Time to Play (North East Police) (7 page)

BOOK: Time to Play (North East Police)
13.22Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

For a moment she was tempted to just ignore him, but that wasn’t her style. Hopefully he’d pulled his head out of his arse now anyway. He’d been quiet as a mouse the day before during the training exercise, and had been gone by the time she made it back to the office from the nick in Sunderland.

She was already beginning to regret her decision to pop into the centre on her rest day to grab her kit bag. She’d left it there accidentally last night and it had her personal dry suit in, which she needed for the day’s dive. She’d fully expected to pop in without seeing another soul.

‘Connor,’ she greeted coolly, turning to acknowledge him. Immediately though, she felt guilty. The lad looked torn up and guilty as hell. Not one for prolonging torture, she added, ‘You OK? What’re you doing here today?’

‘Left my mobile last night. Thought I’d grab it before Bravo Team came in. Need it in case something happens to my mum. She’s erm… well, she’s not too good. You OK?’

Marlo noticed him falter when he mentioned his mum, but she didn’t ask about it. It was obviously something he wasn’t keen on talking about. ‘Am fine, just picking up my kitbag. I’m off up to the Farne Islands to do some diving. You ever been up there?’

‘Once, years ago. Listen, Marlo. About the other day –’

‘It’s fine, we all have bad days. Don’t worry about it.’ Apologies always made her uncomfortable, and she knew that’s where the conversation was headed. She held the door open for him and motioned him through.

‘OK, thanks,’ he nodded at her. ‘If you ever want a dive partner, I wouldn’t mind diving up that way. Heard the wrecks are amazing on a good day.’

‘There’s not much of them left to be honest. On a good day you can see a few joists and belly rails in the sediment, but it’s been a while since it’s been clear enough for good views. I’ll get my shot one day. You’re welcome to come next time I go if you like though.’

‘Great thanks, Marlo. And I really am sorry for snapping. I’ll see you Monday.’

She watched after him thoughtfully as he made his way up the stairs towards the locker room.
He’s a funny soul that one, young in age, but he has old eyes.

Reading people was something she did well; she’d grown up having to be able to read the moods of others and understand things children shouldn’t need to know. Foster homes and care homes had a tendency to do that, you practically slept with one eye open. She knew Connor had been genuinely sorry, but she also knew he’d been hiding something.
Hate it when people do that. Why can’t they just be honest and say what’s bugging them.

Her mind taunted her with its reply, ‘You should know. You do it.’

Guilt flashed over her: yes, she did hide things. Every day, in fact. Things no one on her team knew about.
What right do I have to judge Connor when I hide something so awful?
Jutting her chin outwards in defiance, she retrieved her kitbag from the wet room, got back into her car, and turned the music up loud.

Anything to drown out the screaming.

 

4
th
November, 0905 hours – detached house, outskirts of Hetton-Le-Hole

Elvie strained, her ear to the door, listening. She had heard voices outside her room a few minutes before and wondered what was going on.

Suddenly the key turned in the lock, and she leapt backwards to the bed, curling her knees to her chest as the woman entered.

Elvie sat silently. She knew the woman was from her home land, could tell by looking at her. The man who had kicked her was there also, following the woman inside. The other driver was there too, his face looking shameful as he glanced up at her and shuffled on his feet.

‘She needs to be taken to Wear Street. Rocko has man there wanting to pay for this one. He pay much. He come at ten o’clock. She must be there before then and she must remain pure.’ The woman sidled a hateful glance at the man who had kicked Elvie.

The woman walked to the bed and sat down beside Elvie, not suspecting for one moment that the girl had understood every word she had said. Reverting to Filipino now, she spoke to Elvie. ‘
Shhh, child, it’s OK. These men will take you to your new home. You will meet your husband there. He will teach you to be a woman and take care of you
.’

Elvie knew a response was required, and she knew there was no way in hell she was going home with a man to be his wife. She was only fifteen; even at home it wouldn’t be forced on her like this. But this woman couldn’t know that Elvie knew what she’d said to the men. Forcing tears to her eyes, she nodded slowly at the woman. ‘
But why must I go, I want to stay here? This room is bigger than my whole house was at home. Can’t you look after me?’

‘No, child. But you will be fine, I will check on you soon.’

As the woman stood to leave, Elvie heard one of the men snigger. They didn’t have a clue what the woman had said, that much was obvious. But they knew it was a lie.

Wherever they were going to take Elvie, it wasn’t going to be a good place. Suddenly she remembered that they’d mentioned the street before; it was where they had taken Nita. She would get to see her friend again. Nita would help her. She just knew she would.

 

Chapter Six

4
th
November, 0840 hours – Connor’s parent’s residence, Sunderland

Connor had been sitting in the car for almost half an hour. He’d purposely parked behind the hedge that surrounded his parent’s property so he could take a minute to prepare himself. But the minute had turned into more before he even realised.

He loved his parents, he really did. And he felt so guilty over what his mum was going through that it tore him apart at times.

Like today.

He sat in the car not wanting to go in and face his mother, or his dad for that matter. His dad had called him half an hour ago.
I can’t even spend an hour in the gym without interruption. This sucks. Why won’t Dad just let me put her in a home? I’d choose a nice one, she’d be way better off. Hell, I’d be better off.

Frowning, he realised how selfish he sounded. His mother had carried him, cared for him and raised him into a good man, despite the family trying to intervene. Who was he
not
to want to care for her now she needed it.
But she would be better off; that’s not selfish if it’s true.

Shaking his head he pulled the car key from the ignition. He’d been battling with himself over this for months now and half an hour in the car wasn’t going to make it any clearer, or easier. Sighing, he got out of the car and carefully shut the door, knowing if he didn’t concentrate on it, then his mood would cause him to slam it out of frustration.

When he entered the house, all seemed calm. There was no screaming, no shouting. Just peaceful quiet.

His suspicions instantly aroused, he yelled out, ‘Dad? I’m here.’

The kitchen was empty so he made his way upstairs.

This is weird; he called me cos she was kicking off. Doesn’t sound like she’s kicking off.

He thought he heard something and cocked his head to one side, listening. Eventually the sound came again, a whimper or soft cry. Focussing on the sound, he made his way towards the bathroom.

‘Dad? Mum?’ he said when he reached the door. He heard the sound again, but this time it sounded more like a groan than a whimper. Reaching for the handle, he twisted it and pushed the door open, not quite knowing what to expect.

His father was lying on the floor by the bath, a towel draped over his shoulder and a large cut and bruise to the side of the head.

‘Shit. Dad? Are you OK?’ His first aid training kicked in and he checked his dad’s vitals while pulling his mobile phone from his pocket and dialling 999.

‘Ambulance please, 41 Wainwright Grove, Sunderland. Adult male with suspected head injury, breathing but not conscious.’ Connor hit the loud speaker button and put the phone down beside him.

It must have been a relatively quiet day, as the ambulance arrived within minutes, by which time his dad had started coming around. The crew took him to the hospital, but Connor had to stay at the house, he had bigger problems.
Where the hell is Mum?

His dad had babbled about his mum hitting him over the head with a vase before the ambulance crew had arrived, and stoically remained silent whilst the crew asked him the relevant questions. The only thing he told them was that he’d slipped on the bathroom floor.

Connor did a quick house search, room by room. He was sure she wasn’t inside. He made his way out into the rear garden. The large shed at the bottom was locked, and she wasn’t seated on the decked section.

Why didn’t I just get out of the car? Instead of sitting there like some kind of loser while my mum hits my dad then runs off. I’m such a bloody coward.

A noise sounded from inside the house, and turning he ran back inside.

‘Mum,’ he yelled loudly, ‘You here?’

He pushed open the kitchen door and made his way into the hall, then paused, his mouth dropping open slightly.

His mum stood before him, wearing only her nightie, and next to her stood a cop.

‘Mum,’ he said, making his way towards her. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Where’s my son? He’s a police man you know. He’ll arrest you both for being in my house without permission.’ Her voice sounded shaky, scared even.

Connor walked until he was right in front of her, ‘Mum, it’s me, Connor. You remember me, right?’

Narrowing her eyes at him, she screamed in his face. ‘You’re not my boy, you’re not my boy…’ She reached out her hand and went to slap him, but the police officer beside her caught her wrist and stopped the motion.

Connor knew he must look desperate.
I don’t even know what to do now. This is ridiculous.

‘Connor? I’m Harry Green, the sergeant off D-Relief. We’ve met briefly. Is there somewhere she’ll calm down?’

‘Yeah, sorry, the chair in the living room window. She loves sitting there. It might help.’

Sheila pulled back against both of them as they manoeuvred her to the chair and sat her down. She had tears streaking down her cheeks and her screams slowly dulled to hiccups as she sat.

Connor and Harry sat on the sofa behind her.

‘Must be hard. We found her wandering down near the shops. Said she was looking for Marie and that she hadn’t come back with the milk?’

‘Marie’s my sister. She’s twenty-five, and lives away at uni. She hasn’t been back in a month. Mum has Alzheimer’s.’

‘Figured as much, my granddad had it. Could barely remember his name most of the time. Is there someone to take care of your mum or do you live with her?’

Connor looked up. ‘My Dad takes care of her, but it turns out he slipped this morning in the bathroom. He’s at hospital getting checked over, I’ll stay with her until he gets out, don’t worry.’

‘OK, no problem. I just happened to be near the shops. The shop owner told me where your mum lived. There isn’t any job on or anything. Can I suggest, though, that you have a chat with the social? See if they can offer any support?’

‘Yeah thanks, sarge. I’ll give them a call later when Dad gets back.’

‘OK, Son. I’ll leave you to your day.’

As Harry stood to leave, Sheila turned around. ‘Connor, baby, I didn’t realise you were here. Go make your old mum a nice cup of tea will you?’

Connor walked over to his mum, planted a kiss on her head, and sighed before adding, ‘Course I will, Mum. Stay here.’

As he walked Harry to the door, he heard the sergeant’s radio come to life in a burst of static. ‘Yeah go ahead LV,’ he said to the dispatcher as he gave a wave to Connor and made his way down the path.

 

4
th
November, 0950 hours – Wear Street, Sunderland

The van pulled up outside the house on Wear Street. Elvie looked out of the window and shuddered, it looked dilapidated, in need of repair, and just plain dirty.
This
was where they had taken Nita? Elvie felt a sense of foreboding as the skinny man opened the door and roughly pulled her out.

The street was by no means busy, but a few people were milling about.
Maybe someone will help me.
Elvie opened her mouth to scream but gasped instead as she felt the tip of a knife dig into her ribs.

‘Scream and you die,’ hissed Gaz pushing her towards the front door.

The other man pushed open the door and led the way inside.

The same scrawny girl glanced up from her perch in the hallway.

‘Upstairs, second on right. Will send man up when he arrive.’

Her job done, she turned back to picking her nail varnish off with her teeth.

Gaz pushed Elvie up the stairs, pausing at the door on the left not the right.

‘Danny, take her in there,’ he said, nodding his head towards the right hand side. ‘I’m going to go and pay a visit to my friend in here.’

Elvie watched as he opened the door wide. She saw Nita lying on the bed, her dress torn and ragged and her friend gazed at her with glazed eyes, not recognising her.

‘Nita?’ she said, pulling Danny towards the door.

‘Trust me, sweetheart, you don’t wanna go in there.’ He pulled at her arm, trying to navigate towards the room where they were supposed to be waiting. But Elvie resisted. The man holding her didn’t scare her, not as much as the other one anyway.

Tugging hard, she entered the room.

She watched as Gaz undid his belt, and realising his intent, she cried out. ‘Noh!’ She pulled hard at Danny’s hand, imploring him to let her go and to help her friend. But he just hung his head in shame.

Elvie tugged again as Nita licked her lips, obviously knowing what was coming. Gaz pulled a needle from his pocket and stabbed it into Nita’s outstretched arm. Elvie saw the moment her friend floated off into another world, and pulled at Danny’s arm again.

BOOK: Time to Play (North East Police)
13.22Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

The Looking-Glass Sisters by Gøhril Gabrielsen
Songbird by Colleen Helme
Regret List by Billings, Jessica
Delusion in Death by J. D. Robb
The Orpheus Descent by Tom Harper
Tessa’s Dilemma by Tessa Wanton
Prank List by Anna Staniszewski