Nothing but Meat: A dark, heart-stopping British crime thriller Read online

  ‘Just out for a drink.’

  ‘Carry on.’

  ‘We went to a bar in town.’

  ‘Did you like her?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Elaborate.’

  He hesitated, opened his mouth and closed it again unsure what to say.

  ‘Tell us about the first time you met her,’ said Simone.

  ‘I turned up at the community centre one evening and she was waiting outside. It was her first time volunteering and I thought, you know, she looks all right.’

  ‘What did you like about her?’ asked Simone.

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Her looks,’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Her body?’

  ‘Yeah, she had the whole package.’ He licked his thin lips.

  ‘She was a pretty girl,’ said West. ‘I’ve seen pictures. I’m wondering if you got a bit over infatuated by her.’

  ‘It wasn’t infatuation. I really quite liked her.’

  ‘Quite liked her,’ repeated West. ‘You really are the last true romantic.’

  ‘How long was it before you asked her out?’ said Simone.

  ‘I don’t know, a few weeks.’

  ‘It must have felt good when she said yes,’ she said.

  ‘Yeah, but I think she was just a bit too embarrassed to say no.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘I had to ask a few times and when I eventually wore her down I got the impression that she went out with me just to humour me. We only went out the one time and she told me I wasn’t really her type.’

  ‘Not her type. How did that make you feel?’ said West.

  ‘A bit disappointed.’

  ‘Angry?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Are you sure? Rejection is hard.’

  ‘You sound like you’re speaking from experience Detective.’

  West ignored him. ‘How did the evening end?’

  ‘She said she wanted to be friends with me – blah, blah, blah and we went our separate ways.’

  ‘What about the rose,’ said Simone.

  ‘What rose?’

  ‘Did you buy her a rose when you went out – maybe from one of those annoying sellers that flogs them in pubs?’

  ‘No, why would I?’

  ‘Waste of money if the girl’s not interested am I right Gary?’ said West.

  Stevens gave one shoulder a light shrug.

  ‘Was it awkward working with her after that?’ said Simone.

  ‘Not really, I think she was a bit too naïve for my tastes anyway.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’ said West.

  He shrugged.

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘It’s complicated.’ He sighed. ‘I’m already in a relationship but we have an understanding. I ask a lot of girls out and some are, let’s just say; easier than others.’

  ‘They understand that you’re only after one thing?’ said Simone.

  ‘If you like.’

  ‘And Victoria wasn’t having any of it?’ she said.

  ‘It didn’t get that far. She was a bit too young and way too naïve; she genuinely thought I just wanted to go for a drink.’

  ‘Naïve,’ Simone repeated.

  ‘Tell us a bit about the other person in your life?’ said West. ‘Wife, girlfriend, boyfriend?’

  ‘Her name is Caroline Sheppard and we’re engaged.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And, we met at The Shelter about a year ago.’

  ‘She was volunteering?’

  ‘No she was visiting.’

  ‘She was homeless?’

  ‘She hasn’t had the easiest life but now she’s doing okay.’

  ‘She must be very understanding.’

  ‘We’re unconventional, but we have similar tastes.’

  ‘A marriage made in heaven.’

  ‘Don’t judge me Detective.’

  ‘I’m not judging you; I don’t give a shit what you get up to behind closed doors. It’s none of my business, but when a young girl gets brutally murdered and a grease-ball like you admits that she wouldn’t let you get into her pants. Then it becomes my business.’

  ‘I didn’t try to get into her pants.’

  ‘But you would have, given half a chance,’ said Simone.

  ‘I didn’t do anything wrong.’

  ‘Whoever killed her cut her face off,’ said West. ‘What do you think about that Gary?’

  ‘We just worked together. I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t know her that well, we went out once and that was it. So I wanted to sleep with her and she wasn’t interested, big deal. I wouldn’t wish what happened to her on anyone. What do you think I am?’

  ‘That’s what we are trying to figure out,’ said Simone.

  ‘Where were you on Thursday evening?’ said West.

  ‘Thursday is quiz night at the local. I went there with Caroline, we’re in a team,’ he said. ‘Call her, call the fucking pub. Call everyone. I didn’t do anything.’

  7

  ‘Got any plans for tonight?’ West asked casually as they walked along a station corridor.

  The question caught Simone off-guard and she flustered before answering. ‘I don’t know.’ Was he asking her out? She answered honestly. ‘I was planning on going to the hospital to see Barratt. I meant go yesterday. He should be able to receive visitors by now.’

  ‘I’m going there too; I want to see the old man. He’s the reason I’m back and I don’t plan to neglect him.’

  ‘Of course not,’ she agreed and silently anticipated his next question, the sensible part of her hoped it wouldn’t come but the butterflies in her stomach had other ideas and she knew she really wanted him to ask. ‘Maybe we should go together, I could pick you up,’ he said and there it was, floating in the air like smoke. West had a twinkle in his eye that suggested he was teasing her, wanting her to make excuses as to why they couldn’t go together. But they really couldn’t go together, so why had she had that feeling of wanting him to ask? Was it ego that made her feel this way, or did she just like the attention? Was it the rare feeling of being wanted again? They both knew what her reply would be and she was about to decline when he said, ‘Or we could meet at the hospital. You could visit your partner and then maybe pop in and see the old man with me; I know he’d like to see you again and to tell the truth I’d quite like some company.’ She glanced at him as he spoke. ‘It’s hard to see him like this,’ he said and multiple emotions struck Simone simultaneously; she felt sorrow for West and the difficulty of seeing his father so terribly ill, she felt pride at knowing someone with such strength of character, his ability to run a murder investigation and to deal with the impending death of his father so nobly, she felt love for him because of his ability to be honest and thrilled at the thought of seeing him tonight. But she also she felt fear, fear because she would have to go home and see Martin and tell him she was going to be out for the evening and run the risk of him finding out Nathan was back.

  ‘We can meet in the canteen if you like,’ she said.

  When Simone arrived home she was relieved to see that Martin’s car wasn’t in the driveway; he often worked late and she knew she had a window of opportunity where she could get ready and be out of the house before he got home, but in order to avoid him she would have to be quick because he could return at any moment. She showered away the heat of the day and changed quickly, she decided to let her hair dry naturally and to apply whatever make-up she could to her bruised face in the hospital car park. She was in and out of the house within twenty minutes and on her way to the hospital. She listened to the radio as she drove and the news had broken that the police had taken an unnamed man in for questioning. She pulled into the car park and did her make-up. When she leant forward to look in the rear view mirror her stomach growled and she realised she had barely eaten anything all day but fortunately she had got to the hospital so early she had plenty of time to get something from the canteen before
she went in to see Barratt.

  As she walked down the corridor towards Barratt’s room she recognised his wife Roxanne walking towards her in the opposite direction and Simone caught her attention by waving quickly as they approached each other. Roxanne acknowledged Simone and paused to wait outside Barratt’s room; she was holding a juice box of Ribena and a packet of sweets – no doubt for their daughter Tanya. They said hello and hugged for a second and when they pulled away from each other Simone asked, ‘How is he?’

  She looked tired and drained but her eyes were bright and the relief reflected in them was obvious, she said, ‘He’s doing okay. He needed blood and the doctors said he got to the hospital just in time, it could have been so much worse…’ she trailed off then said, ‘Thank you so much for being there, for looking after him.’

  ‘You’re welcome. He would have done the same for me.’

  ‘Your face looks so sore, I barely recognised you.’

  Simone shrugged sheepishly; she couldn’t help feeling slightly guilty for only being beaten up. ‘I’ll be okay,’ she said. ‘It’s just a few bruises.’ Roxanne read her face and said, ‘Hey, don’t feel bad for John, he’s alive and that’s because of you.’

  ‘Is he okay to see visitors I wasn’t sure if I should have rung before I came here.’

  ‘He’ll be pleased to see you. Go on in.’

  Barratt’s head was heavily bandaged but he was sitting upright in bed while their daughter Tanya ran a toy car up and down the bed-sheets.

  ‘It’s about time,’ said Barratt as she entered, ‘thought you’d forgotten about me.’ Tanya spotted the juice box and sweets and ran over to collect them from her mother.

  ‘I would have got here earlier but all hell’s broken loose.’

  ‘So I hear, it sounds like I got hospitalised at just the right time.’

  ‘You’re better off out of it.’ She sat down in the chair closest to the bed.

  ‘You look pretty banged up; I can’t believe you went straight back to work.’

  ‘It’s just sore. No big deal.’ She shot a shy glance to Roxanne who noticed and smiled back gratefully.

  ‘I hear you’ve got a new partner. That was quick.’

  She shrugged. ‘The old one was easy to replace.’

  ‘Funny.’

  ‘Hey, how long ‘til you’re up and around again?’

  ‘I should be home the day after tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s excellent news.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ll be coming back though,’ he said quietly to Simone alone, he looked at his daughter as he spoke. ‘It was too close for comfort and it’s had me thinking. I never saw her coming and if she’d stabbed me in the neck that’d be it; I’d be floating on a cloud with a harp in my hands.’

  ‘I had a feeling you’d be like this,’ she said, ‘and I want you to know I understand. Whatever it is you decide to do John, you’ll have no argument from me.’

  ‘Thanks Simone. Keep it to yourself though,’ he said.

  ‘Of course I will. Has anyone else from work been to see you yet?’

  ‘Some of the lads came by a couple of hours ago, they couldn’t stay long though, and I had a phone call from Jackson.’

  ‘Everyone wants to come and see you but with all that’s been going on don’t be offended if some of them don’t make it before you get out of here. It’s nothing personal, well it might be,’ she shrugged and whispered quietly so she wasn’t overheard, ‘a lot of people think you’re a wanker.’

  He laughed. ‘Great, thanks for making me feel special Simone.’

  ‘Seriously John, everyone is thinking about you. Jackson especially but he’s run ragged at the moment.’

  A face appeared at the window and there was a quick rap at the door before it opened and four people entered all holding flowers and paper bags of grapes. Roxanne greeted them and the room was suddenly very crowded. Barratt said a few hellos and quickly introduced Simone to his two brothers and their wives. They started to chat with one another and Simone knew it was time to go. She said, ‘I’m going to get going and let you have some time with your family. Some of us don’t have the luxury of staying in bed all day.’

  ‘Okay it was good to see you.’

  She put her hand on his. ‘Take care.’

  He gripped her fingers softly but firmly and said, ‘Thanks Simone.’ He glanced at his wife who was talking to John’s brother but also eavesdropping their exchange, she looked back mid-conversation and caught Simone’s eye again. Barratt said, ‘I couldn’t have left her alone. We’re all very grateful.’

  ‘You don’t need to say anything,’ she said and picked a grape from one of the many bunches and popped it in her mouth with a wink.

  Simone left the room after saying goodbye to Roxanne and Tanya and the rest of Barratt’s family and returned to the canteen to wait for Nathan.

  When West arrived he looked surprisingly relaxed, she joined him and they headed towards his father’s room.

  ‘They’re talking about moving him into a care home by the weekend,’ West said quietly as they followed the signs to the correct ward.

  ‘Is that good?’

  ‘It’s what happens when the doctors can’t do anything more to help.’

  ‘Oh.’ She wondered if the reason for his relaxed demeanour was because the severity of his father’s condition had hit home. She didn’t know what to say so she said, ‘I sorry.’

  ‘Thanks for coming. Having you here with me helps.’

  ‘I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,’ she said.

  Jack West was suffering, that was clear but he tried his best not to show it. From the moment they entered the room he was alert and focused but linked to machines and tubes he breathed in quick wispy gasps that betrayed him. It had been years since Simone last saw him and she was upset to see that the disease that was consuming his body had ravaged the face that would have looked different enough through years of natural ageing. She wondered if she would have recognised him at all had she passed him in the street or seen him in a photograph.

  He took her by surprise by saying in his strongest whisper, ‘Hello Simone.’

  She replied, ‘Hello Jack,’ and touched his hand. His skin was warm to the touch but felt thin as tissue paper. ‘I’m surprised you recognise me.’

  ‘I never forget a face, even if it is a bit bruised.’

  ‘All in the line of duty I’m afraid.’

  ‘I expect you to take better care of her Nathan.’

  Simone read Nathan’s face and he seemed confused, he said, ‘I will.’

  ‘You two make a good couple – it’s taken so long for the pair of you to get together,’ he whispered. Simone realised Jack’s confusion at the same time as West and they shot each other a look of mild embarrassment but neither of them made an attempt to correct him. ‘I was beginning to think it’d never happen but I’m glad it did.’ His milky eyes moved back and forth between them.

  ‘Me too Dad.’ He smiled boyishly at Simone who moved her wedding ring out of sight so as not to break the illusion.

  Jack West seemed suddenly tired; the level of concentration used to conduct even the shortest conversation was beginning to take its toll. His head sunk into the pillow and he closed his eyes. They sat there in silence listening to his soft gasps of breath and wondering if he had gone to sleep when his eyes opened and he said, ‘Are you happy, both of you?’

  Simone nodded and West said, ‘She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.’

  Jack whispered to her, ‘Look after him Simone, look after my boy.’

  A lump rose in her throat. She nodded again and managed to croak, ‘I will Jack, I promise.’

  Nathan said, ‘Dad, we’re going to leave you in peace now, I’ll be back tomorrow.’ Simone knew Nathan had to talk to his father about the proposed move from the hospital and into a care home but he had chosen against it because his father was clearly too tired.

  They stood to leave and Simone said, ‘Goodbye Jack, I
’ll see you soon.’

  He managed to force a smile and a slight nod of the head but the effort of speaking had become too much.

  They walked back into the main foyer of the hospital in silence, both of them feeling deflated and upset.

  Simone said, ‘Would you like to get a drink?’

  ‘What a coffee from the canteen?’

  ‘No a proper drink.’

  ‘More than anything.’

  They sat in the garden of a nearby pub as the sky turned red and dusk began to fall. They were silent, West watched Simone chill her whiskey by sloshing it over the ice in her glass. She noticed him looking and said, ‘What?’

  ‘Nothing.’ He sipped his pint and sunk back in the chair.

  She said, ‘I was so surprised when he recognised me.’

  ‘I know. I have to admit I was surprised too, but I shouldn’t have been, he’s always had a good mind.’

  ‘Were you embarrassed earlier?’

  ‘Me? I should be asking you that.’

  ‘Come on you have to admit it was a bit embarrassing.’ She grinned and sipped her drink. ‘Even talking about it is a little embarrassing.’

  ‘Maybe I should have corrected him.’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. He wants to see you happy.’ She stopped, feeling even more embarrassed. ‘Not that I’m saying you’d be happy with me but, you know what I mean.’

  ‘I know,’ he said. ‘Anyway you’re taken.’

  They sipped their drinks to fill the silence and were gratefully distracted as a group of twenty-something’s gathered at a nearby table. Glasses clinked and chairs scrapped across the stone floor, laughter and cigarette smoke filled the air.

  Simone had to ask. ‘Did you mean what you said earlier?’

  ‘When?’

  She sighed; he knew exactly what she was talking about.

  She’s all I ever wanted.

  ‘At the hospital,’ she said, ‘when your dad asked if you were happy.’

  ‘Does it matter?’

  She shrugged and lied, ‘I guess not.’

  Simone drove home and couldn’t stop thinking about Nathan and his poor father. After all the years she had known him as a strong healthy man it was so sad to see him that way and yet selfishly she was just happy to have spent the evening with Nathan. It had only taken a couple of days to realise that she actually yearned for him. She hadn’t been prepared to leave her life on hold during Nathan’s absence, never knowing the true reasons why he left, when or if he would return but she had never forgotten about him, she had just buried her feelings when he left. She married Martin out of sympathy and the need for companionship and during that time she had managed to convince herself that Nathan was no longer an important part of her life, but she had been lying to herself, he was as important to her as air.