No Hiding Place: An edge of your seat mystery/thriller. (DI Sally Parker thrillers Book 2) (14 page)

Simon sniggered. “Don’t tell me
you’re still living at home?”

“Out of necessity—both my
parents’ and my own. Don’t ask. It suits all concerned.” Sally
nodded at the two sample envelopes she’d placed on his desk. “I’ve
got two samples for you. One is from Colin Whiting. I’ve just
pulled him in for questioning and discovered that he had an affair
with Gemma behind his brother’s back.”

“Nice family. Could he be the
father of her child? Is that what you’re thinking?”

Sally chewed her lip. “I hope
not, for all their sakes. I don’t think they’re the most loving of
families. That sort of news could do irreparable damage, even if
the mother and child are no longer with us.”

“And who does the other sample
belong to?”

“The man, a stranger, who spoke
to Gemma. He’s one of the last people to see her alive on the
evening of her death.”

“I see. So you’re looking at
trying to match his DNA to anything found at the murder scene in
that case, as opposed to the child’s DNA?”

“That’s right. I think he’s
innocent, but you know as well as I do, there’s just no telling
today. Criminals are getting craftier by the day. I’m going to
shoot off now. Can I have the DNA match to the baby’s ASAP?”

“I’ll order the lab to treat it
as a priority. I’ll try and get an answer for you in the next
twenty-four to forty-eight hours. How’s that?”

“You’re a star. Thanks, Simon.”
Sally stood and walked towards the door. “Have a good evening.”

“You, too. I hope all is well
when you get home with your mother.”

“Me, too.”

Sally left the pathology
department and drove to Clarissa Morgan’s address. At first, the
woman objected profusely to Sally showing up at her home, but with
her husband’s arrival imminent, she told Sally what she wanted to
know about the illicit night she’d spent with Taylor Hew. The
meeting took all of ten minutes once the woman succumbed and
revealed the truth.

When Sally arrived at her
parents’ home, Dex greeted her in his usual enthusiastic way of
going around and around in circles, before finally collapsing on
the floor for a tummy rub. “Hello, treasure. I’m glad to see you,
too.” She kissed the top of his head, and he let out a groan of
pleasure. “Maybe we’ll have time to squeeze in a run down by the
river later, eh?”

“That’ll be nice, love. Hard
day, I take it?” Her father’s voice startled her.

Sally patted Dex’s tummy then
kissed her father on the cheek and gave him a weary smile. “You
could say that, Dad. I’ve been racing the length and breadth of the
county today. What about you? Any news on that contract you quoted
on?”

“Not yet, love. I’m sure I’ll
hear by the end of the week.”

Sally linked arms and ventured
into her mother’s sacred domain the kitchen. “Can I help with
anything, Mum?”

“Hello, dear. I’m fine. Your
father has already laid the table.” Her mother wiped a hand across
her eyes.

Sally winked at her father and
motioned for him to leave them alone. He nodded and called Dex into
the back garden.

Sally’s mother glanced her way.
Seeing the redness around her mother’s eyes upset Sally. “Mum,
what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know, love. I keep
bursting into tears when I least expect it.”

Sally took the wooden spoon
from her mother’s hand and directed her over to the kitchen table.
“Mum, sit there. I’ll finish the dinner.”

“No, that’s not fair. You’ve
been out at work all day. I’ll be fine, love.”

“Come on. What’s really going
on, Mum? You can confide in me. Are you and Dad having marital
problems?” She stirred the gravy as it came to a boil. Her mother’s
silence made her turn her head sharply. “Mum?”

Her mother had pulled a tissue
from the nearby box and was wiping fresh tears from her eyes. “It’s
really nothing to worry about. We’re fine, in our own way.”

Sally switched off the gas
beneath the vegetables and marched across the room. She sat next to
her mother and clasped her hands between her own. “You can’t say
that and expect me not to ask what you mean, Mum. Are you having
marriage problems? Is it the debt situation?”

“No, that’s sorted now, thanks
to your generous gesture.” Her mother waved a hand in front of her.
“Just ignore me. I’m feeling emotional, and I have no idea
why.”

“Is it the menopause? Maybe
your body has got used to the tablets you’re on. Perhaps you need
to visit the doc’s to get a check-up. Do you want me to come with
you?”

“Men have no idea what we
bloody have to contend with, do they? I get a sudden whoosh go
right through me, as if a cauldron has been set alight in my
stomach, and it erupts throughout my body. I can’t describe the
feeling any better than that. I hope you never have to go through
it, darling.”

“That’s terrible, Mum. Maybe
you should try and pinpoint when these sudden rushes come on. I
read an article the other month about some studies scientists have
conducted recently about the effects of caffeine on a menopausal
woman. I’ll see if I can find it for you to read. Take it to the
doc’s with you and get his opinion on the report.”

“Perhaps I’ll limit my intake
for a week or so, just to see if there’s any truth in it. All I can
say is that when these surges strike, God help you and your father
if you’re within reach. I’m warning you now—I’m not totally in
control of my faculties when they occur. Take cover. Maybe you both
should consider wearing tin hats for your own protection.”

Sally leaned over and kissed
her mother’s cheek, noticing the heat beneath her lips when she
brushed her mother’s skin. “You’re burning up, Mum. I’m going to
call the doc’s first thing, get you an appointment. It’ll probably
be a couple of weeks before he can fit you in anyway.”

“I’ll make the call; I promise.
You have enough on your plate as it is, love. How’s the case
going?”

“Cases! They’re going. I found
out today that the first victim who died was pregnant.”

Her mother gasped and covered
her mouth. Clasping her hands together on the table once more, she
said, “Just goes to show that there’s always someone worse off than
yourself, doesn’t it? I must stop wallowing in self-pity. I have a
loving husband and a beautiful, talented daughter. What more could
a person want in life?”

“I thought the same thing, Mum.
Apparently, this young lady had everything to live for. Now she’s
going to be six feet under in a matter of days. Life’s so unfair.
It should be a lesson to us all to live life to the full and to
always be grateful for the hand we’ve been dealt. I know that I’ve
changed my perception on life since dumping Darryl, and I have to
say, I feel a whole lot better for doing that, too.”

“You’re remarkable. I’m in awe
of the way you handled that situation. I’m not sure how I would
have coped if I were confronted with the same horrendous ordeal you
had to go through. Let’s hope the judge is female and comes down on
your side in the trial, love.”

“I really don’t want to think
about that now. We’ll find out soon enough. Hey, I’m starving. Is
that dinner ready yet?” Sally smiled and placed a hand on her
mother’s cheek. “I love you, Mum. Don’t ever change. So what if the
menopause makes you fly off the handle now and again? It won’t make
Dad or me feel any differently towards you. Just give us fair
warning, and we’ll all survive to live another day.”

“I love you, too, sweetheart. I
couldn’t wish for a lovelier daughter. And yes, dinner is ready to
be served up now. Do you want to help?”

They left the table, their arms
wrapped around each other’s waist, as the back door opened. Her
father was waving a white hanky tied to a garden cane. “Is it safe
for us men to come in now?” he asked, referring to himself and
Dex.

Sally and her mother burst into
laughter. “I think that’s acceptable. Don’t you, Mum?”

“For now. Make the most of it.
Not sure when Vesuvius will erupt again. I’m sorry for having a go
at you, Christopher.”

Her father joined them and
placed his arms around them both. “Group hug. No need to apologise,
Janine. I love you all the same.”

Sally smiled lovingly at her
parents, and a pang of envy tugged at her heart when she realised
she would never experience the true companionship her parents
shared because of the scars one man had left on her life.
Damn
you, Darryl Parker. I hope the judge locks you up for years for the
heartache you’ve triggered within me. Shame on you and all the
other men in this world who refuse to treat women as their
equals.

After dinner and all the
clearing up was completed, Sally made good on her promise to take
Dex for a walk down by the river, before it grew dark. She watched
the golden-haired lab bounding through the long grass, stalking the
birds, and barking at them as they took flight. Life was good when
she was out with her treasured friend. Her mobile rang. She took
the phone out of her pocket and groaned. “Hi, Jack. You beat me to
it; I was about to ring you. How’s Teresa doing?”

“Hi, Sally. Well, she’s
delivered the baby—it’s a girl, by the way—but there are
complications with the little one.”

“Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry to
hear that. Is it because of the baby’s size?”

“Partially, plus they think she
has a heart defect. They’re going to carry out further tests in the
next few days. After all the turmoil we’ve been through over the
last few months, it looks like it will all be in vain if the little
mite doesn’t pull through.”

She could hear the tremor in
her partner’s voice. “Hey, Bullet, don’t you dare give up on that
girl. Think positive. They’re stronger than people give them credit
for at times—even I know that. Hang in there. Promise me?”

“I will. But the doc has told
us not to raise our hopes. If I think positive, it’s only going to
make it a darn sight worse when the day comes to say goodbye to the
little one, won’t it?”

“Bloody hell! I’m sorry, Jack.
Hey, the doc might be wrong. Don’t write her off just yet. How’s
Teresa feeling?”

“Sore. She won’t stop crying,
which is understandable. Her mother’s reacting very much the same
way. I feel a right shit not joining them.”

“Don’t be daft. I can hear how
upset you are. They’ll realise how inadequate you feel, I’m sure.
They probably appreciate your strength not to break down right now.
Don’t be too despondent, matey.”

“Thanks, boss. You’ve hit the
nail on the head, it’s the feeling of inadequacy that’s hard to
handle. Needless to say, I’d like to take the day off tomorrow, if
that’s okay?”

“Of course. Take all the time
you need. I’ll drop by the chief’s office tomorrow to let him know.
Give my love to the girls. Ring me with any developments, you hear
me? Take care.”

“Will do. Thanks, Sally.”

She hung up and called Dex.
Dropping to her knees, she cuddled and kissed the dog on the head.
“I’m so glad I have you, boy. Come on, let’s go home before it gets
dark.” She placed the slip leash over his head, and they walked
back to the house just as nightfall descended.

Sally smiled when she heard her
mother singing as she prepared breakfast for them all the following
morning. “You sound much happier, Mum. You’re challenging the birds
with that beautiful dawn chorus.” She kissed her mother on the
cheek and let Dex out the back door.

“Maybe there’s some truth in
that old adage about a problem shared, after all, darling. I can’t
thank you enough for the support you’ve shown me over my menopause.
Not everyone would be as understanding as you and your father. I’m
blessed to have you both in my life.”

Sally sniggered and poured them
all a cup of tea. “Just remember
that
the next time the urge
to attack us with a frying pan takes your fancy, okay?”

“I’ll do that, dear. The
menopause is loathsome! If I could suck all my productive bits out,
I would!”

“Mum! You are funny.”

Her mother studied her with a
perturbed expression. “Are you mocking me, child?”

“Don’t be silly. I bet
thousands of women in your situation feel the same.”

Her mother smiled and touched
Sally’s face gently. “You’re one in a million, daughter of mine…
one in a million. Do you have time for scrambled eggs on
toast?”

“Try and stop me, as long as I
can have it with lashings of ketchup. I can’t eat eggs without
disguising them. You know that.”

“That peculiarity of yours has
never wavered over the years.”

Her father entered the kitchen
and pecked them both on the cheek. “How are my two favourite girls
this morning?”

“Full of the joys of spring,
except it’s the middle of September. Work that one out, Dad.” Sally
chortled.

“That’s good to hear. I could
eat two horses this morning, Janine. What’s on the menu, love?”

Her mother chuckled. “The
things that come out of a chicken’s bum. Will that do you?”

Sally laughed at her father’s
shocked expression and sought out the cutlery to lay the breakfast
table.

Her father let out a huff. “I’m
beginning to regret asking. Yuck! What a bloody image that just
conjured up.”

It was wonderful to share a
pleasant, angst-free breakfast with her parents before she said
farewell to them and set off for the station.

When she pushed open the doors
to the incident room, Sally found the rest of the team already busy
at their desks. She glanced up at the clock on the wall to see it
was only five minutes to eight. Her chest puffed out with pride for
her team’s willingness to attack their day before their shift
began. “You guys rock… just saying.”

“You set a good example… just
saying.” Joanna smiled. She looked up from her computer, and her
face turned serious. “Any news on Jack’s daughter, boss?”