Snatched (24 page)

‘No, nothing,’ Sue said quietly, aware that he was only asking because it was the first thing everyone else had asked when they’d seen her today, so it would probably look strange if he didn’t.

‘Really sorry to hear that,’ Dave said, peering deep into her eyes. ‘But you know where I am, yeah?’

Bringing the plastic cups from under the counter just then, Irene said, ‘That’s a tenner, if you please, chaps.’

‘You what?’ Dave snorted. ‘There’s only five of us, not bleedin’ fifty.’

‘And you’d be paying twice as much as that in the pub,’ Irene told him firmly.

‘You probably paid less than that for the whole bottle, you stingy boot.’

‘Hey, we haven’t got a licence for liquor, you know. And if you think I’m getting myself locked up for you, you can think again. A tenner, or pop – you choose.’

Shaking his head, Dave slapped a ten-pound note down on the counter. ‘There, and buy yourself some new lipstick with the change, ’cos the last lot’s all over your teeth.’ Winking at Sue now, he said, ‘See you later, love,’ before heading back out into the daylight.

Slipping her teeth out when the men had gone, Irene gave them a wipe on her cardigan before slotting them back into her mouth. Sitting down next to Sue then, she said, ‘He’s a rum bugger, that Dave, but I’d take
ten
of him over that Carole any day. Don’t know what he ever saw in her, I really don’t. And her still using his name, like he’d ever made an honest woman of her. And he didn’t, you know. Not like my Eddie and your Terry did with us, eh?’

Smiling sadly, Sue gazed down at the faint pale line where her wedding ring had been. She’d carried on wearing it for months after Terry had gone, but had finally taken it off a few weeks back – under pressure from Julie, who claimed it was probably the reason why she was having so much trouble getting a new man. She still missed it, though, because it had made her feel worthwhile. Even if it hadn’t meant anything to Terry.

‘Should have heard her going on about you the other day,’ Irene was saying now, her conspiratorial tone bringing Sue out of her thoughts. ‘I could have slapped her, I really could; trying to make out like
you
were behind the fire. But I wasn’t having that, I can tell you. Oh, no! I put a stop to that right then and there! I said . . .’

Standing off to the side, Jackie’s eyebrows rose as she listened to Irene’s revised version of the association meeting. The two-faced old mare was not only claiming to have put Carole Miller right about Sue, but she was now trying to claim that she’d come up with the idea for this event. And that wasn’t fair, because it was Pauline who deserved all the credit.

Jackie needn’t have worried, because Tina had already told Sue exactly what had happened at that meeting, and who had said what. Anyway, Sue wasn’t listening; she was too busy trying not to throw up all over the old bag.

She didn’t know if it was the whisky on her empty stomach, or the tension of having to talk to Dave as if they hadn’t seen or spoken to each other recently that was getting to her, but she was starting to feel really hot and nauseous.

Seizing her opportunity when Irene paused for breath at last, she blurted out, ‘I think I’d better go and check on Connor.’

Reluctant to lose her audience, Irene said, ‘Oh, he’ll be fine with Paul and Tina. Here . . . have another drink.’

Shaking her head, Sue put her cup down on the counter and stood up. ‘No, I really need to go. I get nervous if I can’t see him after . . .’ Trailing off, she shrugged. ‘Well, you know how it is.’

Nodding sagely, Irene said, ‘Go on, then, love, you pop off and see him. But come back when you’re finished, ’cos I’ve still got loads to tell you.’

Promising that she would, Sue squeezed out from behind the counter and dashed outside.

Turning to Jackie when she’d gone, Irene said, ‘Did you hear all that rubbish she came out with when I asked her where she was when the fire started?’

Giving her an incredulous look, Jackie murmured, ‘I heard
some
rubbish, yeah.’

Rushing through the crowd, Sue darted around the corner to the car park and slipped into a dark corner. Leaning back against the wall, she closed her eyes and exhaled wearily. This was turning out to be even worse than she’d thought it would be, and if she had to listen to any more of Irene’s bullshit she would scream.

When a car turned in off the road and parked up just a few feet away from where she was standing, Sue held her breath and pushed herself further back against the wall, praying that the driver wouldn’t walk this way, because they’d probably take one look at her hiding there and think she was cracking up. And then Pauline would be all over her like a rash, and she couldn’t cope with any more fuss.

Relieved when the footsteps went in the opposite direction, she glanced at her watch, dismayed to see that she’d only been here for half an hour. It already felt like triple that, and it was going to drag on and on, because there was still all the night-time stuff to come yet. But she couldn’t even grab Connor and sneak away, because he’d be with Terry by now.

But if she had to stay, there was no way she was listening to any more of Irene’s relentless gossip. She’d stay back here for as long as she could and let them get on with it without her. Sue just hoped that Pauline had enough on her plate to keep her occupied, otherwise she’d probably send out a search party.

Pauline was just walking through the reception area when she spotted Jay knocking on the door. Rushing over, she unlocked it and brought her inside, saying, ‘How lovely to see you, Detective Constable Osborne. I didn’t think you were going to make it.’ Resisting the impulse to hug or kiss her as she had everyone else who’d arrived so far – because it didn’t seem proper, somehow, even if this girl with her lovely hair and her smart suits didn’t look old or ugly enough to be in the police – she said, ‘Anyway, come in and let me get you something to drink. There’s tea, coffee, or juice.’

Saying that coffee would be great, Jay followed her into the main hall and gazed around, amazed by how much the old woman had achieved in such a short space of time. There were glittery strands of tinsel draped all around the walls, and bunches of balloons pinned above the windows, and the tables and chairs which were usually stacked in the storeroom had been set out in neat rows. A bingo machine was in position to the right of the stage, and the DJ’s decks had been set up to the left, fronted by a bank of lights which were spraying rainbow colours out across the ceiling as the engineer tested them. And on the stage a couple of roadies who looked like they could have jumped straight off the cover of a Hell’s Angels magazine were busy setting up the band’s equipment.

‘Looks fantastic, doesn’t it?’ Pauline beamed, barely able to contain her excitement or mask her pride. ‘I can’t
tell
you how hard everyone’s worked today. And the little one’s not been doing too badly, either,’ she added, nodding towards Connor, who was helping Tina with something on the other side of the room.

Glancing across at him, Jay noticed how frail he still looked. His cheeks were pale and drawn, and the bags under his eyes were as dark as charcoal smudges even from that distance. But at least he was getting a bit of fresh air, which was good, because he’d been in bed the last few times Jay had called round to the flat, and the stench of his soiled pyjamas had been thick in the air. And sorry as Jay felt for him and his mother, she couldn’t help but pity Julie Ford as well, because the flat would be reeking of shit long after her guests had moved out.

‘He’s still not said a word,’ Pauline told her conspiratorially, sounding as concerned as if he were her own grandchild. ‘Poor thing must have really gone through the mill in that fire. I hate to think what must have been going through his little head, I really do.’

‘I’m sure he’s probably forgotten most of it by now,’ Jay told her kindly, sensing the guilt behind the words. ‘Children are much stronger than we give them credit for.’

‘Oh, I know,’ Pauline murmured, flapping her hand. ‘Anyway, let me get you that coffee. Milk and sugar?’

Telling her one sugar and not too much milk, Jay asked if Sue had brought Connor along. Last time Jay had spoken to her, she hadn’t decided if she was going to come, or if she would just send her son along with her friend.

‘Irene’s looking after her outside,’ Pauline said, leading her towards the long bar area at the back of the room where the tea and coffee urns had been placed. ‘She looked a bit frazzled, so I thought I’d bring Connor in here to give her a bit of a break.’ Lowering her voice now, she added, ‘I don’t think she was ready to see Terry just yet.’

‘Oh, is he here as well?’ Jay said, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. ‘I had the feeling one of them would stay away if they knew the other was coming.’

‘I think they’re both wishing they had,’ Pauline murmured. ‘Sue didn’t look too happy when she heard he was here; and he’s been sat in here since he got here – probably to avoid her.’ Nodding towards a dark corner of the room, she said, ‘He’s over there if you want to see him.’

Glancing around when the door opened behind her just then, Pauline saw that the caterers had arrived. Telling Jay that she’d best show them where to put things before they messed up her arrangements, she put her hand on Jay’s back and gave her a gentle push in Terry’s direction, saying, ‘Go on and see him, pet. I’ll fetch your coffee over.’

Walking towards Terry, Jay couldn’t help but feel sorry for him when she noticed the sadness in his eyes as he gazed at his son. It was a painful situation for the whole family, but in some ways it must be worse for him. They were both suffering the loss of their daughter, but at least Sue still had Connor, whereas this was the first time Terry had seen him since he’d left the hospital.

Reaching the table now, she said, ‘Hello, Mr Day. Mind if I join you?’

Giving a little wave of his hand to indicate that it was fine by him, Terry gave her a tight smile, his gaze immediately drifting back to Connor. Pauline had brought him over earlier, so they’d had a bit of time together, but it hadn’t left him feeling very positive because Connor seemed to be sinking more into himself than ever. Terry had asked if everything was all right, but Connor had just nodded. And with him still not talking, there was nothing that Terry could do to get to the root of what was troubling him. So he’d told him that he loved him and that he was always at the other end of the phone if he needed him. Then he’d let Pauline take him over to help Tina, figuring that it was better for Connor to be occupied than to be sitting in this dark corner like a stiff little soldier battling his unseen demons.

Feeling awkward as the silence pulsated between them, Jay cleared her throat, and said, ‘Have you been outside yet? There seems to be a very good turnout.’

‘I was out there for a bit,’ Terry murmured. ‘But everybody’s being a bit
too
nice – if you know what I mean.’

‘Must be difficult – for you
and
them,’ Jay said. ‘When people don’t know what to say, they either don’t say anything or they say too much.’

‘Well, this lot are definitely saying too much. And I think I preferred it when they were giving me the cold shoulder, ’cos at least I knew where I stood.’

Bustling over just then with two cups of coffee, Pauline handed one to Terry, saying, ‘I thought I’d best bring you one as well, pet. You’ve been nursing that empty can for long enough. Shall I pop it in the bin for you?’

Handing the can over, Terry forced himself to smile when she patted him on the shoulder before walking away.

‘See what I mean?’ he said to Jay. ‘You wouldn’t believe the trouble we’ve had with her over the years, but anyone would think she was my mam, the way she’s acting today.’

‘She’s probably just trying to show that she cares,’ Jay said, tearing the top off the sachet of sugar that Pauline had placed on her saucer and tipping it into her cup. ‘I know she’s been working really hard to get this event off the ground.’

‘Yeah, and I am grateful, but it still feels a bit weird,’ Terry said, pouring two sachets into his cup and picking up the spoon. ‘Seen Sue yet?’ he asked now, giving the coffee a slow stir.

Intrigued to note that he hadn’t spat his ex-wife’s name out like he usually did, Jay said, ‘Not yet, but Mrs Wilson told me she’s outside, so I’ll probably go and say hello when I’ve finished this.’

‘I hope her and Leanne haven’t spotted each other,’ Terry said, sitting heavily back in his seat as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. ‘That’ll be all I need – them two scrapping like a pair of idiots.’

‘I’m sure Mrs Wilson will be on the lookout for any signs of trouble,’ Jay said quietly, her eyes flashing with a rare hint of amusement.

‘Knowing her,’ Terry agreed, smiling wryly as he looked over at Pauline, who was bossing one of the caterers around on the other side of the room.

Jay’s mobile began to ring. Excusing herself, she got up and moved a few feet away to answer it.

Glancing at her, Terry couldn’t help but notice what a good figure she had. It wasn’t the sexy kind of curviness of Leanne – and Sue in her heyday – but the toned slimness that he associated with the gym. And her hair was naturally blonde, like Leanne’s, although a cooler shade than Lee’s dark honey. But where Leanne’s was long and wild and required hours of brushing and straightening and general fiddling with, Jay’s was cut into a simple sleek bob, which suited the shape of her face. And it was a surprisingly pretty face for a copper; much softer than the female officers who usually strutted around the estate, trying to out-butch their male colleagues.

Blushing when Jay suddenly turned back to him, he dipped his gaze and took a long swallow of coffee, grimacing when the hot liquid burned his tongue.

‘I’ve got to go,’ Jay told him, seeming not to have noticed that he’d been staring at her. ‘Could you tell Mrs Wilson I’ll try and get back? But if I can’t, I’ll call in on her when I get a chance.’