by Sally Rigby
The receptionist stared at her computer screen. ‘He’s on the short-stay ward on level three. One of the nurses on duty will let you know which bed he’s in.’
Birdie, avoided the lift and took the stairs, jogging all the way to the third level. She went over to the nurse on duty, holding out her ID. ‘I’m here to see Sebastian Clifford about last night’s attack. How’s he doing?’
‘He’s improving, but I don’t want you tiring him out. He still needs his rest.’
‘He’s a friend as well. I was here with him last night. I promise to be gentle, if he’ll let me.’ She smiled and the nurse’s face softened.
‘Head down the corridor and he’s in the fifth room on the left. Bed number one.’
She followed the directions and on entering the room her stomach plummeted at the sight of Seb lying in bed, his face swollen and bruised. His eyes were closed. Was he asleep? She turned to the nurse who was close by.
‘How is he?’ she asked in a quiet voice, nodding towards him.
‘I can hear you,’ Seb said, his eyes now open.
‘You’re okay?’ she said, smiling with relief.
‘No, he’s not okay,’ the nurse said. ‘We’ve already been debating the fact that he wants to leave.’
Why didn’t that surprise her?
‘What did the doctors say?’
‘They want him to stay for another night because of the concussion, so we can continue monitoring his vitals.’
‘I can’t stay. We have things to do,’ Seb said flatly.
‘I’ll talk to him,’ she said to the nurse, in a low voice.
‘Good,’ the woman replied as she left the room.
Birdie glanced around the ward. There were four men, including Seb, and all eyes seemed to be on her. She pulled the curtain around Seb’s bed and moved the chair until she could sit close to him. She took out her phone.
‘I’m here on official business as Sarge has let me take your case,’ she said, keeping her voice low so it couldn’t be heard. ‘I’ve got to take a statement and want to show you what I found on the CCTV footage. I admitted to him that I’d been helping you with your enquiry and told him your attack could be linked to it. He wasn’t convinced and said it was an unrelated mugging. Particularly because we’d already decided Witherspoon’s death was suicide.’
‘If it had been my case, I might have thought the same,’ Seb said. ‘We don’t have any proof.’
‘How can you say that? It’s too coincidental that you were singled out to be attacked out of everyone in town last night. By the way, how are you feeling? I forgot to ask.’
‘I’ve been better. Is Elsa okay?’
‘More than okay. We’ve had a lovely time. I even let her sleep on the bed next to me last night.’
‘That’s not allowed.’
‘She was missing you. It was the least I could do. Have you looked in a mirror yet?’
‘No. I avoided it when I went to the bathroom.’
‘Wise move.’
‘That bad, eh?’
‘Worse. Wait a while before checking as you might not recognise yourself. Those film-star looks have disappeared.’
‘Thanks for that. You really know how to make a man feel good about himself.’
‘Have the doctors done their rounds yet?’
‘Yes, you just missed them.’
‘And?’
‘They’re happy with my progress. My ribs will take a while to heal, which I already knew because I’ve broken them before while playing rugby. A smaller man might not have come out of it so well. I’m going to be fine.’ He gasped for breath.
‘You don’t sound it. You can hardly breathe. They still want you to stay in another night, though, don’t they?’
‘Not going to happen. Show me the CCTV footage.’
She called up the footage on her phone and showed him both men. ‘They’re separate at this point, but then join together. Do they look familiar?’
‘I think it’s them. One came at me from behind and one charged at me front-on.’
‘Sarge thought whoever attacked you could be kids high on drugs and that’s why they didn’t get your wallet until they’d finished, but these two are definitely not kids, look at their build and the way they walk.’
‘Agreed. They look like grown men.’
‘Have you done anything in the past that might make people come after you?’
‘At the Met, in the special squad, yes definitely. But why follow me here, and why now when I’ve left the force? I can’t harm any of the people I used to be investigating.’
‘Unless it was revenge.’
‘Maybe, but I’m not convinced. Did I tell you about the tattoo?’
‘No.’
‘The man who searched for my wallet had a tattoo of an eagle on his hand. It might mean something significant, it’s not an area I’m familiar with.’
‘I’ll research it when I get back to the station. Okay, let’s recap. We’ve got two men, clearly not teenagers. We don’t know if they were high, but from the way they were walking when following you there’s nothing to suggest they were. You were attacked after we’d interviewed several people. Was anything said to you during the attack?’
‘I was replaying the scene in my mind when you arrived.’
‘Because of your memory thing … of course. That’s going to help greatly.’
‘I hope so, but my HSAM suffered because of the beating. Last night I didn’t remember, but now I can tell you that before they took my wallet one of them told the other to stop the attack because I’d have got the message to back off by now.’
‘You could have told me this as soon as I arrived.’
Surely that made it conclusive. His attack was down to the investigation into Witherspoon’s death.
‘Cut me some slack, will you? I’m in pain here.’
‘And here was me thinking you were tough. Was it the man with the tattoo who did the talking?’
‘I believe so, but it was dark so I’m not a hundred per cent.’
‘So what are we going to do now?’
‘I’m going to discharge myself as I can’t leave Elsa on her own any longer.’
‘I can take care of her.’
‘You’re at work all day. If you can wait to take me home, I’d be grateful. I also need to see Sarah and update her. I don’t want her to find out about the attack from the media, or she’ll be worried sick. I’d rather see her in person than talk about it on the phone, or she’ll imagine all sorts.’
‘Not today. If you go in that state, she won’t even recognise you.’
‘Point taken. I’ll go tomorrow and take it easy for the rest of today. I also think we should revisit everyone we’ve interviewed so far.’
‘Is that a good idea, after the warning?’ she asked.
‘Do you have any other suggestions?’
‘You could let the police handle it from here.’
She should report back to Sarge, but he might decide to pass the case over to Twiggy and she wanted to carry on with it. She should be able to keep it on the down-low for a while longer at least.
‘You are the police.’
‘True. And now I’m officially working the case, I’m not doing anything wrong. But what if these men come after you again?’
‘I’ll be prepared next time.’
‘You have a gun?’
‘No. But I’ll be on my guard.’
‘If you say so. I’ll take you home, now, but I still need an official statement. Why don’t I drive you to see Sarah tomorrow, to save you having to, and then we can go to the station and I’ll show you the rest of the CCTV footage and not just the small amount I downloaded?’
‘Will you be allowed to do all this? Won’t your sergeant kick up about it, as he’s viewing it as a mugging?’
‘It doesn’t matter what his opinion is, you can still look at the footage. It’s part of my investigation and as I’m no longer chained to my desk, I can take you
wherever you need to go.’ She paused. ‘Within reason, of course.’
‘Of course,’ he repeated, wincing as he grinned.
‘I’ll wait in the corridor while you get dressed.’ She patted the bed.
‘Ouch,’ he moaned.
‘Sorry. Shall I get a nurse to help you get dressed?’
‘I can manage myself.’
‘Suit yourself. I’ll let them know you’re leaving.’
Chapter 25
17 May
Every breath Seb took was a monumental effort. Thank goodness he’d arranged for Birdie to take him to Sarah’s because he wasn’t sure he’d manage to drive that far. It had been a mission to get up and feed Elsa. And as for the short walk he’d taken her on, the pain was still permeating throughout his entire body. She’d been playing in the garden for a while which hopefully would tire her out. He didn’t want to take her to Sarah’s because they were going to the station after.
Elsa seemed to understand that he was injured. Instead of sleeping in her bed in the kitchen, she’d insisted on coming upstairs and sleeping on the floor beside him, and he hadn’t the heart to tell her no. She knew better than to try to climb on the bed, even though Birdie had allowed her to the night before.
After phoning Sarah to make sure she’d be there, he’d arranged for Birdie to pick him up at eleven, and he was now sitting in the kitchen nursing a mug of coffee he’d just made. He hadn’t given Sarah an exact time, knowing what Birdie was like. It was already ten minutes past eleven and if she ran true to form, she’d probably be there in ten minutes. He lifted his mug to his lips to take a sip of coffee, when there was a knock at the door. ‘It’s me,’ Birdie’s voice called through the letter box.
He hobbled to the front door and opened it.
‘You’re early … for you.’
‘Still looking beautiful,’ Birdie said, smirking.
‘It’s a good job we’re not working together on a permanent basis. I don’t think I could take your sense of humour.’
‘Ouch. You know how to hurt. How are you doing?’
‘My head hurts, I’m bruised all over, including places I wasn’t even aware could bruise. Apart from that I’m fine.’
‘You do actually look better than you did yesterday. But that wasn’t hard. Are you ready?’
‘I’ve got a coffee on the go. We’ll leave when I’ve finished it.’
‘It’s after eleven, the time you wanted to leave.’
‘I was working on Birdie time, so thought I had time to finish it. I wasn’t expecting you for another ten minutes or so.’
‘That’s the last time I make an effort to be on time. Well, almost on time. But if we’re waiting, have you got anything to eat? I’m starving because I didn’t have time for breakfast.’
‘Mi casa es tu casa.’
‘What?’
‘It’s Spanish for my house is your house. So, come in and help yourself. I’ve got toast or cereal.’
‘I’ll have crisps and a couple of biscuits if you’ve got some.’
‘I can do those, too.’
He’d bought them a couple of days ago, specifically for Birdie if she came around.
She marched past him and into the kitchen. ‘Which cupboard?’ she yelled.
‘To the right of the fridge.’
She made herself a coffee and munched her way through a bag of crisps and then half a packet of biscuits.
‘That’s better, I’ll be fine now until this evening.’
‘You shouldn’t eat rubbish like that all the time, it’s not good for you.’’
‘Yes, Mum,’ she said, sighing. ‘How many times do I have to tell you? I already have a mother.’ Her face clouded over. ‘Two even.’
‘Two? I don’t understand.’ This wasn’t Birdie’s usual attempt at humour. Something was troubling her. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’
She stared directly at him for a while, twisting strands of hair around her finger. ‘I was dealing with this on my own, but … yeah. I’ll tell you, because it’s eating me up inside.’
‘Anything you say to me will be kept confidential.’
It had to be serious if it had caused her to go from her usual breezy, cheeky self to being so morose.
‘I’m adopted and want to find my birth mother. I finally broached the subject with my adoptive parents who, by the way, are wonderful. I know it hurt them, I could see it in their eyes, but I can’t stop myself. It’s like part of me is missing. I know that sounds weird, but it’s true, and I’ve felt like this for a long time.’
‘I’m sure they’ll understand if you explain your feelings to them.’
‘Maybe,’ she said, shrugging. ‘I’m the only one who’s adopted in the family. After they had me, my mum got pregnant. Twice. I’ve got two younger brothers. I’ve done my research and have applied to be added to the Adoption Contact Register to say that I’m happy to be contacted and now I’m waiting to hear if my mother is also on there. But it’s such a slow process. If she is on there and has agreed to be contacted, then they’ll put us in touch with each other. If she isn’t on there, then I’ll have to think again.’ She let out a long sigh, the relief at having told him evident on her face.
‘Do you have your birth certificate?’
‘Yes. It has my birth mother’s name, but no father’s name, and shows that I was born in Leicester.’
‘Surely you can search yourself as you have access to plenty of databases.’
‘I can only see if she has a criminal record and I’ve done that already and found nothing. Also, she may have got married and changed her name. Or she could’ve moved overseas. There are so many things I don’t know about her, including how old she was when she gave me up and exactly where she lived in Leicester at the time. It’s not going to be an easy job, but I’ve got to do it.’
‘If the Adoption Contact Register doesn’t come up with anything, you could always try social media.’
‘I will, but it’s going to take a while and at the moment I don’t have the time.’
‘I’m glad you confided in me. I do understand your need to find your birth mother, as it will give you a sense of identity.’
‘Yep,’ she said, her eyes glistening with tears. ‘Anyway, enough about me and my two mothers. Let’s go see Sarah. I take it you told her what’s happened?’
Her serious expression had disappeared. Birdie had hidden depths, which he was fortunate to have witnessed as he got the feeling much of the time she put on an act. A defence mechanism. It shows she must trust him.
‘I didn’t want to alarm her, so decided not to.’
‘Seriously? So instead, we’re going to turn up at her front door and she’s going to see you looking like this. You used to be a DI which should mean you have some intelligence. I have to tell you that’s not an intelligent way to behave.’
‘Says the woman who gets grounded at work because she can’t stop being late.’
‘That’s different.’
‘I’ve been beaten about the head and I’m not thinking straight,’ he said, by way of an excuse.
‘You think? Maybe I should leave you in the car when we get there and warn her first.’
‘I suppose that could work.’
‘I’m kidding. We’ve known each other ages and you still don’t get my sense of humour.’
‘Just over a week, actually, even if it does seem longer.’
‘That’s charming, I … you’re joking, aren’t you?’
‘You’re not the only person who can.’
‘Enough. Let’s go.’
‘You drive a Mini, don’t you?’
‘Yes, a clapped-out old one.’
‘In which case, we’ll take my car.’
‘Good idea.’
He gave her directions to Rendall Hall and as they drove through the gate and approached the house she slowed down.
‘Wow,’ Birdie said, letting out a low whistle. ‘So this is where the money Witherspoon stole went.’<
br />
‘Not in buying it, they’ve lived here for over twenty years and it was bought with Sarah’s money, I believe. Donald used much of the money he’d embezzled for the upkeep, which is high. Old properties like this swallow the cash.’
She pulled up outside the house and they walked slowly to the front door and knocked.
‘Stand behind me so I can warn Sarah when she answers. Turn around as well, or she’ll see you over my head.’
After a few seconds, the door opened.
‘Hello, Sarah, I’m Birdie. I’m a DC with the Market Harborough police force, and I’ve been helping Seb with his research into Donald’s death. I wanted to give you a quick one second warning because he’s decided to spring this on you. He was attacked on Saturday night and it’s not a pretty sight.’
Seb turned and stepped to the side of Birdie so his cousin could see him.
‘Oh, my goodness,’ Sarah said, slamming her hand to her mouth, the colour draining from her face. ‘What on earth happened?’
‘Let me tell you inside as I could do with sitting down, it hurts to stand for too long.’
‘We’ll go into the kitchen, or would you rather sit on an easy chair in the drawing room?’
‘The drawing room will be more comfortable.’
They followed her and Birdie looked at him and mouthed, ‘Told you so.’
‘Can I get you anything to drink, coffee, tea? A soft drink?’
‘We’ve just had one, thanks,’ Seb said.
‘Would you like some cake?’
‘We’re fine, thanks,’ Seb said.
‘Tell me what happened.’ Sarah said once they’d reached the drawing room and sat down.
‘I was attacked after leaving the pub in Market Harborough town centre on Saturday night.’
‘He ended up in the hospital at Leicester and he discharged himself yesterday against doctor’s orders,’ Birdie added. ‘That’s why I was the one to bring him here, because he wanted to see you and he can’t drive himself, yet.’
‘Do you know why you were attacked?’ Sarah looked from Birdie to him.
‘They took his wallet, but we think it might be related to your case,’ Birdie answered before Seb had time to speak.