Time to Play (North East Police) (20 page)

‘Are all these people your brothers and sisters?’ The minute she spoke, she realised how incredulous she sounded, and looked at him, ready to apologise. She didn’t need to though, Ali’s face was steeped in pride, he loved his family and hadn’t even noticed.

He moved closer, and then reached round her to point.

‘That’s my mum and dad; Dad’s been dead a long time now but that’s one of my favourite photos. This one is all of us kids when I was like twelve. It’s in age order so you’ve got Alex, me, Mark and Annie are twins, then there’s Joseph, then James and Max, and finally our little Mary who’s the youngest. This one’s my siblings with their respective partners, and this smiling lot on the walls are my nieces and nephews.’

‘Big family,’ said Marlo, turning her face towards him and smiling.

‘Yeah, they’re fab. How about you? Brothers and sisters?’

‘No, well, kind of, but not really,’ realising she sounded confusing she clarified, ‘I grew up in care. I guess the other kids in the homes classed as brothers and sisters but not in the real sense. I grew up alone.’

‘Sorry to hear that,’ pausing not knowing what else to say, Ali pointed at a large picture of a blond toddler, grinning a toothy smile. ‘This is Izzy. You know my brother Alex, he’s a DCI? Currently working out of Newcastle?’

‘He’s married to Cass right? The crime scene manager?’

‘Yeah, Izzy’s their daughter.’

Forgetting where she was for a moment, Marlo leaned back into Ali’s chest. He froze instantly, and she scrunched her eyes together tightly.
Way to go Marlo, just do shit that’s totally inappropriate as usual.

Ali didn’t say anything though, and he hadn’t moved away. She felt his fingers brush her arm and her heart thudded in response, then suddenly, the door buzzer sounded.

‘Saved by the bell,’ joked Ali lightly, stepping back and making his way over.

Retrieving the pizza, he took it into the kitchen and took the rubber cork she’d replaced in her flat, off the wine, pouring them both a large glass. He struck a match and lit the large church candle on the coffee table.

Marlo stared at the flame for a moment, the hairs on the back of her neck standing to attention. Her senses were on overdrive as the silent screams threatened her composure. She leant forward and quickly blew it out.

Ali looked surprised. ‘Not into candles?’

‘No,’ she said quietly, staring at the smoke curling up from the wick for a second. ‘They’re just dangerous. Always worry they’ll spark or something. Sorry.’

‘No need to apologise, I get it. Here,’ he said, handing her a slice of pizza.

The food was hot, and the wine was smooth – too smooth as one glass turned to three. Marlo didn’t even notice he’d popped the cork on another bottle. She felt more comfortable now, the alcohol easing whatever discomfort there might’ve been. She sat on the sofa next to Ali, her legs tucked up under her bum.

‘Thanks, Ali. I needed this.’

‘Tough day?’

‘Yeah. Hours spent diving off the coast of Seaham and we didn’t even find the old boy that went under. We’re heading back out tomorrow, expanding the search area.’

‘Sorry, love. Was he a swimmer?’

‘Yeah apparently so. He supposedly swam the same stretch three times a week and has done for fifty years according to the log.’

‘Tough as old boots then. There a chance he might’ve swam further away and made it out?’

‘Not really. Coastguard reported a bad rip tide out that way; he probably got caught in it and didn’t have the strength to pull free.’

Marlo’s head dropped onto Ali’s shoulder and the last sentence was muffled against his shirt. She fell silent and her breathing deepened a little.

12
^th
November, 2250 hours – Ali’s flat, Sunderland

Well I’ll be! She’s asleep.
Ali let his thoughts run free. They’d had a moment when they were stood by the pictures. He knew it. He’d wanted to turn her around, crush her to him and kiss her hard. His whole body had screamed at him to do it the second she’d leaned back into him. That wasn’t good. He didn’t know if he could do it again, hell it had been so long he didn’t even know if anything still worked as it should. He’d not been with anyone since Tina. He frowned as he tried to remember her face, and all he could see was Marlo.
Weird.

Not wanting to wake her, Ali carefully pulled his legs up onto the couch and shuffled down so his head rested on the sofa arm. Marlo mumbled in her sleep then snuggled into the crook of his arm.

This was dangerous territory, it felt comfortable. He figured he’d just lie there for a couple of minutes, maybe watch the end of the movie they’d started, then try and manoeuvre from under her. But before he knew it, his eyes closed, his mind cleared and he fell into a deep sleep.

13
^th
November, 0640 hours – Ali’s flat, Sunderland

Marlo stretched as consciousness pulled her forth. She didn’t want to get up, she was comfy and warm and… on top of someone!

Jumping up rapidly, she blinked several times, eventually understanding she had fallen asleep on Ali. The movement had woken him, the harsh pressure of her hands on his chest as she’d risen waking him suddenly too.

‘What the hell?’ he jerked, sitting up.

‘Sorry, I didn’t realise where I was and then… oh crap. Sorry, Ali. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you. You must think I’m a right idiot.’

‘Don’t be daft, I meant to wake you, but I must’ve fallen asleep too.’

‘Oh God, the wine,’ muttered Marlo, her head banging to remind her of the multiple glasses she’d consumed.

‘We fell asleep is all, don’t worry about it. I should’ve woken you, but you looked so comfortable and cute, I just didn’t have the heart,’ Ali smiled at her.

Cute? Cute? I haven’t been called that since, well, ever!
But, she supposed, she’d never fallen asleep on a guy either. It seemed to be a night of firsts.

Glancing at the clock on the mantelpiece, she struggled to focus and when she saw the time, she paled. ‘Shit, I’m going to be late. I’ve got to run!’

Without giving Ali a chance to reply, she grabbed her sandals off the floor, and rushed out of the door and back to her own flat.

Taking a second once inside, she rested her head on the doorframe for a moment. What the heck was the matter with her? How brazen she must seem to walk into his flat with a bottle of wine and fall asleep on him. This will be round the nick in no time.
Idiot!

Berating herself wouldn’t help though, and besides she really was late. She dropped a quick text to Sharpie apologising for her tardiness, pulled her uniform on and left the flat. After locking the door, she noticed Ali stood in the corridor waiting for her, also dressed for the day. He held out a travel mug that was steaming and smelled suspiciously like freshly brewed coffee.

‘Strong and black, you won’t have time to grab any. You need milk?’

Marlo shook her head, surprised at his thoughtfulness. ‘Strong and black is perfect. You didn’t have to do this, thanks, Ali. And again, I’m sorry about last night.’

‘I’m not,’ replied Ali, handing her the cup and heading for the stairs without another word.

Eh? Not what?

Dropping like a lead weight she understood: he wasn’t sorry.
Well what does that mean?
Groaning she took a quick sip of coffee, he was a bloke. She’d fallen asleep on him all damsel-in-distress like; of course he didn’t mind.
That had to be what he meant. Right?

Not having time to over analyse, she followed his lead and headed for the stairs.

Chapter Nineteen

13th November, 0720 hours - Dive Team HQ, South Shields

Marlo rushed into the briefing room and sat down silently.

'Second time in a week, Marlo,' scolded Sharpie. His tone was light but Marlo knew if she was late again she'd be in bother.

'Know we're supposed to be rest days today but that's no excuse. Anyway, busy day ahead. Back out to the coast to continue the search for the missing swimmer, though he hasn't shown up at home so it's very likely now that we are looking to recover a body. Doc, you're lead diver today, Mac and Marlo on pumps. Connor, you're second diver. Any questions?'

The team shook their heads and left the room.

'Pumps, I hate pumps,' grumbled Marlo as she turned to leave. Her head was still thudding dully, and she knew she'd have to take some paracetamol before heading out.

'Marlo, hold up a sec,' said Sharpie.

Feeling her heart sink, she figured she was in for a bollocking.

'Everything OK?' asked Sharpie, 'It's not like you to be late, or to grumble on like that. Normally you take it all in your stride.'

'Yeah, am fine. My stupid alarm didn't go off. Phone's been playing up for weeks, am about due my upgrade so I'll pop down when we're off and look at getting a new one. Sorry.' She wasn’t lying; her phone had been playing up. Just not today.

'It's fine: as long as you're OK. You know you can always talk to me if anything's up.'

'I know, Sharpie, thanks.'

'Go on then, go suit up, I'll be down in a bit.'

Marlo made her way down to the wet room and paused as she heard the rest of the team talking inside.

'… she's never late, Fiver says she was out getting laid.' Mac's voice resonated around the corridor.

'Nah, she's gay isn't she? That's what I heard when I started?' said Connor.

'Gay? Buck? I don't think so. I'm totally happy with my missus, but if I was ten years younger and single I'd tap that.' Doc sounded almost wistful as he put in his two-penn’orth. Deciding to do a little ribbing of her own, Marlo pushed the door open and put her hands on her hips, her best pissed off expression on her face. They all had the good grace to look embarrassed.

'Not gay, didn't get laid, and, Doc? You'd need to be a lot more than ten years younger and single to tap this,' she grinned and did a quick spin, 'besides, you guys are like family. You don't
tap
family.'

'Never a truer word spoken,' said Mac, coming over and flinging his arm around her shoulder.

'So,' he whispered conspiratorially, 'why were you late?'

'Ladies’ time,' she whispered back knowing full well which buttons to push, 'had to make sure my Tampax was in securely. Those little buggers are finicky.'

Mac went a little green around the gills. 'Errr,' he said, dropping his arm from her shoulder and stepping back. For someone who swam in the murky depths of the North East waterways, Mac was incredibly squeamish. Leaving her side, he pushed open the door to the yard. 'I'll go sort the RIB.'

'Right, are we set?' came Sharpie's voice from the doorway.

The journey back to the launch point at Seaham Harbour was quiet; the mood in the 4x4 unusually sombre. Sharpie had eventually turned the radio on to cover the silence. The last song cut out mid-sentence as he pulled the key from the ignition.

'Quick as we can, the sooner we find him, the sooner we get our rest days.'

The wind ripped at them as the RIB sped to the buoy and slowed to a stop. No sooner had they slowed, the heavens opened and icy rain started falling down. Doc and Connor worked quickly, prepping to dive while Marlo hooked up the lines and checked the pressure.

It was going to be another long day.

13th November, 1005 hours - Ryhope, Sunderland

Nita groaned as her mind pulled her from unconsciousness. She'd barely even stirred since he'd thrown her inside the cage, but now her body reminded her of what had happened.

As she struggled to open her eyes, pain burst to life in places she didn't even know she had. Her chest crunched and hurt with every breath in. She cried out as she tried to sit, and gave it up as a bad job when she accidentally put weight on her injured wrist. It hurt so much that she felt physically sick, and without being able to stop it, she turned her head and feebly threw up on the floor of the cage.

One eye opened a slit; at least she thought it did. The room was still dark, and for a moment she panicked, thinking that he had hurt her so badly that she’d gone blind. Slowly though, she saw the soft glow of the heater tucked into the corner by the door.

Gingerly, she manoeuvred herself around and cautiously pulled herself into a sitting position. Her stomach felt swollen and sore, and hot pain rippled through it with the movement, causing her to gasp. She fought the dizziness that threatened her consciousness, and gently touched her face.

Her left eye was swollen shut, and she felt dried blood all over her nose and cheeks. Her whole body felt like a mass of agony, so much so that she couldn't distinguish which part felt worse.

Her tongue felt dry and cracked, and she felt around for a bottle of water.

As her fingers closed around it, she realised there wasn't a lot left, but it would quench her thirst. Taking a sip, she winced as sharp needles of pain roared through her lips.

As she replaced the lid on the water, her head spun. She felt like she was on a merry-go-round in the dark, and the bottle slipped from her grasp as her head lolled to her chest once more, the pain easing into nothingness as she passed out.

13th November, 1410 hours - off the coast of Seaham, County Durham

'OK guys, pack it up for now. We'll break for half an hour or so, warm up and what not. Start her up, Mac,' said Sharpie. He ran his hand through his hair and looked weary. 'When we come back out me and Marlo will dive.'

They pulled the RIB up on the shore, and Mac caught the 4x4 keys as Sharpie threw them over.

'Chips and coffee, please, mate,' he said with a grin.

Mac took the rest of the orders, and knowing Marlo would come with him, headed for the car.

'Not chips then,' he said to her as he turned the key.