Ugly Duckling

by Malcolm Allen

  Jenni took a deep breath and turned to look at John, 'Help! You think I need help?' an easy, comfortable smile spread across her face and she raised her arms out to the sides in the style of a crucifix John could see a tear roll down her face. 'I don't need Help John, I need you.'

  'Jenni don't!' John began, but it was too late, Jenni gently fell backwards closing her eyes as she fell from the top of the cliff to the path below and her death.

  'Jenni!' John dashed to the edge of the cliff and peered over, he could see Jenni lying at the bottom, spread eagled on the under cliff walk, motionless. 'Get somebody down there!' he shouted to Ian who had been stood watching the drama from some distance comforting Liz, Ian ran to the patrol cars parked at the end of the walk and gave instructions. John turned and walked slowly back towards Liz not stopping until he could look deep into her eyes, he wrapped his arms around her and cried. 'Thank god you're ok.' he whispered as the tears ran down his face 'I couldn't loose you.' they kissed and held each other both crying and both in love.

  'Oh very touching D.I Dick, but would you mind helping me get loose from this sodding tape before you start shagging each other' Wheeler protested.

  John and Liz looked at the pathetic image of Wheeler taped to his chair on the edge of a cliff, they turned and walked away, leaving him calling after them while a uniformed officer went to his assistance. 'You bastard D.I Dick! You think you know it all, but believe me you don't, she's got the better of you!' Liz and John continued walking to the car, as they reached the car John opened the passenger door for Liz 'Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?' he asked as Liz sat in the passenger seat

  'No John, I'm fine, I'd rather go home and have a cup of tea.'

  Ian came dashing up to the car 'J.D she's gone!'

  'What? Who's gone?' John replied

  'Jenni, Roger what ever she's called, she's gone!'

  'How can she be gone? I bloody saw her at the bottom!'

  'J.D a crowed gathered around where she fell and by the time our lads got there she'd gone, she just got up and walked away according to witnesses'

  'Well bloody find her, don't just stand there, she can’t be far away.'

  'The guys are searching now J.D but so far no sign. She’s just vanished'

  Wheeler passed with his liberating officer 'You see Dick, thought you knew it all. Bet you weren’t expecting that.'

  John glared at Wheeler 'What do you know, tell me now or I swear to god I'll push you off the cliff after her!' he demanded

  'Me? I know nothing' Wheeler replied with a sickly grin.

  John lurched towards Wheeler ready to carry out his threat and push wheeler off the cliff but he was restrained by Ian and the other officer 'Don't J.D it’s not worth it' Ian shouted. John pulled back.

  'I don't know how she vanished' Wheeler sneered 'But I'll bet you don't find her.' he let out a laugh 'but if you're really unlucky she'll find you' he winked at John and was led away.

  Chapter 42

  Bournemouth airport was busy with people wanting to get away for their early summer break but the queues at the check in desk were quick to diminish and the people were all happy and in the holiday mood.

  Ian sat with Liz at one of the Café-Bars 'I'll bet you're looking forward to this aren’t you Liz?' Ian was saying 'Two weeks away in sunny Corfu.'

  'It’s going to be so nice Ian, just getting away from it all for a while.'

  'And then Glasgow when you get back, it’s a whole new start.'

  'I wish I could be sure John was doing the right thing though Ian, I don't want him to make a rash decision then regret it afterwards'

  'Don't worry Liz, He's made up his mind and he's probably right, the lads would give him hell now, knowing that he slept with Jenni who turned out to be a man and a serial killer, I think leaving the force and doing consultancy work is the right thing for him to do at this time in his life, and he can be with you.'

  'Consultancy work. Private eye you mean, he could end up following unfaithful partners or tracking down long lost Aunt's.'

  'But I won’t' John had returned with three coffee's and three Bacon sandwiches which he placed on the table in front of them all ‘I’ll Choose what to do Liz, I'll be able to work anywhere in the country and I'll have you and Ian with me.'

  'Ian' Liz said in surprise, she hadn't heard anything about Ian joining them.

  'I'm wanting to follow up more on the Toxicology side of things' Ian said 'I was hoping you would be able to help, so for the time being if J.D wants some help I'll be there, for a small fee of course.' he smiled 'but I'm going to stay down here mainly, the Internet’s a wonderful thing and if John really needs me to be there I'll pop up for a few days.'

  'Of course it may be that I'll take a case down here, who knows' John added 'but we'll make a great team don't you think?'

  Liz looked at the two of them sat in front of her like excited school boys and smiled 'Yes' she said 'We'll make a great team.' They drank the coffee and ate the sandwiches as Liz pondered what she had got herself into, what this stage of her life was really going to be like.

  'It was good of you to bring us Ian, shame you're not coming with us.'

  'I told you J.D me and Jane had already made plans, and we think you and Liz need some time together.'

  Liz blushed slightly 'you do know that this doesn't mean me and John are together don't you?'

  'Yes of course I do Liz, but you're never far apart either.' Ian winked

  'Listen Ian' John stood up and started to collect his bags 'We've got to get to the departure gate, but you've got the number for where we're staying, so if you hear anything at all you will keep me informed won’t you.'

  It had been four weeks since the events on the cliff and there had been no sight of Jenni and now Wheeler had vanished as well.

  'Yes J.D if I hear anything I'll let you know, but you really should let it drop, it’s not your problem now, you can’t spend the rest of your life trying to find them.'

  'I know Ian, I've got other things to do, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to forget about it either, if I get a lead I'll follow it up.'

  The three of them walked to the security area where Ian had to stop, he shook Johns hand 'Have a great time J.D, look after Liz the way she deserves and I'll see you when you get back.' he kissed Liz on both cheeks 'And you just relax and enjoy yourself, make sure you and J.D get plenty of sand, sea and the other thing beginning with s'

  'What sandwiches?' laughed Liz then added 'Don't worry I'll look after him and I'll make sure he gets plenty of those things, preferably with me, but at least I'll make sure its with a real woman.' Ian and Liz laughed out loud

  'You really are a pair of funny fuckers aren’t you? John moaned 'You should form a double act.'

  They thanked Ian and passed through the security area heading towards the departure gate looking back briefly to wave to Ian.

  Ian waited a while taking in the atmosphere of the airport before returning to his car and driving home, it was a warm sunny Bournemouth day and as he drove with his windows open he switched on the radio 'You're listening to Heart 102.3' the D.J was saying with the usual amount of enthusiasm 'And now I have a very special dedication to a gentleman called John D. John this one comes to you from Jenni, she says the message is in the title, I guess you are a very lucky man, the song is 'I will always love you' sung by the one and only Whitney Houston.