Deadly Dozen: 12 Mysteries/Thrillers (90 page)

“A threat?” Lorne queried.

“That’s right.” Fiona hesitated as if afraid to say the words out loud. “You see, Linda was raped, and her attacker has threatened to come after me.”

CHAPTER SIX

Lorne was rendered speechless for a few mind-numbing seconds.

When she finally recovered, she asked gently, “Did you know the man?” In her experience, nine out of ten women were raped by men they were acquainted with.

Ashamed, Linda looked down at her hands, which were clasped tightly together in her lap. “I did. He wasn’t a friend, but I do know him. He’s a frequent visitor to the same club I go to every week.”

“Did you notify the police, Linda?”

“Yes. They carried out a rape kit, but he used a condom,” she replied, defeated.

Damn. Without semen, the police would have little to go on, unless… “I see, but you gave the police his name, didn’t you?”

Linda turned to look at her sister and frowned.

“Lorne used to be a detective. It’s okay to answer her questions, love. It might be good to get a female officer’s perspective on things,” Fiona reassured her sister.

Lorne smiled. “Former female officer. Can I ask how the police have handled the attack? I mean, how they’re proceeding with the case? You did give the police his name, didn’t you?” she repeated. She took out a spare sheet of paper and started jotting down notes as Linda answered her questions.

The three of them almost jumped out of their seats when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” called Ami, already on the way to the front door.

Linda cleared her throat and went over what had happened at the station. At least, she started to before a smartly dressed man in his early thirties barged into the room.

An embarrassed Ami trailed behind him. “I’m so sorry. I tried to tell him you were busy, but…”

Fiona leapt out of her seat and stood between the man and her sister. Lorne remained seated and observed the situation with interest. “Jason. What in God’s name are you doing here?”

The man appeared bewildered. Changing expressions swept across his face. Confusion settled on his features as he pulled Fiona to the side and glanced down at Linda. “Christ! It doesn’t matter what I’m doing here. What happened to Linda?”

Linda hid her face in her hands as Fiona grabbed the man by the arm and steered him through to the bedroom. “I won’t be a sec!” she shouted at the perturbed threesome left behind.

“He’s her boyfriend,” Linda enlightened Lorne.

“Oh, right. I take it he wasn’t aware of…what’s taken place?”

Ami sat on the sofa next to Linda and clutched her shaking hand. “Don’t be frightened. Fiona will calm him down. I’ll stay with you until they’re finished.”

Lorne jotted down the name of the policeman who had interviewed Linda, appalled that a female officer hadn’t been involved in the interview process. Linda told her that the officer concerned was supposed to have visited the offender the evening before, but she had no idea how things had turned out, as no one from the station had contacted her since. They continued speaking despite the sound of raised voices coming from the bedroom.

The ruckus was affecting Linda, so Lorne tapped on the bedroom door. When Fiona opened it, her cheeks were beet red, and her eyes were wide with fury.

“Sorry to disturb you, I’m almost done here, but I thought you should know that the shouting isn’t helping Linda’s state of mind.”

Fiona rolled her eyes as if she hadn’t realised the others could hear what was being said in the bedroom. “I’m sorry. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

The woman shut the door in Lorne’s face before she had a chance to say anything further. For Linda’s sake, Lorne sat down again, even though she had already decided this would not be an ideal home for Blackie. She did, however, feel sorry for the way Linda had been treated and wanted to give her as much support as she could.

As Linda retold the harrowing events, Fiona ushered Jason through the living room and out to the front door. She returned a few minutes later, full of apologies. “He was annoyed I stood him up last night and, as he couldn’t get hold of me at work today, the idiot thought I had another man here. I put him straight on that one. Sorry, where were we?”

“Actually, I must be getting back. Linda, here’s my home number. If I can help in some small way, then don’t hesitate to get in touch. “I’ll let you know what I decide about Blackie next week.” Lorne shook hands with everyone, and Fiona saw her to the front door.

Fiona held the door open. “Any idea what day?”

“I just need to dot a few I’s, et cetera. By Wednesday, if I can.”

“Why don’t you just come out and say it, Lorne. You’re going to reject us, aren’t you?” Fiona asked sharply, cocking an expectant eyebrow.

Lorne looked at the traffic behind her as she tried to conjure up a suitable excuse. She thought honesty would be the safest route to take, after all the girls had been through. “To be honest, I think you want a dog for the wrong reasons. While I completely understand and sympathise with your situation, I feel I can’t place a dog in this environment. In a few months, maybe when things have settled down, you’ll understand my decision. A dog needs love and care from day one, and I just think the three of you have too much anxiety and anger surrounding you at the moment. It wouldn’t be fair on either side.”

“Fair enough. If that’s your decision, I’ll go elsewhere for a dog. Whether we get one from you or someone else, Mrs. Warner, there will be a dog in this house by the weekend. Goodbye.”

The harsh words were followed by the oak door being shut in Lorne’s face. Charming! Goodbye to you, too.

During the drive home, she blocked out the usually noisy sound of the van and mulled over Linda’s nightmarish predicament. Hmm… Maybe I should give Katy a call to ask her to do some digging on this chap for me. See what she can come up with. Men like that shouldn’t be allowed to get away with rape just because he put a plastic sock on his willy before doing the deed.

Once an idea started to fester, Lorne had to jump on it. She pulled over into the nearest lay-by and dialled Katy’s mobile. “Hey, you. How’s it going?”

“Just a minute. I’ll go into my office. Hey, how are you?”

Lorne laughed. It was good to talk to her old-young partner again. “I asked first.”

“Oh, you know. Fair to middling. This place isn’t the same without you biting our heads off.”

“You cheeky mare. How are things going with AJ?”

“Slowly. We said we’d take things steady until we’re sure that Darren isn’t going to bother me anymore.”

“Has he been hanging around again?” Lorne asked, concerned.

“Not since he wrecked my flat, but you never know. I’d like to leave it a year or so before I get involved with someone again. Anyway, there are our jobs to consider. Neither AJ nor I want to move away from the team. It’s a productive team which gets results. We’d be daft to throw that away. How are things ‘down on the farm’?” Katy asked in the worst Devonshire accent Lorne had ever heard.

“Was that your attempt at Welsh?” she teased. “Things are going great, but I have a surprise for you.”

“You’re not…?”

Lorne tutted, reading her former partner’s mind. “Give me a break, will you? Charlie’s more than any mother can handle. She’d try any supermum’s patience. Actually, I’m being a tad unfair. She’s been as good as gold for months now. Not sure what she’s after; I’m sure I’ll find out soon. No, I’m branching out.”

“How can a rescue shelter branch out?” Katy asked, confused.

“Not with this business. I’m starting up another one.”

“Oh, I see. So you’ll have two rescue centres on the go. How will that work out?”

Lorne let out an exasperated breath. “No, you don’t see at all. I’m going to become a PI.” There was silence on the other end of the phone. “Katy? Are you there?”

“Yeah, I’m just trying to work out what the initials mean. Puppy institution or something?”

Another long breath seeped through her lips. “A private investigator, numpty!”

Then there was nothing, zip, no response whatsoever from Katy, prompting Lorne to ask, “Katy? You still there?”

A long whistle greeted her. “Jeez, what can I say? A PI. Who’d have thunk it?”

Lorne laughed. “Yeah, I know it’s a bit insane. But I figured I’d be my own boss and I wouldn’t be jumping through hoops for bosses who don’t appreciate me.”

“Well, there is that, I suppose. What sort of cases will you be focusing on?”

“Whatever comes our way to start with. We’ll see how things pan out from there.”

“I have to say I admire you, but then that’s nothing new. When is all this starting up?” Katy asked, sounding more interested than Lorne had anticipated.

“My diploma came in the post this morning, then the weirdest thing happened.”

“You get a diploma? Lorne, weird has a way of always finding its way to your door.”

She chuckled. “Yeah, I know. Look, before I go any further, I was wondering if you’d be able to work with me at all. You know, if a case comes in and I need a background check running on a suspect. Although I wouldn’t want you getting into bother for it.”

Katy went quiet for a second or two. “Not sure. You know I would if I could. Maybe we should see what Roberts has to say, first. You’re his favourite DI—or former DI—after all, so I can’t see any problems on that front. Can I get back to you later?”

Lorne bashed the steering wheel with her fist. She totally understood Katy’s dilemma, but she had specifically rung up to get some information on Gibson. She guessed that would have to wait until Roberts gave the go ahead—if he gave the go ahead. She’d have to do her own mini background check on the ’net until Katy got back to her. “Okay, that’s fair enough. Can you try to see him today?”

“It’s nearly knocking off time. I’ll see if I can grab him before he calls it a day. I’ll ring you either later this evening or tomorrow.”

“Thanks, mate. I better go before the traffic turns this road into a car park,” Lorne said, turning the key in the ignition.

“Talk soon,” Katy replied before she hung up.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tony was waiting in the courtyard for her when she arrived home. His hair was damp from being in the shower. “Well?”

“The jury is still out. You look good enough to eat.” Lorne got out of the car and hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips.

“Down, tiger. Your father is spying on us through the kitchen window. What happened? Wasn’t the garden up to scratch?”

“No, that side of things was fine. I’m hungry. Let’s eat, and I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”

Tony raised a suspicious eyebrow and patted her on the bottom. “Hmm… Sounds ominous. Your dad is making beef and onion pie.”

“Yum. Love Dad’s pies.”

After having a quick shower, Lorne joined her father and Tony at the kitchen table. Her father served the meal, and Tony poured them each a glass of red wine. She could get used to this, being waited on by two handsome men.

Two mouthfuls into the meal, Tony asked, “So? I’m dying to hear what went on.”

Lorne gulped down the mouthful of delicious pie and, in-between mouthfuls, told Tony and her father how the visit had gone. They both remained silent until after she had finished telling her story.

“So they want the dog as a deterrent?” Tony asked.

“That’s what it amounts to, yes,” Lorne replied, wiping her mouth on the serviette and pushing her empty plate away. “That was scrummy, Dad. Thank you.”

“My pleasure. Well, I can understand it from the women’s point of view, but I also know that you will have the dog’s interest to bear in mind, as well. Don’t shout at me and let me finish before you react. Could you not give the girls a trial period with Blackie? A month, say?”

Lorne smiled at her ageing father, so wise and understanding in too many ways to mention. “On the journey back home, I was contemplating the same thing, Dad. I know it’s against my better judgment, but if you could’ve seen the fear in all the girls’ eyes. Actually, I’d like to offer them more help if I can.”

“Uh-oh! I sense trouble brewing.” Tony eyed her warily.

Lorne punched him gently on the top of the arm. “I’m worried about the condom aspect. Without evidence, it’s going to be Linda’s word against his. I need to spend some time on the computer tonight. I rang Katy on the way home—you know, to test the water. She’s going to have a word with Roberts and get back to me with the outcome.”