Sue Fortin - The Half Truth

John gave a slight nod of apology. ‘How’s Jackie, Sir?’

‘Flesh wound. They’ve removed the bullet, fortunately no long-term damage. You’re obviously going to be a man down for a while.’

‘Don’t let Jackie hear you say that,’ said John. ‘Person down. We’re going to be a person down for a while.’ He stood up. ‘We’re going for a drink, Sir. Are you coming?’

‘Before you go,’ said Brogan. ‘CID sent over some photos. Wondered if you could translate them, given your expertise on gang tattoos.’ He dropped the brown envelope he had been carrying onto John’s desk.

John picked up the envelope and pulled the half a dozen or so black-and-white photos out. He gave them a cursory glance and slid them back inside. ‘What’s the history?’

‘Unidentified. Found dead, at the docks, yesterday. No ID, only the body art.’

‘Okay, I’ll take them home and have a look at them tonight,’ said John, pocketing the envelope.

‘Right, well, I’ll leave you all to it,’ said Brogan, turning and walking out of the office. ‘Well done again, everyone.’

‘It doesn’t look very nice out there now,’ said Tina as she began clearing the last of the tables at the café. She looked out of the window at the slate-grey clouds hovering overhead.

‘Looks like it’s about to rain,’ said Fay, following Tina’s gaze. ‘And I haven’t got my umbrella with me.’

‘Why don’t you get off early? I can finish up here.’ Tina carried the tray of dirty cups and saucers out to the kitchen. She came back out a moment later for the remaining crockery. ‘We’re not exactly going to have a big rush on in the last half an hour. And Old Grumpy has gone.’ She grinned at her colleague. Old Grumpy was their nickname for their boss; one he had earned with ease.

Fay was already untying her apron. ‘Only if you’re sure.’

‘Of course I’m sure. Now go on, otherwise you’ll get soaked.’

‘Thanks, hun,’ said Fay. She paused. ‘Don’t look straight away, but there’s a man standing across the road – in a baseball cap.’

Tina smiled to herself as she placed the teapot onto the tray. Was this another unsuspecting male to add to Fay’s Lust List? Fay’s recent fall into singleton territory had made her practically a predator to all men. Tina looked cautiously out of the window from under her fringe.

It took her a moment to spot the man in question, but when she did it forced a sharp in-take of breath. She raised her head some more and looked closer. The man’s eyes were hidden underneath the peak of the cap and the collar on his leather box jacket was pulled up. Although she couldn’t see his features, instinct told her the man had spotted her. For a moment they were both suspended in time as they appraised one another. Then the man stepped back into the shadows of the disused shop doorway behind him.

‘You all right?’ said Fay. ‘Tina?’

It took a second for Tina to register Fay’s voice. ‘Oh, yes, sorry.’

‘Creepy, isn’t he?’ said Fay. Tina nodded. She didn’t share with Fay that the man had reminded her of her ex-brother-in-law, Pavel. She didn’t know what it was. Maybe it was his build, his stance. Possibly even the clothing. Whatever it was, Pavel had come straight to the fore of her mind.

‘Why did you say creepy?’ asked Tina, unsure if she really wanted to know.

‘He was hanging around the other day. In fact, this is the third time I’ve seen him.’

‘Really? Perhaps he’s waiting for someone.’

‘Hmmm, then why does he keep staring in here?’

‘Stop it, Fay,’ said Tina, flicking her friend on the arm and feigning a grin. ‘I thought you were going anyway?’

Tina couldn’t deny the uneasy feeling resurrecting itself again, her moment of generosity in telling Fay to go home, now a regret.

‘I’ll see you in the morning, then,’ said Fay as she picked her jacket from the coat peg and hooked her arm through the handle of her bag.

Tina watched Fay disappear out the door and hurry off in the direction of the bus stop. She shivered at the rush of cold air, which had streaked in and was now winding itself around her body. She took another look across the road, the passing traffic partially obscuring her view.

There was movement in the darkened doorway. Tina narrowed her eyes, trying to get a clear view, but the traffic building up in the road was against her, the arrival of a bus making it impossible.

Drops of raining began to splatter against the glass and speckle the pavement. Within seconds the rain was pounding down, long stair rods of water hitting the tarmac and bouncing back up. Still the bus blocked a clear line of sight to the doorway opposite.

Tina checked her watch. Technically, it was still too early to close, but despite this she found herself walking towards the door, flipping the CLOSED sign around and sliding the bolts into their sockets at the top and bottom of the double glass doors.

As she busied herself with the final clean and tidy-up of the café, Tina couldn’t help glancing across the road. It was if something was drawing her eyes there, something out of her control. It was setting her nerves on edge. She fumbled with a cup – it slid between her fingers and smashed onto the floor.

‘Shit.’ Tina took a moment to calm herself. She silently cursed Fay for pointing out the man across the road, but then almost instantly berated herself for over-reacting. ‘It’s just a man waiting for someone,’ she said out loud.

With a renewed feeling of strength, Tina marched over to the door and, with her hands on her hips, looked across the road. Peering through the rain and gaps in the traffic, Tina studied the doorway. Empty.

‘There, he’s gone,’ she said.

As she left the café, locking up behind her, Tina forced herself to look once more across to the doorway. It was definitely empty. What made her cross the road, she didn’t know, but she found herself standing there. The rain was coming down harder now and people were rushing past her in the street, hurrying to get home or to their cars.

Tina stepped closer. The acrid smell of urine rose from the corner, the black-and-white- tiled doorway grubby and unloved. Four squashed cigarette ends lay next to a crumpled cigarette packet.

Tina’s mouth dried as she looked at the white box. She crouched down and picked it up. The word ‘Sobranie’ and the logo of the Russian imperial eagle emblazoned on the front made her drop the box as if her fingers had been burned.

Tina stood up, swinging around to face the street, her eyes frantically searching the pavement from left to right. Her stomach lurched and her heart pounded. The faces of the passers-by, strangers. She recognised no one.

Rain dripped from her now-soaked hair, streaking down her face. She ignored it. Thoughts of Dimitri rushed to the front of her mind. The maternal instinct to gather her child, take him home and keep him safe was overpowering. It was the stimulus she needed. Her feet responded. Only her first few steps were at a walk before she broke into a run. The urgency fuelled her.

Twenty minutes later, Tina burst through the kitchen door to her parents’ home.

‘Mum! Dad! Dimitri!’ she called, letting the door slam behind her.

‘In the living room,’ came back her mother’s voice from beyond.

Tina controlled her breathing. The casualness of her mother’s voice was an instant tonic to her panic. Pam met her in the hallway. ‘You all right, love?’

Tina forced a smile. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Just pleased to finish work today and get home.’ She gave her mum a peck on the cheek. ‘Where’s Dimitri?’

‘He’s in the greenhouse with your father. They were going to do a bit of gardening, but then the rain started. I think they are sowing seeds in the seed trays now.’