by M A Comley
“I’m sorry. She’s my only daughter, and I…I’d be lost without her.”
“I understand. Talk to her. A mother’s voice has healing qualities that people just don’t realise. I’m sure she’ll pull through this.”
Lorne smiled at the young paramedic, who had a kind face and sparkling brown eyes. “I hope so. Thank you.”
From there until they reached the hospital, she talked non-stop, reminiscing about the happy times they’d had together throughout her short life. She glanced up at the paramedic now and then to see him smiling and shaking his head at some of the antics they’d got up to together over the years, and that was when it dawned on her that maybe she hadn’t been such a terrible mother after all.
Charlie was immediately wheeled through the emergency entrance to a team of medical staff waiting in an Accident and Emergency examination room. Lorne was left pacing the hallway outside, and Katy found her a few minutes later.
“Any news yet?”
“Not yet, Katy. Her pulse and heart rate were steady on the journey over here, which is a good sign.”
“I rang Tony, and he told me to send you his love and that he’ll get here when he can. He wasn’t looking forward to ringing your ex, but agreed to do it.”
“I don’t envy him that task. Tom is going to blow a gasket.”
“Just let him try. I’m sure Tony will point out that Charlie went missing on his watch and not yours,” Katy reassured her.
“That’s the thing—I really don’t want to apportion any blame. We all know what teenagers are like. I’m sure when Charlie eventually comes ’round, she’ll be riddled with guilt and apologetic. If only kids would put their brains into gear before getting into bother instead of after. She’s been through a lot over the years; I’d have thought that she of all people would know right from wrong by now.”
Katy shrugged and sat down in one of the plastic chairs that lined the wall. “Like you said, we all know what teenagers are like. We were teenagers once, remember? Don’t tell me you didn’t like to push the boundaries now and again; I know I did. Drove my parents ’round the twist on more than one occasion. Once, when I was fourteen, I went missing for a whole weekend.”
Lorne lowered herself into the seat next to Katy. “You didn’t! Why? Where did you go?”
Katy looked embarrassed. “Umm…a friend and I bought tickets on the internet for Glastonbury.”
“Eww…the thought of seeing all those rock bands, cheering them on when you’re knee-deep in mud, has never appealed to me. God, I bet your parents were livid when they found out.”
“Er, yeah! I was grounded for a whole month, no pocket money, and my chores around the house doubled. I was so knackered by the end of my lockdown that I never did anything like that again.”
The swing doors opened beside them and the doctor exited the examination room.
“Mrs. Simpkins?”
“That’s right. How is Charlie, Doctor?”
“Hard to say right now, due to the sedation. Her vital signs are nearing normal; however, we won’t know the extent of the damage done—if any—until she’s fully awake. There could be a possibility of internal bleeding. We’re transferring her to the Intensive Care Unit, where she’ll be monitored at all times. I suggest you go home and rest. I think she’ll be out for a while longer yet.”
Lorne’s hand clutched at her chest. “I can’t leave her.”
“That’s your choice, but you won’t be doing either you or Charlie any favours. I’ll tell the ICU sister to contact you the second she wakes up.”
“He’s right, you know. You should go home and get some rest,” Katy agreed, nudging Lorne’s elbow.
Lorne dug in her handbag and located one of her business cards. She gave it to the doctor and stood up, ready to leave.
The doctor tucked the card into the top pocket of his white coat. “Please try not to worry. Charlie is in safe hands.”
“Thank you, Doctor.” Lorne watched him turn and head back into the room, and she mentally kicked herself for not asking to see Charlie one last time before they left. “Let’s get out of here.”
“I’m driving,” Katy insisted.
Lorne nodded, too tired to argue with her. Instead she rang Tony to let him know they were on their way home. Then they made their way out to the car park in silence.
As they drove down one of the country roads a few miles from home, Katy said, “Christ, you certainly get some maniacs on these roads, don’t you?”
The inside of the car lit up when the car behind them turned on its main beam. “Indicate and pull over, Katy; let the dickhead pass.”
Katy did as Lorne had requested, but instead of overtaking them, the car slowed down and remained close to their rear bumper. The two women looked at each other and frowned.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that that was the same car that wrecked Croft’s car.” No sooner had Lorne uttered the words than the car rammed them from behind. She reached out and helped Katy hold the steering wheel steady. The car behind them revved its engine. They were doing about thirty miles an hour, and Lorne watched their speed increase to over fifty as the four-by-four locked bumpers with the Nova.
“Shit. What do I do?” Katy’s panicked voice filled the car.
“Hold her steady. Try braking.”
“I am; it’s pointless. He’s going to fucking kill us!” Katy shrieked.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
The four-by-four kept ramming them, tentatively at first, but the driver’s aggression grew the more Katy fought him off.
“What are we going to do?” Lorne cried out, pictures of her seriously injured child circulating in her mind and hampering her ability to think straight.
“I’m worried about your dad’s car, Lorne.”
“Sod his car—do what you have to do to save us.”
With permission given, Lorne felt the car lurch forward as Katy pressed her foot down hard on the accelerator.
“We’ll see what he makes of this. I forgot to tell you that I took an advanced driving course a couple of months back.”
If the situation hadn’t been so fraught, she would have laughed at Katy’s statement, but instead, a feeling of confidence descended over her. However, a huge doubt still persisted as to whether or not they’d make it out of this situation alive.
Lorne grabbed her mobile and dialled 9-9-9. “Yes, it’s an emergency. Someone is trying to force us off the road.” Suddenly, her brain shifted up a gear and she hung up. “What the hell am I ringing them for?”
Katy shrugged as she focused on pulling away from the charging vehicle.
Lorne dialled another number. “Sean, help us!”
“What the fu—Lorne, is that you? What’s going on?”
Lorne heard his chair scrape on the floorboards in his office. “Sean, someone’s trying to kill us. Help us, please! We’re not far from the house. I really don’t want to lead them there. Meet us at Willow Lane by the junction of Mill Road. Get help, quickly.”
“I’m on my way. Keep the line free. I’ll get back to you soon.”
“Thanks, Sean.” She hung up and quickly rang home. “Tony, just listen. The same vehicle that attacked us the other night is trying to force us off the road. We’re not far away—Willow Lane—but I don’t want to lead him back to you. We’ll drive past the end of our road.”
“I’ll get the van—hang on tight. I’ll be with you soon. Love you.”
Lorne pressed the button to end the call as the Nova received a mighty shove from behind and her mobile shot out of her hand. “Shit, Katy, he’s trying to push us into the ditch.”
“I’m doing my best, I’m struggling to hold him off. Another shunt like that, and we’re gonners.”
Within seconds, Katy’s prediction came true. The four-by-four rammed them again and kept the pressure on, and Katy stepped on the brakes. The squeal of tyres combined with the whine of the engine deafened them. Another shunt and all of a sudden, the Nov
a veered off the road and into the narrow ditch. The four-by-four slowed down beside them. With the windows blacked out they couldn’t tell what the driver was doing, but they could make an intelligent guess. Lorne gave him the finger, and the driver put his foot down and roared away.
“You okay?” she asked, looking down at Katy, who appeared to be at a steeper angle than she was.
“Yeah, just took a whack in the thigh. You?”
“No, I’m bloody livid.” Lorne’s mobile rang; they could hear it playing the Sweeney theme tune, but had trouble locating it. “Damn, it’s down by my feet somewhere,” Katy cried out, frustrated.
“What if you took your seatbelt off?”
Katy unlatched the seatbelt and subsequently fell against the door. “Ouch! Great idea, Lorne, thanks for that.” She grappled for the door handle and eased the door open.
“Be careful, hold on to the—” Before Lorne could finish warning her, Katy toppled out of the car and into the ditch, which was half-full of muddy water after the heavy rain that had fallen during the week.
“Crap!” Guided by the interior light, Katy found the phone and handed it to Lorne.
“Hi Sean.”
“I’m ten minutes away and a patrol car should be with you soon.”
“Don’t rush. We’re in a ditch. The bastard drove us off the road and disappeared.”
“Did you get the plate number?”
“He didn’t have one, just like the other night.”
“What do you mean, Lorne?”
She could hear the concern in his voice. “It’s the same car that crushed Croft’s vehicle. It’s probably the same guy or guys who put Croft in hospital, too. Don’t worry, we’re fine.”
“Christ, what have you got yourself caught up in this time?”
“Tony’s here now. I’ll tell you all about it when you get here.” She hung up as Tony opened her car door and yanked her free of the car. He held her tight and pressed his lips against her forehead.
“Baby, are you all right?”
Lorne pushed away from him and kissed his lips. “I’m fine. We’re fine, aren’t we, Katy?”
In the dim light, Lorne saw Katy’s head drop to survey the damage to her clothes. She shook out her legs one at a time, which proved pointless as she placed them back in the water after each shake.
Grinning, Tony said, “Climb back through the car, Katy. I’ll hoist you out.”
Seconds later, Katy was standing alongside them, dripping from her knees down. They heard a distant siren, and soon a police car came to a halt in front of them with its engine ticking. One of the coppers put down his window. “You guys okay?”
“Yeah, we’re fine. The car that forced us off the road headed that way. It might be worth taking a look in case the driver is up the road spying on us, monitoring the situation.”
“We’ll do that. I’ll call a breakdown truck to help you.”
“Don’t bother, I’ve got a tow bar on the van,” Tony said, pointing over his shoulder.
“Righto! We’ll be back in a mo’.”
They watched the police car turn around and head in the same direction as the four-by-four.
“He’ll be miles away by now,” Lorne said. “Come on, let’s see if we can pull the car out.”
“You two stand back—I’ll do it. Actually, go sit in the van before you catch a death—especially you, Katy. Hey, don’t let me stop you from stripping off those wet clothes.”
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 th
is 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.