by Sara Dalton
“Wow, she was killed? Did you catch the killer?” Harry rushed.
“We are still working on the case, but we wanted to get an inside look at her work life,” Addison added.
“What do you want to know? She was a very quiet worker, she didn’t involve herself with others very much.” He started.
“Did she ever bring her children in?”
“She has a lovely little boy, Jake. She had brought him to work once. He had an inset day at school and she asked if I minded if she’d bring him in. He was as good as gold.”
“What about her daughter?” Addison asked. She saw Fletcher moving around, glancing through the glass into the showrooms. He noticed a couple having a peek into one of the Ford cars.
“I didn’t know she had a daughter,” Harry said. Fletcher watched as she started jotting down everything into her little notebook.
“Was there anyone she was close to that worked with her?”
“Lily Sampson normally works at the same time as her. They always go out for their lunch together. She’s not in today, but she will be working tomorrow if you want to drop by to speak to her?” Harry offered.
“We will drop by tomorrow to speak to her. Here is my card if you think of anything else that could help us with the investigation.” Addison gave him her little white card with all her details, email address and phone number. Fletcher nodded for her to hurry up as he headed for the door.
“Oh, DS McCain,” Harry called for Addison. She stopped and looked around while he quickly jogged up to her.
“We had a problem with her ex-husband about a month back. He came in shouting at her and we had to call the police because he wouldn’t leave her alone. I don’t know what happened after that though. I thought you might want to know.” Harry mentioned. Addison nodded and thanked him. She left with Fletcher and got back into the car.
“Let’s go and find her ex-husband,” Fletcher said as he put the car into reverse and left the car dealers.
Chapter
Eight
7th April 2016
Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Addison and Fletcher arrived at Michael Ray’s house. They parked on the opposite side of the road from the house. Fletcher turned off the engine and they both sat staring at the house. A beautiful white house in front of them with a swing on the porch next to the front door. The house was surrounded by decking and plant pots. Addison could count seven windows from the front.
“Are you sure this is the right place?” Fletcher asked.
“It’s the address Robert sent me,” Addison replied as she double-checked the message on her phone.
“This house is huge. For a criminal and a drug dealer, he’s doing well with his life.” Fletcher commented. Addison pocketed her phone and got out of the car. Fletcher followed. They strolled up the pathway and up three steps Addison had counted. They moved along the porch to the front door.
Addison knocked, but there was no answer. She knocked again and this time they heard movement from inside. Fletcher and Addison both glanced at each other. He leaned over against the window, his hands covering his face to get a better look inside. Fletcher looked away and nodded at Addison.
He stepped down from the porch while Addison carried on knocking. Fletcher followed the pathway around the back to the garden and he saw someone climbing over the fence. He yelled for Addison and chased after the fugitive over the fence almost stumbling down the other side. He managed to regain his balance and carried on pursuing the culprit.
Addison stepped around the corner alleyway towards the rear end of the house when she heard her name. The culprit ran into down the side of the house towards her and knocked her to the ground. She scrambled to her feet as Fletcher ran past her.
“Stop,” Fletcher shouted.
“I’ll go this way to see if we can corner him,” Addison yelled. She ran down a tight alley which was close to the house and slowed down towards the end of the path. Addison popped her head around the corner but couldn’t see anyone heading her way. Addison’s phone started ringing. She quickly fished it out from her pocket to see that it was Fletcher.
“I’ve lost him,” he said as she answered.
“I’ve not seen him come this way. Maybe he's hiding somewhere.”
“He’ll be around here somewhere.” Fletcher answered.
“Do you think it was Michael Ray?” She asked.
“I don’t know but running away makes him guilty as hell. We need to catch him.”
“I’ll ring if I-” Addison started.
The man slammed her face first into the brick wall and she dropped her phone to the floor. Addison could hear Fletcher’s voice calling for her. She instantly brought her hands up to cover her nose, the blood dripped into her palms. The man gripped a fist full of her hair and pulled her back for a second time. He pushed her towards the wall again but this time she put her hands out to stop her face from hitting it. She whipped round to see him, dark eyes and horrible yellow wonky teeth.
He wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed as they both struggled. She brought her knee up into his groin and he leaned over from the sudden shooting pain. She took this opportunity to run away but he grabbed her by the waist and spun her back around. As she came face to face with him, his fist collided with her nose and the force made her stumble to the ground. He stepped over her body and grabbed the collar of her shirt lifting her from the floor slightly as he pulled his fist back for another hit. Addison kicked her leg up hard, kicking him in the genital area. He crumbled to the floor grabbing his crotch, she gripped the back of his shirt and threw him head first into the wall. He yelped and Addison pulled her cuffs out, roughly placing them on his wrists. She chucked him into the wall one last time.
“Addison,” Fletcher shouted. He came around the corner as he witnessed Addison arresting the culprit. He saw Addison's nose which was bleeding from the hit she took. “Are you okay?” He nodded to Addison as she looked up.
“Does it look like I’m okay?” She hissed. Her hand cupped her nose as blood dripped quicker and quicker. She tilted her head back holding the bridge of her nose while still holding the suspect to the ground with her knee.
“Never mind her, look what she’s done to me.” He squirmed underneath her foot.
“Do you need to go to the hospital?” He asked ignoring the suspect.
“No, I don’t. Just give me a tissue.” She got up and pulled the man by his handcuffs up onto his feet. She yanked him hard and kicked him repeatedly until she felt satisfied. Addison looked back at Fletcher who held his hands up in surrender. She shot him a don’t-you-dare-tell-anyone look.
“That hurt, stupid bitch. What the hell have I done? Why am I getting arrested? She attacked me.” He complained.
“What have you done? Have you seen my face? Michael Ray, I’m arresting you for assaulting a police officer and for murder.” She hissed in his face.
“Murder? I haven’t even touched anyone. I didn’t even touch you, you bitch. Look at my face, huh, look at mine.” He spat.
“Move it,” Fletcher shoved him towards the car. Addison opened the back door and Fletcher pushed Michael inside followed by her slamming the door. Fletcher pulled out a cloth he had in the boot of his car. He handed it to Addison and she placed it on her nose to stop the bleeding. Her top was covered in blood.
“It's not broken, is it?” Fletcher asked. Addison shook her head as she felt the blood as it dripped through the pale blue cloth and rolling down the back of her throat. Even though she said she didn't need one, Fletcher rang for an ambulance anyway. “You go to the hospital and get yourself checked out. I'll take Michael to get booked down at Sawbridgeworth. I'll come back and get you as soon as I'm finished.” Fletcher suggested.
Fletcher perched on the side of the car as he watched Addison care for her bleeding nose. She had her head titled back but the blood wouldn't stop. She squeezed the bridge of her nose, but it hurt too much. Fletcher patted the car
next to him and she perched beside him on the car as he looked at her nose.
“You're bleeding everywhere, you need to get checked out. You should sit down until the ambulance arrives. It shouldn’t be too long.” Fletcher said as he opened the driver’s door for Addison to perch on the seat. “Don't get blood in my car though, you can wash it out.” He warned.
“What will you tell Robert?”
“I will tell him you were attacked, and that you've gone to the hospital. He's not going to hate you, he will worry. Although he doesn't seem the type, he's not a bad guy.” Fletcher explained.
“I don't see that yet.”
“You will. One day you will.”
Addison and Fletcher heard the faint sounds of the ambulance arriving. She got up from the car, but she felt dizzy and fell back into the seat.
“Are you sure you will be okay?” Fletcher asked.
Addison nodded as a paramedic jumped out of the ambulance. He rushed over to her with a bag in his hand. The paramedic crouched in front of her to check her nose.
“She’s taken quite a beating. She had a dizzy spell a few moments ago. I’d take her in and get her double-checked over.” Fletcher told him. The paramedic guided Addison to the back of the ambulance and she climbed inside. She saw Fletcher getting into his car as they slammed the doors shut.
Chapter
Nine
7th April 2016
Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Fletcher had his music from his radio on full blast trying to drown out the noise of Michael Ray who was shouting in the back-seat of his police car. They were stuck in traffic which was moving very slowly but Fletcher didn’t want to be in the car any longer listening to Michael shouting.
“Will you shut the hell up?” Fletcher yelled as he slammed his hand on the passenger headrest.
“Who am I supposed to have murdered?” Michael carried on. Fletcher let out a long sigh and turned off his radio.
“Does the name Wendy Willis mean anything to you?” Fletcher asked. Michael sat in silence. He leaned back into his seat, staring into the rear-view mirror and saw Fletcher looking back at him.
“You mean she's dead?”
“Yeah. She was murdered last night.”
Michael was silent for the rest of the car journey which surprised Fletcher although it was nice. The traffic had finally passed, and they pulled up outside the back of the station. Fletcher grabbed Michael and dragged him out of the car. He marched him inside the back entrance of the station. Robert was standing there waiting for them to arrive.
“Where's DS McCain?” He glanced at Fletcher.
“She's at the hospital,” Fletcher mentioned.
“What happened?” Robert asked. Fletcher pointed to Michael who was kicking the side of the door waiting to be booked.
“Michael Ray, our suspect, he beat the crap out of Addison when were chasing him as he assisted arrest,” Fletcher explained.
“Is she okay?” Robert asked. Fletcher heard a hint of worry in his voice and he couldn’t help but hide his smile that was trying to escape from his lips.
“She will be fine. Tough as nails that one.” Fletcher chuckled as he remembered Addison's bloodied face. Robert rolled his eyes and guided Michael to a cell.
“I didn't mean to hurt her. They were chasing me.” Michael said to Robert. He started to pat him down and empty his pockets onto the booking counter as the uniformed officer started to write down all his details. “She fell into the wall, I didn't touch her.” He yelled.
“Come on Michael, you could give a better excuse than that. What have you been taking before you were brought in?” Robert placed all the valuables on the counter, including a very expensive watch.
“I’ve taken nothing,”
“Well, it doesn’t matter because we will be taking tests. But until then,” Robert said as he took him to one of the empty cells. He pushed him inside and closed the door on him.
“I ain’t done nothing, the bitch is lying. I ain’t no murderer.” Michael started shouting as Robert walked away.
“We will interview him once Addison has returned.” Robert said to Fletcher.
“I'm going to go and collect her now.” Fletcher got his keys out from his pocket, but Robert put his hand out to stop him.
“I'll go.”
Robert left, and Fletcher stood there crossing his arms over his chest as he finally let the smile escape. Robert cared about his team, Addison too, even if she is a newbie. Fletcher could hear Michael shouting and kicking the cell door which echoed down the hallway. Fletcher ignored him and went up to his office to write up his report for the arrest. He glanced out of the window as Robert got into a squad car. He zoomed out of the car park so fast, he would have missed him if he blinked. There was one thing he knew, Addison will be shocked when Robert turns up instead of him. Fletcher debated whether to send her a message or not, but it would be more amusing to see her reaction when Robert turns up for her. He could imagine it now.
Chapter
Ten
30th March 1981
Brentwood, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Alan stood outside Ian’s school. He heard the bell ring which told him that it was three twenty in the afternoon. Alan told his mother that he wanted to pick up Ian from school today, he had a surprise for him. He watched as children started to emerge from the school, leaving in groups and some alone. Ian was a loner. He looked out for Ian coming out on his own.
Alan finally saw his younger brother coming up to the gate waving his hand. A smile appeared from ear to ear as he walked towards Alan with a skip in his step. Ian had always pestered his older brother to pick him up from school and he has never done, until now.
“Hey kid,” Alan ruffled his younger brother’s hair. Ian looked up him with a big grin.
“You’ve finally come to pick me up from school. So, what is it that you want?”
“I’ve come to get my brother, and I’ve got a surprise for you.” Alan smiled. Ian smiled back, not knowing what trouble Alan was dragging him into this time.
“I love surprises but your surprises, I’m not sure.” Ian fell into step behind his brother as they started walking together. “What’s the surprise?” Ian asked.
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you.”
Alan and Ian didn’t say anything else until they arrived at their destination. Alan noticed the confusion on Ian’s face when he saw his dad’s work building and couldn’t help but smile. He wasn’t getting along with his dad since the row that had kicked off a few weeks ago, the secret that Alan knew about. They entered the building and headed up the stairs to the third floor where his office was located.
“Alan, why are we here?”
“You’ll see,” Alan said as they both headed down the corridor. He looked at his watch before entering the room. Just before Ian could open the door to his father’s office, Alan put his hand out to stop him. He put a finger to his lips. They both leaned forward to listen. They could hear moaning from inside the room. Ian didn’t want to go in there, but Alan made him. “This is the moment that you’ll realise that our family is over.” Alan yanked the door open. Ian’s eyes widened as he saw his father on top of a woman who was not his mother. Alan started to laugh as the pair started to gather their clothes. Their dad didn’t keep his promise to end it.
“ALAN!” Anthony bellowed as he pushed the woman away from him. Ian stood there staring at the woman gathering her clothes and run out of the door.
“See, this is what we have as a father. He made a promise, but he didn’t keep it.”
“Alan, why is Ian here?” Anthony stormed towards the boys. Alan laughed out loud as Ian stood there staring at the pair’s angry father.
“What did we do wrong, Ian?” Alan turned to his little brother. He knew Ian would play along with him, he loved his mother, but he knew this would destroy her.
“We wanted to see you dad,” Ian said. Alan nodded looking back at their fath
er. “Is that a crime?” Ian carried on. He was angry. “Why are you doing this to mum? What has she done to you to deserve this?” Ian shouted and then he stormed out of the room. Alan glanced at his father, his hands were shaking, and he could see that he wanted to chase after Ian, but the damage was done. He looked at Alan who grinned as he left the office.
“Family wrecker,” he said closing the door behind him. Alan rushed down the corridor to catch up with Ian. He knew he would be angry with him, but he didn’t care. Ian looked up at his older brother, he would forgive him sooner or later.
“Why did you bring me here?” Ian said as Alan finally caught up with him. He noticed the tears in his eyes.
“You needed to see what is going to happen to us once the truth comes out. It will eventually, and it will shatter mums heart.” Alan said. Ian knew he was right, and their mum loved their dad dearly. What will happen if she found out? Will she leave him? What will happen to the boys? The questions kept flooding through their minds.
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Don’t do anything, we will watch bit by bit while dad ruins his family.”
“What if mum already knows about it?” Ian asked. Alan laughed out loud.
“Trust me, mum doesn’t have a clue. But you can tell her if you want, just remember you will be the one to shatter her heart by knowing about it.” Alan told him. The boys finally arrived home to find that their mum had already set the table for dinner. Alan noticed that Anthony had got home first, pretending to be the loving husband that he isn’t. He watched as she placed the knives and forks on the table as Anthony leaned over helping with putting the place-mats down. She turned and kissed him on the lips, heading off to the kitchen with a smile.
Alan was right. She didn’t have a clue, and Ian wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.