Cath Staincliffe - Blue Murder

Janine was collecting an overnight bag for herself and Tom and making sure everything was all right at home.

Sarah had fed Eleanor and Michael and was holding the fort.

‘You should have worn your black suit for the telly.’ Eleanor had watched the Press Conference.

‘Why?’

‘You looked funny.’

‘Funny?’ She folded Tom’s pyjamas and dressing gown.

‘Your nose looked bigger.’

‘Thank you, darling.’

‘You know your nose is the only bit of you that never stops growing.’

Janine looked at Sarah. ‘That’s something to look forward to, eh?’

Sarah laughed.

Eleanor showed Janine a card. A child’s drawing of a bed and a stick figure, balloons and dinosaurs. ‘I made this for Tom.’

‘That’s lovely, he’ll like that. Now, coat,’ she nodded to the chair where Eleanor had dumped her coat. The girl picked it up and went to hang it up.

‘Damn!’ Janine knew there was something else to do. ‘Packed lunch.’

‘Whoa!’ Sarah told her. ‘I can do her lunch. Calm down.’

‘I hate dumping on you like this.’

‘I’d never have guessed,’ she said dryly.

Janine pulled a face.

‘I’ll get you back,’ Sarah warned her, ‘you can defrost my freezer. So what’s the story with Lover Boy?’

Janine sighed, surveyed the heap of stuff she was packing. Suddenly felt the weight of everything threaten to overwhelm her. ‘Dunno really. Think he might be just messing about, playing the field. I’ve told him I’m not interested. And like I said, look at me.’ She spread her arms wide, then let them drop. Began to put some of the clothes into the bag. ‘Daft isn’t it? Be nice, a bit of love and affection…’

Sarah gave her a brief hug. ‘It’s lonely, you know,’ Janine said, ‘having a baby on my own.’

Janine found Michael at the computer. ‘I’m going back to the hospital now.’

He nodded, no other reaction.

‘Michael, I went into school today. Mr Corkland wanted to see me. He told me there’ve been problems at school. And last night the police were here, wanting to talk to you. I don’t know what’s going on but we need to talk about it. Soon.’

He reached over and raised the volume.

A flash of anger warmed her face. ‘Don’t push it, Michael!’

‘Or what? You’ll lock me up?’

The doorbell sounded, preventing her replying. She answered it to find the police officer from the previous evening. Great timing.

Sarah came into the hall and, seeing the policeman, ushered Eleanor upstairs for her bath.

‘Good evening, is Michael in?’

Janine stood aside, let the man in and showed him into the room.

‘Michael,’ she said.

He turned, saw the uniform and paled.

Janine nodded he should turn the sound off. He did.

‘It’s about Saturday, The Trafford Centre. You were involved in an attempt to steal a mobile phone,’ PC Durham said.

‘Someone tried to rob me.’ Michael said.

‘Don’t mess about, lad. You’re in enough trouble as it is. Now, what really happened?’

There was a pause. Janine wanted the floor to swallow her up. Feeling desperate for Michael, angry and sad at the same time.

‘We were just mucking about.’

‘Bit of fun? That’s not how the other lad sees it; your victim.’

Michael blanched at the term.

‘Wasn’t funny at all. He hasn’t been sleeping very well since.’ He paused, letting Michael stew for a moment. ‘Think yourself lucky, Michael, charges won’t be brought this time but if there’s a next time we’ll pick you up before you can draw breath. Understand?’

‘Yes.’

‘This is an official warning. You look like a decent enough lad, sort yourself out. I hope we never meet again.’

Janine followed PC Durham to the door. ‘The other lad?’ she asked.

‘Shaken up. They pushed him about a bit. There was a free for all, the security guards picked up on it pretty quick and this lot bolted.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Reckon he’ll be all right. Learnt his lesson, they need a bit of discipline don’t they, this age? I’ve seen it before.’

Janine resented the lecture, the implication that Michael hadn’t had enough discipline. There’d always been clear rules at home.

When she’d seen him out she leant back against the wall, snatching a moment to recover. She didn’t want to arrive at the hospital ragged and drained. Tom needed her; God, they all needed her. Never any chance for her to be the needy one.

Day 4: Tuesday February 25th

Janine had slept badly, the makeshift camp-bed that the hospital provided was narrow and uncomfortable and she’d had heartburn. Tom had been much better and seemed to shrug off the experience with the resilience of youngsters.

She was dressed and ready for work when Pete arrived at eight.

‘How you doing, soldier?’ He gave Tom a bear hug.

‘I had chocolate cereal!’

‘Chocolate!’ He ruffled Tom’s hair. Looked at her, ‘What do they say?’

‘They’ll discharge him. We’re waiting for the doctor,’ Janine told him.

‘How long’s that going to be?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘And then what?’ There was a belligerent note in his voice. Janine didn’t want Tom exposed to any bickering. She went over to the window, forcing Pete to follow.

‘Stop it,’ she said quietly.

‘What?’

‘Using this to pick a fight with me.’

He gave an incredulous laugh. ‘You are so bloody selfish. I’ve got a life to lead too, you know, a job. I can’t just drop everything either.’

She would not let him rile her. She kept her voice even. ‘If you take him home, I’ll collect him later. Sarah can get Eleanor.’

Pete hesitated. What else could they do? Janine wondered. Had he an alternative?

‘Look, the kids don’t know whether they’re coming or going,’ Pete said. ‘Tina thinks we need to sort out fixed arrangements.’

Oh, she does, does she? ‘Shame the pair of you didn’t think a bit more about the kids in the first place. Christ, Pete, she’d barely got chance to get the polish out and her overalls on before you two were at it.’

Pete looked sick but continued. ‘We need some routine.’

‘I don’t do regular shifts, I have to do overtime at a moment’s notice,’ she reminded him. ‘You know that. And kids – things happen, life’s messy. It won’t work if you start being inflexible.’

‘Won’t work for you,’ he accused her.

‘For them,’ she insisted.

‘Dad. Mum.’ Tom held up a model he’d made.

Janine glared at Pete. They couldn’t sort this out now. They went and admired Tom’s handiwork. Janine picked up her briefcase and coat. Gave Tom a big hug. ‘Dad’s going to take you to his, I’ll see you later.’

‘Yes-s-s!’

She looked at Pete – see how he loves you. Pete looked away, picked up the model and began to play with his son.

A doctor had seen Dean at the police station in Oldham. The doctor asked him some questions and talked to the other people there. They seemed unsure of what to do. He heard someone say hospital and then someone said Manchester and he guessed they were talking about the murder. They gave him an extra blanket and some tea which burnt his tongue. All night long they kept sliding the peephole back on the cell door and staring in. Dean didn’t know if he slept or not. Every time he thought about it he was in the same position, hands together between his knees, curled up tight. When he was in care, after his mum died, they said he slept with his eyes open. Freaked the other boys out. He didn’t think he slept that way anymore. Paula had never mentioned it.