Chapter 32

Chapter 32

It’s getting late by the time they get back to the station, so Jennie takes Martin up on his kind offer to put her bike in his boot and give her a lift home. The light is going as they arrive outside her place and although she’s perfectly capable of removing her bike, Martin jumps out to help her retrieve it from the car. Thanking him, Jennie slings her rucksack over her shoulder, and wheels the bike up the garden path towards the front door.

Martin trots after her. ‘You all right, boss?’

‘Yeah,’ says Jennie. But she isn’t, and she knows she’s been quieter than usual, dwelling on the interview. ‘He pissed me off, that’s all.’

‘What, Ackhurst?’ says Martin.

‘All that bravado bullshit, going on about shagging and Hannah begging for it …’ She shakes her head.

Martin nods, his expression sympathetic. ‘It was disrespectful.’

‘Exactly.’ Jennie knows she’s particularly sensitive to the way her murdered friend is spoken about, but even if she hadn’t known the victim personally, she’d still have been disgusted by Simon’s words. He was supposed to have cared for Hannah.

‘It must be hard investigating the death of someone you knew,’ says Martin, as if reading her thoughts.

Jennie nods, resisting the urge to minimise her friendship with Hannah. She knows that she should, but it feels as if she’s disrespecting Hannah by denying their relationship. ‘Yes.’

‘If it means anything, I think the way you handled Ackhurst was really impressive,’ says Martin. ‘A man like that has no respect for women, but you were such a pro in the way you conducted yourself and the interview.’

Jennie smiles. It’s the first positive feedback she’s had from a member of the team on her handling of the case. She thinks about Zuri’s criticisms of her leadership during this investigation – that she’s too close to the people involved, and that she’s not casting the net wide enough – and wonders if Martin or the others have had the same concerns. ‘Thanks, that means a lot.’

Martin holds her gaze. ‘Don’t worry about DS Otueome. She’ll see you’re right in time.’

Jennie’s not sure if he means about Rob Marwood, or Duncan Edwards, or the way she’s led the investigation, but it’s nice to hear anyway. They’ve reached her front door. Key in hand, she turns to face Martin. ‘Thanks, I hope so.’

Martin moves closer. ‘You’re doing a great job.’

‘I wonder if I am sometimes,’ says Jennie.

‘It must be lonely at the top,’ says Martin, his expression kind, understanding.

Jennie nods. ‘Thanks for the lift. See you tomorrow.’

Martin doesn’t reply. Holding her gaze with an intensity she’s never seen from him before, he leans in and brushes his lips against hers.

It’s unexpected, unwanted.

Surprised, Jennie steps back, her elbow knocking against the front door. ‘Martin, I—’

He lunges forward, crushing his mouth against hers, pressing his body against her. She tries to move away but his hand grips the back of her neck, clamping her to him. His tongue is in her mouth. His teeth clashing against hers. She feels as if she can’t breathe.

Jennie struggles, trying to get free, but there’s no space, she’s up against the door. Using all her strength, she puts her hands on his chest and shoves him away hard. ‘What the hell, Wright?’

Martin looks put out, confused. ‘What’s the matter? You’ve been giving me the come-on for weeks.’

‘No, I …’

‘Come on, you want it really,’ says Martin, reaching for her waist, his fingers digging into her flesh. ‘Don’t be a bloody tease.’

Jennie slaps his hands away, but he grabs for her, pinching her right breast and snatching at her belt, trying to yank her to him.

‘Get off.’ She shoves him again. Her voice is firmer, louder, this time. ‘Leave. Now.’

Martin scowls. His face is red. The muscles in his neck are bulging. He shakes his head, furious, and moves towards her. Jennie pulls her phone from her pocket, holding it up as if she’s going to film him. Martin stops when he sees it, seemingly thinking better of whatever he was about to do. He turns and hurries down the steps, back towards his car.

With shaking hands, Jennie unlocks her front door and pushes it open. She looks over her shoulder before she goes inside, double-checking that Martin really is leaving.

He sneers at her from the front gate, his expression full of hate. ‘Fucking frigid bitch.’