Murder Club - Mark Pearson [103]
‘I wish I could go back in time, Stuart. I would do things so differently,’ said Laura, tears pricking her eyes.
The elderly man took her hands and shook his head. ‘You are a healer now. You have made your own way in the wilderness. Just think of the lives you have saved. Regret nothing, lass. I made my own bed. I knew you were gay, but I didn’t care. I used you, I was your supervisor and I abused my trust. You should have just told them the truth. Nobody would have blamed you. Everything was just a terrible accident.’
‘When I saw what I had done to you the other night, I couldn’t forgive myself, Stuart. I tried to save her life, but I destroyed yours instead.’
‘There is nothing to forgive. Nobody had to show me the way to drink, my angel. Believe me, the demons were in my head long before we ever met. Falling in love with you didn’t make me what I am, but what you are is why I fell in love with you.’
‘I’m sorry.’
Stuart Gregor looked over at Dr Walker. ‘What are you going to do?’
She smiled. ‘It’s really nothing to do with me, is it?’
‘Don’t worry, Kate,’ Laura said, her cheeks wet with tears, her hands still held in the surgeon’s clasp. ‘I’ll make things right. I promise.’
Jack Delaney walked along Edgware Road with Sally Cartwright beside him. ‘This sunshine keeps up, the snow will all be melted by Christmas, sir,’ she said.
‘I wouldn’t bank on it, Sally. Besides, I promised Siobhan a White Christmas.’
‘Was that wise, sir?’
Delaney laughed. ‘I’m not sure if many of my decisions fall into that category.’
They turned into the side street and walked up to a female, uniformed police sergeant with a younger constable who were drinking mugs of tea with a homeless couple.
‘Morning, sir. Good work last night.’
‘Thanks. These the two?’
‘Yes sir, Mr and Mrs Stubbs.’
‘Is there a reward?’ asked the man.
‘There might be,’ said Delaney. ‘Depends what you can tell us.’
The man gestured at the uniforms. ‘The bobbies have been out and about asking if anybody saw anything last Friday night.’ He rubbed his thumb and fingers together. ‘Thought there might be some coin in it.’
‘Just tell us what you saw.’
‘Well me and the missus, we was here. With Bible Steve and the young lass. I don’t know her name.’
‘Meg,’ said Delaney. ‘Her name was Meg O’Brien.’
‘The four of us were just here, for the warmth, you know. And Bible had got lucky. Made a big score. He had whisky and was passing it around. Later on the police came and took him away. Blonde woman and a miserable, old geezer.’
‘Go on.’
‘Well we stayed there for a bit. Then the old lady closed up the Chinese restaurant about ten-thirty. Half an hour after that, a bunch of the Chinese came back.’
‘What Chinese?’
‘I don’t know, the waiters, cooks.’ One of them had a leather jacket on. Thought he was Elvis fucking Presley.’
‘What were they doing there?’
‘They come back to play cards and that funny game with the little bricks.’
‘So what happened?’
‘They told us to clear off. I think Bible really pissed them off when he pissed all over their front window.’
His wife chuckled.
‘And did you move?’
‘Not at first. We was still a bit bladdered, to be honest. But Elvis, he gets out these couple of sticks with a chain in the middle and we figured we’d best get out of there.’
‘Nunchuckas,’ said Sally Cartwright.
‘I beg yours, darling?’
‘It’s what the sticks are called,’ said Delaney, walking over to the restaurant. As they went in, Dongmei Chang’s nephew shouted over his shoulder.
‘Go away, we’re closed!’
‘You’re going to be closed for a very long time, sunshine!’ said Delaney.
The Chinese man looked round and the snarl on his face disappeared. Then he turned tail and raced off to the kitchen.
‘Get him, Constable!’ shouted Delaney. The young uniform charged after him followed by the sergeant, both of them flicking their asps out as they ran.
‘Aren’t you going with them?’ Sally asked.
‘Stuff that for a game of coconuts,’ said Delaney. ‘I’m getting