Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers

by Diane Capri

  Lorne noticed the little feral cat they’d inherited when they had purchased the farmhouse, curled up asleep on the straw behind Hercules. Gratitude seeped through her. It was strange how animals knew when others needed company and guidance.

  With the sun’s rays already beating down, Lorne decided that she wouldn’t let Hercules out into his paddock until the evening, when it would likely be much cooler. She didn’t want the little donkey having any adverse effects from the relatively new experience. It would be best if he got used to being outside slowly and in his own time.

  She went over to the string bag in the corner of the barn, took out a large carrot, and offered it to Hercules. At first, he appeared hesitant, as if he didn’t really know what to make of the long orange pointed vegetable, which broke Lorne’s heart. Then, with a little encouragement, he nibbled at the end, liked the taste, and ended up munching his way through it in seconds.

  After preparing bacon sandwiches for the two men in her life, Lorne attacked the few bits of paperwork she had to deal with, mainly suppliers’ bills that needed paying.

  Then she changed into a summer dress that she hadn’t worn in ages and set off in the van to Fiona’s flat.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Lorne eased through the thickening mid-afternoon traffic and arrived at the flat, which was situated in a respectable neighbourhood on the outskirts of Gravesend, about twenty minutes after leaving her place.

  The flat was part of an old Victorian house. Lorne rang the doorbell to the first flat. An abrupt voice came out of the metal speaker. “Yes? Who is it?”

  Lorne pressed the button and spoke into the mic grill. “It’s Lorne Simpkins. I’ve come to see Fiona.”

  “Of course. Push the door and come through,” the voice ordered.

  The door clicked, and Lorne entered a communal hallway. Fiona was holding a door open to the flat on the ground floor. “Hi. Come in.”

  Lorne squeezed past her and stepped into a large lounge. On the sofa was a petite Chinese girl who had a pile of books beside her and an A4 notebook balancing on her lap. She looked up and smiled shyly at Lorne.

  “This is Ami.” Fiona knocked softly on the door behind her. “Linda, the lady is here to see us.”

  Fiona pointed at a rocking chair, indicating where she wanted Lorne to sit. “Do you mind if I see the garden first?” Lorne asked, looking through the coloured voile curtain to the garden beyond.

  “Good idea.” Fiona pulled back the French door, and they both wandered outside onto a patio area that had a gas barbecue on one side, and a table and four chairs on the other.

  The garden impressed Lorne. “Wow! What is this, about eighty feet?”

  Fiona smiled. “I guess so. We have a man come in every week to cut the grass and generally keep it tidy. I had a quick look around when I came back. I spotted a small area at the rear that could be deemed a little dubious. I’ll show you.”

  They walked down the path that had grass on either side, and a few evergreen shrubs dotted the area, with no flowers as such. They reached the rear fence.

  Lorne wobbled the fence panel and noted how rickety it was. Moving down to the bottom, she pushed and pulled at it. The panel appeared to be broken or rotten at one edge. “Hmm… I’d say this needs replacing rather than repairing. Could your maintenance man do that?”

  “No problem. I’ll get it fixed ASAP. As you can see, we don’t really do flowers, so Blackie won’t be shouted at all the time to keep off the beds. He’ll be free to go wherever he likes. That’s if we have him.”

  “Okay, provided this panel is fixed, I’m satisfied that Blackie or another dog would enjoy this garden and be safe running around out here. All right if I have a chat with your other flatmates now?”

  “Sure. Can I get you a coffee or tea?”

  They entered the lounge just as another girl came out of the room Fiona had tapped on before.

  Lorne found it hard to hide her shock at the young woman’s appearance. “My God, are you all right?”

  Fiona rushed to help the girl onto the sofa. The poor girl looked very uneasy walking, as if she could faint at any moment. “This is my sister Linda. She’s had a bit of an ordeal lately. You’re getting better though, aren’t you, love?”

  Lorne couldn’t stop staring at the young woman, at the appalling bruises covering her face and the fact that her ankle was in a cast. She knew it was rude of her to stare, and had she still been in the Met, she would have been called unprofessional by her colleagues, but the girl’s injuries were like a magnet to Lorne.

  Linda swallowed hard before she gave a weak smile. “Hi, I’m sorry to alarm you. I’m getting there.”

  “Please forgive my rudeness. I don’t mean to stare, but… What the hell happened?”

  Fiona patted her sister’s hand and went into the kitchen to boil the kettle. No one answered until Fiona returned. “Linda had a bit of a mishap the other night.”

  A mishap! “Wow, some mishap,” Lorne tried to answer matter-of-factly, but the words didn’t come out as lightly as she’d intended.

  The woman was beaten black and blue. Lorne surmised that either Linda was involved with an abusive partner, or she had been assaulted by a stranger. Lorne figured the latter scenario was probably the more accurate one, as Fiona hadn’t mentioned any men sharing the flat with them.

  Linda started crying. Fiona rushed to her side, while Ami’s attention dropped into her studies once more. The room suddenly felt uncomfortable to Lorne.

  Fiona shrugged at Lorne as she comforted her sister. “I’m sorry. Maybe we could do this another time?”

  Lorne nodded, stood up, and prepared to leave.

  “No. Wait. Give me a minute, and I’ll be fine. I don’t want you to have a wasted trip,” Linda said between sniffs.

  Lorne reached into her briefcase and took out the checklist Sheila had suggested she devise for the home visits. “If you’re sure?”

  Both Linda and Fiona nodded before Fiona got up to finish making the coffee.

  “Okay, so you both know that Fiona came to see me today with regard to rehoming a dog in my care. I have to ask if you’re all in agreement with that decision?” Lorne looked over at Linda, who was nodding frantically. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ami give the briefest of nods, as though she was doubtful about the idea. “Ami, do you have any reservations?”

  The girl glanced up at Lorne. She appeared uncertain about what to say in front of Linda. Reluctantly, she said, “I guess.”

  Fiona came back in to the room carrying a tray with four mugs on it. Lorne noticed the hard stare Fiona gave Ami as she put the tray down on the coffee table.

  Ami’s cheeks flushed. “I mean, yes. It’s okay with me.”

  Hmm… Lorne was far from satisfied. Nevertheless, she pressed on with the checklist, deciding to voice any doubts she might have at the end. “I’ve gone over a few issues in the garden that need addressing with Fiona. Providing they are corrected, I can’t see any problems. Can I ask what type of dog you all have in mind?”

  “I’ve told them what a darling Blackie is and that I think he would be an ideal dog for us, and we’re all in agreement, aren’t we girls?”

  Lorne carefully watched Ami’s reaction. She didn’t think the girl oozed a great amount of certainty. “Ami?”

  Ami looked at her flatmates, placed the books she had on her lap on the floor beside her, and stood up. “I said, I’m okay with it,” she snapped before she stomped out of the room.

  Lorne looked over at Fiona, whose expression was twisted in anger.

  Sighing, Lorne shuffled her papers and put them back in her bag. “I think you still have a lot of talking to do on the subject. Maybe it would be better if you rang me next week with your decision.”

  Fiona held up a hand. “Please don’t go. Ami will be fine with whatever we decide.”

  Lorne shook her head. “I’m sorry, Fiona. I only have the dog’s welfare at heart here. If there is a possibility of him not being
wanted or liked, then I’ll have to find him somewhere else.”

  Linda’s hand shot out and grabbed her sister’s arm tightly. “You have to let us have the dog.”

  Raising a questioning eyebrow, Lorne asked, “Why do I have to, Linda?”

  The sisters stared long and hard at each other before Fiona spoke. “If we don’t get a dog then we’ll be on tenterhooks. Scared of every knock on the door. Afraid to go out. We’re living under a threat.”

  “A threat?” Lorne queried.

  “That’s right.” Fiona hesitated as if afraid to say the words out loud. “You see, Linda was raped, and her attacker has threatened to come after me.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Lorne was rendered speechless for a few mind-numbing seconds.

  When she finally recovered, she asked gently, “Did you know the man?” In her experience, nine out of ten women were raped by men they were acquainted with.

  Ashamed, Linda looked down at her hands, which were clasped tightly together in her lap. “I did. He wasn’t a friend, but I do know him. He’s a frequent visitor to the same club I go to every week.”

  “Did you notify the police, Linda?”

  “Yes. They carried out a rape kit, but he used a condom,” she replied, defeated.

  Damn. Without semen, the police would have little to go on, unless… “I see, but you gave the police his name, didn’t you?”

  Linda turned to look at her sister and frowned.

  “Lorne used to be a detective. It’s okay to answer her questions, love. It might be good to get a female officer’s perspective on things,” Fiona reassured her sister.

  Lorne smiled. “Former female officer. Can I ask how the police have handled the attack? I mean, how they’re proceeding with the case? You did give the police his name, didn’t you?” she repeated. She took out a spare sheet of paper and started jotting down notes as Linda answered her questions.

  The three of them almost jumped out of their seats when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” called Ami, already on the way to the front door.

  Linda cleared her throat and went over what had happened at the station. At least, she started to before a smartly dressed man in his early thirties barged into the room.

  An embarrassed Ami trailed behind him. “I’m so sorry. I tried to tell him you were busy, but…”

  Fiona leapt out of her seat and stood between the man and her sister. Lorne remained seated and observed the situation with interest. “Jason. What in God’s name are you doing here?”

  The man appeared bewildered. Changing expressions swept across his face. Confusion settled on his features as he pulled Fiona to the side and glanced down at Linda. “Christ! It doesn’t matter what I’m doing here. What happened to Linda?”

  Linda hid her face in her hands as Fiona grabbed the man by the arm and steered him through to the bedroom. “I won’t be a sec!” she shouted at the perturbed threesome left behind.

  “He’s her boyfriend,” Linda enlightened Lorne.

  “Oh, right. I take it he wasn’t aware of…what’s taken place?”

  Ami sat on the sofa next to Linda and clutched her shaking hand. “Don’t be frightened. Fiona will calm him down. I’ll stay with you until they’re finished.”

  Lorne jotted down the name of the policeman who had interviewed Linda, appalled that a female officer hadn’t been involved in the interview process. Linda told her that the officer concerned was supposed to have visited the offender the evening before, but she had no idea how things had turned out, as no one from the station had contacted her since. They continued speaking despite the sound of raised voices coming from the bedroom.

  The ruckus was affecting Linda, so Lorne tapped on the bedroom door. When Fiona opened it, her cheeks were beet red, and her eyes were wide with fury.

  “Sorry to disturb you, I’m almost done here, but I thought you should know that the shouting isn’t helping Linda’s state of mind.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes as if she hadn’t realised the others could hear what was being said in the bedroom. “I’m sorry. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

  The woman shut the door in Lorne’s face before she had a chance to say anything further. For Linda’s sake, Lorne sat down again, even though she had already decided this would not be an ideal home for Blackie. She did, however, feel sorry for the way Linda had been treated and wanted to give her as much support as she could.

  As Linda retold the harrowing events, Fiona ushered Jason through the living room and out to the front door. She returned a few minutes later, full of apologies. “He was annoyed I stood him up last night and, as he couldn’t get hold of me at work today, the idiot thought I had another man here. I put him straight on that one. Sorry, where were we?”

  “Actually, I must be getting back. Linda, here’s my home number. If I can help in some small way, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. “I’ll let you know what I decide about Blackie next week.” Lorne shook hands with everyone, and Fiona saw her to the front door.

  Fiona held the door open. “Any idea what day?”

  “I just need to dot a few I’s, et cetera. By Wednesday, if I can.”

  “Why don’t you just come out and say it, Lorne. You’re going to reject us, aren’t you?” Fiona asked sharply, cocking an expectant eyebrow.

  Lorne looked at the traffic behind her as she tried to conjure up a suitable excuse. She thought honesty would be the safest route to take, after all the girls had been through. “To be honest, I think you want a dog for the wrong reasons. While I completely understand and sympathise with your situation, I feel I can’t place a dog in this environment. In a few months, maybe when things have settled down, you’ll understand my decision. A dog needs love and care from day one, and I just think the three of you have too much anxiety and anger surrounding you at the moment. It wouldn’t be fair on either side.”

  “Fair enough. If that’s your decision, I’ll go elsewhere for a dog. Whether we get one from you or someone else, Mrs. Warner, there will be a dog in this house by the weekend. Goodbye.”

  The harsh words were followed by the oak door being shut in Lorne’s face. Charming! Goodbye to you, too.

  During the drive home, she blocked out the usually noisy sound of the van and mulled over Linda’s nightmarish predicament. Hmm… Maybe I should give Katy a call to ask her to do some digging on this chap for me. See what she can come up with. Men like that shouldn’t be allowed to get away with rape just because he put a plastic sock on his willy before doing the deed.

  Once an idea started to fester, Lorne had to jump on it. She pulled over into the nearest lay-by and dialled Katy’s mobile. “Hey, you. How’s it going?”

  “Just a minute. I’ll go into my office. Hey, how are you?”

  Lorne laughed. It was good to talk to her old-young partner again. “I asked first.”

  “Oh, you know. Fair to middling. This place isn’t the same without you biting our heads off.”

  “You cheeky mare. How are things going with AJ?”

  “Slowly. We said we’d take things steady until we’re sure that Darren isn’t going to bother me anymore.”

  “Has he been hanging around again?” Lorne asked, concerned.

  “Not since he wrecked my flat, but you never know. I’d like to leave it a year or so before I get involved with someone again. Anyway, there are our jobs to consider. Neither AJ nor I want to move away from the team. It’s a productive team which gets results. We’d be daft to throw that away. How are things ‘down on the farm’?” Katy asked in the worst Devonshire accent Lorne had ever heard.

  “Was that your attempt at Welsh?” she teased. “Things are going great, but I have a surprise for you.”

  “You’re not…?”

  Lorne tutted, reading her former partner’s mind. “Give me a break, will you? Charlie’s more than any mother can handle. She’d try any supermum’s patience. Actually, I’m being a tad unfair. She’s been as good as gold for months now. Not sure wh
at she’s after; I’m sure I’ll find out soon. No, I’m branching out.”

  “How can a rescue shelter branch out?” Katy asked, confused.

  “Not with this business. I’m starting up another one.”

  “Oh, I see. So you’ll have two rescue centres on the go. How will that work out?”

  Lorne let out an exasperated breath. “No, you don’t see at all. I’m going to become a PI.” There was silence on the other end of the phone. “Katy? Are you there?”

  “Yeah, I’m just trying to work out what the initials mean. Puppy institution or something?”

  Another long breath seeped through her lips. “A private investigator, numpty!”

  Then there was nothing, zip, no response whatsoever from Katy, prompting Lorne to ask, “Katy? You still there?”

  A long whistle greeted her. “Jeez, what can I say? A PI. Who’d have thunk it?”

  Lorne laughed. “Yeah, I know it’s a bit insane. But I figured I’d be my own boss and I wouldn’t be jumping through hoops for bosses who don’t appreciate me.”

  “Well, there is that, I suppose. What sort of cases will you be focusing on?”

  “Whatever comes our way to start with. We’ll see how things pan out from there.”

  “I have to say I admire you, but then that’s nothing new. When is all this starting up?” Katy asked, sounding more interested than Lorne had anticipated.

  “My diploma came in the post this morning, then the weirdest thing happened.”

  “You get a diploma? Lorne, weird has a way of always finding its way to your door.”

  She chuckled. “Yeah, I know. Look, before I go any further, I was wondering if you’d be able to work with me at all. You know, if a case comes in and I need a background check running on a suspect. Although I wouldn’t want you getting into bother for it.”

  Katy went quiet for a second or two. “Not sure. You know I would if I could. Maybe we should see what Roberts has to say, first. You’re his favourite DI—or former DI—after all, so I can’t see any problems on that front. Can I get back to you later?”

  Lorne bashed the steering wheel with her fist. She totally understood Katy’s dilemma, but she had specifically rung up to get some information on Gibson. She guessed that would have to wait until Roberts gave the go ahead—if he gave the go ahead. She’d have to do her own mini background check on the ’net until Katy got back to her. “Okay, that’s fair enough. Can you try to see him today?”