Taste of Blood

Chapter Eleven

Jane stopped off at the local corner shop and bought a bottle of wine before going home. The discovery of the bicycle pump had energised her and she was certain that it would prove to be vital evidence.

She was surprised to see that Eddie’s van was parked outside her front door so early. She let herself in and, holding up the bottle of wine, walked into the kitchen. Eddie turned to her, looking surprised. He was sitting at the table with a bottle of whisky, and sitting opposite him was a thick-set man with slicked-back hair, wearing a dark tracksuit.

Eddie stood up and introduced Jane as his fiancée, explaining that Brian was the friend who had bought his studio flat. Brian gave Jane a cursory nod as Eddie held up his glass.

‘We were just having a celebratory drink. Do you want to join us?’

‘No thanks, I’ll go and change. Nice to meet you, Brian.’

Jane walked out and put the bottle of wine on the hall table. She took off her coat and flipped it over the banister before going upstairs. In the bedroom was a large TV that had been in Eddie’s flat. He had put it onto a coffee table from the sitting room. Although she could see that it wasn’t connected, it dominated the space between the bed and the dressing table.

She took her time changing, hanging up her suit and selecting a blouse for the morning. She could hear Eddie laughing downstairs and Brian’s lower tone as he opened the front door. She crossed to the window, watching as Eddie’s friend walked down the path and crossed the road to get into a Jaguar saloon.

Jane moved back from the window just as Eddie barged into the room, clapping his hands.

‘So, what do you think? I’ll get it connected tomorrow.’

‘I’d forgotten it was so large.’

He flopped down on the bed, grinning as he nodded towards the screen.

‘It’ll be great, and it’s got a good picture. We can watch a late-night movie on it.’

‘So tell me about Brian?’

‘He’s a property investor. I was with him last night and got too drunk to drive home, so I crashed at his place.’

‘Oh, I see... how is your mum?’

‘She’s fine, the plaster cast is on but she’s not in any pain. It was panic all round as she is a bit of a drama queen at times.’ He swung his legs down from the bed and gave her an enquiring look.

‘What’s up... had a bad day?’

‘No, good actually. But you called me at the station... something about an auction?’

‘Oh, right, yeah. Brian was interested in a property but he got tipped off that it was a time-waster. He’s going to be a real help to me when I start looking at possible buys.’

‘How long have you known him?’

‘He’s a sort of friend of a friend, so only a few weeks.’

‘What’s his surname?’

Eddie cocked his head. ‘What do you want to know that for?’

‘No reason, just out of interest. He seems a lot older than most of your friends.’

‘Mitchell. So, what do you fancy for dinner? Maybe we could order in Chinese and I can go and collect it?’

‘I might just have an omelette. We’ve got some mushrooms that need using up.’

‘Fine, I’ll just go next door for a minute as I saw old Gerry this morning and he said his wife’s not well. What’s her name?’

‘Vi, short for Violet, but I haven’t seen either of them for ages.’

‘OK, see you downstairs.’

It was after eight when Eddie returned. Jane had already whisked the eggs and fried the mushrooms.

‘She’s got the first stages of dementia apparently, but the way she looked I would say it’s a lot further along. She was sitting in a big armchair with a rug wrapped around her. Poor Gerry is having to do everything for her as she’s a bit dodgy in the kitchen... leaving the gas rings on and so on. Gerry said that when their dog Spud died it really affected her.’

‘There were lots of people with dementia in the care home I visited, but I suppose it would be out of his league — it was very expensive,’ Jane said.

Eddie shook his head. ‘He wouldn’t even consider that. If it happened to my mum or dad there is no way I’d put them in a fuckin’ care home. That’s such a middle-class attitude; get them out of the way or, better still, out of sight. When my grandma started to show signs she was having a tough time living on her own, that was it. We moved her straight in with us until she died.’

‘I learn more about your family every day,’ Jane said.

Eddie frowned. ‘That was a bit sarcastic.’

‘It wasn’t meant to be. I’ve never heard you mention your grandmother before, that’s all.’

‘Well, I’m not likely to as she’s dead. But she was with us for years.’

Jane served up their omelettes with a side salad, and Eddie opened the bottle of wine. He poured two glasses and then checked the bottle.

‘This is expensive; not like our usual plonk.’

‘I had a good afternoon. I can’t remember if I’ve told you that we have been searching for a weapon in the assault case I’m working on?’

‘No. Listen, talking to Gerry, he sort of mentioned that money was tight and he was thinking about maybe selling up as the place needs a lot of repairs.’

Jane shrugged and continued eating. Eddie was obviously not interested in her discovery of the bicycle pump in Martin Boon’s garage.

‘Anyway, it could be a good business proposition, you know; we could get it at a good price. Like I said, he’s worried about his wife. I don’t think she can use the stairs, so I might talk to Brian and see what he reckons it’s worth.’

‘Is he going to live in your flat?’

‘No, he’s going to rent it out. He’s got a big place of his own. He was telling me about setting up a property portfolio, buying up places like Gerry’s and doing a quick refurbishment and then selling them on. He reckons we can get a good price for this place; I showed him around, told him how much work I had done and how much you paid for it.’

Jane was going to take the opportunity to say that she was having second thoughts about moving when Eddie’s mobile rang. He left the kitchen as she finished her dinner and put her plate on the draining-board. Eddie had only eaten half of his so she left his plate on the table. He returned and picked up his jacket from the back of his chair.

‘That was Caroline. I need to go and help Brian move some stuff into the flat as he’s already got a tenant... but it won’t take long.’

‘You haven’t finished your dinner.’

‘To be honest, I don’t really like omelettes. I’ll grab a burger while I’m out and I’ll see you later.’

He gave her a quick kiss, drained his glass of wine and with his brick of a mobile tucked under his arm walked out. Jane threw his leftovers into the bin and stacked the dishwasher. Her original good mood had evaporated as she went upstairs to take a shower.

When Eddie eventually returned home, he woke her up stumbling around the bedroom. She looked at the bedside clock. It was after twelve and he smelled of alcohol, sitting on the edge of the bed to kick off his boots.

‘Everything all right?’ she asked, leaning up on her elbow and turning her bedside light on.

‘Yeah, terrific... but I’m knackered, and I have an early start in the morning.’

‘You should be more careful about driving... you reek of alcohol.’

‘I just had a couple of beers, so don’t try and lecture me,’ he snapped.

‘I’m not. It’s just that if you’re stopped you could lose your licence, and that would be a major problem as you need your van for work.’

‘I am not pissed, OK?’

Jane switched off her bedside light and pulled the duvet up around her. She heard Eddie crashing around in the bathroom, and then felt him getting into bed beside her. He rubbed her shoulder affectionately.

‘Sorry, officer, promise not to ever drink and drive again.’

She lay back on her pillow, looking up at the ceiling in the dark. After a while she said quietly that they really needed to have a talk, firstly about her having reservations about selling and more importantly about their relationship, but Eddie was fast asleep. He hadn’t heard a word she said.