Deadly Secrets (Detective Erika Foster #6)(26)

‘Hello.’

‘Hello.’

‘I know you, don’t I? You’re that lady police officer,’ he said. His voice was posh and plummy. ‘Ulrika, isn’t it?’

‘Erika Foster, Detective Chief Inspector.’

He got up awkwardly and came over and held out his hand, smiling. His false teeth looked unnaturally white against his tanned skin. She took it and they shook, and then he swooped in and kissed her on both cheeks.

‘We’re very grateful for what you did, for Paul and Marcie, and the twins. Thank you,’ he said, continuing to pump her hand.

‘I was just doing my job.’

‘Bloody awful business. I saw the news report; they had to blur out the pictures of Max Hastings’s body.’

‘Yes…’

Leonard was still shaking her hand.

‘Paul tells me the girl fired a distress flare at him – blew his whole head open, brains all over the place? Do you think the twins saw it?’

‘Yes, I do think so.’

‘My grandfather survived the trenches during the First World War. He had shell shock, of course. He remembered young lads having the backs of their heads blown off by shrapnel fire… Course, these days we’re all encouraged to have therapy; back then they suffered in silence…’

Alan woke up. He took a moment to come around, and smacked his lips and rubbed his eyes. He was an older version of Marsh, with a craggy face and full head of short-cropped grey hair.

‘Alan, this is Ulrika, the police officer who caught those murdering bastards!’

‘Hello, it’s Erika,’ she said, pulling her hand away from Leonard’s grip.

‘Ulrika… That’s a Swedish name. Did you used to do the weather?’ asked Alan, with dead-pan seriousness.

‘The weather?’

‘Poor old git is losing his marbles,’ murmured Leonard, tapping the side of his head.

‘I heard that!’ said Alan. ‘Is she the district nurse?’

Thankfully, Marsh came back into the room with a tray of champagne.

‘Dad, this is Erika. Erika Foster. We trained together in Manchester,’ he said. Alan nodded, but looked none the wiser.

‘Were you at lunch? Was she at lunch, Paul?’

‘No dad, Erika has just arrived,’ said Marsh, speaking slowly and loudly. There was an awkward silence. Leonard picked up the remote and switched on the TV. There was a cacophony of noise as The Sound of Music came on the screen. The von Trapp children were marching down the stairs. ‘Let’s go through to the kitchen,’ Marsh added in a low voice. Erika smiled at the two old men, now engrossed in the film.

‘Sorry about that. Dad’s getting a bit confused. It’s been quite a frustrating Christmas. I keep having to repeat everything,’ said Marsh as they went along the hall and into the kitchen. ‘Leonard’s fine, he just doesn’t listen. He’s in his own world.’

‘Who doesn’t listen?’ asked Marcie as they came into the kitchen. She was laying out a beautiful buffet on the long kitchen table.

‘Your father.’

‘At least my father knows what day it is.’

‘That’s a bit harsh,’ snapped Marsh.

‘It’s an observation. He should be in a home. It’s been very stressful having him here. There’s nothing wrong with my father. If you remember, he won Trivial Pursuit yesterday.’

Erika looked down at her champagne glass, wanting to be out of the firing line.

‘I’m not saying he’s going the same way as mine. I’m saying he’s bull-headed, and the way he talks to your mother…’

‘My mother can be just as bad.’

‘Why else did she go out today? I wish I’d gone out!’

Marcie looked at him. She had tears in her eyes.

‘Maybe I should go,’ said Erika.

‘No, please stay,’ said Marcie, dabbing at her eyes with tissue. Marsh stood beside her, trying to control his anger.

Sophie and Mia came into the kitchen, breaking the mood. They were two tiny, identical four-year-olds, dressed in matching purple velvet dresses with thick cream tights and pink hairbands in their long dark hair. They saw Erika and wordlessly came to her and gave her a hug. Erika put her glass down and crouched to hug the two little girls, smelling their hair against her cheek. In the warm, bright kitchen, what had happened all seemed surreal, and so long ago.

‘We’re so pleased to see you,’ said Sophie, taking the lead.

‘I’m pleased to see you, too,’ said Erika. They all looked at each other. Mia nodded solemnly; her big brown eyes were so expressive. Erika felt rotten that she had missed coming for lunch the day before.

‘I brought you both presents. They’re a bit late, but Merry Christmas.’ She gave the two bags to the girls, and they pulled out the wrapped gifts and tore off the paper excitedly. The first was a Blingles Glimmer Studio Sticker Maker set, and the second was a Fashion Headbands set, with options to make your own hairbands in different colours and with flowers and glitter. ‘I got two different things, but I remembered how much you two like to share,’ said Erika.

Both girls had genuine faces of wonderment and excitement.

‘Oh. Girls, what do you say to Erika?’ said Marcie.