Bad Moon Rising (#1 - D.I. Paolo Storey Crime Series) (35 page)

Matthew lunged forward, but the handcuffs prevented him from rising.

“I think we’re done here,” Paolo said. “This interview is terminated.”

***

Paolo arrived at the psychologist’s rooms nearly twenty minutes early, but the receptionist said Lydia had already been waiting for ten minutes. He wasn’t surprised. He also wanted to get this part over with so that Katy could get the help she needed. The receptionist directed him to the waiting room, where he found Lydia, staring into space. She glanced over at him as he entered, but quickly looked away and snatched up a motorsport magazine from a side table next to her chair. She seemed to find the content fascinating, because she didn’t look up again.

Knowing how much she hated anything to do with motor racing, Paolo took her interest as a sign that anything was preferable to talking to him. Sighing, he sat on the other side of the room and waited for Jessica Carter to call them in. Not wanting to read about flower arranging, golf or hiking, the only subjects available on the table next to his chair, Paolo looked around the room, trying to get a mental image of the woman they were to meet. Judging from the pastel shades and old-fashioned watercolours on the walls, he imagined someone in their late fifties, maybe wearing tweeds and with a pair of glasses suspended from her neck. Her voice on the phone had been ageless, she could have been any age from twenty to sixty, but if this decor was anything to go by, she’d be closer to the upper age.

Finally the door opened and Paolo realised his guess had been way off. The woman smiling and inviting them to enter her office couldn’t have been any older than early thirties. Short dark hair stood up in a spiky style that suited her elfin features. There were a few laugh lines around the most vivid blue eyes Paolo could remember seeing. She was dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. All in all, she was nowhere near what he’d been expecting, but he could imagine Katy warming to her. No wonder Doctor Blanchard had recommended her.

“Please come in.”

Paolo allowed Lydia to go in first, then followed and sat in the chair next to her.

“Doctor Blanchard has given me details on Katy’s medical condition, but if I’m to help her, I need some background on how she came to be in hospital.”

“Ask him,” Lydia said.

Jessica turned her attention to Paolo.

“What she’s saying is that it’s my fault. What happened to Katy was my fault. She got involved in one of my cases and ended up in hospital. Lydia’s right.”

Jessica opened a pad. “Okay, let’s take things from the beginning. I’d like to start with some insight into Katy’s personality before this happened and we’ll go on from there.”

***

Paolo went straight from the psychologist’s to the hospital, giving Lydia chance to go home for a couple of hours to rest. He sat next to Katy’s bed, trying to convince himself that Jessica Carter would be able to help her, but right now he wasn’t sure anyone could break through the barrier Katy had erected. She stared at the ceiling, not acknowledging in any way that he was in the room. He forced himself to keep talking, keep telling her about his life, her school, anything that might spark some interest and bring her back from wherever her mind had gone.

“So, let’s see, what else can I tell you about? I’ve finished painting your room, so when you’re out of hospital it’ll be ready for you any time you want to visit. I expect you’ll want to change the colour scheme, but that’s fine. We can do that.”

He watched her as he spoke, praying for a flicker of interest, but there was none.

“Anyway, most of my boxes are unpacked now...”

He broke off as the door opened and Lydia looked in.

“I want to speak to you,” she hissed and then closed the door.

“Your mum’s here, Katy. She wants to chat to me, but then after that I expect she’ll be coming to sit with you.” He reached down and dropped a gentle kiss on her forehead. “See you tomorrow, kiddo.”

Lydia was waiting for him in the corridor. She nodded at him, then walked off to the waiting room. He followed and shut the door behind him. Looking at her face, this was going to be yet another conversation he’d rather not have.

“Paolo, I’ve gone over and over everything we talked about in the psychologist’s today. I know I’m never going to be able to forgive you for what’s happened to Katy, but I realised this afternoon that for Katy’s sake I’ve got to find a way to be in the same room with you without wanting to lash out all the time.”

She dropped into one of the chairs as if being on her feet was simply too much effort.

“When Sarah died,” she continued, “you didn’t seem to care about how it affected anyone else. I know you did care, but you shut me out. Your bloody job took over your life completely. You left me. Not physically, but mentally, emotionally, you left me to fend for myself. Katy, too. You have... had... such a great relationship with her, but you didn’t deserve it. I was the one that was always there for her, but she didn’t want me, she wanted you. Now look where that’s left her.”

“Lydia, I-”

“No, Paolo, let me finish. I need to get this out without losing my temper, or getting overemotional. Okay?”

“Okay,” he said and sat opposite her.

“I loved you, Paolo. I loved everything about you. Had done since the day we met. But then Sarah died and you changed; you wouldn’t let me in. Katy loved you, too. I expect she still does. If that woman can help her come back to us then we’ll find out. But you’re toxic, Paolo, did you know that? Really toxic. People who love you get hurt.”

She stood up, staring down at him with an emotion he couldn’t figure out. It almost looked like pity.

“For Katy’s sake, when we’re with her I’ll laugh, talk, carry on as if you haven’t killed one daughter and turned another into a vegetable, but don’t imagine for one moment that I don’t despise you, because I do and I always will.”

She walked to the door, opened it and left without looking back.

***

Paolo arrived back at the station still feeling as though his heart had been ripped out. He made straight for his office and closed the door, locking it. He couldn’t face talking to anyone right now. He reached up and pulled the blinds down, then turned and rested against the door. How the hell was he going to carry on working as a cop, feeling as he did?

Sarah dead – his fault. Katy catatonic – his fault. Lydia struggling to cope – his fault.

He slid down until he reached the floor and sat without moving, his back against the door. Maybe he should resign, just get out of the force and find something else to do. Something that wouldn’t put his loved ones in danger.

He had no idea how long he sat in the dark, but eventually an ache in his spine told him that whatever he did with his life, sitting on a cold floor wasn’t going to improve matters. He shook his head. Maybe he should look around for a different career, but until he found one, he had
this
job to do, so he’d better get on with it.

Forcing himself to his feet and ignoring the protests in his knees, he flipped the blinds open and unlocked the door.

Five minutes later it opened and Dave came in.

“Did you know that Azzopardi is off the critical list?”

Paolo nodded. “I heard a whisper, yes. Apparently he’s not expected to make a full recovery though. Why do you ask?”

Dave sat down. “Because, sir, the word on the street is that someone else has already picked up the reins and is now running the business. You’ll never guess who it’s supposed to be.”

Paolo smiled. “I can see from your face that it’s not going to be obvious, so go on, shock me.”

Dave leaned forward. “Oh, I think I’m going to do that, sir. It’s Maria.”

For the first time in weeks, Paolo felt genuine amusement and laughed. “Maria? She wouldn’t say boo to a goose, how the hell is she intending to control Paolo’s men? You must have that wrong.”

“That’s exactly what I thought, sir, so I’ve been asking around. It seems that gentle Maria has turned into Iron Maiden Maria. One or two who tried to get in her way have found out that she’s not afraid to deal out pain – and not just by proxy.”

“Bloody hell, that’s all we need. At least half of Azzopardi’s crew will revolt. One or more of his cousins will try to take over. With a bit of luck they’ll wipe each other out. I just hope to God they don’t do it on our streets.” He sighed. “Oh well, that’s a problem for the future and I’ll worry about it when it happens. This will be the first weekend in my new flat and I don’t intend to spoil it by giving any thinking time to Azzopardi and his successors.”

“You all settled in now, sir?”

“Only one box left to unpack. It’s still a bit of a mess, but at least it no longer looks like a parcel delivery depot. What are your plans for the weekend, Dave?”

“You know me, sir. I don’t make plans. I’ll find myself a bird or two tonight and have a good time. Love ‘em and leave ‘em, that’s me.”

“Dave,” Paolo said, trying not to laugh, “you don’t do any such thing and you bloody well know it. You’re head over heels in love, but don’t want to admit it, least of all to yourself.”

Dave shuffled on the chair. “I am not.”

“Yes, you are. It shows in your face every time you look at Rebecca. For Christ’s sake, give her a call and explain to her that you’re a pillock. Ask her to give you another chance. Believe me, letting someone go when you really care about them is stupid.” Lydia’s face flashed into his mind. “I’ve done it and now I’m having to live with the consequences.”

“But, sir, it’s not, she’s not ... I don’t know if she even likes me.”

Paolo smiled to take the sting out of his next words. “She might like you more if you stop pretending to be something you’re not. Go on, go away and call her. I can’t take the chance on you going all morbid and getting plastered again. The next time you fall down the stairs you might do more than graze your back. You’re an idiot much of the time, but a good copper; and I need you around the place.”

THE END

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