The breeze suddenly cooled. Tendrils of cold air stroked his face. Carter shivered and pulled up his shirt collar. ‘Guys?’ He swung round in a full circle. ‘Ray? Where are you? I’ve found it! I’ve got your money. It’s safe. Look.’ He held the old leather bag up over his head.
An unnatural silence descended over the quay. Carter moved carefully back to his motor. Suddenly he was horribly aware of what Silas had called the “bad feeling.” He opened the door, threw the bag inside and climbed hurriedly in after it.
What did it mean — the burning smell, and no friends? He shook his head, turned on the ignition and roared off the quay. Home was not his favourite place these days, but right now it was looking pretty good.
*
Carter woke at three in the morning and pushed aside the covers. His sleep had been fitful at best, and now he was too alert. He had the usual three choices open to him. Go for a run, watch all-night TV or go into work. With a deep sigh, he stood up and padded towards the shower. He couldn’t face the run and he had no interest in reality TV. That left work.
Carter took a shower and smiled as the hot water coursed down his body. It had been worth the blisters from that old shovel. He would ring Joanne from work, and maybe go see her in her lunch break. She worked at a newly opened DIY store just outside the town, and he could be there in ten minutes, traffic permitting. The money wasn’t a fortune, but he was sure it would make a welcome difference to her. Maybe he should add a bit more? Maybe another grand, to top it up a bit?
‘Sod that for a game of soldiers, mate.’ Ray’s voice penetrated through the hissing water and Carter gasped. He stepped out onto the cool marble floor of the shower room.
‘It was just a thought,’ he muttered apologetically, trying to ignore the pungent smell.
Ray and the other two were across the room, perched on the edge of his bath. ‘It would spoil it, mate. No offence, but just give her the bag as it is, with my message, okay?’
Carter nodded. ‘Sorry. Sometimes I think throwing money at things makes them better, but I guess that’s not always the case.’
‘Sometimes, but not always. Nice thought though. Just not appropriate this time,’ said Ray kindly.
Carter stared at them. They were different now. When he’d first seen them in the hospital, it had been indescribably horrible. They’d appeared to him like something out of a horror film — deformed, disfigured and terribly maimed. Now they were . . . he peered through the steam. Well, they were kind of normal, not so much disfigured as out of focus. He could still make out the burns, but it was like looking at a reflection in a shop window. They had a vagueness, a shifting quality as if they were made of liquid light.
He suddenly noticed that Ray seemed more indistinct than the others. He was still speaking, talking about Joanne. Carter frowned. Ray should not be here at all. After all, he’d had his wish granted. The money had been discovered, it was right here in the apartment with them.
‘Finish the job, Carter,’ said Ray. ‘The money is important, but the fact that she hears from you that I truly loved her is even more so. Understand?’
He understood. ‘I’ll talk to her later today, I promise.’
‘Thanks, mate. I appreciate it.’ Ray had practically disappeared. His smile, like that of the Cheshire cat, was the last to fade. The vile smell went with them.
So, Ray’s task was almost complete. He shuddered with apprehension. What would Jack ask him?
CHAPTER SEVEN
‘What the hell time did you get in this morning?’ Marie was staring open mouthed at Carter’s almost empty desk.
He looked up at her wearily. ‘You really don’t want to know.’
‘Another bad night?’ Marie felt a rush of concern for him. No matter what Laura advised, her anxiety about Carter would always be there.
And he looked awful. He was hollow-eyed, and his skin had a sickly pallor. Even his hair lacked its usual healthy sheen. He needed sleep. Everyone needed sleep to function properly.
He grinned at her. ‘So, clever clogs, how did I manage to get all this work put to bed? I’ve collated six files of evidence reports and witness statements for the Cannon case, and I’ll challenge you to find any cock-ups in it.’ He jerked his thumb towards a neatly stacked mountain of files.
‘You can do that office stuff with your eyes closed, and you know it. It’s one of the things I’ve always hated about you.’ She looked at him. ‘It’s not the reports, it’s all the rest that bothers me.’
He pushed back his chair and summoned up the energy to smile at her. ‘Sorry, Mother. I do have some good news though. Drag up a pew and I’ll fill you in on exactly why I’m so knackered.’
Marie pulled a chair towards his desk. ‘Do we need a couple of strong coffees for this?’
‘Oh, we do, but I’ll send one of the rookies out for the real thing, not that dishwater our machine produces. Fancy a Danish?’
‘Why not?’ Marie stared down at her slightly rounded stomach. ‘What’s a few thousand calories between friends? I’ll have a pecan and maple syrup, if they’ve got one.’
Carter went to his open door and shouted, ‘Whoever wants a trip to Pierre’s can treat themselves to a fresh coffee and the bun of their choice!’ Then he stood back and waited for the thunder of policemen’s boots.
A young DC with jet black spiky hair and a fierce grin beat two others to his door. He held out his hand. Carter passed him a twenty, rattled off their order and returned to his desk. ‘While we wait, you can tell me all about your special dinner for two with Gary Pritchard.’
Marie rubbed her hands together. ‘Oh my! Can that man cook! Homely stuff, but he’s definitely in the wrong job. People would pay good money to taste food that good.’
‘So your bijou residence is about to become a select village restaurant?’
‘No way. He’s mine! All mine!’ She looked towards the door. ‘Hell, Carter, I can’t wait for Kieran to get back. What’s this good news?’
He leant towards her and whispered, ‘I found Ray’s money.’
She let out a whistle. ‘Great! And was it with Crazy Silas?’
‘As good as.’
Marie sat back and listened to Carter’s story.
‘I’ve already spoken to Joanne. I caught her before she left for work. I’m going to see her in her lunch hour. Would you come with me?’
Marie’s heart sank. He looked so hopeful. ‘But I don’t even know the girl, Carter. I’m sure she won’t want some stranger sitting in on your conversation.’
‘Please?’ Carter bit his lip. ‘It’s going to be very emotional for both of us. I’d be much happier if you were there with me.’
Marie stared at him. His exhausted pallor accentuated that “little boy lost” expression of his, and haggard or not, he was still scarily handsome. Carter McLean was exactly the kind of man that would have attracted her — if she had been on the lookout for someone, but after Bill . . . once again, she felt her resolve fading away. ‘Oh, okay. But lunch is on you, right?’
‘Absolutely. Scarlett’s Deli. Anything you want.’
‘This could cost you, my friend.’