she flinched again.
'Are you-?' Katie
'Yes,' Ava dismissed Katie's concerns. 'It'll go away in a few minutes. Anyhow, shouldn't you be at work now?'
She should. But the woman didn't look at all well.
'I'm the one who found your husband's body. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience in our lovely little town.'
Ava shot her a curious glance. 'Did you hear or see anyone or anything suspicious? Something to help find out who killed my husband?'
'No, I don't think so, unfortunately.'
Ava wriggled on the bench. 'I should be going,' she mumbled.
'I don't think it's a good idea to walk anywhere right now,' Katie said. 'If you like, I can call you a taxi and stay with you until it arrives.'
'A taxi would be grand. Thanks, it’s very kind of you, but you don't have to stay with me.'
'That's not a problem, I still have a few minutes,' Katie said smoothly, hoping no one at the station would notice her absence.
She punched the number of a local taxi service. 'Where would you like to go?'
'The Sunny Corner Hotel. Don't know the exact address.'
Katie blinked. Why didn't Jack mention interviewing Ava the previous night?
'I'm sure the taxi driver will know the directions. By the way, I was there last night. What a busy place! Did you see the crowds?'
Katie deliberately didn't mention Chloe's body. Would Ava say anything?
Ava pulled a tissue from her pocket and carefully dabbed her forehead and around her eyes.
'Shouldn't have put so much makeup,' she sighed. 'What? Last night? No, I wasn’t there. I tried to see the doctor in the emergency clinic. I waited for ages.'
So she wasn't at the hotel?
Katie opened her mouth to ask about which surgery Ava had chosen to go, but the taxi operator answered the call. Katie gave their location and the destination.
'The name is Ava,' Katie said looking at the woman. Ava nodded.
Katie dropped the phone back into her handbag.
'It must be great to be able to travel so much,' she said lightly. 'Were you able to also work in other countries?'
'If you speak English and have the desired skills you can find interesting jobs many places.'
'Where else have you worked?'
'Just England, Ireland and New Zealand. I've travelled much more, though. It's easier when you're earning well. Once this business is all over, I'm thinking of taking up a job somewhere in the Middle East. They need health professionals, the pay is quite good, and there is a very expansive expat life.'
'It must be awesome to have that freedom of movement. Even if I had the skills it would be much harder for me. I have a ten-year-old daughter.'
'Ah, yeah, these make things more difficult...' She looked away. 'Having said that, I'd love to have a family.'
'You have your sister in Ireland.'
She looked at Katie with surprise in her eyes. 'Yes, my sister, but she's not well enough to travel.'
'No other family?'
'Not really.'
'I'm sorry to hear that.'
'That's life. You can only try to make the most of it. Is this my taxi?' Ava asked, clambering to her feet. Katie tensed, ready to jump to her help, but she appeared much steadier on her feet.
'Yes, I think it is,' Katie replied, watching Ava walk slowly towards the approaching car.
Interesting.
Ava travelling the world and working in foreign countries? Or Ava homesick when living with Benjamin in England?
Which was the truth?
People did change, but not that much... At their core, they remained the same.
26
Katie ran back to her office and burst into the staffroo
m short of breath.
Jack and Chris turned their heads towards the door as she rushed in.
'Ah, there you are! I've been looking for you,' Jack said.
'How can I help, Inspector?' Katie said as smoothly as she could, given her breathing issues.
Chris gave her a strange, sideways look.
'Why are you suddenly so official, I thought you've been... less official before.'
Chris! Don't start this again...
She should talk to him. Or finally, announce the news to the whole team and end any gossiping behind her back. If there was any.
But maybe not today.
'We're all less official now, but you call him "sir" sometimes, and I don't make any comments,' Katie fired back.
'I was just... Never mind, ignore my comment,' Chris waved his hand and then mouthed: "What's going on?"
Katie glanced at Jack who watched the scene with a twisted half-smile-half-let's-be-serious look on his face.
'Mrs Fischer is coming, and I bet she'd need some tea to calm her down as I'm about to upset her badly,' Jack said. 'Can I have some help, please?'
Chris' face drooped. 'Not a crying woman, sir,' he said quietly.
'You see!' Katie pointed out at Chris.
'It's because he's a senior officer and-' Chris replied.
'Then why can't I-'
'Don’t mind me,' Jack cut in, his voice booming in the room. 'Must be a new thing in town. Speaking about people in front of them, not even behind their back. Is this a new twist on good, old small-town gossip?'
Katie's and Chris' heads snapped to look back at Jack. The hot blush crept back onto Katie's face. Chris' Adam's apple bobbed up and down a couple of times.
She expected an angry outburst, but Jack still had the same amused half-smile on his face. He must have enjoyed it!
'Thank you for your attention,' Jack spoke up, his voice still vibrating in the room. 'So, who's going to help me with the crying Mrs Fischer?'
'Happy to help.' Katie's hand flung up. 'By the way, which Mrs Fischer do you mean?'
'Miriam Fischer, why?'
'I've just had a fascinating conversation with Ava Fischer.' Katie told them about Ava's flair for travel and what Miriam had said about her being homesick. She also mentioned Ava's explanation for not being at the hotel the previous night.
'That’s why we didn't see her last night, and couldn't get hold of her this morning.' Jack said looking distracted. 'She told us the same story about trying to get an appointment with a doctor. I'll be talking to Ava Fischer later today. Have you checked her alibi, Chris?'
Chris blew out his cheeks. 'I rang the surgery, but they said they had so many people waiting to be seen in the emergency slots they couldn't remember her. She has registered, although it might have been over the phone. They couldn't remember.'
'Inconclusive,' Katie mumbled.
'Thanks for checking it, Chris,' Jack said picking up the phone. 'That reminds me I haven't heard from our Irish colleagues. I'll give them a ring.'
'By the way, I was going to ask what background info we have on Ava,' Katie added. 'She may be using her maiden name - O'Reilly.'
'Interesting,' Jack said, still holding the phone in his hand. 'The driver's licence she showed us still had her married name on it.'
'Have you checked with the Nursing council?' Katie asked, shifting her gaze from Jack to Chris.
'The Nursing and Midwifery Council,' Chris replied, nodding. 'I checked ours and the one in Ireland. Not actively practising in England since 2011. She has worked on and off in Ireland, though. I'm still waiting for a reply from New Zealand, the relevant person is on summer holidays. But at least I was told Ava Fischer is not registered with them right now.'
'I'd like to talk to her again,' Jack announced and turned away to make the call.
Katie sneaked back into her office. She had so much work to catch up on! But at least, she’d passed all the important information onto the right people. They'd have to do the legwork.
Katie giggled. That was a strange thought. Like being a mastermind pulling the strings behind the scene.
She needed to get on with her work, though. If Inspector Lumley caught her daydreaming, she might have no more masterminding to do.
Two calls and fifteen emails later, Jack popped his head around the door.
'May I come it?' he asked. His face was animated. 'I won't take long.'
Katie's heart gave a little flip.
'Please do,' she beckoned him.
Jack closed the door.
Katie's heart gave another flip and released a butterfly. His expression made it look like a personal chat.
'I never asked you about that job interview at the hotel last night,' he said, leaning against his favourite wall.
'Got the job,' Katie replied, trying to sound natural and relaxed.
'We haven't really talked about it. What's the job all about?'
Katie explained.
'Are you thinking of leaving the station?' he asked, a note of anxiety creeping into his voice.
'No. Not at all. It's only for three weeks. I'll still be here in the mornings.'
'Good, good. How are you going to do that and still spend time with Julia? It isn’t going to take too much out of your day?'
'I'll be fine,' she said and smiled. She so freaking hoped so. 'I'll catch up on rest during school holidays when I'm on leave.'
'It's about the money, isn't it? For the workshop?'
'Yes, and before you say anything, thank you, but I'm all organised.'
He nodded, and a frown creased his brow. 'Will I even see you?' He asked gazing at her with the same smouldering look that made her fall into his arms a few days earlier.
Well, almost...
'You can come to the hotel and have tea with me on my breaks. How is that?'
'That sounds nice. But I'm concerned. I don't want you to overwork yourself.'
'I'll be fine, Jack. It's crucial for me to resolve at least some of the problem myself.'
'Are you really keen to buy that house?'
'Yes, I'd love a house with a garden. This one looks great. Although the decor is a little bland for my taste, Julia and I will make it our home.'
'I'm sure the two of you will make it beautiful.' Jack shoved his hands into his trouser pockets. 'I'm happy to hear you've got a goal to work towards. And I think it's a great goal.'
'But? I can hear a "but" coming.'
'I’m worried about you. You take on too much work. You're already very busy.'
'I'm only busy because I make myself so. If I hadn't got involved in all those murder mysteries, I would probably have been quietly working away and dying of boredom in this office.'
'I can't disagree with that statement. Your mind is active Katie. Maybe-'
'Maybe what?'
'I was going to say something about you going back to university, but that needs money as well. And it’s not really my place, I guess.'
Katie took a deep breath, but it didn't shift the heavy sensation somewhere between her chest and her stomach.
'I'd love to do that, but I'd probably have to move as well, wouldn't I?' she asked him as if she hadn't spent a couple of hours over Christmas comparing her study options.
'It depends what you're after. There are some good policing courses in Newcastle. You could probably commute. Have you considered it? Or would you rather go back to York?'
A tense edge coloured his voice.
'I just don't have the time or money at the moment,' she replied. 'Maybe when Julia is a little older...'
Jack shifted from foot to foot, looking down. 'Depending on what you want to do, there are even courses online. Or you can come to Manchester.'
'Why Manchester?'
'Just a thought.' He shrugged. 'But York has really good criminology courses.'
'Manchester,' she asked, her voice trembling. 'Is that where you'll be going after... after you finish your post here. When are you going back?'
; His shoulders hunched. 'I'm not sure yet. I can stay with my parents until the end of January, and then, they have friends and family coming over. The house is too small. It's just two bedrooms. I’ll have to move out.'
A cold hand tightened around Katie's throat. 'Will you be gone by February?'
He gave her a longing look as if he wanted her to say or do something.
'My original transfer was for six months, to help my dad while he was recovering from his illness. My dad is recovering well, and the time will be up by the end of February. I've got a couple of weeks annual leave planned next month, but I'd need to tell Human Resources before that.'
Katie blinked to hide the tears misting her vision.
'What would you like to happen?' she asked huskily.
'I'm not sure yet, but I'm definitely sure that I'd like to continue our relationship.'
A warm wave spilled over Katie's body. The throat relaxed, but the tears fell in streams down her face.
'That's great!' she called out, quickly drying her eyes with the back of her hand. 'I'd love it, too. And we can talk about everything else later.'
'Definitely. As soon as this investigation is over,' Jack said and smiled at her. It was a wide grin, making her feel of warm and fuzzy again.
But this wasn't the time, and work wasn’t the place for hugs and cotton-candy knees. She cleared her throat and deliberately changed the subject.
'Did you get hold of your Irish counterparts?'
'Yes. They've been to Keeva O'Reilly's flat twice, but no one answered the door. The neighbours say the woman who lives there keeps herself to herself. There are periods when they don't see her for weeks. It's a busy area in Dublin, though. People rarely pay attention to one another.'
'What are you going to do now?'
'I need to run a few checks and then talk to your friend, Miriam. After that, I’ll interview Ava Fischer.'
Katie stood.
'I'll get the tea,' she said hastily.
'Thank you, but I think I'll do it with Chris. You've got enough on your plate. And-' he sighed. 'I think I may need to consider getting a warrant to search her house. I'm sick of hearing her nice words and half-truths.'
The corners of Katie's mouth dropped. Her eyes moistened again. 'Don't hurt my friend, please,' she whispered.
'I'm sorry, Katie, there have been two deaths and she could be involved in both. She can't confirm her alibi, and she's lied to me more than once.'