The Moor (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #11)(80)

“In here!” he shouted.

A moment later, Phillips burst inside, with several officers in tow. He made a swift assessment of the situation and came to the only conclusion he could.

“Looks like you’ve got everything under control here. Howay, lads, let’s leave him to it!”





CHAPTER 44


For the second time that day, Lowerson awaited the arrival of Rochelle White at the petrol station in Corbridge. It was almost half-past five, and the high street was busy as people made their way home for the day. The sun had broken through the clouds again and turned the stone buildings a warm sandy brown, but the streets were still slicked with rain from the downpour earlier in the day and his smart black shoes skidded against the tarmac as he ducked inside the petrol station shop for a can of coke and a flake. It was hardly fine dining, but he’d had very little to eat all day, and was starting to feel the effects.

Unfortunately, Lowerson was forced to abandon the purchase when he spotted the white Jeep pulling into the forecourt once again.

“Don’t you want your coke?”

Lowerson ignored the shout and hurried outside to tap on the driver’s window, and its tinted glass was rolled down a crack, just as before.

“Get in,” Rochelle said, from behind the wheel.

Lowerson walked around the side of the car and pulled open the passenger door, before jumping inside.

Before he’d had time to put on a seat-belt, she put the car into gear and accelerated onto the main road.

“Hey! Where are we going? That wasn’t the agreement—”

Only then did Lowerson realise there was a large, angry bruise forming on Rochelle’s face and her left eye was swollen.

“What happened to you?”

“I’m sorry,” she mumbled, looking dead ahead.

“What for?”

“I hear you’ve been looking for me.”

Lowerson spun around and caught sight of the most wanted man in the North East.

“Wh—”

He never saw the blow coming. From his position in the back seat, the man known as ‘Ludo’ knocked him out with a single punch to the side of his skull.

“Keep looking straight ahead, princess,” he told Rochelle, who started to shake badly. “We’ll be there, soon.”

As the sun fell deeper into the horizon, the car motored further into the wilds of Northumberland, away from anyone who might come looking for the young detective constable who’d forgotten the first rule of his training: never leave your partner behind.





CHAPTER 45


Later that evening, MacKenzie, Phillips and Samantha had settled themselves on the sofa and were pleasantly engaged in a debate over whether to watch Black Beauty or The Railway Children, which was Phillips’ own personal favourite on account of its star, Jenny Agutter, who had been the object of his teenage affection throughout the 1970s.

“How about Black Beauty?” MacKenzie said, being fully aware of the prior claim on her husband’s affections.

But, before any decision could be made, the front doorbell rang.

“Wonder who that could be,” Phillips said, and hurried to answer it.

And wished he hadn’t, when he found Mrs Carter standing there.

“Detective Sergeant, I’m sorry to trouble you at this time of night, but given everything that’s been going on, I wanted to stop in and check how Samantha’s coping.”

Phillips pasted a friendly smile on his face.

“Of course, come in,” he said, and ushered her inside. “We were just about to watch a film.”

“Oh, how nice,” she gushed. “Did you ever see Thomasina?”

Phillips gave her a blank look.

“It’s told from the perspective of a ginger cat…”

“Really? Well, I never,” he said, wishing he had a whistle and a flare to call for help.

“Hello, Samantha,” Mrs Carter said, as she came into the living room. “Hello, Detective Inspector.”

She nodded to MacKenzie, who excused herself to put the kettle on, and prepare herself for what was to come. A moment later, Phillips joined her in the kitchen and put a gentle hand on the small of her back.

“She wanted a minute alone with Sam, to ask how she’s been doing,” he explained. “But how are you doing, love?”

MacKenzie selected four cups from the cupboard, then dropped a teabag in each of them.

“To tell you the truth, Frank, I feel like I hardly know myself anymore. It’s only been a few days, but life seems—”

“Richer? Brighter?”

She turned to him and put gentle hands on his face.

“I never wanted children,” she said clearly. “But then, I’d never met anybody I’d want to have them with. Then, I met you, and my heart started longing for them, for the first time in my life. God knows, life was good before Samantha came into it; we love each other, we laugh, we travel, and we have successful careers. That’s more than many people could wish for.”

“But?”

“But she came into our lives like a tornado, shaking the foundations. She’s been through hell, and she’s still smiling. She likes her food even more than you do—”

“Now, just a minute—”