Frozen Grave

Chapter 8

‘Guv? You okay?’

Carter stood outside the station with his head bowed as the man was being loaded into the ambulance.

‘Christ… I should have been able to lift him off the track,’ he said – angry with himself.

‘He was a dead weight, guv. You did your best. He’s still breathing. He might live.’

‘Yeah – hope so.’ Willis looked at Carter’s face. He was ghostly pale. ‘Pretty sure that’s Toffee. He matches the description and he definitely didn’t want to talk to us.’ Carter leant over, catching his breath.

‘Think so, guv. Looks like his mates have gone. Shall we get back in the car and search for them or do you need a coffee first, guv?’

‘No.’ He looked up and smiled. ‘I need a Scotch… and a bloody big one.’ He straightened up. ‘That’s enough of an adrenalin rush for one day. Ring Robbo and make sure Toffee’s kept under guard at the hospital. I want to talk to him as soon as he’s able and if he makes it. The patrols will have more luck finding Toffee’s mates than we will. You’re right – I need a cup of coffee.’ Carter took off his coat and began beating the dust out of it with the back of his hand. ‘I don’t reckon these men will have gone far.’ Carter looked forlornly at the dirt on his sleeve. ‘Christ Almighty – if there’s one thing I hate!’

They stopped at a café Carter knew well – he ordered aubergine pasta bake whilst Willis had a burger and fries.

He stared at her eating. It was something that both repulsed and fascinated him. ‘You eat like it’s your last meal and you’ve only got seconds to eat it,’ Carter said as he picked at his food.

Willis didn’t answer; she opened the burger bun and squirted on more ketchup. Carter’s phone rang whilst they were eating. He talked and ate one-handed.

‘Robbo? How did they say he is? Both legs? Shit! Yes, I’m fine. Have the patrols located his mates yet? What about Balik? No, we’ll keep looking when we finish here: we’ll call in at a few more homeless hostels in the area, and then we’ll head over to the hospital.’

He finished his call and continued to watch Willis eat.

‘I thought you were going to take a holiday after Christmas, but you came straight back to work. What happened – you changed your mind?’

She shrugged as she licked ketchup from her fingers.

‘I thought you and Tina had it all planned. You were off to Cancún or somewhere? To drink buckets of booze and party hard?’

‘I decided to wait a while.’

‘For what?’

She pushed a chip around the salt on her plate.

‘Just wasn’t the right time.’

‘You okay?’

‘Yes, guv.’

‘Don’t “yes, guv” me, Ebony Willis. I want to know what’s up with my partner.’

She stopped eating and pushed her plate away.

‘My mum tried to commit suicide.’ She made fleeting eye contact with him and then she took a sip of her Coke.

‘Shit. When?’

‘Christmas Day.’

‘Jesus… I didn’t know she wasn’t coping. Sorry – I’ve been so preoccupied with my dad and his cancer, I had no idea, Eb.’

‘She’s been self-harming.’

‘Shit, Eb. Any idea why?’

‘I missed some appointments to go and see her. I’ve been busy and… I found excuses, I guess.’

‘Stop there, Eb…’ He leant in to emphasize. ‘Do not blame yourself for anything your mother does or doesn’t do. She’s a past master at manipulation.’

‘Yeah. I know. But she is still my mum and I should have gone to see her.’

‘Okay, go and see her then. Can I suggest you go soon and get it over with?’

‘We’re busy.’

‘I can spare you for a couple of hours.’