White Lilies (2 page)

‘Meeting of the Health and Safety Committee in ten minutes Jennifer and I want you to take the notes,’ she ordered before tottering back into her office in her ill-fitting high-heeled shoes. ‘We can’t all be swanning off for the afternoon.’

Vicky burst out laughing.

‘I
’m sure she’s a bloody witch,’ she said, sticking her tongue out at the closing door.

‘Shush … she’ll hear you and then she won’t let me go,’ Jen said, grimacing at her friend.

‘
She’s so far up her backside she’ll get stuck one of these days if she’s not careful,’ Vicky said loudly.

Jen sniggered. ‘Shhh.’

‘Where you off to anyway?’

‘The hospital for a check-up.’

‘Sounds like fun, or not,’ Vicky said, screwing up her nose.

‘Last time we went the baby was a right little imp, it wouldn’t move so the sonographer couldn’t get his measurements. No amount of prodding, poking, moving around, emptying my bladder or eating sugary foods would get him to shift.’

‘Lazy, must be a boy.’

‘That’s what we think,’ Jen smiled contentedly.

‘Is Dylan going with you?’

‘He says so, work permitting but since last time the appointment took an hour instead of twenty minutes, it might have put him off,’ Jen said, tutting as she raised her eyebrows at Avril’s door opening once again.

‘Jennifer …’ she called.

‘She shouldn’t be allowed out alone at her age. If it hadn’t been for her we would have done the ton through Merton today,’ Danny Denton yelled, throwing the full force of his six foot, lanky frame behind the kick to his front tyre.

‘Look what she’s fucking done.’ he shrieked, rubbing his grimy hands over his skinhead. ‘I’m going to have to get a new light casing now,’ he said with a groan.

‘Stupid bitch.’

Billy Greenwood, Danny’s mate, passed him his roll-up. ‘Have a drag. We’d better wash that shit off,’ he said pointing to the blood on the wing.

‘I thought the silly cow were gonna come through the bastard windscreen,’ Danny said before drawing deeply on the cigarette. ‘Good job she didn’t, I’d have fucking killed her.’

Billy sniggered. ‘You fucking moron. You probably did.’

‘Oh yeah,’ Danny said with a snort.

‘Did you see her fly through the air, Danny?’ Billy said in awe of their elderly victim’s flexibility.

‘Yeah,’ he said with a swagger. ‘We’d better get down the scrappers tonight though before the plods come sniffing round.’ Danny added, clipping the back of Billy’s head and handing him back his cigarette.

Danny fitted the light casing they’d acquired from the scrap yard next morning as Billy polished the car. Danny leaned in to turn on the radio. The news was on and instantly there was an appeal for witnesses to the fatal accident in Merton. He shouted Billy as he lunged forward to turn up the volume. ‘Fuck,’ he cried.

‘How old?’ Billy asked.

‘Eighty, told you she shouldn’t have been out on her own.’

Billy laughed so much his mop of blonde curly hair fell onto his face. He pushed it back with his tattoo-covered hand.

Their wheels back to normal; Danny drove the red Ford Fiesta with its sports tyres out of the garage and into the sunshine.

‘Hey Danny, why don’t we put a line on the wing like pilots used to do on their planes when they shot down the enemy?’ Billy said eagerly, his eyes bright, dimples evident on his cheeky, fresh face.

Danny showed his yellow, nicotine-stained teeth in a grin. ‘Let’s make it two. We got the dog as well,’ he laughed.

Billy picked up the tape from the bench and threw it to Danny. With his tongue between his teeth he concentrated hard as he applied it. Satisfied his masterpiece was well and truly stuck, they jumped into the car.

‘Time for cruising Billy Boy,’ Danny shouted as the turn of the car key brought the engine to life with a roar.

‘Harrowfield High here we come,’ shouted Billy above the rev of the engine.

Music thumped out into the afternoon sky as Danny steered the car up to the traffic lights. Pulling their hoods up to hide their identities, they laughed raucously. The pavement seemed to vibrate beneath the shop assistant’s feet as she stood arranging flowers in buckets outside her shop. She looked over her glasses and stared at the car’s occupants.

‘Bloody lunatics,’ was the mumblings of a young man wearing a wool hat, who grabbed a bunch out of her hand and ran off.

‘Hey,' she called out, looking around for someone to help but the only thing in sight was the car, poised like a wild tiger about to pounce as the engine struggled to wait for a green light. Suddenly its tyres screeched and the smell of burning rubber filled the air.
What was the world coming to?
she thought as the smoke hit the back of her throat and she hurried back inside her shop with her hand over her mouth, coughing.

Danny drove a car as if he was playing a computer game, with no regard to safety. Their vehicle was legal, taxed and insured and although the police regularly stopped them, the boys were always confident they couldn’t be touched. The local police knew their Modus Operandi was for thieving. They had been caught siphoning fuel from the villagers’ cars, reported and charged for robbing houses, screwing garden sheds and selling the proceeds to car booters to raise quick cash. That and their hand-outs from the government was how they survived. Their young, free and single existence held no regard for man nor beast.

On school days they could usually be found hovering around the gates of the high school, like vultures. Today was no different. They would get some un-streetwise girl or impressionable boy to buy them chips from the van or con them out of cash for beer and cigarettes.

The young girls seemed to find them attractive and the boys thought they were exciting. To the youngsters, the pair seemed to have it all with their souped-up wheels. Forbidden fruit in this case was every parent’s worst nightmare.

‘Welcome to the office and congratulations on making Detective Sergeant,’ Dylan said as he realised his new DS was standing at his door. He had forgotten it was today she was starting work in the office.

‘I’m so pleased I got sent to work with you,’ she smiled flirtatiously at Dylan.

Taylor Spiers was a single 29-year-old woman who had been in the Police for nine years – and a Detective for four of them in a neighbouring town. She was doing well in comparison with some of her colleagues who continually threw their hat in the ring at the promotion boards.

Jack Dylan hadn’t a great deal of knowledge about his new DS but he had heard she was a capable cop who loved the job. He’d heard rumours about her, but how much of that was true or pure fantasy by the men on the shift Dylan could only speculate. Looking at her now, he could see Taylor was definitely a stunner and he was in no doubt she would certainly brighten up the office.

Jack remembered telling Jen she was joining his team.

‘Oh, Taylor Spiers, she’ll eat you alive,’ she’d chuckled, but wouldn’t give any further explanation. Dylan was intrigued. He really should start listening to the girls' gossip instead of turning a deaf ear.

‘I’ve got your first job here Taylor,’ Dylan told her. ‘If you fancy a run out, we’ll give it the detective’s overview together. What do you say?’

‘Sounds good to me,’ she replied with a smile.

‘It’s a hit and run fatal at Merton, happened yesterday. It’ll give us chance to have chat about the office and the detectives on your team.’

‘Great,’ she said picking up her coat and designer bag. ‘A measly hit and run?’ she mumbled to herself, pulling a face as she walked away.

‘Ten minutes, if you want to cast your eye over the police officer’s report,’ he called.

Within the hour they were walking by the side of Merton village green. Flowers and messages had been laid at the roadside at the spot where Grace and Winston had died.

‘The accident investigators found some glass at the scene, but whether that was to do with the accident remains to be seen. Hopefully, we may get a make and model of the type of car involved; if so it would be a start,’ said Dylan, as he crouched down to read some of the tributes.

‘Do you want me to do an intelligence sheet for any stolen cars found abandoned with similar damage, or burnt out?’ asked Taylor.

‘Yeah, that’d be a good start – and let’s put an early warning around local garages and scrapyards, should someone enquire about repairing a headlight or be looking to purchase a similar item.’

They strolled across to the little village grocery store where Dylan, like the gentleman he was, held the door open into the café for Taylor. Dylan was impressed that she had dressed to make an impression on her first day but looking her up and down he noticed how impractical her high-heeled shoes were as he followed her to the counter.

It reminded him of when he’d been a new Detective Inspector and been taken by his boss to view a body. It had been raining. The body had been found on moorland and he had been wearing his new light grey suit, which he could ill afford. Bought on credit; it had ended up ruined and so had his leather shoes. Returning to the office covered in mud, his boss had handed him a pair of Wellingtons with some advice.

‘Always be prepared lad, unless you want to look stupid,’ he’d said, smugly.

The bosses had been bastards in those days
, Dylan thought smiling to himself. But it was a lesson he never forgot. As for his suit, thankfully it dry-cleaned okay.

‘My golden rule Taylor; always visit the scene. See it for yourself, no matter how well you think you know the area.’

DS Spiers hung on his every word, nodding in agreement. Taking notes when appropriate.

‘If the scene is outside, visit it at the same time of day that the incident occurred if you can, that way you’ll get a better feel for it and see what usually happens at the time the incident took place.’

‘I won’t let you down boss,’ she said eagerly.

‘I know you won’t Taylor. I’ll make sure of that,’ he said smiling at her young, sombre face.

‘A bit more advice,’ he continued.

‘Yes boss,’ she said, sitting up straight and leaning towards him with a serious expression on her face.

‘Buy a practical pair of shoes to keep in the boot of your car,’ he said looking down at her strappy high heels.

‘Yes, sir,’ she said with a blush spreading across her face as she uncrossed her bare legs and tucked them neatly under the table. The two waited for their drinks order to be brought to the table while Dylan went through the necessary lines of enquiry for the road death.

They looked over at the village green. ‘What can the accident investigators tell us?’ Then he stopped himself. ‘Sorry, I’m teaching you how to suck eggs,’ he smiled. ‘But somebody was responsible for Grace’s death and something I despise is when the perpetrator gets away or shows no remorse,’ he sighed. ‘But, Sarge, I’m sure you’re quite capable of sorting this one.’ Dylan said, leaning back in his chair.

Taylor grinned. She liked being called Sarge, but this case was hardly the gory, high-profile murder she hoped for. She looked at Dylan thoughtfully as they drove back in the direction of the nick and wondered if he fancied her. He was a bit old she thought but he wasn’t that bad for his age.

‘Right let’s get back to it; you’ve a crime to detect and, who knows, it could be a murder.’ Dylan said, turning to face her with his smiling eyes.

Yeah, he definitely liked her, she decided.

‘I suppose so,’ she replied sitting on her hands as she grinned up at him. ‘But this one’s a bit boring isn’t it?’ she said, screwing up her face.

‘Boring,’ screeched Dylan. ‘Some poor old dear has been killed and you think the investigation is boring?’

‘Well yeah, but who’d want to murder a little old lady and her dog?’

‘If you investigate it properly who knows, maybe you’ll find out.’ he shook his head.

‘Never assume anything, my girl. Always look for what the evidence tells you. Then, and only then, can you make an informed decision.’

Taylor sat pondering his words in silence for the rest of the journey. Was she going to like working under Dylan after all if he thought this was a meaty case? 

Pam Forrester was just thirteen, but like most of the girls her age she had the figure of a sixteen-year-old. Her mum, Stephanie, had been a model in her younger days, long before she’d married Pam’s Dad, Bill, a dentist and she had to take on a more stable career of a florist. She would like nothing more than for her daughter to follow in her footsteps, which is why she worked so hard. ‘The Flowerpot Emporium’ would hopefully one day fund that dream.

Pam was the apple of her dad’s eye. Like most daughters, she had the ability and the know-how to get what she wanted – and boy, did she milk it. Saying that, Pam was a good student, keen at most sports and loved horse riding. Her parents were rightly proud of her.

However, lately they had noticed that boys were becoming increasingly interesting to her and one boy in particular stood out from the crowd for Pam: his name was Danny Denton. Her crush on him was the first secret she’d ever kept from her mum.

Pam knew instinctively that her parents wouldn’t approve. Daily she watched Danny pull up outside the school gates in his car and each time she saw him her heart would miss a beat, she’d become breathless and her legs would turn to jelly. Was that a sign of being in love, she wondered?

Pam saw older girls run out of school and climb into the back of his car and all she could do was watch and envy them. As far as she knew, Danny didn’t know she was alive; but then why would he? She was just a kid.

Pam had thought long and hard of a plan to get herself noticed by him and started to put her ideas into action. She rolled up the waistband on her school skirt, which allowed everyone to see the shapely long legs that she confirmed to herself using the mirror in the girl’s changing rooms. She decided to borrow her mum’s expensive mascara and lip gloss from her make-up case. This didn’t appear to be working, so, in desperation, she stepped out in front of his car. That got her noticed. Slamming on his brakes didn’t appear to upset Danny and instead of screaming abuse at her like any ‘normal’ road rage driver, he simply smiled at her and waved her to the pavement.

He had a nice smile, she thought dreamily as she’d walked home that day. But Pam was impatient and wasn’t content with a smile, she wanted more. She’d been an observer for far too long. Some of the students called the girls that got into Danny’s car 'slags', but she knew they were only jealous.

Pam walked home sometimes with Leanne Gray. Leanne was in the sixth form and Pam only knew her because she worked at the flower shop for her mum on a Saturday. She hung around with a group of girls who talked to Danny and his friend and she couldn’t miss the opportunity of discovering more about him. Whatever it took to get to know him she’d decided she would do, even if Leanne wasn’t really her type.

Danny and his friend Billy screeched up alongside them one day causing a dust cloud. Pam’s heart pounded and her head was in a spin. What would she say to him if he spoke to her?

‘Ignore them,’ Leanne said as she quickened her pace. She blanked Danny and Billy as the car crawled along beside them. Pam was transfixed as she trailed behind her companion. Danny leaned across the front of Billy and shouted through the open window. ‘Legs, d’you want a ride?’

God, was he speaking to her? Well she wasn’t being awful but there was no way they could say that to Leanne … Yes, he had noticed her. Before she knew it, Danny had stopped the car some yards ahead. Billy had got out and was holding the door open inviting her to get in.

‘Come on, don’t take any notice,’ Leanne told her as she walked on. ‘They’re nothing but trouble.’

But Pam didn’t listen; in fact she couldn’t believe her luck. Am I dreaming? She thought as she clambered into the backseat of the car in a trance like state?

‘They’re bad news,’ Leanne shouted. She desperately banged on the window. Danny put his foot on the accelerator. Leanne’s words were drowned by the noise and all Pam could see as she looked out of the car window was Leanne’s wide-open mouth. She looked to be calling her name.

Pam had been waiting for this moment for so long. She smiled and a warm rush of adrenalin shot through her body. The only downside was there didn’t appear to be a crowd watching; no one to envy her. She could feel her cheeks burning as Danny held her gaze in the rear view mirror. Her heart was hammering in her chest. This was what she dreamt of.

Danny steered the car expertly around tight bends as they drove at speed into the countryside. It caused her to roll from side to side on the backseat and she laughed out loud. It was like being on a waltzer at the funfair. She had no idea where they were going, but who cared? Nothing else mattered at this moment in time except she was in Danny’s car having fun.

‘What’s your name, Legs?' said Billy, turning to look at her over his headrest.

‘Pamela, err … Pam,’ she stuttered.

‘How old are you?’ Billy said, as Danny held her gaze for a few moments in the mirror.

‘Sixteen,’ she said not taking her eyes off Danny’s. Her heart thumped in her chest. She held her breath.

‘Thought you must be, with legs like them,’ Danny quipped, turning to wink at his friend.

Pam could feel herself growing redder and redder. He believed her. Billy rolled a cigarette and lit it. There was a pungent smell.

‘Want a drag?’ he said, passing it back to her.

‘Sure’ she said, with a confidence she didn’t feel. Never having smoked before, she puffed on the spliff, coughed and quickly handed it back. Its aroma made her feel nauseous. Suddenly she felt the car swerve and Danny pulled off the road and into a car park. The tyres crushed the layer of thick gravel and slowed the car down.

The car came to a halt and Pam looked at her surroundings. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but moorland. No people, no cars, no houses. Danny switched off the engine and then the music. The silence rang in her ears. Why had he brought her here, she wondered?

‘Isn’t it lovely up here, eh Pam?’ said Danny, staring out of the window as he tapped the steering wheel.

Pam nodded, not knowing what to say.

‘It’s really quiet … nobody bothers you up here, do they Billy?’ he said seriously.

‘No,’ said Billy, taking a drag of the spliff and handing it to Danny who did the same.

‘It’s our favourite spot, isn’t it Billy?’ Danny said turning to his mate, who nodded. He turned his head further round to look at Pam and she smiled at him nervously.

Billy turned to look at her too. ‘It can be hours before you see anybody up here,’ he said, his voice deep and his breathing heavy. His eyes had a fixed stare. Pam fumbled with the hem of her skirt and, tugging at it, she made a useless attempt to try to cover the top of her legs that Billy’s eyes were glued to. She looked at Danny for support. Billy was scaring her. Danny stared at her with a silly lopsided smile on his face.

The reality of her situation began to sink in.