What She Saw

by Diane Saxon

  Chris narrowed his eyes not taking his gaze from the subject. ‘It’s not abuse, it’s just a little snap on the lead to get his attention. He’s certainly not in the least worried about it. His tail was whipping like crazy.’

  Unconvinced, Jenna huffed out her irritation. She’d still poke her in the eye. Domino was a sensitive soul. He wouldn’t like being treated like that.

  Jenna rubbed her hands over her face. ‘I’m starting to sound like my sister. He’s a dog, for crying out loud.’

  ‘Aye,’ Chris tossed her a quick look, ‘the most precious things in our lives.’

  With her fingers around the door handle, Jenna cast Chris a last look. ‘Okay, I’ve got to leave you to it. If you and Mason enter the house, call SOCO in anyway. We’ve seen enough to know there’ll be evidence in there.’

  Jenna fished in her pocket and handed over the house key while the words rushed from her mouth in her haste to get out of the car and back to her own. ‘Here’s the key, I’ll send Mason to meet up with you. Ryan and I will follow Lena and see where she’s taking the dogs. I assume she walks them here and then piles them all back in the car to drive them home again.’ She huffed out a breath. ‘I’ll call for backup. Keep me informed.’

  Jenna slipped from the car and raced around the bonnet as fast as she could in case Lena looked back as Domino stopped dead at the end of the street. His high-pitched whine reached her as she yanked open the door to the police vehicle and dived inside.

  ‘Ryan, you’re with me. Mason, get out.’ As surprised whipped through his eyes, she nudged him. ’You’re with Chris, he’s got the front door key. You can both do the search.’

  Mason leapt from the car and slammed the door behind him while Jenna flopped over the centre console into the driver’s seat and fired up the car, cringing as she over-revved the engine in her excitement.

  Mason swivelled around as he dipped his hands into his jacket pocket, made an over-exaggerated flinch and headed off towards the dog vehicle.

  ‘I can drive.’ Ryan volunteered from the back seat.

  She stared over her shoulder at him. She’d seen his driving before. Wild, erratic. She let out a derogatory snort. ‘You need to go on a police driving course first.’

  ‘I’ve already been on one.’

  ‘That’s even more worrying.’ Jenna put the car in gear and slid smoothly away from the kerb. ‘I’ll take it this time, Ryan, thank you.’

  She cruised the car along the road just as Lena and the dogs disappeared around the bend at a fast stride, dragging the little shih-tzu along behind her as Domino, who now pranced back by her side again, cast a quick longing look backwards.

  If Lena let him off the lead now, Jenna would bet her life he’d come sprinting back into view. The dog never forgot a single thing. Too intelligent for his own good and quite often Fliss and Jenna’s too.

  As Jenna nudged the car around the bend, Lena came back into sight and crossed the road ahead of them. Jenna let the engine idle as she hovered at the kerb, far enough back so Lena wouldn’t notice.

  Starting to recognise Lena’s body language, Jenna paid close attention as Lena cast a quick glance over each shoulder. ‘Here she goes.’

  ‘How do you know?’ Ryan bobbed his head between the two front seats to peer out of the front window, his head close to Jenna’s.

  She pointed. ‘Watch.’

  Lena walked down the pathway to another small two-bedroom house with red roof tiles on the front facia. Smart white venetian blinds covered the windows, kept closed so no one could see inside.

  Jenna picked up the radio, pressed the button and spoke into Airwaves. ‘Juliet Alpha 77 to Control.’

  ‘Control, go ahead.’

  Jenna narrowed her eyes to keep a focus on Lena as the woman did another head turn and then knocked on the shiny, white high-gloss door.

  ‘I'm at number 82 Doseley Way, Mountside with DC Downey in pursuit of a suspect while DS Bennett and DC Ellis are carrying out the warrant on number 33 Doseley Way. I could do with some uniform backup to help me out please. We’re going to need to arrest several suspects and possibly perform more searches for suspicion of drugs on the premises in several houses, by the look of it. Number unknown at present. No blues and twos, silent approach.’

  As Jenna gave half her attention to Control, the front door of the small house swung open and Lena lengthened the leads to allow the dogs to greet the woman who stepped into the weak morning sunlight.

  With a jolt of recognition, Jenna jerked forward, resting her arms on the steering wheel.

  A young emaciated woman, straggly, dull brown hair down past her shoulders, deep-set eyes bruised and red-rimmed, reached out to touch the dogs with a casual lack of interest.

  Jenna cast a quick sideways glance at Ryan and lifted her forefinger to point at the woman on the doorstep. ‘That's Marie West. Do you recognise her?’

  Ryan leaned forward for a better look and shook his head. ‘No. I don’t think I’ve come across her before.’

  ‘She’s well known for her habit.’ Jenna huffed out a disgusted sigh. ‘I didn’t know she’d moved to a new house. She must be going up in the world.’ She tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as they watched. ‘She used to live in an old squat in Randlay.’

  The radio crackled to life.

  ‘Juliet Alpha 77, this is Sierra Romeo 36. We’ve pulled up three hundred yards behind you. What can we do to assist?’

  Thinking on her feet to formulate her plan, Jenna pushed herself upright without taking her gaze from the suspects. ‘Sierra Romeo 36, you take 82 Doseley Way once our dog walker moves out of sight. There’s a known user there, Marie West.’

  ‘Yep, I know her well.’ The response was fast and unhesitating.

  ‘Did you know she’d moved to a new house?’

  ‘No, but we do now.’

  ‘You’ll have to be quick in there. She’s going to have that little white powder up her nose before you can count to twenty.’

  ‘We’ve got a handle on it, Sarge.’

  Satisfied that they knew what they needed to do, Jenna placed the radio on the centre console without once taking her attention from the smooth exchange that went on as Marie hunkered down to give the large brindle greyhound a fussy greeting.

  As Marie came to her feet, she stepped her skinny frame back into the house and closed the door with barely a second glance at the dogs. Lena reached over, gave the greyhound a quick ruffle around the neck with her right hand and slipped the dog a treat. Domino, full attention on the treat, sat with neck stretched up and left paw raised. Lena smiled, slipped her hand under his chin and offered him a treat before giving the remaining two their share. It was her saving grace that she evidently did love dogs.

  Lena turned with all four of them and made her way back down the pathway casting quick, furtive glances up and down the street before she turned her back on Jenna’s car and continued along in the same direction as previously. The greyhound bumped shoulder to shoulder with Domino, minus its little baggy on the collar.

  Ryan chewed his lip as Domino looked over his shoulder again. ‘She might think she’s checking, but she’s not too observant, is she? Hasn’t she recognised this as the same car that she already passed further down the street?’

  Jenna turned the engine back on and nudged the car at a snail’s pace further along the street, ensuring she kept a good distance. Lena may not be the most observant person, but once she did spot them, the game would be over, and Jenna was curious about the destination of the remaining three little baggies. Was she about to discover more known addicts who’d moved into this tight little community?

  ‘Good for us she doesn’t’.

  With a hint of admiration in his voice, Ryan flung himself back in his seat. ‘God, I’ve never seen anything like it. I didn’t know dogs pushed drugs.’ Ryan’s whole body jittered with excitement as his caffeine fix chose now to kick in, Jenna suspected.

  ‘Neither did I. What a bloody cheek,
she’s getting paid full whack for walking dogs that she’s actually using to aid and abet her.’

  ‘A bit risky, I’d say, to use a police officer’s dog for the job.’ Ryan chuckled. ‘She must have known.’

  ‘She did, cheeky mare. Fliss made all the arrangements. Lena comes while we’re at work, so I rarely see her. She walks Domino. As far as we knew, everything was fine. She sent photos, images of them, each time she walked him. Bloody hell, she’s a wily one.’ She shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t classify this as an energising walk. Yes, she’s strutting along with them all, but we thought Domino was getting a good off-lead run. I wonder if she takes him elsewhere after the drug drop-off.’

  ‘She probably wouldn’t have enough time.’

  Jenna ran her hand through her hair while they watched and waited. ‘I wonder if I can charge her with fraud too.’ She spoke her thoughts out loud.

  ‘When can we pick her up, Sarge?’

  ‘Not yet. Hold your horses, Ryan. We want the full picture.’

  She put the car back in gear and crawled it along the kerb until Lena arrived at her next destination.

  Jenna reached for her radio. ‘Juliet Alpha 77 to Control, put me through to DI Taylor.’

  The connection was instantaneous.

  ‘DS Morgan, what’s your update?’

  ‘Sir, I need another team to do a search at number 295 Doseley Way.’

  ‘They’re already on their way, Jenna.’

  ‘Don’t let them approach too quickly because our suspect is in transit with the drugs.’

  ‘Acknowledged.’

  As the next door opened, a young man bounced barefoot from his doorway, his arms and legs jerked and twitched in the small myoclonus spasms of someone who had already taken too much cocaine.

  Domino wrenched back on his lead and then surged forward, his neck stretched out, his lips pulled back in a snarl. The deep unmistakable Dalmatian bark echoed around the house-lined street as Lena hauled back on his lead.

  Jenna gripped the door handle ready to surge out of the car.

  The man bolted back into his house whipping his hands away from the imminent threat of being bitten.

  Jenna hesitated as Lena held tight to Domino’s lead. She knew exactly how to handle a big, defensive dog. Defensive only since his encounter with Frank Bartwell, who had almost killed him and attacked Fliss twice.

  Jenna trusted his instinct one hundred per cent as she recognised the young drug addict just inside the doorway. Domino sensed a bad person when he met one and he was right.

  ‘Joel Hopkins.’

  ‘Domino doesn’t like him.’

  ‘I don’t like him. Nasty little toad. Been in and out of youth custody since he was sixteen, and more recently just finished a two-year stretch in Lowdham Grange Prison.’

  ‘He doesn’t look much older than nineteen or twenty.’

  ‘He’s thirty-two. He’s so emaciated, it makes him look like a boy.’ She cast Ryan a quick glance, conscious that she might insult him with her next words. ‘All skinny neck and gangly arms and legs.’

  Nothing on Ryan’s face indicated he’d taken insult. Quite comfortable with his own long-limbed gaucheness, he was probably oblivious to the youthful vibes he exuded. ‘What was he in for?’

  Jenna appreciated his insatiable curiosity and willingness to learn. ‘Aggravated burglary to feed his addiction. He used a twelve-inch screwdriver to threaten an old man.’

  The enthusiasm dropped from his face as his eyes turned into cold, pure copper. ‘Should have been in longer.’

  ‘They let him out early and look where that’s got him.’ She nodded at the man as his limbs twitched and jerked. ‘Obviously been hitting it too hard.’

  Lena gained control of Domino. A little ripple of pride ran through Jenna. An obedient dog, once the threat had backed away and he saw his job was done, he sat by the woman’s left leg. He may be obedient, but he remained alert.

  Ryan jiggled forward in his seat. ‘What’s Lena telling Joel?’

  From the hand signals Lena made, Jenna assumed, ‘I think she’s had to switch dogs. It looks like she’s telling him to take the baggie from the black Labrador.’

  ‘Hmm. Possibly. They must both be carrying the same dose.’

  ‘I’m not sure Lena cares. She doesn’t look happy. In fact, she looks progressively more uncomfortable.’

  With a slow, cautious move, the man went down on his haunches and called the black Labrador to him, gave him a wary little fuss and then stood abruptly dipping his hand into his pocket.

  Jenna tipped her head to one side. ‘And there it goes.’

  ‘Not so smooth.’

  ‘Not a dog lover, obviously.’

  Joel reached out and touched the girl’s hand in what Jenna assumed was him passing the money, as Lena shook her head and flung her clenched fist in the direction of the Labrador. Joel rolled his shoulders in an insolent shrug. Lena’s lips tightened and as Joel shut the door, she made her way down the pathway, doing her quick check once more.

  Surprised she still hadn't noticed them, Jenna held her breath and waited until Lena was almost out of sight again before she put the car back in gear to catch up with her. She crawled the car along, letting Lena stay just on the horizon before moving on. As she came back into sight, Lena dipped down to take a narrow path to another front door, with her fast one-two head turn, which appeared to achieve nothing.

  This house, unlike the others, had a bright, vibrant, red front door, with curtains sashed across the windows in big blousy colours and flowers spilling over bright and gregarious. Flowers in colours that should have clashed but, as with nature, simply looked beautiful together.

  Instead of Lena knocking, this time she withdrew a key from her little hip pouch and opened the door to disappear inside with the four dogs.

  Jenna tapped the steering wheel. ‘What's she doing?’

  She never had an expectation of Ryan answering her question. It was rhetorical.

  She watched for a moment longer while her mind juggled with the possibilities. ‘I think she’s dropping off one of the dogs. This is what she does for us. She has a house key. She picks up the dog, takes him for a walk. She drops off the dog, gives him some water, makes sure he’s settled down.’ She glanced at Ryan, his intent gaze centred on the red door. ‘I wonder how many other dogs have been inside my house.’ Jenna let the annoyance circle around. Fliss was being cheated out of her money. Domino was being used to push drugs.

  The bright red door swung open and Lena stepped out with Domino, the black Labrador and the shih-tzu. As Jenna suspected, the handsome brindle greyhound had been left behind having carried out his duties.

  ‘Okay, we're gonna have to conduct a search on this house too. I suspect the owner here is like Fliss and me and literally doesn’t know about the drugs. We know the greyhound no longer had drugs on him, so get on the radio, Ryan, and ask for a team to contact the owner of that address. Get them home in order for us to conduct the search. Taking a considered judgement on this, I’d bet they’re not involved.’ She took a sideways look at Ryan. ‘Get on to DI Taylor and let's have it checked out anyway.’

  He lifted the radio and pressed the button, speaking into it as it came to life, his voice a background noise as Jenna blocked him out while she concentrated on their next move. She put the car in gear and followed Lena again at a safe distance.

  Lena got a good trot on with the remaining three dogs. Even though the little shih-tzu struggled to keep up, its tail wagged and its tongue lolled out while they continued for a further ten minutes before Lena slowed down and turned to dip through the walkway between two link detached houses and disappeared from view.

  With a small whip of excitement, Jenna pressed her foot on the accelerator to speed up in case she lost the woman on the other side of the linked houses. She drew up and peered through the walkway just as Lena carried out her quick glance left, right, then left again. This time, her head took a slow turn and she star
ed straight at the car, her mouth dropping open in a silent ‘oh’.

  ‘Shit. She’s spotted us.’ Adrenaline kicked in to set Jenna’s pulse hammering through her throat as she froze, both hands gripping the steering wheel.

  Lena narrowed her eyes for a brief moment before she turned her back while Jenna held her breath.

  ‘It’s okay. I don’t think so.’

  As Ryan finished his last word, Lena took another two steps and the dead giveaway was in the glance she flicked over her shoulder before she dropped all three leads and raced off with the dogs scattering from around her in the wild belief that it was a new form of exercise. A game.

  Jenna rammed the car into first gear and flung it through the walkway, almost scraping the mirrors against the narrow brick walls. She took an immediate right and headed towards the entrance of a cul-de-sac. She hit third gear just as the little shih-tzu changed direction and decided to prance towards them.

  Jenna slammed her foot on the brake hard enough to make the car rock.

  ‘Ryan. Go. Go. Go.’

  Ryan flung himself out of the car, slamming the rear passenger door as he raced after Lena.

  Jenna threw open her own door, leapt out of the seat and whistled. Domino’s head shot up and his tail went out straight as he screeched to a full stop and then whipped around to face her. Delighted, he bounded towards her, the other two dogs following in their determination to join in the new game. Jenna wrenched open the rear door and as the dogs raced to her, she flung her arm wide to indicate the car.

  ‘In!’ she raised her voice to a sharp command.

  As she expected, Domino bounded straight into the back of the car. His huge, muscular body spinning around in tight circles on the back seat, absolute delight in every twitch of his muscles to have accidentally found Jenna on his daily walk.

  Jenna reached out and gave his broad head a quick scrub. ‘Good lad, good lad.’

  As she turned, the fat black Labrador eased his way onto the back seat with a little more delicacy and, with no regard for the Dalmatian, shoved his way across and let out a loud huff of dog breath as he collapsed in a happy heap on the seat.