Katy shook her head and Lorne swiped his arm. “Perv! Are you sure you don’t need a hand getting the car out?”
“Nope.”
Lorne and Katy got in the back of the van and watched Tony attach the towrope between the Nova and the van. They had to stifle a laugh when he jumped down into the ditch and forgot it was half-full of filthy water.
Another car pulled up and Sean got out. He shook hands with Tony and went over to see if he could help. Between them, they managed to get the Nova back on the road. Surprisingly, it started on the first try. Katy and Lorne left the van to survey the damage at the rear. The car was a mess. The bumper was hanging off at one end and dragging on the ground. Tony gave it a good yank, and without too much effort the bumper came completely away from the car.
“Built to last, obviously,” Sean joked. “Can we go back to your place and have a chat?”
“That’d be good. Katy and I will take the Nova.”
Lorne jumped in the driver’s seat and Katy held her wet trousers away from her skin in the passenger’s seat beside her. It took them five minutes to get back to the house. Lorne’s father, his face twisted in anxiety, came to meet them in the drive.
“We’re fine, Dad. Charlie’s in a coma, the doctor insisted we should come home. Sorry about the car; I’ll get it repaired for you.”
“If you had been back at the hospital this wouldn’t have happened. Poor Charlie, are you going back there?” her father said abruptly.
Lorne frowned it wasn’t like her father to be so abrupt with her. “Are you sure you’re all right, Dad?”
He waved a hand at her. “I’m fine, concerned about everyone as usual. About Charlie and you girls, of course. Sean, it’s good to see you again.” Sam shook Sean’s hand.
Lorne knew not to push things with her father. The group walked into the house. Katy went upstairs to her room to change her clothes and joined in the conversation upon her return.
Sean turned to Katy, his brow furrowed. “So you’ve been working on this case at the station?”
Katy swallowed and looked guilty. “Yeah, but only a little.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, I kept coming up against a wall. Something stinks. I told Lorne my suspicions and she said it resembled what happened when Charlie was abducted. Certain doors closed during that case, as well.” Katy glanced over at Lorne for backup.
“We all know what we’re dealing with here, Sean. People with money, not knowing what to spend it on, going down the perverted sex route. Men out to fulfill their petty little sexual fantasies. Croft has stumbled upon a massive import business, and I’m going to do everything in my power to put a stop to the business before it gets out of control. Innocent people are either dying or being sold into slavery, and for what? The promise of a far better life, that’s what. I’ve rid the world of one of these bastards already; if I have to spend the rest of my life hunting these sick shits down, I’ll do it.”
Tony sought her hand. “We’ll do it.”
Then Katy grabbed Lorne’s other hand. “Yes, we’ll do it. Hey, we could be the Three Musketeers, I want to be D’Artagnan.”
Sean cleared his throat. “DS Foster, you’re forgetting one thing.”
“I am?” Katy said, her tone riddled with sarcasm.
“You’re still employed by the Met,” Sean stated, raising an eyebrow.
Lorne snorted. “Well, it’s a shame the Met doesn’t value her as much as we do. Answer me one thing, Sean: would a male officer have been put in Katy’s position? No, they wouldn’t. Over the years, I’ve witnessed plenty of incidents where a male officer has hit a prisoner or suspect. Christ, Pete even did it a few times, and not once was he ever suspended or pulled over the coals for it.”
“The Met has changed, Lorne. Prisoners are touting the human rights card nowadays.”
“That’s bullshit and you bloody know it. Sort it out, Sean, or Katy will join our team. Won’t you, Katy?”
“Damn right. I like to feel appreciated at work, and to be honest, I know Lorne had her problems when she worked for the Met, and, well, I can see the same thing happening to me. A person can only take so much of being unappreciated—surely you can see that, sir.”
He held his hands up. “Hey, you don’t have to convince me, Katy. Lorne will tell you that I was on her side at all times.”
Lorne narrowed her eyes at him. “Hmm…a touch of selective memory there, I think, Sean. Anyway, do what you can for her. The Met still has major problems with equality. If this isn’t resolved soon, I’ve advised Katy to bypass the union rep and employ a good solicitor.” She placed a hand on either side of her head and said, “I can foresee plenty of compensation coming your way, young lady, and in the not too distant future.”
Lorne’s antics broke the ice a little and they all laughed—everyone except her father. “Everything all right, Dad? You seem a little distant this evening.”
“Apart from nearly losing my daughter and my granddaughter, yep, everything is just dandy.”
“Sorry, Dad, that was insensitive of me. The doctor assured me the hospital would ring the minute she wakes up.”
“Well, I’m not sure you should be involved in this case. Yes, you have Katy and Sean to fall back on in the Force, but with our limited resources, I don’t see what you can do to stop this gang, Lorne.”
“Neither do I, yet. But I have to try. Don’t forget that Tony has excellent contacts, as well. Everything is all a bit thin on the ground at the moment. Maybe that’ll change when Katy and I visit the agency on Monday.”
“Agency? What agency?” Sean interrupted.
Lorne went through what they had uncovered about the case so far. The two wealthy homes she had visited whose maids/au pairs had each lost family members in the shipwreck. “We rang the agency to get their side of the story the other day, and they were more than a little evasive with their answers. I think a face-to-face visit might remedy that. We’ve tried to research the agency, but keep coming up blank. Sounds to me like it’s a front for something more sinister.”
“Human trafficking, you mean?” Sean asked, looking thoughtful.
“Human trafficking, prostitution, I wouldn’t put it past them to be involved with the latest craze to hit our shores snuff movies either—all the heinous crimes you can think of to do with the sex trade, I bet you’ll find a connection at that agency.”
“The owner is hardly going to admit to anything when you arrive on her doorstep, Lorne.”
“Yeah, I know that, thanks for pointing it out, Sean, but I have ways of making people talk,” she said in her best Herr Flick voice.
The doorbell rang, and Tony opened the back door. He paid the bloke in the crash helmet thirty pounds and took the two brown take-away bags from him. Lorne left the table and went over to the oven to collect the warmed plates and proceeded to dish up the Indian meal. “Bit of everything for all of you?”
They all agreed and hungrily queued up to take a plate once Lorne had finished serving up.
Sean left a little after ten o’clock and they all decided to turn in for the night after their exhausting day. Lorne quickly rang the ICU to ask if Charlie’s condition had changed, but it hadn’t. The night sister reassured her that if Charlie regained consciousness, she would ring Lorne immediately, day or night. Safe in the knowledge that her daughter was being well cared for by experienced medical staff, Lorne went to bed, she slept fitfully that night, and even had a nightmare in which she had been driven off the road and ended up in a river, fighting for breath.
Chapter Fourteen
The telephone woke them at ten past seven the next morning. Lorne sat upright in bed and answered it on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Mrs. Simpkins, it’s the ICU. We’re pleased to inform you that Charlie has now woken up. You’re free to visit at any time.”
“Is she talking? Is she moving? Is she in pain?” She fired the questions off one after the other without pausing long e
nough for the nurse to answer.
“Yes, she’s talking, and yes, she’s in pain. We’ll have a chat when you get here.”
“Oh, thank you so much. Tell her I’ll be with her within the hour.”
“I will. Please drive safely, there’s no need to rush.”
Lorne replaced the phone on the bedside table and enthusiastically shook her husband. “Tony, Tony—she’s awake.”
“That’s great, hon. Do you want me to come with you?”
“Someone has to stay here and look after this place, I’m not sure dad is up to it at the moment, he looked exhausted to me yesterday.”
He sat up. “You get ready; I’ll stay here and see to the dogs. Take Katy with you—oh, and you’d better ring Tom before you go.”
She turned and kissed him hard on the cheek. “I’ll ring him after I’ve had a shower.” She leapt out of the bed and skipped into the bathroom, where she found herself singing one of Charlie’s favourite songs during her shower. “Don’t ya wish your girlfriend was hot like me? Don’t ya, don’t ya…”
Before getting dressed, she walked along the hallway to Charlie’s room, where Katy was sleeping, and tapped on the door. “Katy, are you awake?”
“I am now,” came Katy’s muffled reply.
“Get dressed, hon, we have to get to the hospital. Charlie’s awake.”
Lorne heard the bed springs boing and Katy groaned as if one of the springs had dug in her as she moved. “That’s wonderful news. Can I grab a quick shower?”
“Of course. I’ll knock up some breakfast.”
“I don’t want any of that leftover curry—my stomach is too delicate this morning.”
Lorne laughed. “I’ll fix you some toast and marmalade. We don’t do leftovers in this house.”
She ran back into the bedroom, threw on a pair of jeans and a fleecy jumper to ward off the chill of the morning, and went downstairs. Henry was at the kitchen door, whining to go out. “Sorry, pal, I guess in all the excitement I forgot about you.” She hugged him and kissed his nose. “Charlie’s coming home.” Henry reached out a paw and scratched the back door. “All right, matey, there you go.” She opened the door and watched him run over to the large hydrangea bush near the entrance of the drive and cock his leg.
She had to wait for her guest to stop running the shower before she could fill the kettle. Katy came downstairs approximately ten minutes later. Lorne placed a cup of coffee and two slices of toast in front of Katy, and then took a cup of coffee in to her father. By now, it was almost seven thirty.
Her father stirred as she entered his room. “I heard the phone. Was it the hospital, love?”
“Good news, Dad,” she said, noting how pale he looked. “Charlie’s awake. Katy and I are just going to leave now. The sister said she’s in pain; I don’t know how much, though. I’ll find out more when I get there. Damn, we forgot to ring Jade last night to tell her.”
Her father moaned as he sat up in bed, and Lorne pulled the pillow up behind him to ensure that he was comfortable. “Leave Jade to me. You just be concerned about your daughter. Let’s hope she’s going to be okay—for all our sakes.”
“Meaning what, exactly, Dad?”
“This place, for instance. To be honest, love, I’m not sure I can help out much more. Everything is so much effort these days.”
Lorne was aghast; it was the first time he’d confided in her that he was struggling to cope. Had she really been taking him for granted that much? That was another thing she’d have to sort out sooner rather than later. If Katy came on board with the P.I. business, that would leave her more time to care for the animals—it was her responsibility, after all, and no one else’s. Guilt wrapped around her like a cold mist. Where would she be without her family to fall back on? Was she expecting too much of them? If they were finding it hard, wouldn’t they let her know?
“Lorne?” Her father rested his hand on her face.
“Sorry, Dad, I was just thinking. I’ve put too much on your shoulders—please forgive me.”
“Stop it! There’s nothing to forgive. Maybe that meningitis a few months back took more out of me than I first thought.”
“Do you want me to ring the doctor?”
She knew what his answer would be before he said it.
“Nope.”
“Okay. Bear with me a couple of days. I’ll try and sort things out this week, Dad, I promise.”
“Shoo—go now. Give Charlie a kiss for me and tell her I love her.”
Lorne bent down and pecked him on the cheek. “I will, Dad. Stay in bed for a while. Tony said he’ll take care of the dogs this morning.”
“Maybe I will have a bit of a lie in, love,” he replied, his voice as weary as his smile.
Lorne closed the door to her father’s room gently behind her and made her way back in to the kitchen, where Katy was waiting for her.
“Hey, why the sad face? You should be happy Charlie is awake.”
“I am, Katy. It’s Dad I’m worried about. You saw how quiet he was while we were eating last night. That’s unheard of when we’re discussing a case. I just took a coffee to him and he looks spent, totally worn out. Maybe I better rethink the two businesses and my family’s parts in them. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with Charlie yet,” she said, concerned she reached for the jacket that she had hooked over the kitchen chair and put it on.
“I’m sure Charlie will be fine once she’s home safe, and well. I’m guessing your dad will be fine too, once his granddaughter is out of hospital. Keep positive, girl.” Katy smiled and gave Lorne’s arm a reassuring rub.
“Damn!” She cuddled Katy. “Happy birthday, sweetie.” Lorne released Katy, whose cheeks had turned a fetching crimson.
“Some birthday. I’m not likely to forget this one in a hurry, am I?”
“Sorry, hon.”
Katy raised a hand. “Enough already. Let’s go see how that daughter of yours is.”
*
They walked into the ICU to see Charlie crying as she spoke to a doctor. Lorne rushed to her bedside. Gripping Charlie’s shaking hand in hers, she asked the doctor, “What’s going on?”
Katy stood back, but Lorne beckoned her friend to come forward. By the serious expression on the doctor’s face, she was going to need all the support she could get.
“Mrs. Simpkins, I take it?” the young male doctor asked. His tone was offhand and as far away from caring as she could imagine.
“That’s right. I said: what’s going on? Why is my daughter crying?” Her tone matched his.
Between sobs, Charlie spoke instead of the doctor. “Mum, I can’t feel my legs and they won’t tell me how Simon is.”
They were the worst words she could have imagined hearing. Her beautiful daughter was paralysed because she’d been foolishly coaxed into a boy’s car. Lorne forced the tears back, adamant that she should stay strong for Charlie’s sake. The Simon issue would have to be dealt with later. She brushed the hair out of her daughter’s eyes and delved into her pocket for a tissue to wipe away the tears that were coursing down Charlie’s pale cheeks. “Hush, baby. I’m going to talk to the doctor alone. Look, Katy’s come to see you.” Lorne glanced over her shoulder at Katy and gave her a pleading look.
The doctor tutted and turned away from the bed. Lorne followed him, her legs trembling beneath her.
“What’s the meaning of this? How dare you tell her something like that!”
“Now, wait just a minute. I walked on the ward a few seconds before you arrived. I told your daughter nothing.”
His whole body appeared to stiffen in front of her. She was conscious of Charlie’s sharp hearing and lowered her voice. “Then why would she say such a thing?” Lorne asked, confused.
“Maybe because it’s a fact—she can’t feel her legs. It sometimes happens after a bad crash. However, that does not mean it’s permanent. She could regain the feeling soon; the nerves could spark into life at any moment, or there could be a delay of a week or so
. We’ll need to carry out further tests to be sure.” His face cracked into a forced smile and his voice appeared to have softened a little. So much so that Lorne felt the need to apologise for her behaviour.
“I’m sorry, I misconstrued the situation. I suppose it was a gut reaction to think she could be paralysed. What percentages are we talking about here?”
“I’d say your daughter has a fifty to eighty percent chance of walking again, but the tests will tell us more. Let’s see what the results say and then we’ll be more certain about our facts. Sit with her for a while. I’ll see if we can find the staff I need to carry out the relevant tests; on Sundays, the staffing level is lower than during the week.”
Lorne nodded and turned to see Katy and Charlie watching them. She smiled at her daughter and blew her a kiss. “Thank you. Is there anything we can do for Charlie in the meantime?”
“No. Just comfort her, try to take her mind off her injuries. It won’t be easy, I know, but it’ll help her recover. I’ll be back soon.” He exited the ward and Lorne returned to sit on the edge of her daughter’s bed.
“Well? What did he say? Will I have to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair?” Charlie asked as fresh tears fell from her eyes.
“They have to run some tests, darling. Hey, I had a word with the doc, told him we need you mucking out kennels before the end of next week. I’ll tell you what—I’ll make a deal with you: I won’t clean the kennels out all week. That’ll keep you busy for a couple of hours next weekend, won’t it?”
Charlie cringed at the thought but a smile settled on her face. “Eww…at the rate those guys poop, I’ll have a pile the size of Everest to contend with.”
Lorne laughed. “You haven’t met the new recruits yet—a Great Dane and an Irish Wolfhound—now those guys can poop for England.” She pulled a face and held her nose for a second. “And the smell…”
The three of them laughed and chatted nonstop about girly things for the next fifteen minutes or so until the doctor returned. He motioned with his head for Lorne to join him near the sister’s desk at the end of the ward.
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