The Half Truth (9 page)

John awoke first, his arm was draped over Tina’s shoulder as she slept, spooned against him. He stroked her hair away from her face and dropped a tender kiss on her shoulder. If only he could suspend reality, for both of them.

In the real world, where he wasn’t an accountant but a DS, sleeping with a witness or, depending whose point of view you were looking at it from, a suspect, wasn’t his best move. He was only too aware of the complications this could bring. If Brogan got wind of this, John could find himself on gardening duty.

Tina stirred and rolled over. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

‘Well, hello, there,’ she said. The touch of her lips on his sent his professional conscience packing.

‘Morning,’ he replied, returning her smile. ‘You okay?’

‘Is that code for do I have any regrets about last night?’ She ran a finger through the hairs on his chest.

‘And do you?’ he asked.

‘No. You?’

He shook his head. ‘Not possible.’

Her fingers found their way to the scar below his collarbone. She circled the damaged tissue.

‘How did you get this?’ she asked.

‘War wound.’ He moved her hand away, kissing her, distracting her from her questions. Soldiers were bestowed medals for their bravery. John’s medal, branded on his skin, bestowed for less heroic reasons.

John was in the kitchen checking his phone when Tina came downstairs later that morning. Her hair was still damp from her shower and she wore a white towelling dressing gown pulled around her, the belt holding it loosely together. Just reaching mid-thigh, it showed off her long legs.

‘Hi,’ she said, pushing her mane of hair back from her face. ‘Ooh, cup of tea. I am being spoilt this morning.’

He stood up and, putting his arms around her waist, drew her in for a kiss. ‘It’s my pleasure,’ he said and then sighed as his phone began to ring, vibrating on the worktop. He reached over and looked at the screen. ‘Sorry. Work.’

He gave Tina another kiss and then took the call.

‘All right? What we got?’ he said, he ears concentrating on Martin, his eyes on Tina. She took a sip of her tea and went about making some toast. Every now and then she would glance at him and smile. She looked relaxed. She certainly didn’t appear to be having any regrets about last night.

‘We’ve found Baz Fisher,’ said Martin.

‘Good stuff. What’s he said?’

‘Nothing. Says he wants to speak to you and you alone. In person.’

John paused for a second as he smiled back at Tina. Much as he wanted to get some info from Baz Fisher, the thought of having to leave Tina tempered the result. He looked at his watch. ‘Where are you? Okay. Yep. I’ll be with you by midday.’

Tina rested her chin in her hands. ‘It’s okay, you don’t have to explain,’ she said. ‘Will you be gone all weekend?’

‘Not if I can help it. Depends how things go this afternoon.’

‘What if Pavel, or whoever it was, comes back?’ Although she tried to sound unperturbed at the thought, John could tell she was anxious.

‘Why don’t you stay at your Mum’s?’

‘I suppose I could. I don’t really want to make a habit of it. You know, hounded out of my own house.’

‘Just in case I can’t make it back. It won’t be forever. Once this is all over, you won’t have anything to worry about.’ He admired her stoicism. She certainly wasn’t one to give in easily. However, he had to admit, he would prefer her not to be at home alone. ‘It would put my mind at rest if you were at your mum’s.’

She considered the idea for a few moments before nodding her agreement. John acknowledged the small sense of relief this brought him.

The empty feeling that had surrounded her since John’s departure was persistent, if nothing else. Tina had hoped she would be able to shrug off the feeling that she felt somehow abandoned and left to fend for herself. It was unlike her. Bringing up a baby on her own had forced resilience and independence on her. She hadn’t been sure how she would cope, but she knew she would have to. She had a tiny helpless baby, a new life, who was totally dependent on her and gave her a reason to carry on living herself. Flaky and unable to cope hadn’t been an option.

Missing John, not simply because she enjoyed his company but also because she enjoyed the feeling of safety he brought with him, took her by surprise. She hadn’t expected to feel scared being alone; it was a new sensation.

Being with her parents countered this as she and Dimitri walked along the seafront with them. They gave her the familiar sense of love and security. It was definitely what she needed right now.

As her phone sounded out a text message alert, Tina hoped it was John. She was disappointed to see Fay’s name flash up on the screen. She read the message.

‘Everything okay?’ asked Pam.

‘That was work,’ she said. ‘The Saturday girl has gone home sick and Fay’s asked if I could come in.’

‘Dimitri can stay with us today,’ said her mother. ‘He’s as good as gold.’

‘I feel a bit guilty leaving Dimitri.’

‘Look at him, he’s having a whale of a time with your father. It’s only a few hours – he will be fine.’

‘I know, but I don’t like to take advantage of you either,’ said Tina.

‘Don’t be daft. We’re his grandparents; we love having him.’

‘Are you sure?’ said Tina. ‘I know Fay will be run off her feet today. It’s a Saturday and one of the busiest days. Plus, the extra money is always handy.’ It would also help keep her mind occupied and give her less John-thinking time.

‘Of course, I’m sure,’ said Pam. ‘I wouldn’t have offered otherwise.’

‘Thanks, Mum. I’ll quickly text her back and say I’ll be about an hour. It doesn’t start getting busy until about eleven.’ She sent a reply back to Fay. ‘There, all done.’

‘Is everything all right?’ asked Pam. ‘I don’t mean with work, but with you, generally?’

‘Yes, of course,’ said Tina, crossing her fingers at the lie.

‘You seem a bit down, that’s all,’ said Pam.

Tina linked her arm through her mother’s. ‘Just having one of those days.’ She smiled at the older woman.

‘Nothing to do with the date you had last night?’

Tina stopped walking and turned to her mother. She issued her best innocent look. ‘Date? What do you mean?’

Pam laughed. ‘Dimitri was telling us all about John.’ She continued to walk along the concourse.

‘He did?’

‘He said you had a friend, called John, and that John played football with him.’

‘Is that all he said?’

‘More or less.’

Tina wasn’t sure she liked the ‘more or less’ bit. She was certain Pam was trying to suppress a smile.

‘It’s nothing serious,’ said Tina. They continued in silence, but the expectation of further enlightenment hung heavy between them. Tina felt compelled to expand. ‘He works in London. He’s a police officer.’

‘And is that where he is now? In London? Working?’

‘Yes, he is.’

Her mother might be getting old, but her brain was as agile as a teenager’s. There was no getting away with anything.

‘And that’s why you’re feeling fed up today,’ said her mother, with a certain amount of satisfaction.

Tina didn’t reply. This wasn’t the conversation she wanted to be having with her mother. She couldn’t tell Pam the truth about John, nor about the whole Porboski gang thing; it would only make her mother worry like mad.

‘If I’m honest,’ she balked at the hollowness of the expression, ‘I don’t know how much I’ll see of him. I’m not sure it’s going to be one of those sorts of relationships.’

Tina had thought about this after John had left that morning. John’s work didn’t lend itself to a long-term relationship and she wasn’t sure if that’s what she needed right now.

‘Don’t dismiss it so quickly,’ said Pam. ‘It’s about time you allowed yourself to start living again.’

‘Mum, please,’ said Tina. She’d heard this speech before about how she shouldn’t live in the past and had to move on. ‘Let’s not go there.’

Her mother made a humph noise. ‘Okay, I’ll say one thing, though.’

‘Mum!’ It appeared her mother’s selective hearing had kicked in.

‘If you can’t give yourself a chance, at least give your son one.’

It was like a punch to the rib cage. Pam hadn’t used that one before, a blindside comment. Tina sucked in a deep breath as she regained her composure.

‘Just because Dimitri hasn’t got a father, it doesn’t mean he’s missing out,’ she said in a measured tone. ‘Lots of women manage to bring their children up perfectly well single handed.’

‘I wasn’t saying for one moment that it wasn’t possible and it definitely wasn’t a criticism aimed at you.’ Pam tightened her grip on Tina’s hand, as it rested in the crook of her elbow. ‘You’re a wonderful mother.’

‘Thank you.’ The compliment softened the verbally bruised ribs.

‘Look at Dimitri with your father. See how thrilled they are to be together?’

Tina followed her mother’s gaze. Grandson and grandfather were deep in conversation, looking intently at a stone, knowing her father’s interest in geology, he’d probably found a fossil of some description. Tina watched them look up and out to sea. Judging by her father’s gestures and exaggerated facial expressions, Tina guessed he was telling one of his stories, which no doubt involved a dinosaur or a dragon and adventures at sea with pirates and sea- faring captains.

‘Dimitri isn’t missing out on anything or anyone,’ she said. ‘He has Dad.’

‘Not forever.’ Her mother’s voice was so soft, the sea breeze almost carried it away.

‘I know, Mum.’ Tina squeezed her mother’s arm. ‘Nothing is forever.’

John arrived in London at the safe house where Martin had taken Baz.

‘Bloody hell, you look rough,’ said John as he set eyes on his informant.

‘So would you if you were living in a half-way home,’ said Baz. He held up a holdall. ‘This is all I’ve got right now, thanks to you.’

John exchanged a look with Martin. The latter shrugged in response.

‘What’s going on?’ asked John sitting down opposite Baz.

‘The Russians are on to you. They know you are looking for Pavel Bolotnikov. They are mighty pissed off that someone gave their fella an extra smile.’ Baz rubbed at the three-day- old bristles on his chin.

‘So why are you so jittery?’ asked John. ‘And what was it that you couldn’t tell Martin you had to tell me?’

‘I had a tip off that the Russians knew I had been speaking to you. Apparently, Pavel himself has been asking after me. I don’t know who’s talking, John, but someone knows.’ He looked up at Martin.

‘Hey, don’t look at me,’ said Martin. ‘Why would I grass you up?’

‘Someone must have seen you in the café with us,’ said John. ‘Anyway, it’s academic now.’

‘Too bloody right. The Porboski lot want to know where Pavel is and if one of their scouts has wound up dead, it doesn’t take a genius to work out who did it. I’m not hanging around waiting for either of them to come looking for me,’ said Baz.

‘What are you planning on doing, hiding forever?’ asked Martin.

Baz patted his jacket pocket. ‘Got me passport. I’m off to visit my cousins in Ireland. I can easily get lost out there. The Paddies have got plenty of experience avoiding detection.’

‘You want to have a wash first,’ said Martin. ‘They’ll be able to sniff you out a mile off otherwise.’

‘Does he have to be here?’ said Baz to John. ‘He’s some sort of …’

‘Yeah, all right, Baz. Leave it there,’ interrupted John. The last thing he needed was a spat between the two men. ‘What did you want to tell me?’

‘Take a walk, there’s a good lad,’ said Baz to Martin. ‘This is between me and John.’

Martin gave Baz a derogatory glare before acceding to John’s nod of confirmation to be left alone.

‘What’s this all about, then?’ said John, once Martin had closed the door behind him.

‘I’m only telling you this because we go back a long way,’ said Baz. He leaned towards John, beckoning him to do the same. His voice was low as he spoke.

It was a good day weather-wise and the weekend shoppers were out in force. The café was more busy than usual and Tina was glad she had come in to help out Fay.

‘You’re an angel for coming in,’ said Fay as the swell of customers began to ebb. ‘I didn’t fancy the thought of Old Grumpy and his wife coming in instead.’

Tina laughed. ‘No, I can imagine.’

‘The afternoon tea rush is over with now, by the look of it. I can’t believe it’s gone four already.’ Fay turned her back on the café to face Tina. ‘Don’t look straight away, but see those two in the corner. They keep staring over here. I wish they would hurry up and go.’

Tina made a fuss of rearranging the cake trays and took a glance at the two customers. Sure enough, as she did so, she met the gaze of the stocky, shaven-headed man. She looked away, adjusting the napkins on the counter that didn’t need adjusting.

‘I see what you mean,’ she said. ‘I’ll go over and see if there’s anything else they want. Maybe that will give them the hint to go.’

Picking up her order pad and pen, she pasted on her best customer-service smile and headed over to the table.

As she approached the two men, she was aware that as the first man was watching her, the second man remained looking at his phone. He had longish dark hair, which looked like it could do with a good brush.

‘Shall I take these for you?’ said Tina, picking up the two empty coffee cups. ‘Is there anything else you would like?’ The man on the phone paused with his texting. Tina could see tattoos showing from under the cuff of his jacket. Three black dots were tattooed at the ‘v’ between his thumb and first finger. His nails were short and his hands looked as though they had seen a lot of manual labour. His knuckles looked scarred and misshapen.

At first she wasn’t sure if either of the men were going to answer, but finally the first man spoke.

‘No. Thank you … err,’ he looked at her name badge, ‘… Tina.’ He gave a smile, which revealed a missing tooth at the side.

Something about the two men felt wrong. Tina couldn’t put her finger on it. The man who spoke sounded English, but there was the faintest of accents. One she couldn’t quite place from just the few words he spoke.

‘We’re closing soon,’ she said. ‘I’ll fetch you your bill.’

She hurried off back to Fay at the counter. Old Grumpy would have a fit if he knew she was hustling customers to leave, but those two were odd. Her mind flitted to John and she wished he was here.

‘You all right?’ said Fay. ‘What did those two weirdoes say?’

‘Nothing. Have you got their bill? I told them we were closing. Hopefully that will get rid of them.’

The slam of a hand on the counter made both women jump. Tina spun round to see the first man standing there. He gave her another smile, one that wasn’t at all welcoming and slid his hand across the counter. Tina looked down. There was a five pound note.

‘I’ll get you your change’ she said.

‘Not necessary, Tina,’ said the man. ‘See you again.’ He held Tina’s gaze for longer than was comfortable before turning and walking out of the café with his companion.

‘Bloody hell,’ said Fay. ‘I wouldn’t like to meet them in a dark alley.’

‘Have they been in before?’ asked Tina watching the men wander off, somewhat aimlessly, up the road.

‘No. I don’t think so.’ Fay began loading the dishwasher. ‘We seem to be attracting a lot of unwanted attention lately.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘That bloke, who’s been standing across the road in the doorway. You know, the watcher.’ Fay emphasised the last two words. ‘Oh, Tina, the look on your face! I’m only joking. Well, half joking.’

‘It’s not funny,’ said Tina. She flicked Fay with the tea towel and forced out a laugh. It really wasn’t funny. Once again, the urge to go home and shut herself away washed over her. Then she remembered the intruder the other night. She wished John was here. Going home alone was not an appealing thought. One she couldn’t ignore as she had promised Mr Cooper she would bring him some milk.

The last of the customers left and Tina locked the door behind them. She looked up and down the street and then across at the doorway on the other side of the road. Nothing and no one looked out of place.

‘Right, are you okay mopping the floor?’ said Fay, untying her apron before Tina could answer. ‘Only, I’ve got to nip to the loo and make myself presentable. I have the lovely Harry picking me up from work tonight.’

Tina turned away from the doorway. ‘Oooh. Harry picking you up. Where are you off to?’

‘The cinema and then for a meal,’ called back Fay as she headed towards the back of the café.

A loud bang on the glass of the doors sent Tina’s nerves into orbit. She jumped and screamed at the same time, spinning around to look at the door. A big grinning face loomed through the glass.

This was getting ridiculous. She was jumping at the slightest thing. ‘We’re closed,’ she mimed at the man.

‘It’s okay,’ called Fay. ‘That’s Harry. Can you let him in for a minute?’

Tina returned to the door, unlocking it and letting Fay’s date in. ‘She won’t be long.’

Harry thanked her and loitered around the doorway. Tina picked up the mop bucket and went out to the back of the cafe.

‘He’s hot,’ she whispered to Fay, poking her head into the washroom. ‘And keen. He’s standing out there like a puppy dog.’

‘Ah, bless him,’ said Fay popping the lid on her lipstick. She took out her spray and applied a generous amount. ‘Right, I’ll be off. See you Monday. Have a good weekend.’

She gave Tina a hug before disappearing back into the café. Tina heard her laughing as she left. It was nice to see Fay happy, although it did make her wish John was around.

Leaving the mop and bucket in the storeroom, Tina took her coat and bag from the cupboard. She checked her phone for messages or missed calls. John hadn’t called. She sighed to herself and considered for a moment if she should call him. No, he was at work. He would be in touch as soon as he could.

The sound of the traffic from outside suddenly became noticeable, followed by the unmistakable sound of the door swinging shut.

‘What did you forget?’ called out Tina, checking in the cupboard to see what Fay had left behind. She couldn’t see anything and went out into the café.

She stopped dead in her tracks. Walking towards her was the shaven-headed man from earlier. His table-mate was leaning against the closed door, arms folded. His black, beady eyes monitoring her.

Her voice wobbled as she spoke. ‘We’re closed.’

A needless remark. All three of them knew that they weren’t here for coffee.