Michael Wood - Outside Looking In

‘Nothing so far, ma’am. She’s in theatre.’ He relayed the information he had been given by a duty nurse. ‘To be honest, I doubt she’ll survive the night.’

‘Bloody hell. Look, go back in and try and get her clothes from the nurses before they’re destroyed. Then get them straight to forensics. After that go home. Back at the station first thing for a briefing.’

He was just about to reply when he realized he would have been talking to dead air.

Matilda looked down at her mobile and watched as the display faded before going back into standby mode.

‘I think we may have a double murder on our hands.’

She was in the front passenger seat of a pool car with DC Scott Andrews behind the wheel. They were parked up at the side of the road halfway between the crime scene and Kevin Hardaker’s home.

‘Do we know who she is yet?’

‘Not a clue.’

‘You really think she could be a prostitute?’

‘I’ve no idea, Scott. It’s too early to say.’

‘So … what now?’ he asked after a full minute of contemplative silence.

‘There’s not much more we can do tonight. Drive me home then you get off home yourself. We’ll make a proper start of it first thing.’

Scott turned the key in the ignition and headed the wrong way to Matilda’s house. She quickly informed him of his error and he made an illegal three point turn before heading in the right direction. There was very little traffic around at this time of night; nobody noticed.

That wasn’t technically true. One person did witness the traffic violation. The driver of a black BMW, several yards back so as to avoid detection, was watching very carefully and had to make the same illegal move in order to keep the pool car in their sights.

The next morning started very early for Matilda. When she woke her duvet was half off the bed and the fitted sheet was not living up to its name; evidence of a bad night tossing and turning. Her dreams had been unsettling and disturbed; her mind unable to rest. She constantly thought of the dead woman, who she might be and if anyone was missing her; the impending closure of the Murder Room and what that meant for her job and her team. Eventually at five o’clock she decided to get up.

When she went into the living room her eyes fell on the framed photograph of her and James at their wedding. She could not believe it was almost the first anniversary of his death. How did that happen so quickly?

Whenever she thought of the death of her husband she immediately thought of the disappearance of Carl Meagan. Even if Carl was eventually found safe and well she would always think of him whenever she grieved for her husband. The two would be forever entwined. Like James, Carl would constantly be in her thoughts; he was engraved on her memory and nothing would erase it.

It was too early to go to work but Matilda knew one person who would definitely be up and ready to face the world at this time.

‘Perfect timing! There’s coffee in the pot and bread waiting to be burnt.’

As always, Adele Kean was bright and cheerful. How it was possible so early in the morning was way beyond Matilda’s reckoning. Should a pathologist, who spends her days up to the elbows in dead bodies, have such a bubbly personality?

Adele was neatly dressed in well-fitted clothes. Her hair was tidy with not a split end in sight, and she was wearing just enough make-up to be professional with a glamorous edge. Matilda couldn’t remember the last time she’d applied make-up or when she had her hair professionally styled; probably around the time of James’s funeral.

‘So what brings you around here so early?’ Adele asked, feeding bread into the toaster.

‘I couldn’t sleep.’ She slumped on the stool at the breakfast counter and released a loud, wide yawn that would make a Labrador jealous. ‘What time did you get in last night?’

‘It was almost two o’clock. An elderly man had jumped from a tower block on London Road.’

‘So you’ve only had about two or three hours sleep?’

‘About that, yes.’

‘You’ve no right to look that good on three hours’ sleep. If you weren’t my best friend I’d be scratching your eyes out.’

Adele gave a sweet smile. ‘I’m just a naturally beautiful woman. L’Oréal are testing my skin to find out why I’m so youthful and good-looking.’

Matilda rolled her eyes. Adele’s personality was warm and infectious. She didn’t have an ounce of malice or bitterness in her, despite all she had gone through. It was refreshing. Matilda would love to be more like Adele.

‘Any news on your double shooting?’ Adele asked, interrupting Matilda’s thoughts.

‘Not yet. We’ve still no idea who the woman is. She certainly isn’t his wife; I delivered the death message to her myself last night. I called the station on the way over here but there have been no reports of a missing person.’

‘You’re wondering if she’s a prostitute, aren’t you?’

‘Yes. God only knows how many of them go missing every year. I find it unbelievable how someone can disappear and not one person misses them. Don’t you find that sad?’

‘I do. How is she by the way?’

‘I haven’t called the hospital yet. I’ll do it later.’

Adele poured coffee into a large mug and handed it to Matilda. Conversation over, Matilda’s mind drifted off again. She gave a small sigh and looked into the distance, through the wall, out of the house and into another world.

‘What else is on your mind?’

‘Sorry?’

‘Something else is stopping you from sleeping. Is it James’s anniversary? Eight days away isn’t it?’

‘Yes. 28 thMarch. But no, it’s not that. I called Masterson last night. She told me the Murder Room is closing.’

‘What?’ Adele asked, stopping midway through buttering a slice of toast.

‘Budget cuts apparently. Last week the police dogs, this week us.’

‘What’s going to happen to the team?’

‘I’ve no idea. I’m working with a reduced team anyway. Faith Easter has transferred back to CID, I’m down a DI, and I’ve got two DCs who still behave like students. Honestly, Adele, it would be funny if people’s lives weren’t at risk.’

Matilda got up from the breakfast bar. She could feel her legs starting to shudder and she was seconds away from remembering her old anxiety exercises. She walked to the back of the kitchen and leaned against the patio doors. She looked out at the well-kept garden.

‘Why can’t my garden look as good as yours?’

‘Because I have a son to blackmail. Can I ask you a question?’

She turned to face Adele. ‘Oh God. Why do I get the feeling I’m not going to like this? Go on.’

‘Are you drinking again?’

‘What? Where did that come from? No I’m not drinking again. New Year’s resolution, remember? I don’t have a drop in the house and I haven’t had a drink since New Year’s Eve. What made you ask that?’

‘You seem anxious; more than usual. The anniversaries, this case, it’s bound to cause some stress. I don’t want you falling backwards.’

Adele’s son, Chris, could be heard getting up. His size eleven flat feet slapping on the hardwood floor travelled down the stairs. Matilda lowered her voice and walked back to the breakfast bar, helping herself to a slice of toast.

‘Adele, in the past year I think I’ve drunk more than most people do in a lifetime. Just thinking about everything I went through, how I was feeling when I was drinking, makes me feel sick.’

They looked at each other for a long few seconds. Matilda could tell Adele wasn’t convinced. ‘You don’t have to worry about me, Adele. I’m fine. I’m smiling. I’m happy. You find me a bloke called Larry and I bet you a month’s wages I’ll be happier than he is.’