“Pull the other one, love. They’ve been sitting in the garage all weekend.”
Johnny grumbled, took a left at the junction and headed towards Applewood Heights. “He’s fine. We’re fine. Everything is fine.”
Wendy sighed and tipped her head. “You can tell Aunt Wendy anything, you know? Romance issues, money trouble, dodgy bowels? ”
Johnny chuckled, letting the car coast. “I have enough meddling family members, thanks. And I keep telling you my bowels are fine.”
The stone cottages fell away as the sky turned overcast. They parked up next to a faded sign that may as well have said ‘The Nice Part of Town Ends Here, Folks!’ as the road turned into pothole city.
There was a mattress propped up against the sign, and a sofa that’d been ripped to shreds. Two shaggy looking wolves weaved around the road, unsteady on their feet, before quickly running off when they saw the police car.
That was never a good sign.
“Welcome to yellow ribbon paradise,” Wendy said, throwing up her hands with a flourish. “Where everyone’s either a crook, or is shacked up with one.”
Johnny shook his head. “Do they seriously let these people live in Dingly Heath?”
Wendy nodded. “But don’t worry! The council pays for the upkeep of the place, see?”
Johnny glanced at a bulging public bin and a concrete bench that had been defaced to within an inch of its life. There was also a massive crater in the side of a boarded-up house and the word ‘nonce’ sprayed across the chipboard barrier.
“You sure about this, JP?” Wendy said, fingers drumming over her radio. “Sometimes it’s better to pick your battles, and this ain’t one of mine.”
Johnny shrugged. “We’re just having a look around. Showing our faces. We don’t even need to get out of the car if you don’t want to.”
Wendy sighed. “That’s all well and good, but I won’t be impressed if we come across another drug den. I’m all for the overtime, but maybe limit lock-ups to one day a month?”
Johnny sucked his teeth. “Wendy, with all due respect, what are you on about? Are you a police officer or not?”
Wendy swallowed, eyes drifting down to her lap. “Yes. But I’m also old. I just don’t want to give them a reason to send me to pasture yet.”
Johnny looked her up and down, and although her thick mask of make-up was still very much in place, it was her hands that gave him pause. He’d never studied them before, but now that he was he noticed the liver spots and papery thin skin. He knew she was old, but notthatold.
“Don’t you want to retire? Your pension’s probably massive, right?”
Wendy nodded. “Oh yeah. Huge. Last time I checked I’d be set for at least another twenty years.”
Johnny tipped his head. “But you don’t want to go?”
She frowned. “Not yet. I… It gives me something to do.”
It suddenly dawned on Johnny that despite all of Wendy’s bravado, she had never once talked about family or friends. He didn’t even know if she had children, orgrandchildren, given her age.
“What about your new man? Isn’t he keeping you busy?”
Wendy fumbled with her fingers, nostrils flaring as she looked out of the window. Her lip began to quiver, and Johnny thought for one horrible moment she was going to cry.
“There is no man, JP. I made him up.”
Johnny let out a breath. “What? Why?”
Wendy shrugged. “I don’t know, I just… I wanted Taylor to paint my nails and chat shit for a bit. My wife died five years ago and I…” Now she really did look as though she was about to cry, so Johnny dug a packet of tissues out of his stab vest and handed them to her.
“Sorry,” she said, dabbing her eyes. “The house is just really quiet without her.”
Johnny pressed his lips together and looked back at her hands. There was a thin divot across her ring finger, the kind that could only have been left by a metal band, and he realised for the first time that Wendy was probably extremely lonely.
Taking a breath, he slipped out his phone and texted Maman.Have you got room for one more this weekend?
