by Dawson, H A
‘He shouldn’t be too difficult to pick out,’ he said, ‘not with a limp.’
‘And a squint.’
They waited. The pupils paid them no attention, and walked passed without even offering a cursory glance. Luke felt invisible, and contemplated how easy it would be for someone with a plan to hang out and achieve an unprincipled goal.
‘He's coming out,’ Imogen hissed.
Luke spun round and looked towards the door. A man was walking with a limp. It seemed likely to be him. Their theory was confirmed when two boys and a girl starting throwing abusive comments and mimicking his movements.
‘Why he doesn’t say something?’ she asked.
Feeling as though it was a rhetorical question Luke did not answer, and watched as Joe strode through the car park and climbed into a car, ignoring the jibes.
‘Okay,’ he said, ‘let’s do this.’
He started the engine and glanced over to Imogen. There was an excited look on her face. He secreted his smile, amused by her satisfaction, and waited for Joe to turn onto the main road. Then he followed.
‘This is so cool,’ she said. ‘I hope he doesn’t see us.’
‘He won’t.’
They spent twenty minutes following Joe through the city traffic and taking care not to be spotted. They believed they were heading to his home and were surprised to discover he stopped outside another high school. A glum teenage boy was waiting on the roadside. They assumed it was Dylan. It didn’t seem like a strange thing to do, until they realised they were only a couple of minutes drive from home.
‘Why doesn’t he walk home?’ she asked.
He shook his head, and having taken notice of the house number, turned the car into another street and parked up.
‘Do you think he’s been grounded?’
‘Maybe.’
‘It happened to my brother. He’d get into all kinds of trouble. It was the only way Mum and Dad could control him. If they didn’t, he’d take hours to get back from school. It went on for weeks.’
Luke unbuckled his seatbelt and reached for his bag. ‘You ready.’
‘As ever.’
‘Let’s hope he’s cooperative.’
He locked the car and joined Imogen on the pavement. Within seconds, they entered the yard and stopped at the door. He was just about to ring the bell when Imogen signalled him to stop. Joe was visible in the hallway, chatting on the phone, and he had his back facing them. She raised her fingers to her lips, gesturing for him to be quiet, and opened the door slightly.
There was tension in Joe’s voice. He asked the person on the other end, what happened, not moving a muscle, just listened, his focus entirely on the conversation.
‘Hazza,’ Joe said, ‘you can’t say anything. Promise me.’
Imogen glanced towards him. He made a mental note of the name.
‘Promise me,’ he repeated, his panic rising.
Footsteps sounded from the upper floor. Luke tensed. They seemed to be drawing closer and his pulse quickened. He reached for the door handle, closed it gently, and pressed the bell.
A terrier dog charged to the door, yapping and bouncing. It had a green studded collar and a dangling cylindrical identity capsule. Joe spun around, stress lining his face, and ordered the dog to retreat before answering the door.
Luke thrust his card into his face and made the introductions, informing him they were investigating a fire from years previous. Joe was reluctant to allow them inside but was swayed by Imogen’s bubbly manner and amiable attitude. He pointed to the table and chairs, shut the door into the hallway and leaned against the worktop, arms folded.
‘The fire was in Misthill eighteen years ago,’ Luke said, ‘1 Dunstan Avenue. Do you remember it?’
‘Not really.’
‘You were helping a gardener at the time. Charles Washburne.’
Joe frowned, and his expression was fixed.
‘Let me jog your memory. A family lived there. Two boys and two girls. The girls were in their teens, around your age. Jade and Kath Horton.’
Joe looked directly at him, his jaw clamped, his expression controlled.
‘They were very pretty. I don’t believe a hot-blooded young man wouldn’t have noticed.’
‘Are you accusing me of something?’ Joe asked.
‘Should I be?’
‘I haven’t done anything.’
‘Good,’ Luke said, ‘then you won’t mind answering a few questions.’
Joe shuffled his feet.
‘Now, what do you remember of the fire?’
‘I know it happened, that’s all.’
‘What do you remember of Kath and Jade?’
‘Not much.’
‘So you knew them?’
Joe did not answer.
‘What was you’re relationship like with Kath?’
‘She used to hang around me quite a bit. I think she fancied me.’
‘Did you like her?’
‘Not like that.’
‘But as a friend.’
‘I suppose. She was okay.’
‘What about Jade? What did you think of her?’
‘She was very pretty, but also uptight. Not my kind.’
‘Kath said after the fire you and Jade hung out together.’
Joe’s eyes flitted. He seemed anxious.
‘Well?’
‘Where’s this going?’
Luke leaned back into the chair and passed him an assertive stare. Joe was definitely uncomfortable, and as a result holding onto his words in a very defensive manner. Maybe it had been a bad idea surprising him.
‘Mr Dobbs,’ Luke said, ‘did you once have a relationship with Jade Horton?’
Silence.
‘It would be in your interest to cooperate.’
‘You’re not cops. I don’t have to do anything.’
‘No, you’re right, but if it turns into a criminal investigation, then you’ll be interviewed by people far more assertive than us.’ Luke waited for a moment, allowing his words to sink in. ‘Now, please will you tell me about Jade?’
Joe shifted positions and rested his left hand on the worktop. ‘She had nothing, no home, no family and no friends. I was in a similar position. I’d just left home . . . my parents didn’t understand me.’
‘So you hung out together?’
Joe nodded.
‘For how long?’
‘A year or so. But it wasn’t just the two of us. She had other friends too . . . we both did.’
‘How did it end?’
‘She left. I didn’t see her again.’
‘Did you fall out?’
He rubbed an itchy spot on his nose. ‘No. We drifted apart. I was with someone else by then . . . the wife.’
‘Did you and Jade have a tense relationship?’
Joe stomped to the door. ‘No we didn’t, not that it’s any of your business. I have things to do. So if you don’t mind . . .’ he held open the door.
Accepting his cue to leave, Luke gathered his pen and notepad and thrust them into his bag. ‘Thanks for your cooperation.’ He pushed back the chair and stood up. ‘Oh, and if you want my advise, I’d sort out this mess on the Internet relating to your past. It’s upsetting your son.’
‘What? How?’
‘He was defending his mother on a Facebook page. Some of the kids are saying she doesn’t want anything to do with him. His replies were more than a little curt.’
Joe gawped.
‘They can be very sensitive at his age.’
Luke strolled away, Imogen in tow, and passed her a satisfied glance.
They did not talk until they reached the car and were inside.
‘He’s hiding something,’ Imogen said.
‘He could just be very nervous. Look at the way he’s handling the situation at school. It shows he’s not that confident.’
‘Even so, he should do something about it.’
‘Perhaps he isn’t so concerned,’ Luke said.
‘And there’s the clue. He prefers to run away instead of facing things head on.’
‘Problems don’t go away just because they’re ignored. They have a way of building up inside until they become too big to handle.’
‘And then revenge is seen as a solution.’
Imogen’s excitement projected towards him. ‘What if Jade was the person who blurted out his secrets years ago and he let it pass? Now that it’s come out again, and causing him trouble he wants revenge.’
‘And he’s stalking her.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Is that motive enough?’ she asked.
‘I don’t know.’ Luke ran his hand around the steering wheel. On the main road, crossing the junction was a small terrier dog, and lagging behind was a teenage lad.
‘That’s Dylan,’ Imogen said. ‘Come on, let’s follow him.’
‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. Call it instinct.’
Deciding there was little time to do anything back at the office, Luke agreed, unbuckled the seatbelt and removed the key from the ignition.
‘This is going to be so cool. He hasn’t seen us, so he won’t even be suspicious.’
‘So much for him being grounded.’
‘Unless he’s escaped. Joe was already uptight and then we arrived, making everything a whole lot worse. It wouldn’t take much for Dylan to get in the firing line.’
They strode along the pavement, keeping a safe distance from Dylan, and followed him through the streets before arriving at a recreation area alongside woodland. Dylan was oblivious to their presence, and kept his head low and his hands in his pockets.
‘I wonder who Hazza is.’ Luke said.
‘Isn’t it a nickname for Harry?’
‘Sounds about right. Pity we never got his surname.’
‘We’d have to steal his phone for that.’
Luke frowned. It was what she’d do, given the chance!
At the far side of the grassed area, and with Dylan still in their view, Luke suggested they sat down. Imogen sat sideways facing him and told him to look natural. He looked away, intimidated by her gaze. She stifled a snigger.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘You feel threatened by me.’
‘I do not.’
‘You so do.’
He looked back to Dylan. He had been walking along a path away from them, but suddenly changed direction and headed towards them. Luke’s pulse quickened. Noticing what had happened, Imogen shuffled closer.
‘Look to me,’ she hissed.
He turned his body, but could not look at her face. Instead, he looked at the back of the bench, just over her shoulder.
‘You have to look interested,’ she said, ‘we’re meant to be lovers.’
‘Why can’t we just be friends?’
‘Shush.’
Dylan was approaching. Imogen lifted her hand and stroked his face with her finger, such a delicate touch. His body stiffened and he started to perspire. He passed her an enquiring look.
‘Relax,’ she whispered.
Relax? How could he? She was smothering him with her beauty and looking to him with puppy-dog eyes. It all came so easy to her. She should have taken up a career in acting.
Dylan was metres away. The dog sniffed his heels and sensing nothing interesting, carried on.
Holding his breath, and with his heart racing, Luke remained in her grip. Imogen was saying something, speaking in a sweet, lovesick voice, and she called him darling. He glimpsed at her and frowned.
Dylan strode by. Just as he passed, he plucked a mobile phone from his pocket. Imogen jumped to her feet, moving without making a sound, and strained to see what he was doing.
‘Don’t be so obvious,’ he said, once Dylan was out of earshot.
She returned to his side. ‘You’re far too uptight. Don’t you ever let your hair down?’
‘Yes, but not with you.’
‘Oh I forget, you don’t have any hair!’ Imogen laughed.
‘I’m not going bald.’
‘Not yet. It won’t be long though. Perhaps I’ll buy you a wig for your birthday.’
‘Jeez thanks. Just what I’ve always wanted.’
Dylan stopped by the swings, flung a ball into the field for his dog to chase and looked to his watch. After a few moments, a woman appeared with two small daughters. When their eyes locked, the girls raced towards him.
‘That’s Kath,’ Luke said.
‘Wow, that’s interesting. So Joe does still keep in touch.’
The girls raced to the swings and climbed into the small seats. Kath pushed one and Dylan pushed the other.
‘I’ve got an idea,’ Imogen said, ‘stay put.’ She grabbed her bag and raced into the bushes.
‘Where are you going?’
‘I’m changing. No turning around.’
Luke looked towards the swings, yet his ears were listening to every sound at his rear, and the rustling and shuffling. Unable to resist, he turned his head and strained to look out of his eye corner. Imogen was just visible through the branches, and she was lifting her dress above her head.
‘Stop peeking,’ she cried.
Heat swept through his body, rising to his collar. She was half-naked, and in a public place. What was she thinking? He looked again, not quite believing what he was witnessing. This time, she had donned a skimpy top and was stepping into a short flouncy skirt.
‘Luke Adams! Keep you eyes forward.’
He spun back around.
‘Have you never seen a woman dress before?’
She stepped from the bushes. He raised his hand to his face, trying to hide his blushes, and asked her what she was doing.
‘You’ll see.’ She tied back her hair, donned her sunglasses, and grabbed her phone. ‘Stay here and look after this lot.’
Then she was gone, sauntering around the perimeter of the park and heading towards the swings.
Just at that moment, a car pulled up close to the play area. The door slammed, and Joe stormed towards Kath and Dylan, calling out his name. Dylan said something to Kath and trudged towards him.
An argument ensued. Joe forced Dylan to empty his pockets, and presented his phone and a sheet of paper. Joe snatched them both, and looked through the messages in his phone. Evidently, Joe was furious, but Dylan didn’t seem so keen to retaliate, and remained in a stoop with his head low.
By this time, Imogen had arrived close by. Since she was apparently engrossed in a conversation on her mobile, they paid her no attention and their argument evolved. Dylan was thrashing Joe with his words, after which, and to Joe’s apparent dismay, Dylan strode away, signalling his dog to follow and headed to the road.
Joe ran his hands through his hair. Even from this distance, Luke could determine the anxiety on his face, and he seemed as if he was at a loss as what to do. It didn’t take long before he headed towards Kath, said something, and they strode away.
It was Imogen’s trigger to leave. She headed back towards him, her excitement exaggerating her steps.
Chapter 26
It had been an intriguing afternoon, and Luke had much to think through. He leaned back into his swivel chair, and gazed at Imogen, pondering her tenacity. Images of her stripping off her dress and revealing her panties and silky top replayed in his mind, and he wanted to ask her again what she had been thinking. However, he knew what she would say, aside from him having a dirty mind, she would reiterate her discovery.
It was curious that such a simple disguise had worked so well and a skewed smile formed on his face. Even Kath hadn’t spotted her, although she had been otherwise occupied. As well as watching her daughters’, ensuring their safety, she too had been prying on Joe and Dylan’s conversation.
In addition, Imogen’s American accent would have helped keep her privacy, as she spoke into her mobile phone, feigning a conversation. She had tried to repeat the accent on
the journey home, but her giggles had intervened. It was a wonderful moment, and Luke’s insides ached with pleasure.
‘You should go home,’ he said.
‘I’m about to.’ She switched off the computer, grabbed her bag and coat and headed to the door. ‘Just off to the loo then I’ll be off. Catch you later.’
‘Have a good evening.’
‘You too.’ She closed the office door and slipped into the bathroom.
He leaned back, stretching his shoulders and back muscles, and stared at his notes. Before he left for the day he intended to write everything up, otherwise he would worry about forgetting something key and not switch off from his work. He started with the graffiti on the school wall, and progressed to the interview with Joe. He hadn’t gotten very far when the doorbell sounded. Wanting to check it was, in fact, Imogen leaving, he strode to the window and peered behind the blind, looking onto the street.
He stared, puzzled. Imogen was towards the town centre, and she was wearing her grey dress. Why had she changed again? Dismissing it as another of her quirks, he headed back to the desk and continued with his notes, moving along in a swift manner.
Joe knew both Jade and Kath quite well, making him a suspect in the case. He even had a motive, with either Kath divulging a family secret, turning him against Jade, or as they had previously surmised, it was because Jade had blabbed his secret.
Then there was his argument with Dylan to consider. Was it relevant? Imogen had said Dylan and Joe had been arguing about the comments he had placed on Facebook regarding his mother. Luke had seen them earlier in day, and they had not been complimentary, so it was understandably upsetting for Joe.
However, Imogen believed there was more to it. There was a lot of bitterness between the two of them, with Dylan accusing Joe of lying about something. She didn’t get to grips with the fracas, but she did ascertain that Joe was upset by the accusations. Unable to reply, Joe allowed Dylan to depart. Then he turned to Kath and admitted he was in big trouble. She had said nothing, scooped up her daughters, and they had walked back along the street in silence.
Luke stared at his notes, and then at the top of the page, wrote the word relevant, followed by a question mark. It wasn’t wise to pay too much attention to their family problems else the case could be never-ending. Nonetheless, he made a brief note to see what he could find out about Dawn Dobbs. A photo would be good too.