‘I just wanted to say that I’m sorry you had to go into the water after me.’
‘You are? Don’t worry about it. I wouldn’t have let you go under; I had to do something. I wouldn’t have let anyone go under, not even Marc, and he’s an even worse arse than me.
‘You know, when I was a kid, me and my twin brothers would play down at the riverside even though we weren’t allowed. We made this den out of twigs and rocks, it had a roof on it and everything, kind of like a club house that we all used to hide in. It was pretty cool considering it was built by two eight-year-olds and a five-year-old. One day my brother Eddy, who never could keep his mouth shut, was mouthing off at the local bully. He chased him and Danny down to the riverside. I was already there waiting for them; they’d gone to the shop to get crisps and a bottle of pop to share. Anyway, this lad, Harry, he grabbed hold of Danny and threw him into the river, it was horrible. I couldn’t swim, we weren’t supposed to be anywhere near there, and I knew we were going to get in big, big trouble with our dad who was strict about playing by water. Danny was struggling, he kept taking in mouthfuls of water and he went under. Eddyjumped in to save him, and I stood there watching, feeling useless. Thankfully, Eddy dragged him out and the pair of them were lying on the riverbank soaked to the bone, but it was close, too close. Danny almost drowned and I just stood there unable to help.’
‘You were only five, you couldn’t have done anything. I’m so glad your brothers were both okay. That must have been terrifying.’
He nodded. ‘It was, but not as terrifying as if our dad had found out about it. We had to wait hours for their clothes to dry before we could go home. Good job this was the eighties and nobody ever checked up on their kids or bothered what time it was before they went home. I begged my mam for swimming lessons the next day, and she sent me to the swimming baths on my own, with a note and the money to pay for lessons. I learned to swim, then I learned to be a lifeguard, and I swore I would never stand by and watch anyone else struggle in the water. I can tell you that promise I made to myself when I was a kid has caused me all sorts of grief as a copper, but I stick by it because I remember how scared I was thinking Danny was going to die.’
‘Wow, that’s an incredible reason for being so brave. Thank you, I really do appreciate it.’
He waved his hand at her. ‘Anytime, although I’d prefer it if you could keep away from lakes and tarns for the foreseeable future. I’ve been bloody freezing all day.’
Morgan laughed. ‘Me too.’
She watched after him as he exited through the rear doors she and Ben had just come in, and she wondered how little she knew about most of the people in this station. She knew Ben’s, Amy’s and Cain’s stories, but had next to no knowledge about Marc or his background. Wendy she was close to, but again, didn’t know a lot about her – and it struck her how everyone hadtheir own stories to tell, their own reasons for doing this job and it made her feel a little humbler about her colleagues.
TWENTY-EIGHT
The office smelled good, like a Chinese restaurant, and nothing made Morgan happier. She’d demolished her chicken satay, salt and pepper chips, noodles and prawn crackers and was stuffed. Ben had shut himself away in his office with some paper towels and his food, and he had closed the blinds so nobody could watch him eating. They all had forms to fill out about the various incidents they’d been involved in, and Ben had also given them a victim each to focus on. Morgan had Scarlett. She was currently cross-referencing Instagram followers with Scarlett and Lizzie Thomas, who had officially been identified as the woman found in the lake. She was looking to see if they knew each other, looking for a link between the missing women from the Airbnb and the group of teens, but up to now it wasn’t looking hopeful. She wanted to know why Lizzie and Janey had been out on that fell just days before Scarlett and her friends. She felt there had to be a connection somewhere. And if the two women were both ghost hunting for a podcast, who had even told them about the legend? Where had they heard it from?
They were all busy when Marc strode in. He sniffed the air.
‘That smells so good, anyone got any leftovers? I didn’t fancy a Chinese when you asked, but God I could kill for one now.’ He patted his washboard stomach as if to confirm his hunger.
Cain pushed a tub of chicken curry and egg fried rice towards him. ‘You can have that, I’m full.’
Marc stared at the plastic containers. ‘They’re full, have you not touched it?’
Morgan nodded. ‘He’s full because he’s already eaten chicken in black bean sauce and sweet and sour chicken with chips.’
Cain patted his stomach. ‘Got to take care of this physique, can’t let it slip.’
This made Morgan giggle. Marc snatched up the containers before Cain changed his mind.
‘Cheers, appreciate that. I’ll buy you one back next time you order.’ He turned, about to walk out of the door, then stopped in his tracks. ‘Oh, nearly forgot what I was coming in here to say. I think you need some extra help, and Amber has offered, so I said yes. She knows the score, so it makes sense.’
Morgan silently groaned inwardly, but Cain groaned loudly.
‘What’s the matter, Cain, have you got a problem with that?’
‘I do, as a matter of fact, she’s the reason I left working response, a much quieter, a much easier ride than working in this office. She’s hard work, boss, full of attitude and, quite frankly, a pain in the arse.’
Amber walked in and stared at Cain. ‘Who’s a pain in the arse?’
Cain rolled his eyes. ‘Who do you think?’
‘You are talking about me? I am no more of a pain than you lot are. Look at the state of you all. Morgan almost drowned earlier, and Ben looks like he’s been fighting down on Cornwallis Street on a Saturday night. Wow, that’s the thanks I get for offering to work with you lot who are all liabilities. That’s not cool.’
Marc looked mortified. ‘Stop it now, children, behave yourselves and work like the great team I know you are.’
Amber forced a smile at Cain, who nodded. Marc walked out of the door with his food, and Cain whispered, ‘I would never have given him that if he’d mentioned it first.’
Morgan laughed. ‘He played you.’
Cain’s eyes widened. ‘He did, the sneaky bastard.’
Ben opened the office door, and Morgan didn’t miss the look of misery that filled his face.
