A Perfect Likeness (17 page)

‘I know it’s wrong, but it doesn’t matter. I need this more than anything just now.’ Realising she had spoken aloud, Trish looked around hoping none of the other drinkers had heard. And she knew it did matter. It mattered a great deal.

‘Are you alright, Miss,’ asked Mack’s relief, ‘only you do look a bit distressed if you don’t mind me saying?’

‘Yes, yes I’m fine thanks, only I’ve had one hell of a bad day and am hoping one of these will put things right,’ said Trish raising her glass.

‘Then I’m afraid I’ve got bad news for you, Miss. One
might
help, but it won’t put it right; that usually takes two or three.’

‘Then you’d best give me another,’ said Trish pushing the empty glass across the bar.’ She knew she was being stupid, but she’d got the taste again. How could she stop? She began hating herself for letting her friends down, the two people who had done most to get her out of her black hole. She tried to leave, but her legs wouldn’t obey. She fumbled in her bag in search of her mobile phone and dialled Jackie.

‘Please be there.’ The wait seemed an age. ‘Jackie, hello Jackie, I need your help… Oh, sorry, Mrs Salter, is Jackie there please?’

Margaret Salter held the phone behind her back before speaking quietly. ‘Jackie, I think it could be Trish and she sounds in a bad way.’

‘Trish, what’s the problem? Where are you?’

‘In The Study, please come, Jackie, I can’t move. Please come before I really mess up again.’

‘Okay, I’m on my way. Stay just where you are and no more drink.’ She grabbed the car key and shouted to her mother as she ran to the door. ‘Mums, will you make up Victoria’s bed, I think Trish needs to stay the night. Won’t be long.’

Within ten minutes she entered the bar, not sure what state Trish would be in. She was in that same corner, where they had first met, with her head in her hands. Jackie walked over and placed an arm around her shoulder. Trish jumped.

‘Trish, what’s gone wrong? Why? You were doing so well.’

‘I’m sorry, so sorry. I could not stop myself. I’ve known all day it was going to happen, but didn’t know what to do to make sure it didn’t.’

‘Where’s Mack?’

‘He’s gone to Preston. His mother has been ill and he’s bringing her back with him. He told me during our dinner date and said he hoped he would be coming back tomorrow.’

‘But surely that’s not grounds enough to bring this on?’

‘No, of course not. Today is my birthday, but what makes it worse it’s also my wedding anniversary. We would have been married fifteen years.’ Her eyes filled and Jackie gave her a handkerchief.

‘Come on, no crying in here. For goodness sake, Trish, why didn’t you tell me? I would have made sure you were not alone. I knew something was not right, have done for a day or two. You’re staying at my house tonight, let’s go and pack a few things.’

‘I can’t go to your home, not with your parents there. It wouldn’t be right on their first day back.’

‘They know everything so come on.’

‘Hope she’s alright, Miss?’ said the relief barman, ‘I did tell her she looked a bit under the weather.’

‘She’ll be fine, thanks.’ She paid and led Trish out to the car-park where she broke down. Jackie hugged her tightly. ‘It’s me that should be sorry, Trish. I feel I’ve let you down. I should have made more of an effort to get to the bottom of things, but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure whether there was a problem and I thought maybe I was overreacting. You were doing so well and I didn’t want you to think I had no confidence in you.’

‘Don’t say that, you weren’t to know.’

‘Why didn’t you phone the AA?’

‘I was so ashamed of myself. I go once and then cry for help. Not a good start is it?’

‘That is what they are there for. They have all been through it themselves and know exactly what to do and say. I expect this is a very critical time for people trying to free themselves of the problem so don’t worry about their reaction. Of course you can phone me, but they are the professionals. Please promise me you’ll call them if you have another emergency.’

‘I will, I promise. I’m so glad I managed to call you before it got right out of control.’

‘Me too. Let’s go, my folks are dying to meet you.’

‘In this state?’

‘In any state.’

They crossed over the road to the office. Jackie checked the answer phone while Trish got ready. There was a call from Mack.

‘That’s better, you look almost back to normal. Suggest you check your messages before we go.’

‘Why.’

‘Because it might make you feel better.’

Trish pushed the play button and waited. It clicked twice before starting.

‘Hi, Trish, it’s Mack. Hope all is well. Mum is feeling fit to travel so we should be back tomorrow afternoon. I’ve told her all about you, well most of it, and she can’t wait to meet you. Miss you lots and love you lots. You know that anyway. Give Jackie a peck on the cheek for me. Bye.’

She walked over to Jackie and did as instructed. ‘From Mack.’

‘Thanks, Mack. Do you feel better now? Maybe you should have checked the phone before going into the pub?’

‘I do and I should have.’

Mack was the sole topic of conversation on the short journey back to Jackie’s house. Trish was happier although her eyes were red from crying and her mascara had smudged. She attempted emergency repairs as they drove.

*

‘Mums, Pops, this is Trish. She’s had a real bad day; it’s her birthday and wedding anniversary. No wonder she went a tiny bit off the rails, but she saved the day by phoning so no damage done.’

‘Mrs Salter, Mr Salter,’ she said shaking their hands. ‘I am very happy to meet you. Your daughter has been my saviour, she has done so much for me and I have let her down again today. I’m really sorry.’

‘Don’t be,’ said Mr Salter. ‘Jackie has made us aware of all that you have been doing for Michael. If it turns out that he is innocent then we shall be forever in your debt. We were so shocked when Michael was found guilty; none of us believed he could have done such a thing, but the evidence seemed all against him. Margaret has made a light supper, shall we go and do it justice?’ He took hold of Trish’s arm and led her to the dining room. Trish looked back over her shoulder and smiled at Jackie.

*

Scottie was curled up on the end of Victoria’s bed, moving a little to one side only when Trish got a bit too close with her feet.

‘Your parents are lovely and when your dad escorted me to supper I felt like a real lady. They made me so welcome, despite my condition.’

‘What are you talking about. You’re not drunk and you’ve only had a couple of tipples. Okay, you shouldn’t have had them, but today was a difficult one.’ Jackie patted her pillows and sat back against the headboard. ‘I don’t want to preach, Trish, but please phone the AA when you get the urge to take a drink. You do have the card with the emergency number on it?’

Trish nodded. ‘I have it in my bag and I will phone them next time, if I have a problem,’ she added.

‘Fingers crossed, but you have a long way to go. And I suggest you mention this little set back at your meeting tomorrow, I’m sure they will give you a few tips on how to get over this kind of problem. You know, an anniversary and any other occasion that could bring about an emotional period.’

‘Will do, but what about Mack?’

‘Tell you what, I reckon it would be okay not to mention it, we don’t want him feeling guilty about going away. Let’s make it our little secret.’

It went quiet, except for the sound of Scottie softly complaining in his sleep. Trish turned towards Jackie who was staring out of the dormer window. Through the brightness of the cloudless sky she saw a tear running down her cheek. Trish wanted to speak, but felt it wrong to intrude as Jackie looked so sad. A moment or two later her face changed to a picture of happiness and Trish felt more relaxed.

‘Where are you, Jackie?’ she said in a whisper.

‘I’m up there, amongst those beautiful stars, playing with my sister. I select the brightest star of the night and that is Victoria, then we play games just like when we were children. I love it when the sky is clear.’

‘Tell me if I’m being too nosey, but why is there no curtain for the window? I meant to ask you when I stayed the other day.’

‘Every night I speak to Victoria. Sometimes in my mind, sometimes in a whisper. I took the curtain down on the evening of the funeral. I needed to see out and, I know that it’s silly, but it is my sign to Victoria that I would welcome her to come in at any time. Do you believe in the spirit world, Trish?’

‘It is not silly at all. It is lovely that you were so close. I’m afraid I’m one of those people who are sitting on the fence waiting, and in my case, hoping for that something to happen that will make me a believer. I’ve often asked my mother to try and make contact, but nothing so far.’

‘Victoria and I were both believers and we spoke about it a lot. We agreed that when one of us died we would do everything to make a contact possible, no matter how long it took. I still keep on hoping.’

‘Never give up that hope, Jackie.’

Chapter 14

DI Deckman stood at his window and rubbed a finger against a mark on the glass. He couldn’t remove it; it was on the outside. He returned the hand to his pocket. He hadn’t time to complete his thinking process before being disturbed by a knock on the door.

‘Come in, Colin.’

‘Blimey, Guv, you never cease to amaze me. You got cameras planted to check who’s coming in or are you psychotic?’

Deckman grinned. ‘I think the word is psychic, but it’s simply that you always give a single knock, others give two or more.’

‘Now I can tell why you’re a DI and I’m a lowly sergeant. Guv, Bob has quite a bit of info for you, can you spare some time?’

‘Of course, bring him in now.’

Bob Kensit, tall, slim and an absolute genius on the computer was his usual uncomfortable self when it came to a briefing. He sat opposite Deckman with Fraser next to him. He shuffled his papers about and gave a nervous cough.

‘Come on, son, don’t keep the inspector waiting,’ said Fraser.

‘Right, Sir, first I checked out that everything Miss Lister had given you was correct. I needn’t have bothered as it was all spot on. Just like the sarge said it would be. Then I started to check out Star Boats and got director details. On the face of it the business looks pretty legit but there may be one or two reasons why we should look more closely at them. The owner, Edward Page is a widower of fifty-eight, spent thirty-two years in Florida running his own boat sales and hire company. His daughter, aged thirty-four, grew up in Florida and joined her father’s business after completion of her education. He sold up in 1998, moved to Draycliffe where he set up Star Boats. Their office is just across the road from the marina and their annual accounts show the company is making a reasonable profit. All taxes are paid on the dot and when the VAT Inspector visited them last year she could not find anything wrong. Not a lot, I’m afraid, but I had sufficient information to make it possible for our American counterparts to carry out a check. Interestingly enough there is no record of Star Boats Florida, of Edward Page or his daughter, Sylvia, and no record of their address in America. I then tried to get some information on where they were before the family moved to America. Again nothing. Seems like they just arrived from nowhere.’

‘Do you believe in men from outer space, Guv?’ interrupted Fraser.

Deckman smiled. ‘Ignore him, Bob, he’s just jealous that he couldn’t come up with this kind of detail.’

‘Thank you, Sir. Well, I delved further at Companies House and found an Edward and Sylvia Page are also joint directors of a company called Blue Tree Properties. Set up in November 1999 with three properties in the station area of Draycliffe that had been converted into flats for letting. They now have seven houses and thirty-three tenants. Everything is legal with all permisions and certificates, etc. Company address is their home in Dersfield and annual accounts show significant rental income with additional large inputs from the directors. Nothing more at the moment, Sir, but I’m still digging. With regards to Star Boats, I feel the big boat, Red Star, a sixty foot luxury cruiser is a little out of place for such a small outfit. Must have cost an absolute bomb and can’t possibly earn its keep. I’m trying to get some figures on that point.’

‘Impress me more, Bob, and tell me what
you
think we have got here.’

Kensit looked towards his sergeant for a little reassurance.

‘Go on, Bob, you’ve told me what you think, now tell the man that matters.’

‘Well, Sir, er… although both companies have been set up correctly and annual accounts submitted on time, with what we have so far I am sure they must have an illegal operation going on.’

‘Okay, who might
they
be and what might
they
be doing?’ asked Deckman attempting to prise a little more out of his junior officer. He knew Kensit had the makings of an excellent detective if he could overcome his lack of confidence.

‘Well, Sir, I er… I think it has to be an accomplished gang or even a syndicate. A huge amount of money has been used to set things up and the big boat, Red Star, doesn’t appear to go out much at all even though it did go to Spain a few weeks ago. As to what they are doing, I have to say it must be to do with drugs. The late night trip every three weeks or so could be an interesting lead to follow up. If they are an organised group then I suppose you may as well throw in a bit of prostitution and of course, money laundering.’