‘So who’s taking over?’
‘I am.’
‘Well, congratulations.’
He had been polite until now, but the first hints of sarcasm were creeping in.
‘I know I upset you, Mark. I know I betrayed our… friendship. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I did it all for the right reasons. I just got it wrong. Badly, badly wrong.’
She drew breath then carried straight on.
‘But things have developed and I need you back. I know now that the killer is motivated by a personal hatred of me. We’re getting closer, Mark, but I need your help to get me over the line.’
She swiftly explained the situation – the victims, the commendations. Mark took it all in, passively at first but then slowly he ventured questions, becoming more and more engaged in the narrative. The old instincts were awakening, Helen thought to herself.
‘Have you told the rest of the team? That I’m innocent,’ Mark fired back, wresting the initiative from Helen.
‘Charlie knows, I’ll tell the others later today.’
‘That’s the very minimum that has to happen before I will even think about what you’ve said today.’
‘Of course.’
‘And I want you to apologize. I know you’re not very good at tha-’
‘I’m sorry, Mark. Truly, truly sorry. I should never have doubted you. I should have listened to my instincts. But I didn’t.’
Mark stared at her, surprised by the comprehensive nature of her apology.
‘I know I drove you to this, but I want to make amends. Clean yourself up and help us catch her. Please.’
He wouldn’t commit there and then. Helen knew he wouldn’t, though there was a part of her that was hoping he might. Instant forgiveness is always desirable, if not very probable. So she left him pondering and got back on the job. Had she left it too late to repair the damage? Time would tell.
Charlie Brooks didn’t like alcohol. Never had. And pubs that opened at 9 a.m. weren’t her natural habitat. But she was trawling them today, taking a step into a different, darker world. There are some pubs where you go to woo your lover. There are others where you go to stand on the tables and sing. And there are others where you go to drink yourself to death. It was still early morning and yet the Anchor was already pretty full – of pensioners, alcoholics and those who’d rather be anywhere than on their own.
Despite the smoking ban, there was a strong smell of cigarette smoke. Charlie wondered what else they turned a blind eye to in this insalubrious establishment. For years the council had tried to get these portside pubs closed down, but the might of the breweries was strong and pubs that sell strong beer at £1.99 a pint will always be popular with the punters.