Nodding, Bliss said, ‘Believe me, I already have. It’s forced me to question a number of things.’
They chatted for a few more minutes before he headed off to perform the function he was there to carry out. Moments later he appeared alongside DCS Feeley. The two men exchanged a brief handshake before walking across to the field maple tree whose shadow extended across the spot in which a dead body had been discovered. Its leaves had turned a shade of creamy gold and remained plentiful. In the warm autumn sunlight, even the roughened chalk pits with their terrain of white and green patches lent splendour to the moment.
Detective Chief Superintendent Feeley removed his hat, and to the gathered audience said, ‘Not long ago, this area was tainted by the tragic murder of a young woman whose single failing was to assume she could settle here in this country without fear of being mistreated. Today we honour Majidah Rassooli, and hope to reclaim this plot of land as a place to forget the bad and enjoy all that is good once again. Here with me today to share this honour is Detective Sergeant Bliss from the Peterborough Major Crimes Unit, whose idea this entire event was. Please, Sergeant…’
His gaze switched away from the crowd towards the maple, where a single piece of red velvet hung from two tiny hooks threaded into the narrow trunk of the tree. Bliss stepped forward to unhook the covering, revealing a small brass plaque beneath. He read the engraved words one last time, though he knew them by heart. Then, standing to one side, he waited for the thunderous applause to die down.
‘Thank you. I’m going to read the inscription aloud,’ he said. ‘It says: This plaque is dedicated to Majidah “Autumn” Rassooli and the life she lived against all odds. Henceforth, this exquisite maple will officially be known as “The Autumn Tree”. This is followed by a quote from Emily Brontë that reads: Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.’
Bliss had to swallow a couple of times before he was able to continue. ‘We didn’t know Majidah in life, but I hope we served her well in death. My team and I wanted to pay tribute to the young woman for whom we sought justice. And on a personal note, I hope it sends out a message to all who seek to exploit other young women like her. That message was, is, and always will be simply this: nobody should be left in peace to get away with such a crime against humanity, and we will not rest until your calm becomes our storm. Thank you.’
If anything, the applause this time kicked up a notch and endured longer. Bliss lowered his head and stared at the soil beneath his feet. Chandler’s hands were sore by the time she finished clapping. Stirring words were one thing, but deeds spoke louder still. And Bliss had spoken so eloquently for them all. Her chest swelled as she looked around at the banks of fellow guests, many of whom were in full uniform.
She exhaled steadily. DCS Feeley might be under the impression that Bliss was not coming back from this latest episode – one way or another. But she knew the man better than anyone other than his mother, and quitting was not in Jimmy Bliss’s limited vocabulary. No, Feeley was going to have to think again, because there was fight in that old dog yet.
***
The punch went in hard. A precise jab with the right hand, followed swiftly by an uppercut with the left, then a punishing right hook. Bliss turned to the group of onlookers and said, ‘That’s how you defeat a static bag.’
PC Griffin laughed, and the ten youngsters standing close by joined in.
Bliss turned to face them. ‘But unless you already have them dazed and confused, opponents don’t stand still and wait for you to land those punches. When you throw them, you have to prepare to be blocked, and for counter punches coming your way. You have to keep on the move and not stand back to admire the punch you just threw. That’s a sure way to get your arse kicked.’
‘So you’re going to teach us how to punch and how to avoid being hit,’ one of the young kids said.
‘Barry and I are, yes. But it’s not quite that simple. One thing you have to know coming into this is that you will not avoid being hit. You have to learn how to take a punch every bit as much as dishing them out. The art is not only in avoiding them, but also in making those that do land count for less. Your arms are your best friends; better to let them cushion the blows than take them to your chin. But all that is for later. We’ll set aside some time for showing you both defence and attack. First of all, you need to know how to train. And I mean train to be fit. Training to fight is an entirely separate thing. Without the fitness, you’ll last about a minute, maybe less.’
A loud groan of disappointment went up. Bliss grinned. ‘Yes, I know Barry here told you much the same thing when you signed up. Maybe you expected me to tell you something different. Well, think again. The plan is to teach you to be both physically and mentally alert. We’ll prepare you for the ring. We’ll also prepare you to walk away when you’re on the street and somebody wants to show they’re better than you. There’s no room here for street violence. This is all about those three-minute rounds you spend in the ring against an opponent who has been taught to do to you what you want to do to them. Anybody not up for that, I’d invite you not to attend again. Everybody else: Barry is going to show you some fundamental strength and endurance exercises.’
With the youngsters working out,
