Moyra watched him closely until he put the phone down and stood there, dejected.
“You never even mentioned you’ve no job, you should have told her.”
“It wasn’t necessary.”
“It will be when you can’t pay for her ‘residential home.’ ” Moyra couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
“I’ll manage, man with my experience can always get work. Things’ll be OK, I’ll go and see her. Will you get me the perfume she likes?”
Moyra wanted to weep; his whole life was turned upside-down, and hers, and he was asking her to buy perfume.
“She must have a drawerful.”
“I like to take her something, you know that. I’m all she’s got.”
“You’re all I’ve got too, George!”
He gave her a sweet, gentle smile, showing his perfect teeth, his slanting, wonderful eyes. She loved him to bursting sometimes.
“I’ll get us a cup of tea.” She didn’t mean to sound abrupt, it just came out that way.
When Jane arrived home that night, later than she had promised, she wanted nothing more than a hot bath and to crash out.
As she walked into the bedroom, Peter took one look at her face. “I suppose you don’t want to go out to eat? Want me to get a takeaway?”
“Oh, yeah, but first I want a shower.”
“I booked a court, didn’t the message get to you?”
She looked at him and realized that he had been playing squash. “I’m sorry, love, I’ve been in and out of the station. I meant to call, but I kept getting waylaid.”
“You gonna be waylaid over this dinner?”
“What? The takeaway?”
“No, I told you, I asked you for a date when I could invite Frank King and his wife, and Tom and Sheila, to dinner. I told you.”
“I know, and I haven’t forgotten. I’ve even arranged for Pam to come over tomorrow to help me sort out the menu!”
“Well, there’s no need to go mad!”
“With my culinary expertise, darlin’, I doubt it, but I’ll have a go.”
He tipped her chin up and kissed her, looking into her eyes. “It’s important to me. I lost out on a contract; if I pull off this deal with Frank King we’ll set up a partnership. He’s got a big yard, employs fifty guys, and then Tom supplies the paint. We cut cost all round. I don’t know if they want me with them, but it’d be a big plus for me, so the dinner’s important.”
“I know, it’s no problem, but my hunger is! Lemme have a shower, you get the nosh.”
The hot water felt good. Wrapped in a big toweling dressing gown, Jane switched on the television and lay on the bed to watch it. She could have gone to sleep there and then, but Peter arrived with the Chinese takeaway. She could hear him banging around in the kitchen but didn’t have the energy to get up and help him.
The telephone rang and Peter appeared at the door. “If that’s for you to go out, I quit! I quit!”
It was Jane’s mother on the line to remind her of her father’s birthday and to invite her to a small party. Jane covered the mouthpiece and called Peter, “Pete! Pete, it’s Mum! Are you free next Monday? It’s Dad’s seventy-fifth and she’s having a little do! Pete?”
Peter brought the tray with the cartons of food and a bottle of wine. “Sounds OK,” he said.
Jane listened to her mother carrying on about her sister Pam’s pregnancy and pulled a face. “Pam’s got water retention!”
Already tucking in to the food, Peter gestured that it would get cold.
“Mum, I’ll have to go, we’re just having dinner. Yes! I’ll be there, and Peter… OK… Give Pop my love!” She put the phone down, “Dear God, don’t let me forget Dad’s birthday card, remind me to send it off.”
It was almost ten. They settled back to watch TV as they ate, but Jane had no sooner lifted the fork to her mouth than the phone rang again. She pushed the tray away.
“I’ll get it.”
Peter continued eating. He could hear excitement in Jane’s voice, then her laughter. At least it sounded like good news. She came back into the bedroom, beaming.
“Guess what, I’m going to be on TV!”
“What? I thought Opportunity Knocks was defunct?”
“Ho, ho! No, I’m going on Crime Night, the police program, and I will be the first female murder officer they’ve ever had on!”
“Oh, great! Finish your dinner, the crab and noodle’s good.”
Jane twirled around, suddenly no longer tired. “I pulled every string I could muster. Mind you, the Chief’s got to give the go-ahead, but he can’t refuse. I mean, to date we’ve got bugger all, but I know this’ll bring us something, I just know it. I’m gonna get that bastard…
“When is it?”
“The twenty-second, they need a while to organize the mock-up film, and I’ve got to put together all the evidence we can use… Oh, shit! It’s Dad’s birthday!”
“Well, maybe they can have it another day?”
“Don’t be stupid, the program goes out at the same time every week…”
Peter threw his fork down. “I didn’t mean the bloody TV program, I meant your Mum could change the party night!”
“Oh, sorry. It’ll be OK, I’ll just have to make a late entrance.”
“I’m not that dumb. Do you want to finish your dinner or not?”
“No, I’m not hungry.”
“Fine, then I’ll clear away.”
He snatched up the tray. As he passed her she put out a hand. “I’m sorry, I guess I’m not hungry.”
“That’s OK, suit yourself, you usually do!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It’s Saturday night, Jane. I thought that just for one night, just one, you wouldn’t be on the bloody phone!”
She sighed and flopped back on the bed. She was so hyped up about the TV program that she hadn’t given Peter a thought. But by the time he came back into the room she was sitting cross-legged, with that tomboyish grin he liked so much. For a moment he thought it was for him, but then she clapped her hands.
“I am going to nail him, Pete, I know it!”
“I’m going to the pub, see you later.”
When Peter got home she was asleep. He stumbled around the bedroom in the dark, cursing as he stubbed his toe. Past caring if he woke her up, he threw himself into bed and thumped his pillow.
Half-asleep, she rolled towards him and muttered, “I’m sorry, Pete, but I get so tired…”
He looked at her shadowy face, then drew her into his arms. “You’re gonna have to start making time for us, Jane, you hear me?”
“Mmmm, yeah, I know… and I will.”
“Is that a promise?”
“Yes. I love you, Pete.”
She was asleep again, her head resting on his shoulder. He eased her gently back to her side of the bed and then turned over. He was more than worried about his business, and he needed the deal with Frank King to come off. He knew he wouldn’t be able to keep afloat for much longer, he’d be bankrupt.
Moyra eased the bedroom curtain aside. She could see the small red dot of a police officer’s cigarette. There were two of them; bored with sitting in the car they were taking a breather, walking around the estate. She let the curtain fall back into place.
“There’s two of them still prowling around outside, George!”
Marlow lay face down on the bed, his naked body draped in a sheet that just covered his buttocks. He was lean, taut, muscular.
He banged his pillow. “Just ignore them.”
“It’s tough, they’re outside day and night, and I know there’s another two in the flat opposite us. I’ve seen them, I know they’re cops, and they’ve got a camera.”
“You’d think they’d have better things to do with ratepayers’ money.”
“Yeah, but it makes my skin crawl. And her from next door is in and out, talking to everyone! I feel everybody looking at me when I go out. Bastards, this is harrassment! I’d like to get them, the bastards. Why?”