by Mel Sherratt
‘Another day, perhaps?’ Eddie moved aside as a woman came past with a trolley.
‘Perhaps.’ Grace stayed non-committal. The shopping she had in her arms began to slide out of control and she managed to do a rendition of a juggler before some of it crashed to the floor.
‘I should have got a bag,’ she muttered as they all bent down to pick things up.
‘Ginger nuts!’ Eddie grinned, handing her the packet. ‘My favourite.’
Why was it that it felt like even if he was being nice it sounded as if he was taking the piss? She never knew if Eddie was being genuine or not, a thing she reckoned he felt the same of her. She wondered if they’d ever get to just like each other for sharing a brutal beast of a father, or if his chequered past and her job would always get in the way.
‘I’d best be off,’ she said as soon as they’d piled her arms high again.
‘Let me see you to your car,’ Eddie suggested.
‘I’m fine.’
‘It won’t take a moment,’ he insisted. ‘I’ll meet you inside, Meg.’
‘Okay.’ Megan nodded. ‘Nice seeing you, Grace.’
‘You too,’ Grace replied, that bit at least genuine. After getting to know Simon’s daughter over the past few months, she felt she was at one with teenage girls now.
She was probably nothing of the sort.
Eddie grinned at her as they crossed the car park towards her car, and she realised they were still wary of each other. It made sense, she supposed. For now, it was the way it had to be.
At her car, he took the shopping from her arms again and, almost awkwardly, she got her keys out and opened the boot. He placed the groceries inside, next to all of her police paraphernalia.
‘Thanks,’ she said, waiting for it. He was bound to want something as he hovered around.
‘Grace, I—’
‘Don’t tell me, you need a word.’ She slammed the tailgate down.
‘You know me so well.’ He laughed.
They both looked to their right when a horn blasted and someone gave a pedestrian an angry gesture as they walked in front of their vehicle.
‘What do you want this time?’ she said, turning back to him.
‘It’s not what I want but something I need to tell you. It’s about Seth Forrester.’
‘Oh?’ He had her full attention as he continued.
‘He lives in Harrison House, where that little boy fell over the side of the walkway.’
‘Yes, I know.’
‘Such a shame that happened. I hope he’s okay.’
Grace noted his seemingly genuine tone of concern. ‘As far as I’m aware, he’s stable.’
‘Good. But Seth … I hear he’s lording it up, saying he beat someone up that night with a baseball bat.’
Grace displayed her poker-face, recalling details from her earlier conversations with Perry and Sam. ‘And why would he tell you that?’
‘Showing off, innit.’ He laughed. ‘He’s quite good at picking on people who’re younger or less able than himself. That’s the coward’s way if you ask me.’
‘So who is he supposed to have beaten up?’ Grace was all ears.
Eddie shrugged. ‘He didn’t brag that much but I got the impression he knew more than he was letting on.’
‘Why?’
‘Gut feeling.’ Eddie paused. ‘Perhaps you could have a word?’
‘Thanks for telling me how to do my job,’ she said as she raised her eyebrows.
‘Just doing my duty as a loyal citizen.’
‘Even if you have only bumped into me by chance?’
‘I can hardly call in to see you.’
‘You can always leave me a message at the station.’ She moved round to the driver’s door. Before opening it, she turned back to him. ‘Thanks for that. I’ll check it up. Rumours have a nasty way of being true.’
‘I’d best be getting back to Megan.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘If I know her, she’ll have put half of the clothing aisle in the trolley by now.’
Grace smiled. ‘It’s good to see her happy.’
He nodded, waving as he walked off. ‘I’ll see you around.’
Grace watched him go for a few seconds, standing still. If only things had been different, she would have family of her own. Sadness fell upon her. She almost wanted to shout him back, invite him to her place to have a drink with Simon and Teagan. Then she sighed and got into her car. How laughable was that? It wasn’t going to happen. He was part of the Stoke criminal network that she would never condone. And while he might be nice on the surface to her, she was well aware of the things he was linked to, scrapes he had got himself into. She wouldn’t want someone like that in her life anyway. Which is a shame, as she would have liked to spend more time with Megan.
She started the engine and drove off; at least she might now have a lead. It was imperative she spoke to Forrester to see what he had witnessed – or done. Because he hadn’t come forward with that information. He clearly wanted to protect himself.
Yet she couldn’t help but wonder, had Eddie given her the name deliberately to throw her off the scent of something else? Was he setting her up? It seemed too easy, even if she had bumped into them by chance.
Or was she overthinking things because of their relationship?
At Harrison House, she made her way across to Seth Forrester’s flat but there was no reply when she knocked. She pushed through a contact card with a note asking him to ring, but she doubted she’d get a response. She’d head over there again that afternoon, try and pick him up then.
Her phone rang. It was Frankie.
‘Hit and run you might want to know about, Sarge. Minor Crescent, a lad by the name of Caleb Campbell was knocked off a red BMX yesterday around four p.m. Someone at Harrison House mentioned seeing a boy on a bike, didn’t they, with a similar name?’
‘Yes. Where is he now? Do you have an address?’
‘I do but I doubt he’ll be at home. He was taken to the Royal Stoke on blue lights, admitted to a ward with serious injuries.’
2012
Ruby was in her element as a mum and, since Lily had been born, Finn was playing the doting father to a tee. Nothing was too much trouble. Ruby had half expected him to leave her to do it all, but he’d surprised her by wanting to help out as much as possible.
Lily was three weeks old and it almost seemed like it had happened in a flash. Ruby was kneeling next to her, changing her nappy on the mat on the floor as Lily kicked out her feet.
Finn came into the room with his coat on. He glanced at her sheepishly, picking up his car keys.
‘Where are you going?’ she asked.
‘I have to do a job with Dane.’
‘I thought you weren’t doing any more.’
‘It’s only the one.’
She wasn’t happy with him doing anything for Dane at all. Things hadn’t gone smoothly when he’d tried to leave again. She recalled the way he’d arrived home after another beating two days after Lily had been born. She’d told him she wanted to move out of the area straight away and they’d had a row. Even though he said they would leave, Finn was still too scared to cross Dane.
‘What will you be doing?’ She lifted Lily and held her against her chest.
‘I’m only going to be the driver, the lookout.’
‘But what if you’re caught? I’ll be left with Lily on my own and you won’t see your daughter growing up. I don’t want you to go.’
‘I have to. Can’t you see? I have no choice.’
‘Yes, you do.’ She picked up Lily and held her close. ‘You said we would move. He wouldn’t find us then.’
Finn shook his head. ‘You don’t know him like I do. He likes the chase, and then he likes what he does to you. I’ve seen what he’s capable of first-hand. It’s best I do as I’m told.’
‘But you said—’
‘Please, Ruby. Leave it.’
She tried to make him change his mind, to the point that they argued again, but he’d still gone. R
uby sat in distress all night until he came home. His face told her things hadn’t gone to plan.
‘It’s all gone pear shaped,’ he said as he stood in the doorway, resting his back and head on the frame. ‘I fucked up big style.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I was supposed to be the lookout. It was quiet, dark, no one around. So I got out my phone to ring you. I spotted Lily on my home page and started flicking through images of her, photos I’d taken. I was so engrossed I missed the police car until it was too late. Mikey Stuart got arrested. He’s Dane’s right-hand man. If he goes down, I’m for it.’
‘Will he say that you were there? You’re not going to get into trouble, are you?’
‘This isn’t about me! He got caught because I messed up. I wasn’t paying attention and they all know. I’m in for another kicking.’
‘They can’t do that. We won’t let them in.’
‘I’ll just have to take it.’ He pulled her into his arms.
‘I know you don’t want to hear it again, but we can’t keep living our life in fear of Dane. Let’s just get out of here before they catch up with you.’
When Finn said nothing, Ruby began to cry. She wasn’t sure what Dane and the others would do to him and she didn’t want to ask for fear of what Finn might say.
‘I messed up, Rube,’ he spoke, eventually. ‘Not you. Let them do what they have to. I’ll get over it. Because I’ll still have you and Lily. They can’t take you away from me.’
He planted a kiss on her lips and she cuddled into him on the settee. But with the threats hanging over them, it was hard. Finn was her life; she didn’t want anything to happen to him.
TWENTY-SIX
Caleb was sitting up in bed when Grace located him on ward 17. There was a woman sitting next to him who she assumed was his mum, owing to the likeness. Like Caleb, she was blonde, but her hair was long to his short-cropped style. She was thin, attractive and hard to put an age on. Mid-thirties, if Grace hazarded a guess.
The nurse pulled the curtain around them for privacy and then left them to it.
‘Mrs Campbell?’ Grace showed her warrant card. ‘I’m DS Allendale. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to ask Caleb a few questions about what happened yesterday.’
‘You should be out looking for the idiot who did this,’ the woman said. ‘I can’t believe this has happened. He might need an operation and plates in his leg.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that. But if I can have a quick chat with Caleb, I can be on my way doing just that.’
Mrs Campbell paused for a moment and then sat down in a chair.
Grace stood next to the bed. The boy wouldn’t meet her eye at first and when he did, she could sense his anxiety.
‘Caleb, can you tell me what happened?’
‘I’d been to the shop and I was going home again.’
‘He was supposed to be too ill for school,’ Mrs Campbell retorted.
‘Go on,’ Grace went on.
‘This car came out of nowhere. I heard the engine revving up, and when I turned to look back, it hit my wheel and I flew over the handlebars.’ He held up a bandaged hand and pointed to his leg. ‘I fell funny on my leg and I couldn’t get up. I tried to but I couldn’t.’
‘Did you see who the driver was?’
‘I didn’t see his face.’
‘Not even enough to tell if it was a male or female?’
‘I think it was a man.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I could tell by how he was sitting in the car.’
‘So you should be able to tell me what he looked like.’
‘I can’t remember.’
‘What car was it?’
‘I’m not sure.’
‘Colour?’
‘Black, I think.’
‘Does Seth Forrester have a black car?’ Grace asked next, noting his resistance to tell them anything.
At the mention of his name, Caleb’s eyes widened. It took him a few seconds, glancing from his mum back to her, before he nodded.
‘Was it him?’
‘I told you, I didn’t see who was driving.’
‘And I told you to keep away from Forrester,’ Mrs Campbell said. ‘He’s nothing but trouble.’
‘Was there only the driver in the car?’ Grace went on.
‘Yeah.’
‘Don’t push him. He’s in a lot of pain and he’s in shock too.’ Mrs Campbell spoke to Grace this time. ‘If I get hold of whoever it was, I’ll … what kind of a monster does this to a child and then disappears without stopping to see what they’ve done?’
‘One who might have thought that Caleb saw something happen at Harrison House.’ Grace kept her eyes on the teenager. ‘Isn’t that right, Caleb?’
Caleb looked away.
‘What do you mean?’ Mrs Campbell looked confused, then she turned to her son. ‘Are you saying you know who did this to you?’
Caleb had clammed up.
‘Caleb?’ Grace’s voice was softer now.
‘I saw it,’ he said.
‘The assault in the car park?’
‘I didn’t see any assault. I saw what happened to the boy.’
Grace pulled up a chair and sat down. She tried to stay calm but was anything but. He could be their first witness.
‘That little boy is in hospital too,’ she told him. ‘It would be incredibly helpful, and brave, if you could tell me everything.’
‘I was going to see my mate.’
Grace wanted to ask for a name but instead let him keep talking.
‘I was supposed to be there for half six but I was a few minutes late. I heard a scream and looked up.’ Caleb winced as if in pain. ‘There was a man, hanging the boy over the side.’
‘Sorry?’ Grace sat forwards.
‘He was holding the kid over the edge. I heard the woman scream again and then … he let go. I just pedalled away as quick as I could.’
‘The boy on the front page of the Stoke News?’ Mrs Campbell gasped. ‘You saw what happened? That’s why someone knocked you off your bike?’ She glared at Grace. ‘You need to sort this, and quickly. Someone is trying to kill my son! I want him in witness protection, or whatever it is you do. A safe house, that’s what we want.’
Grace didn’t respond. Despite the woman’s distress, her focus was on Caleb. But he had gone quiet again. She put down her notepad.
‘Look, I know you’re scared of repercussions, but believe me. Not telling the police who you thought dropped a child from a first-floor walkway will have more serious implications. I need you to think long and hard. If it’s Seth, I need to know.’
Caleb tried to sit up. ‘He’ll kill me if I grass on him.’ His voice was raised.
‘Okay, son, calm down.’ Mrs Campbell threw Grace a filthy look. ‘You should be harassing the person who did this, not my boy.’
Grace waited for Caleb to sit back again. ‘Just one final thing. Is the man that you saw drop Tyler Douglas from the first-floor walkway at Harrison House the same man you saw in the driver’s seat of the black car?’
Caleb was silent for a moment before nodding.
‘And you think it was Seth Forrester?’
He nodded again.
‘And he was the friend you were meeting.’
Another slight nod.
‘If he’s out to hurt Caleb, I want him charged,’ Mrs Campbell insisted. ‘And if he’s harmed that poor child, he needs punishing.’
‘Please! Everyone, keep your voices down.’ A nurse came from behind the screen. ‘If I can hear you, so can other people. Any more and I will ask you to leave.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Grace told her before turning back to try one last time. But before she could speak, Caleb beat her to it.
‘I’m scared of him.’ He looked at her with unease in his eyes.
‘We’ll do our best to apprehend him as soon as possible,’ Grace replied.
She left them alone then. There was no point in pressurisi
ng the boy. There might be some house cameras on Minor Crescent, but she was going to speak to Seth Forrester regardless.
In the hospital foyer, she rang Frankie to update him.
‘Both Ruby Brassington and Luke Douglas have been lying to us,’ she said, updating him on what Caleb had told her. ‘Why haven’t they told us what happened? What are they scared of?’
‘Or covering up?’
‘We need to speak to Seth Forrester. It would have been easy for him to drop the boy and then run back to his flat.’ But Grace knew he was supposedly the perpetrator of the attack on Milo Benton in the car park, according to Eddie. And why would Seth be threatening Ruby and Luke anyway?
‘Exactly – why?’ Frankie echoed her thoughts.
‘I’m not sure yet, but something doesn’t add up.’ Grace walked through the large doors to the outside. ‘Can you meet me at Harrison House to pick Forrester up? Before that, can you ask Sam if she can look for the car please? She should be able to cross-reference anything that appears at or near to both crime scenes if she can find footage of the car around Minor Crescent.’
‘Yes, boss.’
‘We need to speak to the parents as well. I want to know why they were lying to us. What they’re so scared of.’
‘Or what they’ve done to upset someone enough to do that?’
‘Exactly.’
As Grace disconnected the call, she swallowed bile in her throat. Their case had just blown wide open in the most hideous of ways.
Little Tyler’s fall was no accident.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Monday evening
Ruby had been watching the news when her worst fears came true.
The children were in their room. She could hear Tyler playing with his cars, making engine noises as he pushed them around the floor. Lily would no doubt be trying to read a book.
‘What time are you working tonight?’ she asked Luke who was sitting in the chair across from her.
‘Seven fifteen till midnight. Need to get going soon.’
‘But you’ve only just got in, less than an hour ago.’
‘Needs must, you know that.’
There was a knock on the front door. Before either of them could react, Tyler came running in, almost tripping over the hall rug in his haste. He righted himself and flew into his mum on the settee.