by L M Krier
‘Good. Then I think you’ll find that the missing leathers will be accounted for by then and all the necessary paperwork done. Sorry to have bothered you, Neville. I was sure there would be a perfectly simple explanation for it all.’
Neville didn’t say a word as he showed them out. He wasn’t sure he could trust his voice not to wobble. Trev was quiet. He didn’t say anything either. Not until they were in the car and driving back towards the bike shop.
‘I can’t believe you just did that.’
‘You wanted me to put you first. Above being a copper. That was me trying to do that. Being your husband rather than a police officer.’
‘Can you do that, though? Shouldn’t you have arrested him? Or got someone from the local force to arrest him?’
‘He’s a good worker, isn’t he? You always seem to be singing his praises. He did something really stupid, but probably for a decent enough reason. What do you think are the chances of him doing anything like it again?’
‘Zero, I would think. I thought he was going to wet himself when he saw you on the doorstep.’
‘So it’s sorted, then. Make sure you do get the paperwork in place. And try and give him a decent discount. I actually felt quite sorry for the bloke.’
Trev put his hand on Ted’s thigh and gave it an affectionate squeeze.
‘Thank you for that.’
‘I know it doesn’t completely make up for me being a total pillock. But it’s a start. And in my defence, that’s why I felt sorry for him. I was doing the wrong thing, but for what I thought was the right reason.’
‘I’m sorry I behaved like a spoilt brat about it all.’
There was a pause, then Trev spoke again.
‘I’ll come home tonight. We need to talk. Get things sorted once and for all. We both made mistakes. And I want to talk to you about me going down to London. To talk to these other people, in the same situation as me. Possibly even this retired judge, if he’s not a friend of Sir Gethin. I might as well make use of The Olds’ modest pad to visit. And I’ll see if Eirian fancies coming up to join me. I can perhaps help with her current sexual identity crisis.’
‘That would be nice. Will you see the housekeeper again? Mrs Payne, was it? The one you were fond of? We saw her when you took me riding.’
Trev laughed, sounding much more like his old self.
‘Oh, dear, Ted, we do come from different backgrounds. One doesn’t have the same housekeeper for one’s townhouse as one’s country estate. It’s someone new, I believe.’
The familiar note of teasing, and of fondness, was back in his voice. And his eyes.
‘Right, let’s go and get the rest of the work done and go home. We have a lot of catching up to do.’
Chapter Thirty-one
‘For goodness sake stop wriggling, Ted. How am I ever going to tie this thing if you don’t keep still long enough?’ Trev said, exasperated.
‘I feel a total prat,’ Ted grumbled. ‘A tie would have been bad enough, but a bloody cravat? I wouldn’t even know how to tie one, without you helping me.’
‘Well, I do know how to tie one, but I think it would be easier to do with one of the cats than you when you’re squirming about like this. Right. There, that’s done. You look utterly gorgeous, of course. I’d marry you myself if I wasn’t already married.’
‘You may well mock. If I think I look stupid now, I’m going to look even more ridiculous very shortly, standing next to Big Jim waiting for the blushing bride to arrive.’
‘Have you got the rings?’
Ted patted the pocket of his waistcoat, something else he’d been complaining about.
‘Ring. Jim refuses to wear one. But yes.’
‘So let’s go and do this. I’ll drive there, then you can concentrate on your speech or whatever you want to stress about next. But you are definitely driving back, because when I see my protégé taking his new bride around the dance floor, much to her astonishment, I shall be in floods. The only way for me to recover will be copious quantities of champagne.’
The ceremony passed off without a hitch. Ted acquitted himself well at the reception with his speech. Short, respectful, and with a suitable touch of humour.
True to his word, Trev stood with tears unashamedly running down his face once the room was readied for dancing. Bella clearly had absolutely no idea what Jim had planned for her. Her face was a picture as he went and stood in front of her, large hand outstretched, and said, ‘Mrs Baker, may I please have the honour of the first dance?’
For a fleeting moment, Ted had a mental image of a large grizzly bear, folding its big paws carefully round a delicate fawn, looking at the height difference between the happy couple. But they did look happy. Blissfully so. He could never remember such a tender expression on the face of his boss and good friend with the first Mrs Baker.
Once other couples began to join in, Trev dragged Ted up and whirled him around in flashy fashion. As they drew level with Jim and Bella, now doing little more than holding onto one another and moving their feet slowly, Jim reached out and tapped Trev on the shoulder.
‘Trev, take my lady wife for a proper spin round the floor, please. You know my limits, and at least I know you’ll behave like a gentleman.’
Laughing his delight, Trev swept Bella off to take centre stage. Jim looked at Ted and chuckled.
‘Don’t look so worried, Ted, I didn’t cut in so I could dance with you. Let’s go and find a quiet corner so I can rest my feet. These shoes are pinching a bit, and I could murder a beer after all that champagne.’
They got drinks and sat down, Jim surreptitiously slipping his feet half out of his shoes.
‘You know I’m not good at all this stuff, Ted. No man hugs or anything. But I wanted to tell you that you’ve been a good friend to me, for a good few years. I appreciate all you’ve done for me, although it may not always have seemed like it at the time. And you’ve played an absolute blinder today. You and your Trev. Thank you.
‘I wanted to tell you this myself, before you hear it on the gossip mill. And it may surprise you. I’m retiring shortly. I can finally get at my pension, so I might as well.
‘But you haven’t seen the last of me. I’ve been told I can continue in a civilian consultancy role. So I could still be SIO on some cases, for instance. But on a strictly as and when basis, rather than on constant call.
‘That heart attack I had really scared me. As much as it did Bella. For a moment I thought I was really going to cark it. Then I thought of all the things I could be doing if I had more time, instead of endless meetings and number crunching. Spending some time with my grandson and that daughter of mine, for one thing. Not to mention with the new Mrs Baker.
‘So I’m taking the chance.’
Ted raised his Gunner towards him and said, ‘Congrats, Jim. I’m pleased for you. And I’m sure Bella will be thrilled. I’ll miss you, though. If you’re not going to be full-time, do you know who’s taking over from you?’
‘I was just coming to that. You’ve got a good record, Ted. This latest case has been complex and a PR disaster waiting to happen, but you’ve handled it well. Definitely the right outcome for Abigail. You’ve got four of the cuckoos arrested and you’ve plenty to charge them with. Including serious assault and probably even rape, too.
‘We’ve agreed you can probably close the case on your Body in the Bowl. It’s a racing certainty your unnamed Albanian was behind that, with his skills. It would have been nice to bring him to justice here, but far safer all round just to deport him back to where he came from.’
Ted took a sip at his drink. On the dance-floor, Trev and Bella were now jiving with no inhibitions. She was laughing at the way he was sliding her about with ease.
‘I would have liked to get nearer to the Big Man. I’m worried he’ll simply have moved somewhere else and will start again. The same for Data.’
‘Even if you found your dwarf, I think we both know full well he will be squeaky clean. No record, cas
t iron alibis for any times of interest to us. And above all, any business interests he has will be as pure as the driven snow.
‘Drugs might still succeed in getting him. They know what they’re doing and they’re tenacious. It might not be your collar at the end but I know you’re not bothered about the glory. As long as we get the bad guys.’
He took a long pull at his sleever of bitter. Smacked his lips in appreciation and smiled at the sight of his new bride, clearly having the time of her life.
‘So not surprisingly, when I was asked to suggest a successor in my role, I gave your name. You know the Chief and the ACC would both back you like a shot.’
Ted opened his mouth to start to say something but Jim waved him to silence.
‘Before you get too excited, the top brass have made it clear that as part of the cuts, they’re looking to fill the post with an experienced DCI, not a Det Sup, to save money. So there’d be no promotion or associated pay rise. Just a bloody lot more work for no more money. You’d have to be mad to want it.
‘Plus the catchment area is growing all the bloody time, as you well know. You probably heard we had to send some officers to the back of beyond in North Wales a couple of weeks ago. Something serious and only a local bobby and a couple of sheep there to deal with it.
‘So it would bring you more work. Less time with your Trev,’ he was looking at the way Ted’s eyes were glued on his partner, enjoying himself on the dance-floor. ‘Probably ulcers to match Kevin’s and no more money for your pains.
‘But DCI Darling, Head of Serious Crime, has a certain ring to it, eh?
‘What do you think, Ted? At least talk to your Trev about the idea. And give it some serious thought.’
She walked out of the shop and bumped straight into the young man who was hurrying in. Her bag fell from her grasp to the pavement, items spilling out and rolling about.
‘Oh, gosh, I’m so sorry. How clumsy of me. That was entirely my fault,’ he said hastily, already crouching down and trying to grab the packet of biscuits which was rolling determinedly towards the curb and the road beyond.
‘That’s all right,’ she told him. ‘It was an accident.’
He looked up at her and gave her the full force of his smile. Down’s Syndrome, he thought to himself as he looked at her. Although that wasn’t what they called such people on the porn sites. She spoke as if her tongue was several sizes too big for her mouth. She had the funny eyes, but she wasn’t a total munter. Best of all, her clothes were okay. Not cheap stuff. And the biscuits and things in the bag were market leader brands, not supermarket’s own value label.
He stood up, looking at her. He could tell she was weighing him up, taking in the expensive new threads the Big Man had sorted for him. The new haircut, which he was secretly thrilled with. He had just the right touch of expensive aftershave to be intriguing rather than overpowering.
‘Do you live round here? At least let me carry your shopping back home for you, by way of an apology for being so clumsy.’
‘Yes, I have a flat.’ When she mentioned the address, he had to make a conscious effort not to react. He could have hit the jackpot first time out with this one, with a bit of luck. He could hardly believe it. ‘Do you share with flatmates?’
‘No, I live by myself. I can carry my shopping by myself. But do you want to come and have a cup of coffee?’
‘I’d love that, thank you. But I insist on carrying the bag. I’m new round here. I’ve only just moved here, so it’s lovely to meet someone. A friendly face. What’s your name?’
‘Robyn,’ she told him.
‘That’s a pretty name.’ He stopped walking, put the shopping bag in his left hand and held out his right one to shake hers. ‘It’s nice to meet you, Robyn. My name’s Data.’
The End