I've Been Watching You: a stunning crime thriller from The North East Police Series (10 page)

Ben yawned again. ‘Sorry, Eddie. Long night.’

Eddie waggled his eyebrows in response, his Bluetooth headset jiggling at the side of his head as he grinned. ‘Oo aye? Nudge nudge, wink wink. Say no more.’

‘Not like that,’ Ben said quickly. ‘Grace was up at daft o’clock being sick. Makes for a long one when you’ve got to change two sets of bedding through the night.’

‘Aw bless her little cottons. It’s awful when they’re poorly. Joey was up with something similar a couple of weeks ago. Elise and I were both zombies that day.’

‘How is Elise? Expecting again I hear? Congratulations, Eddie.’

‘Yeah. Took all these years to happen so it makes sense that having more is gonna be in quick succession. Doc says it’s twins this time. Dunno how we’re gonna manage with two babies and a toddler, but I’m sure we will.’ His grin was wide and infectious, and Ben couldn’t help but smile back.

‘You’re here for the one that hit the lady down on Frederick Street right? I’ve put it in the forensic bay for you. White with one sugar?’

‘Better make it white with two today: think I need the rush.’

Eddie left her and headed to the small, but well-equipped staff kitchen to the rear of the main office.

Ben made her way over to the forensic bay, and did a quick once around the exterior of the vehicle. It was an old car, and the paintwork was faded in places from too many years sat in the British sunshine. The front bumper was distorted from the impact, and the windscreen was shattered, a clump of hair and blood visible in the centre. It definitely looked like the vehicle had collided with someone.

She looked up as Eddie entered, handing her a steaming mug of what smelled suspiciously like freshly brewed coffee. Ben groaned as she inhaled that wonderful scent that only the fresh stuff gives off.

‘It’s the good stuff. They opened a new Starbucks around the corner. Treated the lads to one of their machines as a thank you for their work over Christmas. Best darn thing I ever bought. That blend’s the new fair-trade one from Guatemala, has just a hint of cinnamon hiding in the background.’

‘You give me coffee like this and I’ll never leave,’ threatened Ben with a smile as she blew the surface of the coffee and took a small, cautious sip. ‘Mmm that’s fantastic. Thanks, Eddie.’

‘You know where the kitchen is if you want more. I’ve got a shout for a vehicle broken down on the A19 – might not be back before you leave.’

‘No probs, love. Take care and drive safe.’

She turned back round, took another sip of coffee, and placed it on the side next to her camera case. Giving her head a shake, she put herself in the zone, and started the external photographs.

5
^th
June, 2055 hours – Sunderland University Campus

TJ cracked open the door to the lecture hall, and stepped inside silently. She huddled against the wall for a moment, contemplating. Dressed in a tailored trouser suit, she acknowledged to herself she would look pretty out of place if she sat down. One of the non-perks of reconnaissance after finishing work she supposed. The job in the estate agents wasn’t the best, but it was paying for her doctorate.

Her grey eyes narrowed as she focussed in on the class. Jacob was at the front of the room, standing at the podium, and the students who were peppered throughout the different seating levels, had already started putting their things in their bags, obviously happy that he was wrapping up.

She stood to one side, allowing them to egress as she waited for him to notice her. It gave her the perfect vantage point and she leaned forward as she watched a girl who was sitting near the front. Her red hair was loose, curls flowing down her back but clipped at the top with a silver slide. Without even needing to see any interaction, TJ knew instinctively that she was the one who had her brother all a fluster.

Jacob packed up his papers and looked up, as TJ made her way down the stairs.

He glanced over at Ben, smiling as she made eye contact despite the initial flash of panic.
What’s TJ doing here?

Ben’s cheeks flushed, as she stood and made her way down to the podium.

He flashed a warning look towards TJ, who’d paused mid-way down the stairs, her face curving into a smile, obviously enjoying his discomfort.

‘It’s Ben, right?’ he asked, disarming her shyness with his demeanour.

‘Yeah. I only found out the other day that we both work for North East Police. My boss has requested an attachment for me and I just wondered whether the request had made its way to you yet?’

‘I sent the acceptance back the other day. You’re booked to come over the day after tomorrow. Hadn’t Kevin passed the message on?’

‘No, but to be honest it’s been manic busy today and he was on rest days yesterday. It probably slipped his mind. That’s great, thanks, Jacob.’

‘No problem. I’ll see you then.’

Jacob’s words sounded way to prim and proper. He found himself shaking his head as he watched Ben head past TJ on the stairs, and by the time TJ reached him, smiling gleefully, he knew she had overheard the exchange.

‘Hadn’t he passed the message on?’ mocked TJ in a posh voice, grimacing as he jokingly punched her in the arm.

‘She’s pretty,’ she said shrewdly, holding her arms out in surrender as he glared at her.

‘Don’t go there, sis, she’s a student.’

‘Nope. She’s a colleague, you work together. That means you already had relationship status before meeting here. So the fact she’s a student is beside the point.’

Jacob sighed; he knew her logic couldn’t be argued with. Lord knew he’d tried enough over the years.

‘So how long do you two have working up close and personal?’

He looked at his sister with what he hoped was his sternest parental stare, and failed miserably as he caught the sparkle of laughter in her eyes.

‘Two days. Are we done here? Think we can go get some food now?’

He knew his tone sounded exasperated but he didn’t need ribbing right now. On TJs nod, he gathered his stuff together and followed her back up the stairs.

Wow, that smile. TJ’s right, Ben is really pretty, Maybe...

Pushing the thoughts back, he sighed.
She wouldn’t like me anyway.

5
^th
June, 2120 hours – O’Byrne residence, Sunderland

As Ben entered the house, she had the feeling that something was very wrong. She couldn’t put her finger on it. It wasn’t often she had feelings like that, not anymore. They had been more prevalent when she was younger but she had grown out of believing intuition was a thing to be acted on.

That belief was challenged today, though. The lead-like feeling had started in her gut a few days ago and had been increasing in weight ever since. Even the medication she took for the increased bile production hadn’t stopped the severe indigestion.

You just need to relax
.

Berating herself didn’t help either though. She shook her head as she wandered in through the front door, latching it behind her and locking it with the key. As she took her coat off, Aoife came from the kitchen and into the hall.

She looks so tired lately. I wish she would tell me what’s bugging her. This last week she’s aged about ten years.

Resolving to get to the bottom of it, Ben smiled at her aunt and quietly said two words.

‘Family Meeting.’

Aoife, knowing it was finally time, nodded slowly and followed Ben through to the kitchen. Stalling, she made them both a brew, setting the steaming cups on the table and sitting down.

She couldn’t even speak, the lump in her throat felt so big it hurt to breathe. Taking a hint from Ben’s arsenal for dealing with difficult situations, she pictured Grace in her mind, smiling widely.

It didn’t work.

Aoife’s eyes filled with tears as she stared at the girl who wasn’t her daughter but who was in her heart, and unable to help herself she started to sob.

Aoife saw Bens concern as her niece knelt in front of her and pulled her close, and she dropped her head to Ben’s shoulder as her body shook with wracking sobs. She heard Ben’s breath catch, and knew she was crying too. It provided little comfort and Aoife felt guilty that she was responsible.

After a few minutes, Aoife allayed her crying to a series of hiccups, still holding her niece tightly.

Ben’s voice sounded muffled as she finally asked her aunt what was wrong.

Aoife took a deep breath, holding Ben’s at arms’ length so she could make eye contact whilst she told her.

‘I’ve been wanting to tell you this for days. It’s just been so hard, I didn’t want to upset you with everything you have on your plate at the moment.’

Ben visibly straightened her back, and stretched her shoulders, as if steeling herself for what was to come.

Aoife’s voice broke, but she managed to get the words out.

‘I have cancer.’

‘No,’ whispered Ben, the colour draining from her face. ‘How bad? You’re fighting it, right? Aoife? Please.’

Ben’s voice was shocked, her fear permeated the air in the kitchen, and it felt thick and clogged with emotion. The overwhelming ache Aoife hadn’t been able to shake, suddenly faded, there was no way this was going to beat her. She wouldn’t let it. She had a family, damn it. A family who needed her.

Steadying herself further, she gave Ben the full details.

‘I have an appointment to see my consultant tomorrow but I think I’ll be scheduled in shortly to have the lump removed.  From what I understand, this tells the surgeon how bad it is and how best to treat it. It’s usually radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Sometimes it’s both. He said the lump is small, only about three centimetres in diameter, so he’s hopeful.’

‘How long have you known?’ Ben paused, she was obviously hurt that her aunt hadn’t told her before now. ‘Why didn’t you tell me you had a lump?’

‘I found the lump a couple of months ago. But I only found out it was cancer last week. The day of your meeting at the school. And I didn’t tell you because I thought it was nothing. I didn’t want you to worry. I’m sorry.’

Ben shook her head. ‘I knew it. I knew something was wrong. I’ve had a bad feeling all week. Aoife, what can I do? You know I’ll help. I can reduce my hours at work, you won’t be able to look after Grace as much, and...’

‘Now you wait just a minute.’ Aoife was instantly annoyed. ‘Don’t you dare go writing me off yet, young lady. I am perfectly capable of carrying on as we are for the time being. The consultant said he will go over the ins and outs of the treatment plan tomorrow. I was going to ask if you would come with me, if you wouldn’t mind that is.’

‘Of course I will,’ Ben pulled her aunt back into a tight hug, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply I was writing you off. I’m just worried. I love you.’

‘We are going to get through this, Ben. You and me, we can cope with anything as long as we have each other’s support. You taught me that.’

Aoife felt Ben plant a soft kiss on her forehead, and knew she understood as she asked, ‘What happens now?’

‘Now, you get your dinner which is in the microwave. You check on that wonderful baby asleep upstairs, and we deal with the cancer tomorrow. I will not let either of us dwell on the bad here. My consultant is positive, and it’s the only way I want to be. I should’ve told you earlier but that can’t be helped now. It’s going to take a lot more than a lump in my boob to take me away from my family. And if fate doesn’t like that, well he can stick it up his arse.’

Ben couldn’t help but smile at her aunt; the sudden burst of angry determination had brought out her strong Irish accent and it was a rare occasion when Aoife used cuss words. She was glad to see her aunt’s fighting spirit coming out.
I can’t believe she didn’t tell me.

It was hard to stay positive but she knew her aunt needed her. Aoife didn’t deserve cancer, nobody did.

The uneasy feeling in her stomach settled down, as if knowing what was wrong helped make it a little lighter. Everything was going to be OK. It had to be.

Chapter Eight

6
^th
June, 0700 hours – Tunstall, Sunderland City Centre

He sat in front of the computer screens, focussing on the images in front of him. He knew Clarice was the one, but he still hadn’t been able to stop watching the others. It gave him a buzz watching the women when he knew they didn’t even know, would never think for a second that a camera had been installed.

Maybe when he was finished with Clarice he should have one of the others. Or maybe he should have one of them first, a starter course of sorts.

With a mild frown, he shook his head.

No.

Nothing would detract from her. It all had to be perfect this time.

He entered in the disconnection codes for the other four cameras, the screens suddenly going dark before he could change his mind.

He had already decided where he would take her, the perfect location for their rendezvous. It had been Clarice’s carer who had provided the answer. A simple virus installed on the computers at the Outreach centre, an interceptor on the line as they had called the engineer and he was set to go. Fixing the virus had been easy, installing a couple of cameras also simple. The override for the alarm system had been harder but even that had been no real issue. He actually had access to several potential locations, but he knew this one would work the best. There was something about the Outreach Centre that made this personal. And personal was always good. He knew he wouldn’t stick around for long afterwards.

Noting the positivity posters on the wall of the carer’s office, he shuddered in disgust.

We’ll see how positive you are afterwards.

Most of the preparation work was done. He was ready.