Then… ‘Fancy a cuppa and a game of dominoes?’
Shit, Bernie again. He’s caught wind that I’m upset. Need to pull it together. Act normal. Somehow, I force my hands back down and unclench my fists. I turn and smile. ‘Yep, beat you last time – this time I’ll give you a bit of a chance.’
Bernie’s laugh comes right up from his gut and rolls out from his mouth. I like it. I like that I’ve made a connection – a human connection. I like that I’m the one that’s caused his laughter. I walk over to him and together we walk back to the tables with the sunshades on them.
That was a close one, but I think I’ve deflected it – this time.
Chapter 6
Bradford
‘Infuriating, annoying little man.’ It had been ten minutes since Professor Sebastian Carlton had left and Gus was still ranting as they waited for Dr McGuire, who’d arrived shortly after Carlton had left, to return from viewing the victim in situ.
‘Never mind, Gus. You know he’ll come up with the goods once he’s done his thing.’ Alice made spooky finger gestures and grinned. ‘Besides, it’ll be lovely to see him and Compo together…’
‘Hmph. And that’s another thing. He’s a distraction. Compo sneaks in any little jobs that man wants doing ahead of my top priority instructions…’ He hesitated, running his fingers through his dreads and exhaled. ‘And the bloody incident room will be covered in bloody sprinkles and stuff from those bloody doughnuts he likes … and it’ll stink of bacon all the time.’
Alice laughed. ‘Look, consider the cost of a few dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts a fair payment for the amount of work he does. Besides the incident room always smells of bacon anyway – that’s not new.’
‘He’ll start sticking stuff on the wall with Blu-Tack…’
‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, give over. You’re like a truculent toddler who’s eaten too many red Smarties.’
Gus slurped from a can of Irn Bru and glanced up the alleyway leading to their crime scene. ‘Wonder what’s keeping my dad. He’s taking his time, isn’t he?’
Leaning against her Mini Cooper, Alice nodded. ‘Yep, he’s probably being extra thorough, like you asked. He’ll be back in a minute and then after you’ve spoken to him, he can get back to his golf and we can get back to The Fort before the doughnuts are gone.’
‘What is it with the experts we bring in on these bloody investigations? First bloody Carlton and his neon specs and trainers, then my dad in tartan trousers and a Proclaimer’s T-shirt? Have none of them got even a degree of self-respect?’
‘Grouch.’
‘I’m not a grouch.’
Alice snorted. ‘Oh yes, you bloody well are. You nearly bit poor Bri’s head off yesterday and all he did was ask if you wanted some loo roll.’
‘For goodness’ sake, Al. What the hell was Brian call me Bri doing, knocking on the door asking if I needed loo roll? What sort of self-respecting bloke does that, eh?’
Laughing, Alice nudged him lightly. ‘The sort of bloke who’s trying to be friendly. The sort of bloke who lives on his own but succumbed to a BOGOF on a 24 pack of loo roll and wanted to share.’
‘BOGOF – how appropriate. I should have told him to BOGOF with his bog roll.’
‘BOGOF means buy one get one free – he was being neighbourly, that’s all. Moving in the middle of a pandemic restricts your ability to make friends, you know.’
Gus huffed. ‘No, what restricts Brian call me Bri’s ability to make friends is that he’s a wimp.’ A smile twitched Gus’s lips. ‘I think Brian call me Bri fancies you – that’s why he’s always turning up offering stuff.’
‘Ah – maybe it’s not me he fancies – maybe it’s you he’s after – he’s more your age, after all.’
‘Well, Al, all I can say is if that is the case, the man has impeccable taste. But let’s get back to the job in hand. Looks like my dad’s finally finished with the scene. He’s not getting any quicker with age, is he?’
Fergus McGuire had stopped just outside the garden gate, hand on the fence as if for support. He’d already taken off his bunny suit and mask. Gus raised a hand in greeting, but his dad was looking at the ground, one hand massaging his chest.
Frowning, Gus glanced at Alice. ‘What the hell’s he doing?’
‘Dunno.’ She opened her mouth to yell a greeting, but Gus placed a hand on her arm and shook his head. ‘No, wait. Something’s wrong.’
The two of them watched as Dr McGuire raised a huge hand and wiped it over his face and then up over his increasingly balding head. With what was left of his hair flattened, he exhaled and raised his head.
A gasp slipped from Alice’s lips and Gus’s heart contracted. His dad’s normally ruddy face was paler than Gus had ever seen it and although the older man’s gaze was directed down the alley towards them, his eyes were glazed and unfocussed as if he was elsewhere. Gus began to walk towards his dad, but had taken only two steps when his dad moved towards them, his gait slow and hesitant like all the energy had been sapped from his limbs.
‘Dehydrated, I bet.’ Alice marched over to one of the CSI vans and helped herself to a bottle of water from the chiller.
‘Dad?’ Gus moved; arms stretched to help his father. ‘You OK?’
Dr McGuire started as if only just noticing his
