Consequences by R. C. Bridgestock Read Free Book Online Page B

sure. Look after yourself.’
     
    Ralph, Dawn’s husband owned a restaurant in the Sibden Valley called ‘Mawingo’ and food was her Achilles heel. Although she denied emphatically that was what first attracted her to him.
     
    Dylan knew some of his male colleagues hated having a woman as their partner, but he enjoyed Dawn’s company. Not only did she look like Dawn French but she also had the sense of humour to match. Dawn laughed at herself when he teased her about her habit of dabbing her mouth when she was hungry, and made fun of her beautiful embroidered hankies she carried around with her for that purpose.
     
    Draining his coffee cup, Dylan cursed Larry. Through the glass partition of his office he saw Tracy, the young policewoman he’d last seen on Stan Bridge. She was in a smart suit and was standing by a desk in the CID office; she looked thinner out of uniform, he thought, her light brown, curly hair hanging neatly over her shoulders. What a smart, clean looking young lady she was. It made a change from casually dressed youngsters, with their tattoos and piercings. How on earth could anyone think that was attractive? He was getting old, he thought, as he eased himself from behind his desk and walked towards the general office.
    ‘Morning you. How’s things?’ he said cheerily. She blushed, ferociously. ’You decided to become a detective, then?’
    ‘On attachment for two weeks sir and I’m really, really looking forward to it.’ She drew back. Her grin reminded Dylan of an over excited child. He remembered his first CID attachment. In the ‘olden days’ he’d been shoved and pushed around the CID office as an aide, by the older detectives, who insisted he called them Mr and he got a clip round the ear if he answered back.
    ‘Nervous and excited, I bet?’ Dylan said, smiling.
    ‘Yeah, something like that,’ she said, shrugging her shoulders.
    ‘Good, it’ll be a bit different from guarding ‘scenes’ and stopping traffic, that’s for sure.’
    Dylan got the impression she was uncomfortable talking to him. Unfortunately, he felt that was the uniform mentality. Uniformed bosses, inspectors and sergeants tended to be officers who gave orders to be complied with. They didn’t, in his experience, stop for a chat to get to know the individuals under their command. No, perhaps that was unfair, he reflected, these days attitudes were changing.
    ‘Sit down and make yourself at home, it’s a much different style of work in CID to what you’ve been used to. Did ‘Chubby’ behave himself for you after the episode on the bridge?’
    ‘Yes sir, thanks for that. I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t been in the traffic, waiting to cross the bridge that day. I’ve seen him since and he’s living with a mate and his girlfriend. She’s got a small boy. You never know, Chubby might settle down now.’
    ‘Who knows? Leopards and spots do spring to mind though,’ he said, grinning, as Vicky walked in the room.
    ‘Vicky, this is Tracy, sorry I don’t know your last name,’
    ‘Petterson, sir,’ she said, smiling apprehensively at Vicky.
    ‘PC Tracy Petterson is with us for two weeks secondment. Look after her will you DC Hardacre?’
    ‘No probs, I’ll treat her as if she were one of me own,’ Vicky mocked jovially, putting Tracy instantly at ease.
    ‘Don’t know if I’ve done you a favour there or not,’ Dylan said grimacing playfully as he retreated back to his office, feeling very much his age once more. Vicky threw her pen at his closing door. Laughing at her through the window, he picked up his phone to text Jen.
    Lovely lady, missing you already… Dawn’s gone sick and Larry hasn’t surfaced yet. But by God when he does he has a lot to answer for.
    ‘Gosh, how dare you do that?’ Tracy whispered to Vicky.
    ‘Because Dylan is okay; he’s a good boss and he’s got a good sense of humour but don’t be misled, he’s nobody’s fool. Keep him supplied with coffee