Bye Bye Baby

by McIntosh, Fiona

  She pushed. ‘Listen, I’m already on the outskirts of Hastings.’ She laughed. ‘I can be there in under fifteen minutes.’

  ‘Alright.’ He gave Anne the address. ‘Just wait for me there — take a walk around the garden, enjoy the view. I might be a few minutes after that.’

  ‘Thanks for this. I really appreciate it. See you soon.’

  Anne felt the relief course through her. She couldn’t deal with Billy Fletcher in Hastings. That would be too much of a risk. He was obviously going to let others know what he was doing, and the police were closing in on him. She had to hope he remained ignorant of them and vice versa for just another half-hour. And then she would need nimble fingers.

  Jack had decided not to go to Hastings. His presence would likely irritate the local boys, especially in the mood he was in. Best he get back to the Yard and take command of the case from there, particularly with Kate spiralling off on a tangent he didn’t understand or care for.

  He left Brodie the pool car and grabbed a fast train from Hove. The train was pulling out of Haywards Heath when his phone vibrated.

  ‘Hi, Sarah.’

  ‘Sir. We can’t find Fletcher on all the usual contacts, but we’ve had a break — we’ve found Fletcher’s girlfriend. Her name is Lucy Baines.’

  ‘Excellent. Does she know where he is?’

  ‘Yes and no. Apparently Fletcher was supposed to be meeting her for a late lunch today. She was bringing it to his office. Lucy says he’s been a bit odd the last two days.’

  ‘What does she mean?’

  ‘She couldn’t really explain. Anyway, he rang her about twenty minutes ago and cancelled their get-together because he had to meet a client.’

  ‘What does he do?’

  ‘He runs a chain of bed and breakfast properties. She’s totally pissed off and says this woman called him out of the blue and he couldn’t ignore good business.’

  ‘Woman?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ He heard his own suspicions echoed in Sarah’s voice. ‘There’s more.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘Well, Lucy said that yesterday morning Fletcher had gone to see his father at a nursing home in Hove. In her words, she and Edward had been talking on the phone, making arrangements for this evening, when she heard a woman say, “Billy Fletcher?”.’

  ‘Oh, god.’

  ‘Sir, apparently he rang off from Lucy almost immediately. He called back later to cancel their meal out this evening and arranged this late lunch instead. Now that’s gone bye-bye too.’

  ‘It’s her,’ Jack breathed, his chest feeling tight.

  ‘We can’t be sure, sir.’

  ‘I think we can. Did you get his phone number?’

  ‘Yes. I figured you’d want to make that call, sir.’

  ‘Give it to me.’ Sarah rattled off a mobile number that Jack scribbled on the back of a leaflet he found on the seat next to him. ‘Call Hastings Police. Did Lucy say where he was meeting this woman?’

  ‘Yes. It’s called the Dovecote.’

  ‘Get them over there now. Tell them what they’re dealing with. Detain her. I’m stuck on a train to Victoria — about thirty-five minutes. I’ll call you when I get there. I have to make that call.’

  ‘Okay, chief. Don’t worry, I’ve already made the call to Hastings Police. Talk to you soon.’

  Jack dialled the number on the leaflet, heard it ring once, twice, and then lost the signal when the train shot into a tunnel. He swore angrily under his breath, not caring that the person opposite glared at him. He sat out the interruption of the tunnel and furiously dialled again. This time he hit Fletcher’s voicemail and knew he was too late.

  Anne waved at Billy as he drew up in the driveway. She grinned through the window, her eyes flicking to the passenger seat where his mobile sat. ‘Sorry again for all this,’ she said as he got out.

  ‘Don’t be. This is a great spot, you’ll love it.’

  ‘I already do.’

  ‘Good. Let me open it up for you.’

  ‘You go ahead. I just have to pick up my voicemail. I think it was the same client ringing a moment ago.’

  ‘How did you get here?’ he asked, walking to the door of the cottage. ‘No car?’

  ‘Train and taxi today,’ she lied. The van was parked at the local shopping centre car park where it blended in unnoticed. She pretended to dial up her voicemail and put the phone to her ear. ‘Be with you in a sec,’ she said.

  As soon as Billy opened up the cottage and walked inside, Anne opened the passenger door of his car and grabbed his phone. It shocked her when it rang once but she hurriedly switched it off, looking up alarmed to check that Billy hadn’t heard. She slipped his phone into her pocket and skipped quickly away from his car towards the cottage.

  ‘Was it him?’ he asked, meeting her on the porch.

  ‘Yes,’ she said with a sigh. ‘He’s pushing for an answer. That’s what money does to you. You expect everything instantly.’

  Billy grinned. ‘Well, come in and have a look.’

  She spoke as she followed him in. ‘Er, listen, I hope I haven’t put you to any inconvenience with this?’

  He looked sheepish. ‘Nothing I couldn’t handle. I did have a meeting, as I said, but I’ve told them I couldn’t pass up on business. So this is the kitchen and sitting room, living area.’

  She smiled. ‘Sounds personal.’

  ‘Sort of. No problem though.’

  ‘It’s lovely. And you said two bedrooms?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I don’t need to see any more. This is perfect.’

  He looked at her quizzically. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Absolutely. I knew from the outside it was ideal.’

  He shook his head. ‘Wish all women were as decisive as you, Anne.’

  She laughed. ‘I told you it wouldn’t take long. Let’s go sort out the details.’

  ‘Don’t want to do it here?’

  Anne had already figured that if the police were closing in fast enough then they could find them here. ‘No, let’s get you going; you’ve been really good to do this for me. If you don’t mind running me back to the station, I can write you out a cheque on the way.’

  Fletcher nodded. ‘Fine. Let’s go.’

  Jack had now dialled Fletcher’s number four times — he could swear it rang the first time and then went dead. Each time since he’d hit the man’s voicemail. Fresh dread claimed him. He rang the operations room and fortunately got Sarah immediately.

  His voice was bleak. ‘He’s not answering.’

  Sarah swore under her breath at his news. ‘Hastings Police should be at the Dovecote any moment. What do you want me to do, sir? Er, may I put you on speaker so the team can hear your instructions?’

  Jack hissed a breath, his mind racing. ‘It’s as though she knows our next step.’

  ‘If she knows we’re on to her, she’ll go to ground,’ Swamp said.

  ‘It’s too late for going into hiding,’ Jack replied. ‘She’s found her quarry. She’ll want to deal with him in the same way. She can’t stop now.’

  ‘We can’t wait for a corpse, sir.’ It was Kate.

  ‘I’m not suggesting we do,’ Jack snapped. ‘I should hit London Victoria in just over quarter of an hour. Get Hastings Police to throw a cordon around the town as best they can and to hunt down any white transit van. It’s the only clue we have to go on at present. I’ll see you all shortly. In the meantime, Sarah, keep trying Fletcher’s number.’

  Jack rang off, feeling helpless. The train filled at East Croydon and then became more crowded at Battersea, at which point he left the carriage and impatiently waited in the corridor at the doors, eager to be gone from this prison. The train had barely sighed to its stop at the Victoria terminus when Jack burst from its belly and ran down the platform. He immediately picked out a familiar face waiting for him and his gut twisted. He wasn’t in the mood for this now.

  31

  Anne handed the cheque to her compa
nion. ‘I really appreciate this.’

  ‘The thanks are mine.’ Billy beamed. ‘A long rental at the tail of winter is fantastic, but I know it will suit your needs and I’m glad it worked out, Anne.’

  They smiled at one another; a slightly difficult pause followed. ‘What train are you taking?’ Billy said.

  She looked at her watch. ‘Leaves in about fourteen minutes, plenty of time.’

  ‘And I’ll still see you this evening, okay?’

  ‘I think you’ll like these people. As I say, one’s in hotels, I think you’ll both get on really well. Who knows where it might lead?’

  Billy nodded. ‘Right, well . . .’

  ‘Listen, have you got much on this afternoon?’ He hesitated, shrugged. Anne didn’t let him get much further. ‘It’s just ... why don’t you hop on the train with me now?’

  ‘Now?’ He glanced at his watch.

  ‘Come on, come now. We can travel into Brighton, grab a late lunch, roll into drinks and be leaving by eight-thirty.’

  ‘Are you coming back to Hastings tonight?’ he asked.

  ‘That was my new plan. I thought I’d stay at the Dovecote. Don’t worry, you don’t have to set up any of the usual B&B gear in the fridge. So long as the sheets are clean and I have fresh towels and heating, I’m set to go. So, say yes, come now.’

  Billy frowned. ‘I did have someone I needed to see.’

  Anne had no intention of letting this happen. ‘Oh, come on, please. I’m going to see a marvellous mansion apartment on Brunswick Terrace. I haven’t seen it for two months. The client has spent a cool fortune on its redesign and refurbishment, all to my specifications, I might add,’ she said archly and noted Billy’s frown lighten, turn to a grin. ‘I promise you, you’ll enjoy seeing it.’

  ‘It must be fun spending other people’s money,’ he admitted. ‘I’m always hampered by how far I can push my bank manager, how much overdraft I can play with. I so often want to do these places up better but I have to show restraint.’

  ‘My sort of clients don’t understand restraint when it comes to money,’ Anne said gleefully. ‘Great for business, of course.’

  ‘Have you ever kitted out a place for someone famous?’

  ‘Celebrity, you mean?’ He nodded. ‘At least a dozen I could run off the top of my head, probably closer to twenty.’

  ‘Who’s your most famous client?’

  ‘A major movie star — I redecorated her magnificent mews in London while she was appearing in a West End production for two years.’

  ‘Who? You have to tell me!’

  ‘They make me sign papers never to share details, I’m afraid. It’s a bit like a doctor-patient relationship.’

  ‘Oh, rubbish — that just makes them feel important. I’m sure she sold the story instantly to Hello magazine.’

  Anne turned a make-believe key at her lips and shook her head. Then grinned. ‘I’ll tell you if you come with me now.’

  ‘Anne, I —’

  ‘It’ll be a lovely afternoon, I promise. You work so hard, surely you’re allowed a half day off now and then? In fact, it’s hardly even a half day. And the person you need to meet — well, you can see them tomorrow, I’m sure.’

  Billy didn’t look so certain. Anne guessed it had to be a woman.

  ‘Come on, jump on the train and I’ll drive us both back tonight. You can catch a cab from the fringe of town if you think it will set tongues wagging.’

  Billy looked as though he was teetering on the edge. Anne pushed.

  ‘Look, I have to go. I’d love you to come and see this place I’ve done up — no client, just us. I can show you through the whole apartment.’

  She saw his shoulders relax and knew Billy’s vanity had won through. No matter how the past nagged, he was flattered to have such a good-looking woman pestering for his company. If only he knew the truth.

  ‘Oh, what the hell,’ he said. ‘But what about drinks? Am I dressed okay?’

  ‘You look great,’ she cooed. ‘Love that jacket.’

  Anne had changed in her van out of her mock catering clothes with a view to complementing how she expected Billy to be dressed in the middle of the day when he wasn’t expecting company. She’d already noticed he was a sharp dresser, so she knew that even if he was in jeans they’d be smart, and she was right. In his designer jeans and suede jacket Billy had nothing to worry about, and her equally casual but smart attire assured him of this.

  ‘I’m not changing,’ she added.

  ‘Okay,’ he replied, resigned. He turned off the engine and locked the car. ‘Let me just make a quick call.’

  ‘No time,’ Anne warned. ‘I can see the train pulling into the platform. Let’s just get on and you can call from there.’

  He nodded and Anne touched the slim mobile in the pocket of her coat. Billy would never make another call during what little life he had left.

  She grabbed his arm and hurried him towards the platform.

  Jack strode towards a nervous-looking Kate. ‘Why the welcoming party?’

  ‘I need to talk to you, sir.’

  ‘The Yard is just down the road.’

  ‘In private.’

  Jack sighed. ‘Kate, we’re in the middle of a major crime op—’

  ‘It’s about Operation Danube, sir.’

  Jack stared at her, trying to guess what was coming at him. Could the day get worse? He suspected it might, going by Kate’s fidgeting and worried expression.

  ‘A quick coffee? What I need to say will only take a minute, sir, you don’t even have to drink it.’

  ‘Alright. But it’d better be good.’

  Kate blinked, obviously unsure whether he meant the coffee. ‘How about this place?’ she offered, pointing towards yet another new cafe franchise.

  He shrugged. ‘Fine. Any sign of the van in Hastings?’ he asked as he strode towards the coffee shop, Kate skipping to keep up.

  ‘No, but they’ve found Fletcher’s car. You grab a spot, sir. I’ll get them. Strong latte, right?’ He nodded. ‘Won’t be a sec.’

  Jack moved unhappily to a tiny two-seater table in the corner of the equally tiny cafe and squeezed into one of the fake bentwood chairs. His long legs wouldn’t fold comfortably into the sparse amount of space so he had to sit with his back to the window and stick them out beneath another table next to them. Kate arrived balancing two glasses with paper napkins expertly tied around the top so the drinkers wouldn’t scorch their fingers.

  ‘Smells like a decent enough brew,’ she began, trying hard, Jack noticed, to ease the tension between them.

  He softened, feeling immediately sorry for her. He liked Kate very much and had meant what he had said earlier. In a different lifetime under different circumstances and in a different profession, they may well have become involved. He had lied when he’d said that Kate didn’t fit his taste in women, but he could hardly admit to Dan that he was strongly attracted to his fiancee. He had learned a horrible but important lesson with DS Liz Drummond though, and he had no intention of repeating it. What he hadn’t foreseen was Kate’s fascination for him.

  ‘Relax, Kate. This morning is behind us. I have far more catastrophic things on my mind,’ he said.

  As though she hadn’t heard him, Kate launched into what sounded like a prepared speech.

  ‘Firstly, I want to apologise properly about this morning. I’m embarrassed by Dan and I’m ashamed we put you through that. No, wait, let me finish,’ she said as Jack opened his mouth to protest. ‘The fact is, I have been harbouring an unhealthy admiration for you.’ Jack looked into his coffee, uncomfortable. ‘It’s all been one way. You’ve done nothing wrong, sir. I think it’s a lot to do with the fact that I have been feeling hesitant recently about Dan and making the whole marriage commitment. And then this position came up — I grabbed it with both hands, desperate to escape the boredom of Kingston but even more desperate to work alongside you again. I’d be lying to you if I didn’t admit this. I can’t help how my hear
t feels, sir. I can, however, control it and I’m begging you not to take me off this case, and I promise you that we won’t have to speak of this again.’

  She paused, began again wistfully. ‘You and I, well, we couldn’t work, I realise this now after all you’ve said, and I’m sorry for putting you in such a difficult position. I’m totally committed to this case, sir and I won’t let you down.’ She placed her hands emphatically on the table.

  Jack sensed what it had cost Kate to reveal the truth. Her candidness was a quality that had drawn him to her originally and why he had chosen Kate Carter first when the Super asked him to select a team. He had named her third to Martin, of course, but that had been deliberately done to throw the old man off the scent of Jack’s apparent ‘fatal flaw’. It hadn’t really worked. Martin suited his surname.

  The silence stretched between them, the two lattes steaming untouched on the table.

  ‘I too am sorry that you feel this way and I do appreciate your honesty,’ he finally said.

  ‘Do you always want my honesty, Jack?’

  He looked up at her quizzically; calling him by name and the odd question surprised him. ‘Absolutely! Why would you have to ask?’

  ‘Because although my apology was necessary, it’s not the reason I came to meet you from the train. There’s something I need to share with you but I’m almost too frightened to say it.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ he said, his expression earnest but clouded now with confusion. ‘You must never feel that way with me. We’re a team, there must be candour at all times and if I’m making you scared to approach me —’

  ‘I’m not scared of approaching you. I’m scared of how you’ll react to what I have to say. I want to lay some facts before you and I want you to remove all your emotions so that you can look at these facts as you would any aspect of any case you work on.’

  Jack sat back, shaking his head. ‘Kate, I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about. Why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind? Time is ticking away.’