Ugly Duckling

by Malcolm Allen

  'Me Sir? Yes Sir!'

  John almost laughed at the sight of Walsh, he looked like a naughty school boy, ‘Yes you Walsh, Go and get me and Cripp some fresh coffee and bacon sandwiches, quickly please, I'm starving.' he turned and retired to his office with Ian following 'I thought that went well' he said to Ian as he closed the door behind them. Sitting at the desk he said to Ian 'Are you ready for a night out tonight?'

  'For Liz's birthday J.D? I certainly am, we're all meeting at about 8.'

  Just then the text alert sounded on John’s phone, it was from Jenni, he looked, looked again, blushed slightly and hit the delete button. 'What? No. I meant work. We need to go visit a couple of places with the photo, we believe Roger is gay so you and I need to ask around in a couple of gay clubs.'

  'Can’t we get the uniforms to do it J.D it is Liz's birthday and we said we'd be there.'

  John thought for a moment eventually coming up with a compromise. 'OK tell you what, we'll meet Liz and then just pop down the road to the “Straight around the bend” club, it’s only a few doors down the road, shouldn't take long.'

  'You could go on your own if you want J.D' Ian was hopeful, he hated gay clubs, they bought back memories if Thailand.

  'I need to pop out and get Liz's present before then, thanks for the tip by the way Ian' he paused, 'Oh but you can still go fuck yourself' he said matter of factly 'We're going to that club together.'

  Chapter 29

  Jenni woke that morning feeling apprehensive, she'd tried to phone John several times the night before but he hadn't answered or returned the calls, she hated leaving messages on answer phones so decided just to text him instead “John I'm really sorry please call me :-(“was what she had written but still had received no reply by the time she went to bed. She had to talk to John before Wheeler did. She didn't want that bastard spoiling things. The thoughts of Wheeler and what she was going to do about him had plagued her sleep all night, the only thing she new for sure was that she had to meet him, appeal to his better nature, even have sex with him if it meant he would leave her and John alone and in the meantime, if he did Skype her, she would have to do her little show, just to keep him sweet. After she had showered she lay on the bed and carried out her moisturising routine, it was so important to her to keep her skin soft and properly moisturised, she spent a fortune on products to do just that, 'thank the lord for my trust fund' she thought, she had been the beneficiary of the trust fund for some years now, it was set up by a very generous Aunt who didn't much care for the way Jenni intended to make money so put everything she had into the fund naming Jenni Everitt as the sole beneficiary, a fact that had helped with her career as a freelance journalist, especially as she hadn't actually had anything published in over two years, in fact she hadn't written anything in over two years apart from the short piece she'd sent to the newspaper about the murder at the pier, which they had promptly stolen. But the money she received from the fund was more than enough to live the way she wanted for some time yet, and who knows, by the time it runs out she might be married to a policeman. As she finished her moisture routing her phone received a text “Jenni, Don't worry about it, really busy at the moment, had a breakthrough, I'll call Soon. J. XXX” Jenni smiled, three kisses at the end. He was just busy, not ignoring me, I knew he couldn't do that, he can’t resist me. She lay on the bed still naked and made the sexiest pose she could, taking her phone she set the timer set it down on the table at the foot of her bed and took her own photograph, naked, full length and pouting. Satisfied that it was a good photo and showed off her assets to their best advantage she sent the photo to John with the message “I'll be waiting, come up and see me.” she imagined how pleased John would be to get it and immediately started fondling herself, the thought of him masturbating while looking at the photo helping her to climax quickly.

  ***

  Later that afternoon Amanda was waiting in the Café for Jenni to arrive, she hadn't seen Jenni since the day she was going to Wimbourne to meet her new man for a meal and was desperate to catch up on all the latest sexploits of her friend. She looked down at the front page of the early edition of the local paper, the headline 'Have you Seen this Man?' stared back at her with the picture of Roger Green. 'How sad that he doesn't even know his father's dead' although the article that accompanied the picture didn't say it, she was very good, she thought, at reading between the lines. Then Jenni appeared in the doorway.

  'Jenni!' Amanda screamed 'How great to see you' she kissed Jenni on each cheek and they both sat and ordered Coffee and Danish 'It seems so long since we had a chat, what's been going on? How's the new man?'

  Jenni smiled 'What can I tell you. He's completely infatuated by me. We can’t get enough of each other.' she stopped, noticing the front page of the newspaper, Amanda noticed her looking.

  'I know, isn't it sad? They can't find him and his fathers dead.'

  'Is that what it says?' Jenni asked 'if that's true this is a bit of an odd way for him to find out.'

  'No silly, it doesn't actually say that, but what else could it be? You have to learn to read between the lines.'

  'Well, in that case it is very sad, poor man' Jenni had tears in her eyes

  'You are soft' Amanda laughed 'Anyway, come on, tell me all about your new man, you can’t just say we can’t get enough of each other and leave it at that!'

  'Well' Jenni began, recomposing herself 'the other night he came round to my place, I cooked him a fabulous dinner but he took one look at me and just ripped all my clothes off and started kissing me all over'

  'No! Really!' screeched Amanda

  'Then he went to the kitchen and got some spray cream from the fridge, he squirted it all over me and licked it all off right there on the floor under the dining table, we never even got to eat dinner. He just kept going and going till about 7am, non stop.'

  'God how fantastic' Amanda gasped

  'Well, I've had to tell him we need to cool it, I have to have some time to eat and sleep' Jenni was laughing and Amanda looked as though she was about to orgasm, 'but its ok because soon he needs to go undercover on a very important mission, he couldn't tell me everything but its something to do with national security.'

  'Really!' Amanda's eyes where straining to stay in their sockets 'Is he some sort of a police spy?'

  'Well he hasn't said that, but I think he probably is, Very high up.'

  'Oh God' Amanda was almost bursting at the seems 'You've got your very own James Bond'

  'Oh no.' Jenni looked at Amanda very sternly 'that’s just a story, this is real, and much more dangerous than that, who knows what could happen. But when he gets back he'll be glad to have me waiting for him, legs open and willing' Jenni giggled uncontrollably for a few moments then the stern look returned to her face 'But you mustn't breath a word of this to anyone, it could ruin the mission'

  'My lips are sealed' Amanda insisted

  'So will mine be, till he gets back' giggled Jenni.

  'Perhaps you should try lesbian love' laughed Amanda

  Jenni laughed briefly then quite seriously said 'With you?'

  Amanda's laugh slowed 'No! I wasn't suggesting that!'

  Jenni watched as Amanda Blushed, and smiled 'Have you ever tried sex with another woman Amanda?'

  'No certainly not' Amanda protested, then added 'but I have thought about it once or twice' her face had now turned scarlet.

  'Who do you fantasise about?' Jenni asked 'is it me?'

  Amanda's face blushed even more and a small bead of sweat appeared on her forehead, she wiped the sweat away under the pretence of moving her hair from her eyes 'Well actually yes! There I said it! I've fantasised about having sex with you! You have such a beautiful body.'

  Jenni giggled 'I'll let you into a little secret; I imagine having sex with you all the time, you licking my nipples and giving me the most fantastic orgasm with your tongue'

  'Jenni stop! It’s embarrassing.' Amanda was looking around to see if anyone else could hear
their conversation, 'I'm sure he's listening over there.' she pointed to the corner behind Jenni.

  'Don't be silly, why would he be listening.' she turned to look where Amanda was pointing and there in the corner she saw a man in an electric buggy, a baseball cap covering his face, on his lap was a napkin and his right hand was underneath, moving slowly, he could have been cleaning his glasses, but Jenni knew he was doing something altogether different, she decided to challenge the man, invalid or not. She got up from the table and walked behind the buggy, there she crouched down at the side of the man and put her hand under the napkin, sure enough she found his rock hard member, the only movement the man made was to remove his hand and allow Jenni to feel the size of his erection, she started to stroke it. 'Having a good time?' she said, then she gripped him so tightly stopped the circulation.

  'Oh please my little chicken, not so tight!'

  Jenni stopped, and instantly withdrew her hand, a shiver went down her back, she new that voice, the man slowly turned to look at her.

  'Hello my dear, it appears I've been rumbled. So now you know one of my secrets, perhaps we should meet a little later for a drink and I can tell you some more, I like the thought of the two of you.' he nodded in the direction of Amanda 'Do you think she'd be up for a threesome?'

  Jenni couldn't talk, she just looked at the man sat in front of her, remembering all the times she had been places and an electric buggy had been there, including last time in the Café when he'd spilt coffee on her, What was it he kept saying? He was never far away, always looking out for her. 'I think we should meet for that drink.' she said 'I'll see you at six. In the laughing pig'

  'OK my dear, that'll be lovely don't you think? I'll look forward to it. Now you better get back to your friend before she starts to get jealous.'

  Jenni returned to Amanda and carried on a more mundane conversation about the weather and clothes, ordering more Coffee and Danish she watched Wheeler leave.

  'Do you know him?' Amanda asked noticing Jenni's glare at the man now leaving.

  'Oh yes. I know him better than he thinks' Came Jenni's reply.

  Chapter 30

  John had been out to get his present for Liz and decided to take a drive it sometimes helped him think when he drove around the area. He quite liked the new car, even though it was a bit small, it handled very well, turned on a sixpence and the fuel economy was terrific. Pulling into a car park he sat and looked out over the cliffs to the sea. Why didn't Barnett contact him if he knew something, was it possible that, being gay, he knew who the killer was? Perhaps they moved in the same circles, if that was true then perhaps people who knew Barnett would also know Roger Green. But trying to get information from Brighton was going to be difficult; Inspector Wills wouldn't even listen to the idea that Barnett was gay so trying to find out where he went during his time off was impossible. What was it Wills had said? Barnett was just a normal bloke out chasing skirt and getting laid as often as he could. Looking out for other officers was one thing, but this was just a blatant, unnecessary, cover up. If Barnett hadn't phoned in sick that day with the flu he'd still be alive, still sneezing over everything, but still alive. The flu has a lot to answer for. The flu can be a killer, The flu. Shit! The fucking Flu! Immediately he started the car and drove towards Liz's Lab.

  'Liz! You've fucked up!' John had arrived at the lab and just gone bursting into Liz's office unannounced, The tearful woman who was sat opposite Liz looked up at John, tissue in had wiping away the tears having just identified her husband who had been killed in a motorway accident.

  The angry look on Liz's face said it all, but she kept calm and politely said 'Perhaps D.I Dickie you could wait until this lady is ready to leave my office before you come in shouting obscenities. I'd be very grateful if you would just wait outside my office until I'm ready to see you.'

  'Yes, of course Liz, really sorry, So sorry madam' John went and got a coffee from the machine and sat outside Liz's office waiting his turn.

  Half an hour later the woman finally emerged from Liz's office.

  'Are you sure you'll be ok?' Liz was asking

  'Yes I'll be fine now thank you, you're very kind' the woman shook Liz's hand and turned to leave, glaring at John as she went. Liz and John watched silently as the lady left the building.

  'Right you, get in here and explain yourself!' Liz wasn't happy.

  'Liz I'm really sorry, but something occurred to me that I have to tell you,' he paused then continued enthusiastically 'You fucked up!'

  'Right! First of all, you do not come dashing into my office without knocking, that poor lady had just identified her husband who had had half his head taken off in a car crash, and secondly, I do not fuck up! I may occasionally make a mistake but I do not Fuck up. Thirdly, what happened to good afternoon Liz, how are you? Happy Birthday, you know, I believe its called manners!'

  Something was telling John that Liz wasn't happy 'Sorry Liz, I shouldn't have done that, and I did mean to say Happy Birthday.'

  Liz calmed down slightly 'She's the third one today that I've had to I D the victims of the same car crash, it wasn't a very nice one, all the victims are mutilated in some way, I do my best to make them look presentable but its still very upsetting for everyone concerned. Not how I would have planned my birthday.' Liz looked tired and quite upset from her day. 'Still we're having a drink later aren’t we? I'm looking forward to that.'

  'Yes, me and Ian will have to vanish for about half an hour, but we'll come back, and then we'll be able to celebrate with you properly'.

  'So, how do you think I've Fucked up then John?'

  'The Flu Liz, Barnett had the Flu!'

  'Did he? Nobody told me that, and its difficult to check the symptoms on a dead body, what did you want me to do? Pop a thermometer under his tongue?'

  John looked at Liz with his eyebrows raised waiting for the penny to drop, it was a moment later that Liz's expression changed and John knew she'd got it.

  'Oh Dear, you could be right, I might have fucked up slightly' Liz was scrambling around for the notes on Barnett 'If he had the flu that would have effected his temperature and my estimate on time of death, he could have died a couple of hours beforehand'

  'Exactly! That's what I thought.' John was feeling pleased with himself.

  Liz sighed 'OK I'll adjust my report to show my error and you'll have it in the morning. Although why you didn't think to inform me of this earlier I can’t quite understand. And that will also be included in the report.'

  John felt less pleased with himself. 'We can all make mistakes I guess we're only human after all. Are you nearly finished here? Perhaps we could go for a bite to eat together before we meet the rest.'

  'Aren’t you meeting Jenni today?' Liz wanted to go for something to eat, she hadn't eaten since breakfast and she couldn't think of a better person to go with.

  'No, not today, I was thinking of texting her and inviting her for a quick drink tonight, but only before Ian and me have to disappear for half hour.'

  'Then I'd be delighted to go for something to eat with you, give me a few minutes to finish up and I'll be right with you, you could get yourself a coffee or something while you wait.'

  'I'll pass on the coffee, had one earlier, tasted like estuary mud. I've got to make two stops on the way, but I think you'll enjoy those.'

  ***

  John pulled the car into the drive way, Liz sat happily next to him pleased that John was showing the good, caring side of his nature, John rang the doorbell, after a long pause before a voice came from behind the closed door.

  'Who is it?'

  'Hello Fred, its me John Dickie'

  'Oh my goodness me, one moment sir, I won’t keep you long.' there was the sound of chains and locks being undone before the beaming smile of Fred Dunn appeared in the doorway 'Hello Sir, how nice to see you again, please come in I've got a brew on the go I'll get one for you and your young lady.' Fred showed Liz and John into the living room then went into the kitchen to
get the tea. 'I'm sorry about keeping you waiting Sir' he called 'but you can’t be too careful you know.'

  'That's ok Fred no problem' John moved towards the kitchen where Fred was laying out a tray with the tea and biscuits, John noticed the clean dog bowl's on the kitchen floor, a reminder of Patch, and when Fred opened the kitchen cupboard he saw tins of dog food stacked on the shelf. Fred turned and noticed John.

  'They were left over from patch' Fred suddenly looked saddened 'I just haven’t got around to throwing them out yet, it takes a bit of time sir'

  Fred led John back to the living room where Liz sat waiting.

  'Is this your wife Sir? She's extremely lovely if I may say so.' Fred crossed to Liz and taking her hand kissed it gently on the top. 'My names Fred, Fred Dunn. Delighted to meet you miss'

  'I'm delighted to meet you Mr Dunn, I'm Liz.'

  'Well then Liz' handing her a cup of tea 'you can call me Fred. Have you and Sir been married long?'

  John laughed 'Fred we’re not married just friends and colleagues.'