Chapter 47

Chapter 47

She bided her time, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Helen had carefully tailed her target from the family home to the gym, then to the post office, at each turn weighing up the value of revealing her hand by descending upon her, warrant card in hand. But on each occasion, she'd held off, knowing that it'd be better to swoop when she was closer to home.

Lowering her speed, Helen watched intently as the shiny BMW X5 pulled off the road, parking up on the neat drive. As the sound of her engine died away, Helen brought her Kawasaki to an abrupt halt, sliding off it in one fluid movement. Now she was on the march, cresting the drive, just as Jackie Reynolds climbed out of the family car, clutching a large gym bag. Sensing Helen's presence, she turned quickly to face the intruder, startled.

‘Can I help you?' she demanded, her voice brisk but shrill.

In response, Helen flipped open her warrant card.

‘Are you aware that your rear right brake light isn't working?'

For a moment, Jackie looked totally dumbfounded, as if Helen's words didn't make sense, but then she recovered herself.

‘No, I wasn't. We only had them replaced recently and I'm sure they were working at the weekend …'

‘Well, they're not now,' Helen replied gravely. ‘As you know, that's against the law, so I'm afraid I'm going to have to write you a fixed charge penalty notice.'

Once more, Jackie stared at Helen, as if she was speaking some kind of alien language, the startled wife and mother perplexed to have been put on the spot like this. Clutching her shopping to her chest, she eventually found her voice, protesting:

‘Look, I don't suppose there's any way we could let this go, is there? First offence and all that. I promise I'll get it fixed this afternoon.'

‘I can't make any exceptions, I'm afraid. Rules are rules. So, would you like me to write up the ticket here or …?'

Immediately, Jackie Reynolds' gaze flitted over Helen's shoulder, clocking the neighbours across the road who appeared to be taking an unhealthy interest in their conversation. Flustered, embarrassed, Jackie's response was swift and decisive:

‘Why don't we step inside?'

Placing her helmet gently on the kitchen island, Helen cast her eye over the Reynolds' well-appointed interior. The facade of the house was nothing special, all the houses in this neighborhood looking alike, but real effort had gone into the fixtures and fittings. The surfaces were granite, the colour scheme bold and modern, the expansive sofas plush and inviting. A huge plasma screen graced the far wall, Helen counting at least six surrounding speakers, and there were signs of affluence everywhere, be it in the prominently displayed wine fridge in the kitchen or the fresh flowers that seemed to grace every surface. Jackie Reynolds herself was equally well turned out, a powerful, statuesque women clad in immaculate gym gear, yet Helen couldn't help but clock a weary anxiety in her hostess's handsome, honed features, as she rootled nervously for something in her handbag.

‘Someone's birthday, is it?' Helen offered genially, her eye falling on the brightly coloured envelopes propped up on the kitchen island, unopened.

Jackie looked up from her bag, following Helen's gaze.

‘Yes, my husband. Normally we would have opened them together this morning, but he had to shoot off early. You probably know him. Dave Reynolds? He's based out of Southampton Central …'

‘Sure, I know Dave,' Helen said, smiling warmly. ‘Everybody does. What was the emergency this morning?'

‘Oh, I don't know,' Jackie replied, resuming her rummaging. ‘I never really ask him about this work. Don't want to know, if I'm honest, the stuff he has to deal with …'

Jackie smiled at Helen, but still appeared stressed and ill at ease. Pulling out a compact and a packet of mints, she finally located her purse.

‘So how much do I owe y—'

‘Must be hard being married to a copper,' Helen said, moving away from the counter and crossing the large, open-plan living room. ‘Unpredictable hours, lots of night work. Must be difficult to live a normal, family life I suppose.'

‘We've got used to it over the years. If he's here, he's here. We can't rely on it, so we just crack on as best we can. You married?'

‘Not yet,' Helen replied, suppressing a smile. ‘So Dave's never been tempted by a more nine-to-five job? I know he's been put forward for promotion on several occasions.'

‘He won't have it,' Jackie replied ruefully, shaking her head. ‘Says he likes to be out on the street, where he can make a difference.'

Digesting this, Helen crossed to the mantelpiece, taking in the framed photos, many of a young boy-now-teen with curly blond hair and a winning smile.

‘This your son?'

‘Archie,' Jackie replied uncertainly, as if unnerved by Helen's pleasant tone, by their extended conversation. ‘He's doing his GCSEs at the moment.'

‘Poor kid. Is he going to follow in his father's footsteps, do you think? Join the Force?'

Helen had turned to face Jackie Reynolds and she clocked it instantly, the middle-aged mum blinking in surprise as if the question was preposterous, even unwanted.

‘No, Archie … Archie's got different interests to his dad. I'm not sure the police is for him.'

‘More like you, is he?'

‘Something like that.'

There was a hint of impatience, even irritation in her voice now. Jackie was clearly unnerved by the strange turn of events this morning and keen to wrap this conversation up as soon as possible, as if fearful of detection. Whether this was natural timidity or simply fear of Reynolds, Helen couldn't be certain.

‘Still, it certainly hasn't done Dave any harm. You've got a lovely home here, not to mention that spanking new BMW. He must be doing all right for himself. Unless you're the breadwinner, of course?'

‘Oh no, nothing like that. I've got enough to do keeping house and home together, but speaking of cash, how much do you need? For the fine, I mean.'

Tugging her pad from her pocket, Helen flipped to the correct sheet, filling in the details as she replied:

‘Well, it's a standard ￡80 fine, but obviously you only pay half if you settle it within fourteen days.'

She tore off the ticket, handing it to Jackie.

‘The details of how to pay are on the back, just there …'

Helen indicated details of the payment website, but her companion seemed little interested in the text.

‘I was wondering if I could pay now?' she offered tentatively, holding up her purse.

‘Well, we're not really allowed to accept cash.'

‘Sure, but you can be trusted, right? You're not going to run off with it. Honestly, it would be much easier for me if I could just pay this now. I've got a ton of things to do today …'

Jackie seemed oddly insistent, determined even, but Helen could see the anxiety that lay beneath this desire to draw a discreet veil over her infraction. Something was worrying her.

‘I suppose I could make an exception,' Helen replied carefully. ‘No need for anyone else to be involved.'

‘Exactly,' Jackie agreed gratefully. ‘Honestly, I'd never hear the end of it from Dave. He thinks I'm a liability on the roads as it is …'

Smiling, Helen handed her the ticket.

‘Then we'll keep this between ourselves, eh?'

‘That would be perfect, thank you.'

Relieved, Jackie Reynolds unzipped her purse, revealing a thick roll of ￡20 notes inside. Extracting two, she handed them over to Helen.

‘Thanks again for your understanding …'

She was about to add Helen's name, before realizing she didn't know what it was.

‘Sorry, I've forgotten your name. I did see it on your ID, but didn't really take it in …'

‘Helen Grace,' she responded confidently. ‘DI Helen Grace.'

‘Well, very nice to meet you, Helen, and sorry again for the broken light.'

She was ushering her guest to the door, clearly keen to be rid of her. Helen was happy to be shepherded away – she'd got what she came for – but paused now on the threshold to take in the scene one last time. Her visit had been useful and instructive, setting Jackie Reynolds on edge, whilst posing several intriguing questions. How was Reynolds so well off on a copper's wage? What was the nature of Dave Reynolds' relationship with his only child?

And why did Jackie Reynolds seem so scared?