Stan was shaking his head. ‘Oh my God, this is terrible. PSD are going to be all over us, again. Christ, I came here hoping for a change of scenery and to maybe get some more experience under my belt. I didn’t expect this level of fucked up; we’re all going to be out of jobs and suspended at this rate. I’ve never had to talk to them in my entire career and now I can’t get away from them.’
‘Shut up, Stan, we did our best with what we had. It’s nothing to do with us. Are you always this dramatic?’ Cain was incredulous.
‘Well, no, but I’m just stating the obvious. Are you not worried about the repercussions this is going to bring on all of us?’
‘Is that what you call it? Nobody asked for your opinion.’
‘Is everyone okay?’ Ben’s voice was even croakier than Morgan’s.
She replied, ‘Yes, boss. Stan is just freaking out a little over the circumstances of last night’s murder.’
Ben nodded at Stan. ‘Stan, you’re not the only one. Why do you think Morgan and I never went home? Cain can you go grab coffee and bacon butties from somewhere, anywhere. I don’t care as long as they are warm and greasy.’
‘Already on my way, boss.’
‘Thanks, appreciate that.’ Ben threw his debit card in Cain’s direction, but he shook his head.
‘You should have called me; I’d have come in.’
Morgan knew that he would have too. ‘Where were you last night?’
‘At Amy’s, I slept there so I could help with Ava’s night feeds. She’s not sleeping too good; Amy looked exhausted when I went to see her on my way home from work.’
Morgan’s heart melted. Underneath the huge exterior was the softest, kindest-hearted man she knew. ‘You must be tired too.’
He shrugged. ‘Nothing a cappuccino and bacon buttie won’t remedy, besides she was good as gold for me. Amy wasn’t too happy that the little madam slept in my arms, but she looked much better before I left, so she wasn’t complaining too much.’
‘Ava is going to have you wrapped around her tiny fingers.’
Cain beamed at her. ‘She already has, Morgan, and I’m here for it. I never even thought I liked babies, but she is so beautiful, I’m smitten with her. I can’t wait to take her shopping and to her first football training session.’
Morgan laughed. ‘Does Angela not mind you staying over at Amy’s?’
‘She’s been a bit unwell and not sleeping too good herself, said she was relieved to have the bed to herself.’
‘Bless her, I hope she’s feeling better soon. Give her my love when you go home.’
‘I will. Right, I’ll be back before you can say Police Standards Department.’ He winked at Ben, who groaned but laughed anyway.
Marc walked out of Ben’s office.
‘Briefing in the blue room after Cain gets back. Give you two a chance to freshen yourselves up.’
He left with the blue police folders for the last three murders under his arms, and as the door closed behind him Morgan gave him the finger. ‘Some days I think he’s finally chilling enough to be okay, then others he strides in here and winds me up so much I think about throwing him out of the window.’
Ben laughed.
‘Please don’t do that. As much as we’d all appreciate it PSD would have to take up permanent residence in the corner of the office, and we might get someone even worse to take over.’
He left the office, and she stood up stretching her arms above her head. Her cropped Black Sabbath T-shirt rode up a little too high and she tugged it back down when she realised Stan was staring at her.
‘You might be able to get a transfer back to your old job if they haven’t filled the position yet.’
He smiled at her.
‘No, I like working with you guys. I really do. I’m sorry for freaking out just then. It’s just there is a lot going on that I’ve never seen before in any of the departments I’ve worked in.’
‘Ah, that’s the beauty of Rydal Falls CID. If you want experience then you’ve come to the right place. But you have to take the rough with the smooth and lately there hasn’t been much of the smooth. I should have known it was too good to be true, five weeks of bog-standard shed breaks, domestics and tourist drama was never going to last us out.’
