Nine Lives by Anita Waller (korean novels in english .TXT) 📕

priority they tracked down the change of plan she had mentioned in the text to her mother.

Erica pushed her chair away from her desk, but after checking her watch decided not to bother the Urlands with a visit; time was getting on, and with the responsibilities associated with a new baby, it wouldn’t be fair on them. She picked up the phone and checked in with Noah’s harassed-sounding grandmother, and arranged for a visit the following morning.

Flick had gone home, Ian was still at his desk, and a couple of others were near the photocopier. Erica glanced around the large room, and told everybody to go home.

‘Ian, your wife will forget what you look like.’

‘She might do, boss,’ Ian said. ‘Her mum’s had a nasty fall, so she’s gone to look after her till she’s a bit more mobile. I’m okay, nothing to rush home for, and I’m picking up fish and chips for my tea. Besides, I’m ferreting around in the WEA class listings, and when I get to a point where I’m comfortable stopping, I promise I will. Now you go home.’

‘I am. I saw Beth today, she’s doing okay. Still on heavy medication for the headaches, but they’ve moved her from high dependency so she’s thinking in terms of getting home in a couple of days. I’m not convinced…’

‘Don’t worry, they’ll not let her go until it’s the right time. Especially with head injuries. Her ribs okay?’

‘She says they’re fine unless she moves or breathes.’

‘He really meant it, didn’t he? Bastard.’

‘That’s one word of many I’ve used about him, Ian. I’m going home now, and tomorrow Flick and I are going to see the Urlands. We need to know which bonfire Victoria went to, instead of the one she was supposed to be attending. They may think they don’t know where she went, but we may be able to jog something in their memories. We have to try, anyway. You’ll be in charge of here, contact me if anything crops up.’

‘I will, boss.’ He swung back round to face his monitor. ‘Oh, by the way, I’ve done it.’

‘Done what?’

‘Put in for my sergeant’s exams. Couldn’t take the bullying any longer.’

She scuffed him across the back of his head. ‘Bullying? You ain’t seen nothing yet. And well done, you do the job, it should be official and recognised. Don’t back out or you’ll really find out what bullying means.’

Erica drove home lost in a world of her own. With three sergeants on the books, things would have to change. She wouldn’t be able to pretend she had three and didn’t realise, her superiors would be planning transfers as soon as Ian passed his exams. She guessed it would be some time before Beth returned to work, and therefore Flick was okay for now, but by the time Ian received his promotion Erica would have issues to deal with that she really didn’t want.

She pulled up outside her home, and saw that Frannie’s red Audi was already parked on the drive. She momentarily forgot her problems and her smile lit up her face. This woman was getting her through this bloody awful case, and she didn’t know what she would do without her.

Erica sat for a moment, then switched off her engine, locked the car and headed for the front door.

Frannie opened both the door and her arms.

30

Erica woke and checked her phone. 06:59. She silenced the alarm as soon as it rang at 07:00 and put a foot out of bed. She almost brought it back into bed, but instead slipped her feet into the fleecy slippers that had seen better days but still served a purpose. It felt icy in the bedroom and she knew it would be a good fifteen minutes before it became liveable. Maybe they should change the automatic settings for the central heating, these days a seven o’clock fire-up was far too late.

She sipped at her coffee with a sense of relief that there had been no early call-out, and she thought back to the previous day’s conversation with Flick about the café. Her decision to make Flick acting DS until the return of Beth had been made with her fingers crossed, but the younger woman had certainly stepped up to the mark. She was proving to be intuitive, and had no fear of acting outside the box. Joining the gym, while creating laughter between them, had been inspirational. Erica grinned to herself as she tried to think of ways of sending Flick to the gym to work out, and do some surveillance.

Frannie entered the kitchen as Erica was finishing her coffee. They exchanged a smile and a good morning kiss, and Erica grabbed her car keys and bag before shouting bye.

The journey into work was uneventful and she was surprised to see Flick’s car already there.

The briefing room was unusually quiet; most of her team were immersed in their computers, and she smiled at how easy they were to manage. They simply did it. They discussed amongst themselves who was doing what, and it happened.

Flick waved and stood. She followed Erica into the DI’s office, and waited until Erica had removed her coat before sitting down.

Erica followed her actions, and they sat looking at each other across the desk.

‘So. You solved it yet?’ Erica asked, keeping her face straight.

‘Yes. It’s Ian.’

‘That’s interesting. He’s a man.’

‘But if we arrest him, it makes our clear-up rate look good.’

‘Has he agreed?’

‘Not yet. Give me chance to get out the handcuffs.’

‘Sergeant! He’s a married man!’

They laughed. ‘Seriously,’ Flick said, ‘I think I should take my laptop and go write a book or something in that café. Observe definitely, but maybe chat if I can get away with it. I’m sure Robert will be in, and he might be a bit forthcoming.’

‘Or you could put Lycra on and go and do a workout,’ Erica said, once again stopping the smile.

‘Ah, but it’s not about the gym, is it?’ Flick was quick to point out. Very quick.