Dying to Meet You

by Patricia Scott

  He smiled. ‘Yeah. Okay...’

  She looked impressed by this. ‘You can see him when he is at his best. Sound asleep. He says he wants to be in the police force like his Auntie Linda and he would be asking you far too many questions if he knew you were here.’

  They opened the bedroom door. Jack looked like her, Farmer thought as he saw the small copper red head resting on the pillow.

  Mel covered a yawn with her hand smiled and said, ‘Sorry, I was up early this morning. I bet you’ve had a pretty long day too. Look - please don’t worry about me. I shall be okay. I’m sure of it. Forewarned is forearmed - I shan’t get myself into any difficult situation. And that’s a promise. ’

  ‘You’d better remember that. Don’t do anything without letting me know about it. I’ll hold you to it.’

  ‘I won’t,’ she said crossing her fingers behind her back.

  He caught her quickly by the door landing a kiss on her lips more in luck than good judgment.

  ‘Mel...’ His arms went round her firm and binding. ‘I feel you want this as much as I do. It’s right for us, don’t you think?’

  ‘Nick ... We can’t.’

  He grinned wryly. ‘If you say so.’

  ‘I do...’ She shook her head slowly and sighed. ‘I think you’d better go now, or I might want to do something I’ll be more than sorry for in the morning. Another time perhaps.’ She smiled back at him mischievously.

  His eyes were serious and he reached out swiftly and cupped her face gently with his hands. ‘Okay.’ He kissed her again this time more gently. ‘That was so you won’t forget me. I’d rather not rush things. Another time like you promised?

  ‘I’ll look forward to it.’

  She watched him drive off and wished she’d delayed his departure till morning as they had both wanted. But she knew it would have been a fatal move for her part. She would have given in to the feelings that had held her in ferment for the last few days and she couldn’t do that, not if she wanted to carry out her plans to catch this killer.

  Her phone rang. It was Sylvie.

  ‘He rang me, Mel! He rang!’ she squeaked. ‘To say he’d like us to meet! Er, I mean you of course!’

  ‘What else did he say? What did he sound like?’

  ‘He said I was to wear a pink rose and carry - oh sorry you must wear a pink rose and carry the Observer under your arm and meet him by the old Park bandstand.’

  ‘So what did he sound like? Young or old?’

  ‘The call was a bit distorted like there was a lot of music going on around him. Sounded like he used the phone from a disco perhaps. Or at home with the telly on. He sounded okay though.’

  ‘You didn’t give anything away about yourself or me, did you?’

  ‘No, I was careful. He asked my name. I said Tracey - it was the first name that came into my head.’

  ‘So I’m Tracey. Okay. You can fill me in properly in the morning.’

  Thirty-Eight

  ‘So how did it go on Crimewatch - good do you think?’ Peterson asked, coming into the hotel room.

  ‘Pretty good.’ Richard said switching on the kettle. ‘Coffee?’ She nodded. ‘You’ll have to hope that the public kept their eyes open on Sunday night while it’s still fresh in their minds.’

  ‘I know...’

  ‘The meeting took place in a crowded entertainment area, don’t forget. There’s rather too much going on around them. I don’t hold out a great deal of hope with it for you. Sorry.’

  ‘Thanks. Anything else to add to that?’ she said taking off her jacket hanging it up in the wardrobe.

  ‘You said that the girl who took Ellie Cooper’s part actually saw her that night and spoke to her before she met the man.’

  ‘That’s right.’

  ‘But she never saw Ellie with anyone afterwards at all. Sounds like she didn’t want her friends to meet him. He might have avoided meeting her if he saw her with friends.’

  ‘We’ve got to catch this monster before he kills again.’ She sighed heavily. ‘So far he’s got away with it.’

  ‘Come on. Something can come from doing this. It could put the killer on hold. He may realise you’ll be onto him quicker than he thinks.’

  She threw her head back and groaned. ‘You have more hope than me then.’

  Thirty-Nine

  ‘I want some volunteers for tomorrow night in the Victoria Park. Just to keep an eye out for any young woman who might be meeting up with an Astro date,’ Peterson said to her team in the incident room. ‘How about it? Most of you married ones might be going there anyway with your families. I want the uniform singles and the rest of you to concentrate on looking out for any young women on their own or girls looking as if they might be in trouble from seven onwards till the display finishes at ten or thereabouts.’

  Farmer looked at Trask. ‘You’ll be going anyway, won’t you?’

  ‘Yeah. What about Mel Goring? Will you be seeing her? I suppose she’ll be taking her little boy?’

  Farmer didn’t look any too happy. ‘Maybe. I can’t say.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Trask grinned. ‘Fallen out already, have you?’

  Farmer frowned. ‘I’ve not spoken to her about it. Busy I suppose like the rest of us.’

  Trask smiled. ‘That’s not like you. Don’t let your chance go with her.’

  *

  Farmer found Mel waiting for him outside his flat when he got back from parking his car in the back street garage.

  She grinned at him. ‘Can you offer a hard working girl a drink?’

  ‘I can feed you as well,’ he said - his surprise in seeing her turning to pleasure instantly in his eyes. ‘I have a lamb casserole waiting to be eaten.’

  She smiled. ‘Thanks that would be nice. I’m starving.’

  The meal was ready in no time. She ate it and tried hard to smother the guilt she was feeling building up inside her about her plans for the following night.

  ‘How’s things? Asking as a friend not journalist.’

  His dark brow rose and he shrugged and poured out another glass of wine for her. ‘As it was yesterday. We’re hoping Crimewatch could throw up some clues from the locals.’

  She nodded and sipped her wine. There was this attraction between them growing and she couldn’t ignore it. She chuckled, when, picking up their empty plates he leant over and kissed the nape of her neck and in turn she kissed him full on the lips nearly causing him to drop the dishes.

  ‘Whoa! Have I told you that I sometimes walk in my sleep?’ There she’d said it before she could stop herself.

  He stared at her put down the dishes on the table with a clatter. ‘Say that again.’

  ‘I walk in my sleep occasionally.’

  He laughed and said, ‘You walk in your sleep! Wow. What can I say about that?’

  She shook her head laughing. ‘Not a lot. Just thought I should tell you it now.’ She put her arms around his neck as he leant over her.

  ‘So…does this mean you might stay on till breakfast with me?’ he said huskily as she kissed him again. ‘I’d like that very much.’

  ‘It does,’ she said breathlessly as he gathered her up quickly into his arms and she knew that he wasn’t going to give her a chance to alter her mind now.

  ‘Why did we waste so much time?’ he whispered.

  She didn’t sleep walk but when she woke up he was gone from her side. He brought in coffee and toast with a big smile on his face. And she felt guilty because he looked so darn happy. Would he ever forgive her for what she was going to do?

  ‘Hope you don’t mind me serving this so early.’

  ‘You’re spoiling me,’ she said as he kissed her on the nose. ‘I could get used to more like this.’

  ‘You’re not regretting it?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘See you later, love?’

  ‘I’ll call you to let you know.’ She saw the doubt enter his eyes. She said ‘I’ve got plenty to do and Jack wants to see the fireworks this
evening.’

  ‘Sure. Call me. And promise me, Mel, you’ll not get involved in anything to do with this case without letting me know.’

  ‘I promise,’ she said lying superbly.

  She saw him drive off in his car, waved him goodbye and walked back along the sea front to her office. She hoped Sylvie wouldn’t notice she was wearing the same clothes from the day before…

  Forty

  ‘Let’s go through it all again, Sylvie. What exactly did this man say to you?’

  ‘You’re to wear a pink rose and it’s a meet by the old bandstand close to the bird aviaries in the park. Take a copy of our daily Observer. He’ll wear a white carnation. Time - seven thirty.’

  ‘Right. Sounds okay. How did he sound by the way? Did he have an accent?’

  ‘Don’t really know. Like I said it was a bit distant - distorted, I think. Could be on purpose - disguising his voice. He’s very careful. I don’t like this, Mel. I really don’t.’

  ‘Yeah. Then I’m on the right track, aren’t I?’

  ‘You’re crazy, Mel.’ Sylvie shook her head. ‘I don’t like what you’re doing. Have you told anyone else at all about this? DI Farmer, you ought to tell him. You need protection.’

  ‘I made the mistake of telling him my ideas on it. I don’t trust him. The police would try to stop me. It’s too late now for that. If they used a WPC to do what I intend doing it could be classed as entrapment. A good barrister can bust it immediately.’

  ‘I think it’s much too dangerous. Mel. Don’t go anywhere with this man on your own. Make sure you keep around people.’

  ‘He won’t try anything in that public place. And I’ll insist on staying where everyone can see us. Don’t worry, Sylvie, I’ll be in touch again before you know it. Don’t let on to DI Farmer where I’m going if he tries to worm it out of you, do you hear now?’

  ‘Only if I tell you first. But I don’t like it.’

  ‘Right. Now, I want you to ring Mr Nosy Farmer. Tell him that I’ve got a meet with my blind date at the Pavilion in Bexhill at seven forty-five. You can say you’re blabbing because you thought he ought to know. That’ll keep him out of my hair for a time at least.’

  ‘Okay. But you’ve got to phone me afterwards. Let me know you get home safely by ten thirty. Promise me that, Mel. Or else I’ll be on that phone to Inspector Farmer straight away to tell him where you are really meeting Mister Blind Date. I shan’t sleep a wink if I think you’re in danger.’

  ‘Right, I will. I’ll phone you ten thirty the latest.’

  ‘I’ll keep you to that.’

  Forty-One

  Two hours later, Mel waited by the old bandstand in the Victoria Park with only the birds in the aviary for company. She was more than a shade early. Seven o’clock. But it was entertaining listening to the music coming from the bands performing as part of the Carnival entertainment while she waited for her date.

  She didn’t like to admit to herself that she was nervous. Too damn nervous. She had nearly decided against it. If she was right; she could be putting herself in deadly danger from an unknown enemy.

  Now she wished she had spoken to Nick sensibly about this undertaking. But she knew what his reaction would be, remembering how he’d behaved when she suggested it first off. Thinking about him now though made her feel good inside. Was she going soft - letting a man get under her skin again? It had hurt her so much loving and losing Colin. She couldn’t bear to think that it could happen again in the future.

  The night spent with Nick wasn’t so easy to forget though. He had so many unexpectedly gentle, hidden depths, and right now she would much rather be in his company. Would he believe Sylvie? Would he turn up to test her out? Or stay away?

  This was a Carnival event so there were officers on duty, she’d seen Geoff Trask talking to a uniform, they obviously were keeping a lookout for lone females in danger.

  She fingered the gold pendent she was wearing on her bare neck nervously, it felt warm in her hand, and remembered Linda. That gave her all the strength and bravado she needed.

  She was wearing a pretty pink rose pinned on her high waist band that she’d picked carefully from her own garden. She’d scratched her hand on a thorn while picking it and she thought perhaps it was a bad omen. She hoped not.

  She glanced at her watch; 7.20, the witching hour still to come. She’d caught many glances from men passing by, some hesitating but thinking better of approaching her. Any one of them could have been him.

  Forty-Two

  ‘Mel! Is that you? Where are you?’

  ‘No - it’s Sylvie Jones, Inspector. I work with Mel. I’ve phoned you because I thought you ought to know that Mel‘s intending to meet up with that blind date, the Virgo man after all, this evening.’ Sylvie said breathlessly on the mobile.

  He cursed under his breath. ‘Where for God’s sake? And what time?’

  ‘At the Del le Warr pavilion. At seven forty five.’

  Farmer glanced up at the kitchen clock - it was twenty past seven. ‘That’s a twenty minute drive at least. Why the hell didn’t you ring me earlier, Sylvie? Her life could be in real danger from this man.’

  ‘I know that, Inspector. She wouldn’t listen to me.’

  He couldn’t reach Mel - she’d turned off her phone. He hoped desperately that he was getting the truth from the girl. Why on earth had Mel decided to meet up with this bloke so far away from home?

  Farmer drove like a demon. He parked his car on the front near the Del le Warr and sprinted towards it through the strolling crowds along the sea front. His eyes searching the faces as he did so. Too late. Not a sign of Mel waiting outside. He checked with the pavilion clock and his watch. Quarter to eight! Had they met already? Was he too damn late? Or had she fooled him again? He cursed. That was more than likely. She still had her phone turned off.

  He walked up and down. Not a sign of her anywhere amongst those close by. His cell rang while he was heading back to his car.

  ‘Peterson here. Where are you, Farmer? I want you in here now. We’ve had a tip off from unknown caller.’

  Warning bells rang in his head. Was Mel in trouble?

  ‘What about, ma-am?’

  ‘It involves the Kaufmans. Fill you in when you get here, Nick. I need you in ASAP!’

  *

  In her office Peterson looked up when he came in.

  ‘Good, you’re here. I’ve just phoned Trask to give him fair warning.’

  He sat down. ‘Sorry for delay, ma-am. I was over in Bexhill.’

  ‘It’s okay. Glad I could get hold of you. Bexhill - that’s some way.’ She smiled. ‘I’m sorry Nick, have I messed up your plans for the evening?’

  He shook his head, managed a wry grin. ‘You could say I’ve managed to do that already for myself. So - what is it, ma-am? A phone call you said from an unknown informant?’

  She nodded. ‘Yes. Could be a phoney. The caller said that Freddie Kaufman is bringing in some illegals at one a.m. Said will let us know where soon.’

  ‘Could be one of his colleagues he’s fallen out with I shouldn’t wonder.’

  She glanced up at the clock ‘Should we follow it up? Or is it a hoax? We haven’t much time to lay something on. We’ll need back up and firearms. They’re sure to be tooled.’

  Forty-Three

  Eight fifteen. Her date hadn’t turned up. Mel glanced casually around into the crowds that packed the grassy banks near her. She recognised a number of familiar faces. The police had pulled out all the stops that evening; an unofficial stake out.

  She spotted Police Sergeant Bennett in plain clothes. He nodded. He was talking to Trask who was there with his wife and the girls. She looked at her watch, sighed and turned away and took her rose off carefully, putting it into her purse.

  Her date was much too late now. Was Nick still looking for her at the pavilion? He definitely wouldn’t be pleased by her behaviour.

  It seemed her efforts had failed to draw out the Virgo man. And she was f
rankly relieved. What had she been thinking when she’d planned it? Nick was right when he’d said she was damn crazy to try it. She wished she could see him right now. Even if he shouted at her.

  *

  An hour or so later the musical entertainment was doing her head in. And Nick still hadn’t turned up. If she could find her family anywhere, she decided she would join them.

  It was gone ten. They must have taken Jack home earlier. She glanced at her watch, ten twenty as the last firework had exploded in a fiery rainbow of golden and green and red lights...

  She saw Brian Calder talking to Trask. It was like an old boy’s day out now. It seemed that all of the force had volunteered to do it. Except Nick. She had really expected him to turn up. Oh, Lord! Calder was coming over towards her, with a moon sized grin on his face. He must know she had been waiting for someone. Probably thought Farmer had let her down.

  ‘On your own this evening, Ms Goring? What do you think about the fireworks they’ve put on? A great display as usual.’

  She lifted her hands. ‘Saw only some of it. I got here late. I promised to catch up with my parents. Haven’t found them so far.’

  Calder looked around into the crowd. ‘That’s a pity.’ Glanced at his watch. ‘We’ve finished our graveyard shift here. Can I offer you a drink somewhere afterwards? I can certainly do with one myself. Just say if you don’t feel like it.’

  She hesitated. ‘Thanks, for your offer. Sounds good to me. I could do with a drink.’

  He looked pleased. She hated to burst his bubble. She didn’t know if he had a girlfriend. ‘I’ve brought my car though. It’s parked outside.’

  ‘I parked my car along the road near the Hole in the Wall. It’s a good pub if you’d like to give me a lift there?’

  She thought for a moment and smiled. It didn’t seem likely that she would meet up with Nick that night. He was more than likely steaming by now. ‘Sure. I’ll just text my parents.’ She quickly sent off a message – ‘SEE YOU LATER, MUM. GIVE MY LOVE TO JACK. MEL’ and noticing her battery was low decided to turn off her phone. ‘Okay I’m all yours.’