Sudden Death (32 page)

Pobrosky visibly blushed, her freckles darkening in the crimson glow.

‘Come inside, we need to chat,’ said Erasmus following Karen into the house.

Thirty minutes later DCI Pobrosky sat back in her armchair and looked at them both.

‘So let me get this straight so I understand. Your child has been cutting herself and is having some kind of internet relationship with this “Ethan” who you have never met. Your old school friend, who you have not seen in fifteen years, her teenage daughter was cutting herself and has now committed suicide. And you have just discovered the body of another school friend, by your own admission, a lonely woman, who apparently has also committed suicide.’

‘It can’t be a coincidence,’ said Karen. She leant forward, reducing the space between her and Pobrosky.

‘OK, you think that someone is out to get you and the link is you and your friends. So, why would someone do that?’

Karen opened her mouth to say something but the words didn’t come. She sank back into the sofa’s embrace.

‘Tell her about the Black Rose.’

Karen paled visibly but told Pobrosky about what Ella had said in her email and then the badge they had seen on the dog.

‘You haven’t been to the police yet because you know how it looks. The most likely causes of death in teenagers are car crashes and suicide. Your daughter cuts herself and has an online boyfriend – how many teenage girls do you think that description applies to? And your friend has killed herself. Maybe it’s just a case of pattern recognition on your part? And this Black Rose, well, the connection is you three were part of the gang but that’s where the connection ends, and, as I say, suicides are not a rare occurrence.’

Erasmus looked straight at Pobrosky

‘Two suicides within the space of three weeks? The timing narrows the odds, wouldn’t you say?’

Pobrosky turned her gaze to Karen.

‘I haven’t got any children so I can’t know what you must feel but at the moment I know you would do anything to protect your child. I can’t open a formal investigation; there is no evidence at all that any crime has been committed. But what I will do is talk to the officers investigating Louise’s death and I will drop a line to the Australian officers and see if any of them will play ball. But that’s all I can do.’

Karen took hold of Pobrosky’s hands.

‘Thank you.’

Pobrosky let go of Karen’s hands and her expression of concern disappeared.

‘But do me a favour, speak to your daughter, Mrs Kelly. Erasmus, can I have a word.’

Erasmus stood up.

‘Sure, let me show you out.’

He guided Pobrosky to the front door and saw her out. She turned quickly catching him looking at her. She was so close that her perfume filled his nostrils and he couldn’t help feeling the stirring in his stomach radiating out to this groin. He shut his eyes for a moment, willing the sensation away. When he opened them again a fraction of a second later Pobrosky’s ice blue eyes were regarding him with amused interest.

‘Thanks for coming out and listening to us. And thanks for not mentioning the situation with Natalie to Karen.’

Pobrosky took a step towards him, bringing her uncomfortably close and well within what he regarded as his personal space.

‘That enquiry is still open and you are still a person of interest. I respect your confidentiality like all suspects and persons assisting us so don’t think you’re getting any special favours. I’ll do what I promised Karen but for her not for you. And Erasmus?’

‘Yeah?’

‘Look at me like that again and they will be looking for my truncheon with X-rays.’

Rebecca heard the door slam and from her sitting position at the top of the stairs she slowly stood up and tiptoed her way back into her bedroom. She walked past her computer and lay on her bed surrounded by the rainbow corona of soft toys that she couldn’t quite bring herself to throw away. She had placed them there after failing to meet Ethan.

From under a large yellow bear called Tommy she pulled out a new, pay as you go mobile phone. He had told her what to do, what phone to buy and where to get it from. He had told her how to run a system check on her computer and just as he said, there it had been, a Trojan, placed there by her untrusting, unloving mother. Spying on her, for who knew how long. Ethan had known, had looked out for her, had told her that she could not speak to him in the chat rooms any longer. She had to buy the phone and text him the number.

She had bought it at a petrol station near her school. There was only one number in the phone, the one he had sent to her, and now, after two weeks there was a message symbol, a small yellow envelope, now almost a prehistoric relic of mobile phone iconography, flashing on the small display.

He had told her he would send her one last message.

The knot of excitement twisted in her gut. To think her stupid mother could think that Ethan had anything to do with her stupid friend killing herself. Jesus, if she was still single at thirty never mind as ancient as her mum’s friend must have been, she’d top herself. People killed themselves, why would she think Ethan had anything to do with it? Hadn’t that policewoman said as much? She had been polite and told her mother she would make some calls but Rebecca could recognise a brush off when she heard one.

Rebecca started to shake and twisted over onto her front. She brought the phone up close and, fingers trembling, she clicked on the message icon. Her heart burst like a ripening fruit.

It was from Ethan. A location and a time. Tonight.

CHAPTER 42

In the car he turned the radio on and tuned it to the local commercial station, Radio City. He didn’t have to wait long until the news bulletin. Wayne was the second item, following news of a bomb in the US but ahead of an earthquake in Chile that had killed a few hundred people. Sport was important in this city, more important than life or death on most occasions. The report confirmed that Wayne had passed his medical and was back in Merseyside before flying out to Moscow in a few days time.

Erasmus picked up his phone and called Wayne’s number. No response, the call rang out. He hesitated and glanced in the rear view mirror. The swelling had settled a little, but still the right-hand side of his face looked grotesque. He put the phone down on the passenger seat.

Five minutes later and he pulled into the drive of his apartment block. The driveway was dark until the security light registered his vehicle and switched on, illuminating the parking area and the front porch. Sitting on the wooden railing next to the front door was Cat. She was smoking a cigarette and even from inside his car he could see she had a black eye.

He pulled over and stepped out.

She flicked the cigarette onto the gravel path, jumped down off the railing and ground the stub into the earth with a leather boot.

‘What happened to you?’ he asked.

She smirked and cocked her head to one side.

‘Have you looked in a mirror lately?’

‘Walked into a door,’ he said.

She half laughed.

‘You needn’t worry, I haven’t come here to play the poor, misguided woman protecting her man, this – ’ she pointed to her black eye ‘ – was Ben’s doing. Turns out he really, really doesn’t like being talked back to.’

‘Drink?’

‘Nothing more that I would like better. Well, maybe nothing more,’ she winked at him with her unharmed eye.

Inside, she accepted the glass of Yamakazi and they clinked glasses.

‘To war wounds!’ she said.

‘To war wounds, and moving on,’ replied Erasmus.

She took a long swig of whisky and then looked around the living room.

‘I was so drunk last time I was here I can hardly remember what the place looked like.’She sucked in her cheeks. ‘It can’t have been the décor that attracted me to you.’

Erasmus kept his eyes on hers, painfully aware of her long legs that she had stretched out on the couch after insouciantly kicking off her boots. He must not look at her legs or he would be done for. Not that looking at her face was making things easy for him.

‘Why did he hit you?’

‘Why do all men hit women? Because they are physically stronger and they want to control us. You know he’s jealous, look what he did to your car.’

‘That’s OK, it matches my face now.’ He stroked the side of his swollen jaw.

They laughed.

‘He hit me because I told him I’m leaving him.’

She sniffed and took another swig of the whisky. Her defiance and strength were obvious but there were tears beginning to form.

‘Not because … ?’ He gestured between the two of them.

She wiped the tears away.

‘No, Erasmus, it wasn’t to do with us. I’ve had enough of him, of the school, of this pissing country to be honest. I’m not just leaving him. I’m leaving the country, going to Australia. They need teachers out there and I want to put as many miles between me and this country.’

The words were strong but she looked vulnerable and Erasmus resisted the urge to move over to the couch and put his arm around her. He wanted to, it was the right thing to do, but the truth was he didn’t trust himself. Instead he poured them both another drink. He handed her the refreshed glass.

‘What happened between us, I’ve been meaning to apologise.’

A look of amusement appeared on her face.

‘Apologise? For what? I wanted you as much as you wanted me, Erasmus. Why do men always assume that it’s their choice? I enjoyed it.’ She crossed her long legs. ‘We could do it again sometime.’

He felt himself blushing for the first time in years as her question hung there between them. He felt the familiar sensations bursting like fireworks from his groin, setting fire to delicious nerve endings throughout his body, all he had to do was take a step forward, join her on the couch. He shut his eyes for a second and then opened them.

‘I can’t. I’m sorry.’

At this she burst out laughing.

‘Oh Erasmus, you don’t do serious very well. This is a first for me! Someone apologising for not having sex with me, unless?’

He looked down at the swirling galaxy of whisky moving in his hand.

‘This is about Karen, isn’t it?’

He didn’t answer.

Even the bruised eye was twinkling with amusement now.

‘You do love her, I can see that, and you probably don’t remember but you told me at the pub that you did. The question is though, and it’s a million dollar question trust me, is does she love you?’

It felt like there was pull, a force of gravity dragging him back to the person he once was, connecting him with the person he had become, that somehow turned upon the answer to the question. He knew right at that moment that redemption was possible, the answer was clear, he was home.

‘Yes she does.’

For a moment he thought Cat would be upset, that he had misjudged her coolness but all his concerns were dispelled by the grin she gave him.

‘You old dog, Erasmus. Who says love can’t strike twice? And don’t take this the wrong way but you know what, you’re a lucky man and she is a lucky woman. Let’s drink to that?’

She raised her glass and Erasmus brought his up, meeting it with a clink.

‘You should report it to the police you know. He’ll do it again.’

She brushed her hand gently against the bruise.

‘I don’t think so and I don’t want the hassle. I handed my notice in today, bought my flight. In four days time I will be sunning myself in Oz, the last thing I need is to be dragged back to a court case to give evidence just so he can get a fine. And, anyway, you haven’t seen the bruises I gave him.’

‘I have no doubt,’ replied Erasmus.

‘I’m going to miss you.’

‘I will miss you too Cat.’

She uncurled her legs from under and her and handed him her empty glass.

‘One for the road.’

He poured her another drink. She made a soft noise of satisfaction in the back of her throat.

Erasmus sat back down in the chair.

‘For what it’s worth I think you’re doing the right thing. I never understood what you saw in him to be honest.’

‘To love is blind!’

They touched their glasses together.

‘You know the cheeky bastard had been internet dating behind my back. Can you believe it?’

‘Frankly no.’

Cat dug out her phone from her jacket. She pressed the screen a couple of times.

‘I saw him minimise something the other day when I walked in on him on the computer. I thought I had caught him wanking off to porn, you know how you guys like to do that – ’ she smiled at him ‘ – but it wasn’t that and the dumb bastard didn’t even clear his history. Schoolboy error or what. Anyway take a look at what my stupid ex-boyfriend was looking at.’

She passed Erasmus her phone.

‘I’ll say it again, I never understood how you could be with him.’

He took the phone. It took him a second or two to work out what he was looking at but when he did his heart seemed to lose its foundations in his chest.

It was an internet dating profile. There was a picture of Ben, smiling and clearly taken some years before when he had a full head of hair and actually looked quite handsome. Above the picture was Ben’s dating profile username: Ethan 92.

‘Is everything OK? You don’t look well.’

‘No, I have to go, right now. Where is Ben?’

‘Last I saw he was running out the door holding his swollen testicles after I kicked him there. He’s probably gone to the school. That’s where he always goes, he hasn’t got any friends around here. No surprise, eh? Why?’

Erasmus was already halfway out of the room.

‘Help yourself to whisky and let yourself out,’ he shouted back to her as he ran out the door.

CHAPTER 43

The school was in darkness. There should have been security lights on but there was nothing, just the black outline of the Victorian building rising from beyond the iron railings. Erasmus climbed over the locked gate and made his way to the entrance. His nerve endings tingled in the same way as they had done when on patrol in Helmand. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into an ambush.

Even though it was 9 p.m. the front door of the school was unlocked. He gently pushed the wooden door and stepped into the building. The temperature was colder in here. Erasmus shivered and long buried memories of an Afghani school classroom and mutilated children swam towards the surface of his mind.