Black Daffodil (Trevor Joseph Detective series) (12 page)

Then she remembered. She wasn’t on call. Hadn’t been for years. She was working in reconstructive and plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons were never on call. They could schedule their consultations and surgery operations during civilised hours.

‘Daisy Sherringham. This had better be good.’

‘No names. It’s me.’

‘She squinted at the clock. ‘Peter? Are you all right …’

‘No names,’ he repeated, ‘I’m fine. I wanted to make sure you were.’

‘I was. Do you know what time it is?’

‘A quarter to five. I couldn’t sleep.’

‘I could. It was wonderful. Why did you wake me?’

‘To ask you if you are all right.’

‘I
was
fine.’

‘Sorry I bothered you. Go back to sleep.’

‘Don’t you dare hang up now you’ve woken me,’ she snapped irritably. ‘Did you really telephone just to ask how I was?’

‘I was worried about you.’

‘What’s going on?’ She sat up in bed.

‘Nothing.’

‘Funny nothing. A squad came round tonight. They asked if anyone had telephoned me about you. When I said no, they asked if I’d seen any strangers hanging around my place or at work. I pointed out that there are always strangers hanging around my workplace.’

‘You can’t talk like this on the phone. I explained what it would be like …’

‘I’m sorry my brain hasn’t woken up and neither has the rest of me.’

‘Were you asked to go somewhere?’

‘Yes.’

‘Somewhere safe?’

‘So they said.’

‘Then why are you still at this number and talking to me now?’

‘I can’t disrupt my entire life for you.’

‘No one’s asking you to.’

‘Yes, you are. I’m your girlfriend, not your doormat. I have my job, you have yours. Besides, they told me they would be keeping a discreet eye on me, whatever that means. Is it something to do with the case you are working on?’

‘Enough, if anyone’s listening in they’ll hit bonanza. There’s another reason why I phoned you.’

‘What?’

‘I love you.’

It was just as well Daisy was in bed. She would have fallen over if she hadn’t been. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘Do you mind repeating that? The line has gone peculiar.’

‘I love you. Will you marry me?’

Trevor woke at five after less than an hour’s sleep. He lay still, tensing his muscles and listening hard. Something had woken him. He wasn’t sure what. Taking his gun, he left the bed and padded on bare feet into the lounge. He could hear a voice. Radio? Television? He checked both. Neither was switched on. He went to the door that separated his suite from Peter’s. A light shone beneath it. He stood back and opened it before tentatively entering Peter’s lounge. A table lamp was burning. There was a line of light beneath the bedroom door. He crossed the room, opened the door, stood back and glanced inside.

The room was cool. The balcony doors open, the blinds clacking in the slight breeze. He knocked the bathroom door. The voice fell silent.

Peter called out. ‘Who is it?’

‘The bloody bogeyman, who would sleep if he didn’t hear voices in the middle of the night. You OK?’

‘Never better.’

‘I wish I could say the same.’ Trevor sank down on Peter’s bed. He leaned back on the pillow and closed his eyes … .

It could have been a few seconds, minutes or hours later when Peter shook him awake. Startled, he opened his eyes. ‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘I fell asleep.’

‘On my bed.’

‘Who the hell were you phoning at this hour?’ Trevor watched Peter remove the Sim card from his cell phone.

‘My lady love. I wanted to make sure she was all right.’

‘I bet she thanked you for waking her in the middle of the night,’ Trevor said sourly.

‘As a matter of fact she did.’ Peter poured himself a glass of water. He lifted the glass to Trevor. ‘Want some?’

‘Now I’m awake, yes.’

‘No please or thank you,’ Peter held it back. ‘Tut tut. What example is that going to set the coming generation?’

‘Hand it over.’ Trevor took the glass of water and sipped it. ‘The best thing about living in a five-star hotel is there are always plenty of cold drinks on tap and I don’t mean alcohol.’

‘There would be in your house if somebody remembered to fill the fridge. I want you to be the first to know. I’m a reformed man.’

‘That is too much to believe, even at this time in the morning.’

‘I just asked her.’

‘Asked who what?’

‘My love to marry me.’

‘You what?’

Peter stared at the water Trevor had tipped over his duvet. ‘Now look what you’ve bloody well done.’

‘It’s not that wet,’ Trevor remonstrated.

‘Yes it is.’

‘If you fold it over you can sleep in the other half of the bed.’ Trevor rearranged the bedclothes.

Peter went to the door. ‘I’ll sleep in your bed thank you very much. You can have the wet one.’

Trevor lay on the dry bit. ‘I’m too tired to move anyway. What prompted you to ask her now?’

‘Until tonight I thought I had all the time in the world.’

‘None of us have.’ Trevor closed his eyes and thought about Lyn and the baby she was carrying. Their baby – his baby – she had been so determined she didn’t want to know the sex but he half hoped – half wished it was a girl.

A beautiful grey-eyed, dark-haired girl exactly like her mother. And, given what had happened to Alfred and Lee, he hoped he’d live to see her.

Chapter Twelve

Trevor was locked deep in sleep. He was dreaming that he was on a train that was going fast – and faster. He was being rocked from side to side. At first the movement was gentle then it became more and more violent. He tried to look out of the window, but all he could see was a blur of colours. Someone was calling his name …

‘Trevor … .Trevor …’

It changed sharply, in tone and urgency. ‘Wake up you lazy sod.’

Trevor jerked bolt upright. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at Peter, his mind still lost in the nightmare world of a speeding, crashing train.

‘Upstairs phoned your mobile. They couldn’t get you because you were in my bed and bedroom and I was in yours. You have to be on the helipad on the roof in ten minutes.’

‘What?’

‘You thick or what?’ Lack of sleep had made Peter more irritable than usual.

Trevor repeated, ‘The helipad …’

‘Someone wants you to be somewhere urgently.’

‘Fucking hell …’

‘They said there was nothing for you to worry about. Everything is going to plan and perfectly normal.’ Peter was tired of having to speak without mentioning names. ‘I suggest you shower, shave and dress.’

‘No time.’ Trevor threw back the bedclothes.

‘There’s time. It will take less than a minute to get up on the roof. And you will be appreciated more by those who love you if you are clean and smell nice. Move it, out of my bed, so I can leave a note for housekeeping to change the sheets.’

Five minutes later, dressed, still damp from the shower, Trevor patted himself down. Wallets … keys … nothing he had on him, not even his clothes were his. Everything in the suite was Trevor Brown’s. And for the next few hours Trevor Brown wouldn’t exist. He could forget about his alter ego.

‘Trevor?’

‘I’m there.’ Trevor headed for the door and saw Peter grab his suit jacket. ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

‘There’s no point in me staying without you. You’re not brilliant, but you’re all I have to cover my back. Rather than hang around here, I thought I’d go with you.’

‘There’s nothing you can do …’

‘Except provide the glue you need to keep yourself together. Come on, you don’t want to keep the helicopter waiting. It’s rented by the hour.’

Trevor saw Dan standing on the fringe of the helipad on the roof of the hospital before they landed.

‘Lyn?’ Trevor demanded as he jumped down from the helicopter.

‘She’s fine. I spoke to the ward sister five minutes ago. She said the birth was imminent but she’s been saying that for the last half hour. Second floor, ward seven,’ Dan shouted after Trevor as he ran towards the lifts.

‘Expectant fathers, eh?’ Peter offered Dan a cigar.

‘I’ll talk to you when it’s time for you to hold your wife’s hand. Speaking of which, Daisy’s here.’

‘She would be. She works here.’

‘You called her in the early hours.’

‘How do you …’ Peter looked at Dan. ‘I might have bloody known. You packed listening devices and transmitters into our phones.’

‘She must love you to let you call her at that hour.’

‘She does actually. And if you were listening in, you’d know she agreed to marry me.’ Peter still couldn’t believe it. In spite of the murders, something wonderful had happened. And was going to carry on happening. He would be spending the rest of his life with the woman he loved.

He glanced at Dan. Exhaustion was etched into every line on his face. ‘Have you slept since last night?’

‘No. I had a couple of things to do.’

Peter could guess what the couple of things were. Dan would have taken it upon himself to see Alfred’s family and tell them personally that he had been killed. He doubted that Michael or Maria had relatives in the UK but there were still telephone calls to make – to family and colleagues. And Lee?

‘Any more news about Lee or his wife?’ Peter asked.

‘The arm has been confirmed as Lee’s. But we knew that. The locals are searching for him but so far they’ve found no trace of him or his wife.’

‘Kelly?’ Peter asked.

‘Nothing. She could have gone to ground. Chris and Sarah are fine.’

‘You’re not pulling them out?’ Peter asked. ‘I know we were going to do it this afternoon but, we’re here …’

‘They’re waiting for a consignment of Black Daffodil.’

‘Are you crazy?’

‘They’re being closely monitored.’

‘Like Alfred, Michael, Maria and Lee, were being monitored?’

‘We have first-class surveillance watching Chris, Sarah, the block and everything around them. If an ice cream van as much as stops in the street outside, we’ll have it covered.’

‘With a ground to air missile?’ Peter suggested caustically.

‘When you and Trevor have finished here you can go back and help them to close up shop.’

‘And the leak?’

‘Security are going through everyone’s backgrounds again.’

‘It has to be someone inside, Dan,’ Peter said soberly.

‘Stop reminding me.’ The lift opened and Dan stepped inside. ‘Let’s find out if we’re uncles.’

Daisy caught hold of Lyn’s hand. ‘Breathe.’

‘I don’t want to,’ Lyn snapped. ‘Trevor promised he’d be here. You said he knew I’d gone into labour …’

‘They promised they’d tell him,’ Daisy reassured her.

‘Bloody police! Bloody! Bloody! Police …’ Lyn grimaced when another pain took hold.

Daisy winced as Lyn’s grip on her hand tightened. ‘Time for gas and air.’

‘I’m going to hang on until Trevor arrives.’

‘Of course, you are, darling.’

‘And stop using that bloody voice on me.’

‘What voice?’ Daisy had trouble concealing her amusement. She had never heard Lyn swear as much as she had done since her labour pains had started.

‘That bloody “I’m the doctor and I know best” voice. I’m a nurse, remember!’

‘I remember. You sure you don’t want me to call your mother?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘She’s going to be furious that she missed this.’

‘My parents have been looking forward to my cousin’s wedding for months so they could catch up on the family gossip … argh! … that was a bad one.’

‘And you really don’t know whether it’s a boy or girl?’ Daisy asked in an attempt to distract Lyn. She knew full well that Lyn and Trevor had refused to ask the sex of their child but she wanted Lyn to think of something besides her ridiculous obsession to delay the birth until Trevor arrived.

‘No, I don’t know. But I bet it’s a boy,’ Lyn gasped.

‘What makes you so certain?’

‘A girl would never be this much trouble.’

The midwife bustled into the room. ‘I’ll just take a look at you, Mrs Joseph …’

‘I am NOT going to deliver this baby until my husband gets here,’ Lyn insisted. ‘And there’s no point in you two rolling your eyes at one another. I am NOT …’

‘You want the poor man to see what he’s put you through.’ The midwife checked the monitors.

‘Exactly,’ Lyn agreed through gritted teeth.

‘I’m afraid your husband is going to be introduced to baby after baby’s arrival.’

‘You can’t go in there without a cap and gown. Sir … sir …’

Trevor burst into the room, an auxiliary hard on his heels holding a cap, gown and mask. ‘Hello, darling. Sorry I’m late.’ He bent over Lyn and kissed her.

‘What the hell have they done to you?’

Trevor touched his hairless lip and bald head. ‘I’d forgotten about that.’ He put on the gown and mask the auxiliary thrust at him.

‘You look weird,’ Lyn clenched her fists against the pain.

‘Hello, Trevor. You do look odd.’ Daisy greeted him.

‘This is nothing.’ He took hold of Lyn’s hand. ‘You wait until you see Peter. And congratulations.’ He looked down at Lyn. ‘Did Daisy tell you that Peter asked her to marry him and she said yes?’

Lyn turned to Daisy. ‘No, she didn’t.’

‘He caught me when I was half asleep. I’m debating whether to change my mind. But that decision is for the future. Today you’re having a baby and that’s enough excitement.’

Another pain gripped Lyn. Daisy handed Trevor the iced sponge she’d been using to cool Lyn’s forehead.

‘You bastard!’ Lyn picked up a pillow and hit Trevor with it. ‘You said you would be here in good time for the birth.’

‘You didn’t tell me that you were going to be five weeks early.’ He looked at the midwife. ‘That doesn’t mean there’s going be a problem, does it?’

‘Baby’s heartbeat is strong, and Mum is doing fine. It’s possible Mum was confused about her dates.’

‘Don’t talk to me as if I am an idiot or not here,’ Lyn said crossly. ‘I’m a nurse, I know dates …’

‘Calm down, darling,’ Trevor smoothed Lyn’s damp hair away from her forehead. ‘This isn’t any good for the baby or you.’

‘Is Peter outside?’ Daisy asked.

‘Yes.’ Trevor answered Daisy. But he couldn’t stop looking at Lyn.

‘You don’t have to go because Trevor’s arrived, Daisy,’ Lyn protested.

‘Yes, I do. This is something the two of you should do together without an audience. Besides, I’ve my own man to see.’

‘Daisy,’ Lyn called after her as she went to the door.

Daisy turned back.

‘Thank you.’

‘My pleasure. And despite seeing all you’ve gone through in the last couple of hours and listening to all the cursing and swearing. I can’t wait until it’s my turn to do exactly what you’re doing now.’ She blew Lyn a kiss.

Daisy found Peter and Dan in the waiting room, drinking coffee.

Peter smiled at her.

‘Trevor said that you might look as odd as him but you look even more thuggish.’ She sat opposite him and Dan. ‘You are Peter Collins, aren’t you?’

‘Very funny.’ He ran his hand over his shaved head. ‘Lice can be a problem where we’re working.’

‘It’s not just the hair – or lack of it. It’s the clothes.’

Peter fingered the lapel on his suit jacket. ‘Real designer wear. No fakes.’

‘Not to mention the Rolex. You look like a couple of …’

‘Charming, eligible guys?’ Peter finished for her. ‘I was just telling Dan I’m about to make an honest woman of you.’

‘After seeing you, I’ve changed my mind.’

‘How are things going in there?’ Dan inclined his head towards the maternity ward.

‘They should be fine now. Lyn has been driving the midwives to distraction. She insisted she wanted to hang on until Trevor arrived. To our amazement, she succeeded.’

‘This is the hospital you work in, isn’t it Daisy?’ Dan asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Is there somewhere private we can talk?’

‘My office. I’ll tell the ward sister to ring us there as soon as Lyn has given birth.’ Daisy disappeared for a few moments before returning and leading them to the lift. They went up to the fifth floor and she walked along a deserted corridor, stopping outside a door she laid her thumb over the door panel.

‘High security,’ Dan commented when the door opened.

‘Among other things I’m working on a confidential research project,’ she explained. ‘There are files on developmental procedures in here that some companies would pay a small fortune for. Especially some of the more unscrupulous American companies that specialise in cosmetic surgery. But enough of what I do, please come in and sit down.’

Two walls of Daisy’s office were covered in bookcases. There was a desk and chair and four chairs set around a coffee table in the corner for conferences. Dan pulled a gadget out of his pocket switched it on and held it up.

‘If you’re checking to see if my office is bugged, Inspector, I assure you it isn’t. The hospital sweeps these corridors regularly.’ Daisy sat behind her desk.

‘It’s Dan, not Inspector.’

‘Something’s wrong, isn’t it?’ Daisy looked from Dan to Peter.

‘The job’s not going particularly well,’ Peter admitted.

Dan coughed. ‘Some of our undercover operatives’ covers have been blown.’

‘Yours and Trevor’s?’ Daisy adjusted the blinds to allow more light into the room.

‘We don’t think so,’ Peter reassured her.

‘Has anyone been hurt?’

‘Yes,’ Dan answered, because he sensed that Peter wouldn’t.

‘Anyone killed?’ Daisy questioned.

When neither Dan nor Peter answered her question, Daisy clamped her hand over her mouth. ‘Dear God.’

‘Three operatives were murdered last night. One is missing, so is his wife, and that is why we are talking to you,’ Dan explained. ‘As soon as Lyn has given birth we’ll put a guard on her and get you both out of here to a place of safety where you can be looked after.’

‘Like where?’

‘What does it matter where?’ Peter asked.

‘We’ll try to make a pleasant place, but, wherever it is, it will be somewhere where you can be watched twenty-four seven,’ Dan explained.

‘Oh no you don’t.’ Daisy folded her arms across her chest. ‘The last thing I need, are police officers following me around.’

‘Daisy …’ Peter didn’t get any further.

‘You can take Lyn and the baby wherever you like. And, I am in full agreement, they should be in a place of safety where they can live free from worry and Lyn can concentrate on bonding with her child. But I have a full-time job and I’m going to do it.’

‘Look here, Daisy …’

‘Look here, Peter,’ she mimicked his voice perfectly. ‘I’m your girlfriend, not your doormat. I have my job, you have yours.’

‘But …’

‘But nothing,’ Daisy interrupted. ‘There is no way that
I
am going to allow any mess that
you
have got yourself into …’

‘Mess?’

‘Yes, mess,’ she repeated, ‘to interfere with my life or my work commitments. My patients rely on me to care for them, consult with them and when necessary carry out surgical procedures to better their quality of life.’

‘Dan, tell her what we’re up against,’ Peter pleaded.

‘I don’t do domestics between people who have just got engaged.’ Dan headed for the door.

‘Oh no you don’t. I need you to help me convince Daisy that she’s in danger.’ Peter tried to block Dan’s path.

‘I’ve told her what I think.’ Dan frowned at Peter. ‘Move, will you. Or do I have to remind you that I’m twice your size.’

‘Order her to see sense,’ Peter demanded.

‘I can give you orders because I am your superior. But I can’t order Daisy to do anything.’