Guaranteed Justice (7 page)

“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

T
ony 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.”

“This Linda, did she manage to scratch the bastard at all?” Tony asked.

Lorne started stacking the plates and took them over to the sink. “Nope. He tied her hands behind her back. Another reason why I think the police will also have their hands tied—excuse the pun. Anyone want some ice cream?”

“Not for me, love,” her father said. “I’m thinking this guy has raped before.”

Lorne nodded at her father. “I came to the same conclusion, Dad. To me, it sounded all planned out. From the innocent nod and joke sharing with the bouncer to being enticed to his home and being dumped back at the alley. I’ll see what I can dig up on this Graham Gibson later. The police paid him a visit yesterday. When I last spoke to them, the girls had no idea of the outcome. I’ll ring Fiona tomorrow to see what they had to say, if anything.”

She took two dessert bowls from the cupboard and scooped two dollops of chocolate chip ice cream into each of them.

Tony took his bowl from Lorne. “I’ll help later with the checking. Maybe—just maybe—if the coppers come up blank, we could make this our first case.”

“You read my mind, although I haven’t discussed it with the girls yet. Not sure they would be able to afford our fees.”

Tony contemplated Lorne’s words for a few minutes as he ate the ice cream on his spoon. “You could always do it pro bono. You know, to get you—or us, I should say—into the swing of things.”

She looked over at her father for his opinion. He was nodding. “I’d do the same, if the police come back and say they’re not willing to pursue the matter. Who’s to say how many women he’s raped? It has to stop or be stopped.”

“Agreed. I’ll be in the lounge, scouring the Internet for dirt on this Graham Gibson.” Lorne rose from the table and walked towards the door.

“Umm…‌Aren’t you forgetting something, dear wifey?”

She turned to face him and followed his gaze over to the pile of unwashed dishes. She pouted, and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “If you really and truly loved me, you would wash up while I got on with some real work. It’s only a tiny bit.”

Tony tutted. “Go on with you. I’ll join in a little while, once I’ve done your chores.”

“Thanks, sweetie,” she called over her shoulder.

She opened the laptop on the coffee table and booted it up. A picture of Charlie cuddling Henry filled the screen. Lorne blew her daughter a kiss. “See you at the weekend, darling.”

Once the computer had gone through the motions of starting up, Lorne typed “Graham Gibson” in the search engine. Several possible options appeared, but the girls had told her that the GG she was after worked in the city. She ran the pointer down the screen and located him. She selected his details and was taken to another screen.

Lorne enlarged the personal photo and studied it for a few minutes. Clean-shaven, close-cropped hair, looked like a model in one of those swanky aftershave ads off the TV, and dressed to impress in a beautifully cut business suit. His bottle green eyes sparkled with laughter, or was that mischievousness? Lorne had to admit that he didn’t look like a rapist—but then, who did? It wasn’t as if those guys ran around with the term rapist tattooed on their foreheads.

Wearing an arrogant sultry look and sporting perfect, blemish-free skin that screamed he religiously moisturised every morning and night, GG reminded her of a darker version of the footballer David Beckham. A shudder ran through her as she focused on his eyes, eyes that were purposefully angled so that he appeared to be looking through her and into her soul.

“There’s something about you I don’t like, sonny. Let’s see what else we have on you.” She tapped through another link highlighted on the screen, and it took her to the webpage of Domino Finances. At the top of the screen was a group photo of all the employees, and surprise, surprise: GG was posing in the centre at the front, a female colleague on either side of him.

Further investigation into Domino Finances led Lorne to a page full of satisfied customers singing their praises and a headline stating: “During troubled times, Domino Finances comes out on top for safe-guarding your money.”

“How’s it going?”

Lorne looked up and shrugged as Tony placed mugs of coffee on the table.

He sat on the couch beside her and she angled the computer so they could both see the screen.

“Have you come across this firm before?” Lorne asked.

“Can’t say I have. That’s a pretty impressive pedigree they have there, though. Their list of clients reads like a who’s who of the finance world.”

Lorne went back a few pages and showed Tony the picture she had found of GG.

“Is that him?” Tony scrutinised the picture through narrowed, untrusting eyes.

“Yeah, that’s him. You should’ve seen what he did to Linda. In one way, I hope the police aren’t able to proceed further, because I’d love to bring the smug-looking bastard to justice, myself.”

Tony leaned over and kissed her temple. “Really? You do surprise me. Your paperweights have been lacking new additions lately. His balls would make a handsome addition.”

Lorne smiled and returned to searching the Internet for anything dubious on the suspect, but unfortunately the results came back blank. “Damn, this guy looks cleaner than polished silver.”

“Why don’t you call it a day? Wait until you hear back from the girls and Katy, and then go from there, huh?” He pulled her back and slung a lazy arm over her shoulder.

“I guess that makes sense. If I don’t hear from Fiona by noon tomorrow, I’ll give her a call and tell her I’ve decided to place Blackie with them for a trial period. I’m sure they won’t argue with that. Actually, after seeing what GG looks like, I’d feel much more comfortable if Blackie was there with them. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if anything further happened to either one of them.”

Tony squeezed her shoulder. “The trouble with you is you have a soft centre. I know you want to take on the world and right all the wrongs in it, Lorne, but sometimes—just sometimes—even superheroes have to take a day off.”

Their lips met in a lingering kiss.

“Have I told you lately how much I love you?” she asked, interlocking her fingers with his.

“Not since this morning, no.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

L
orne was busy completing
the paperwork she had started the day before when the house phone rang. “Hello?”

“Is that Lorne?”

She recognised the voice immediately. “Fiona?”

The woman sounded downhearted and sighed heavily. “I’m just ringing up to let you know that the police told us that they won’t be taking any action against Graham Gibson.”

Lorne thought as much. Not enough evidence. “Damn, I’m very sorry to hear that, Fiona. No point in me asking how Linda has taken the news.”

“She’s crumbled. Gone into her shell, and I’m not sure what I can do to snap her out of it.”

“So what happens next?” Lorne asked, tidying some of the papers in front of her.

“I don’t know. Is it so awful of me to want to stalk this guy and get revenge?”

“No. It’s completely understandable, just not advisable. I do have a suggestion, though.”

Fiona sighed on the other end of the line then said, “I’m listening.”

“On the drive home I did a lot of thinking. Is it possible for me to bring Blackie over to meet the other girls, and we’ll go from there?”

“Are you kidding? That’d be great, Lorne. I’d be so grateful to you.” And she sounded it, too.

“That’s only the beginning of what I have in store for you all. Will you all be at home today?”

Fiona remained quiet as she thought. “The only person I’m not sure about is Ami. Can you stay on the line while I text her?”

“Of course. I need to be sure Blackie feels at ease with you all, and vice versa.”

Lorne heard the sound of Fiona’s phone beeping an incoming text.

“Here she is. She’ll be home at six this evening. Is that too late for you?”

It was really, after having to get up before the cock crowed, but Lorne didn’t tell Fiona that. “That’s fine. I’ll bring Blackie, and we’ll see how things go. Don’t buy any food or anything like that. I’ll supply what he needs for the next few days, just in case things don’t work out.”