The house was quite grand and a boat was moored up on the river at the end of their garden. The reddish stone house was lit up by designer lighting that looked like a fading strip at each side of the huge front door. The couple knocked. As the door opened, James Brown’s, ‘Get up Sex Machine’,escaped from the door. So apt, she thought. The couple went in, led by the woman of the house, SwapFunSarah.
The party appeared classy from the outside. She imagined the guests would be greeted with a glass of champagne. Fizzy bubbles escaping from a raspberry that sat at the bottom of the flute. The pristine host would serve hors d’oeuvres, maybe devils on horseback. That’s when the classiness would end and their agenda would be addressed. Was it just a night where new members would meet up or was there going to be some action?
‘I hope it is just a meeting of new people,’ Gina said. ‘I don’t know how Smith and Kapoor will handle things if their names are placed into a glass.’
‘It would certainly give us all something to laugh about back at the station.’ Briggs sniggered as he kept his attention on the house.
Gina checked her watch, there was still ten minutes until the party officially started and their two undercover officers would arrive. She inhaled. ‘New aftershave.’
He smiled. ‘You noticed.’
She shook her head and laughed. ‘I just noticed it was different, that was all.’
‘You approve?’
She nodded. ‘It smells good.’ He smelled good. He looked good in his casual jacket and grey shirt, too good to be this close to. She really hoped more people would be turning up soon. Her stomach flipped. Steven and Dawn pulled up on the drive. Dawn teetered uncomfortably on the uneven block paving in the stiletto boots tugging down her short ill-fitting dress that clung to all the wrong places.Why do you let him do this to you?She knew the answer to that question without even having to ask. She knew that Steven got what Steven wanted, just like Terry. If Steven wanted her to wear those clothes, even though they were the wrong size and she looked unhappy, she would wear them. Just like Terry – it was his way or no way.
‘Are you okay with this? He can’t see you, understand?’ The moment of light-heartedness they’d shared a moment ago had been replaced by an air of seriousness. She couldn’t compromise the case in any way.
‘I understand, sir.’
‘Okay, Harte, they’re going in. Where are we right now with Steven as a suspect?’
‘Not enough to make an arrest but he could have done it. Problem is, so could some of the others. All we have is circumstantial.’ She let out a slight huff.
‘You want it to be him, don’t you?’
She ignored his question.
‘Don’t go there, it’s dangerous and it will kill your career. Investigate thoroughly and the culprit will be found and it will be watertight for the CPS. We can’t compromise the case due to personal feelings about suspects because of our pasts. If at any point you don’t think you can handle being a part of this investigation, then you can back down on this case.’
She turned and rolled her eyes. ‘No way. I’m as committed to finding out who killed Jade Ashmore as you are, and I am a professional.’ She just hoped her actions could convince him of that fact. He was right, he could see straight through her protective veil. He knew how much she despised Steven. She made a note of their attendance and briefly described the first couple. She knew Jacob, Wyre and O’Connor would also be observing from the other side of the house.
The rain subsided and, from afar, they could see that several people had turned up, dead on time. Cars pulled in and were manoeuvred around until suitably parked. Amongst them, she saw Smith pull in. ‘Here goes, sir.’
‘Indeed.’ It looked like Smith and Kapoor were exchanging pleasantries with the other guests.
‘They have scrubbed up well.’ Smith wore smart jeans and a casual, untucked shirt. Kapoor wore the blonde wig, along with a black shift dress and little heels. Smart but sexy. Understated but high impact. It was a look Gina could only ever hope to carry off. The blonde wig was a disguise but the people attending were all about not being themselves for a night. Another couple laughed as they held ball masks to their eyes. As the man lowered his, Gina half expected to see Richard Leason but she didn’t recognise the man at all. In fact, she hadn’t recognised anyone apart from Steven and Dawn. ‘I don’t recognise anyone else so far.’
‘No, maybe the rest are staying away after what happened at the last party. What do we know about the host?’
Gina turned a page in her notebook. Unable to read it in the dark, she thought back to what she’d read about SwapFunSarah. ‘Sarah Norton, forty-two, and no record; family-owned business involving plant hire of which she is now the managing director. It takes all sorts. Not married but very outgoing if you look at her Facebook profile. Loves her parties.’
Gina and Briggs watched as a man in a trilby hat was dropped off at the end of the road in a taxi, his head dipped as he tried not to get his face wet. His overcoat came to his knees and she could see he was dressed smartly underneath. ‘Look up, whoever you are,’ she said as she waited to see his face.
He turned to face the other direction as he knocked. Gina radioed Jacob and the others. ‘Did you see who that was?’
The radio hissed. ‘Don’t recognise him, guv. Could only see his mouth under the rim of the hat, so not much to go on. Hopefully, we’ll get a look later. Maybe it’s SwapFunSarah’s latest.’
‘Thanks. Keep watching.’ She ended the communication and scrawled a note in the dark.Man in trilby, who are you?
‘I should get a trilby. I think I have the right shaped head for a hat.’
Gina laughed and playfully patted Briggs on the arm. The door opened and the sounds of ‘At Last’ by Etta James now filled the air. The bay window at the front of the house oozed a warm light that extended halfway across the drive. People in party clothes walked past with champagne flutes. Gina was sure there was fruit in the bottom of the glass. She had them all worked out. Smith and Kapoor walked over to the window.
Gina leaned forward. Smith was being pulled away from Kapoor by the host. She watched as he smiled, impressed by how well Smith was playing the part. Kapoor looked out of the window. ‘Hold your nerve, Kapoor,’ Gina said as she watched. The young woman flinched as a hand landed on her shoulder. She turned and the rest of the man came into view – Steven the slimeball.
Kapoor’s frown adjusted into a huge smile as she turned to face Steven. She bit her bottom lip and shook her head. Steven winked, then vanished from view.
