Page 8 of The Scene of the Crime

‘Yeah, they’re very supportive, even if it will mean more work for them.’

‘What about your ex-husband, does he not help out with Ellory?’

‘He did until he buggered off to Leeds with that tart he had the affair with. She’s pregnant now. He pays me child maintenance, but he only visits Ellory once in a blue moon. You know, I’ll never forgive Paul for what he did to me, but he’s Ellory’s father, and as much as it galls me, I won’t bad-mouth him to our son.’ She laughed. ‘You could move in with me, then we can grow old and miserable together.’

Jessica smiled. ‘I think we’d drive each other mad talking shop all the time.’

Arriving at Victoria station, they stopped and gave each other a big hug. ‘I really hope you get it,’ Diane said. ‘And Taff and I will be working with you.’

‘So do I. But if I don’t get it, I’ll stay in Kent as a CSM and still be doing work that I love.’

‘But then we won’t be working together on crime scenes anymore as the MSCAN unit only covers the Met area . . .’

Jessica shook her head. ‘Don’t you dare turn it down because of me. It’s an opportunity you may not get again.’

A departure announcement came over the station’s public address system.

‘Shit, that’s my train. I’d better get a move on . . . Ring me when you hear anything,’ Diane said and hurried off.

CHAPTER THREE

Jessica walked from Petts Wood station to the three-bedroom bungalow she shared with David in Greenfield Gardens. Their mother Eileen had bought it after an acrimonious divorce which gave her custody of Jessica and David, and she had left it to them when she died eighteen months ago. David had still been living with her at the time.

After the divorce, their father Roger never contacted his wife or children again. David had difficulties in coming to terms with what had happened, often asking where his father was and if he could visit him. The problem was, their mother didn’t know where he was living, and whenever she tried to contact him at work or on his mobile, he didn’t answer or just put the phone down.

Not long after they moved into the bungalow, Eileen went back to teaching at a local primary school, and though she made new friends, she never formed any serious relationships for her children’s sake. She raised David and Jessica alone.

Over time, David realised their father wanted nothing to do with them and his feelings for him turned to contempt. In his teenage years, he became argumentative and moody, neglecting his studies, often staying out late, drinking and taking drugs, which caused arguments not only with his mother but with Jessica as well. It wasn’t until his best friend died from an overdose that David realised the damage he was doing to himselfand his family. He stopped taking drugs, regularly attended a rehabilitation group, limited his alcohol consumption and got a job as a postman. In Jessica’s absence at university, David lived at home and insisted he pay his mother rent and do any odd jobs, house repairs and gardening she wanted.

Although Jessica was also upset when her parents divorced, she hid her emotions, not wanting to cause her mother and David more anguish. Her father had never been very loving or affectionate towards her, often commenting that she would amount to nothing if she had her mother’s brains. Looking back, Jessica realised his comments had had the reverse effect, giving her the drive to succeed, and although he was no longer part of her life, she still wanted to prove him wrong.

After their mother’s sudden and unexpected death from cancer, David suffered from depression and started drinking and using drugs again. Jessica moved back to the bungalow, but due to the pressures of her work, she couldn’t always be there for him. In desperation and fearing David would lose his job, she persuaded him to spend time in the Priory drug and alcohol rehabilitation hospital in Hayes. When David was well enough, they discussed selling the bungalow, but in the end agreed it would be best to keep it and live together.

Arriving home, Jessica walked into the kitchen where she found David, dressed in cycling clothes, oiling the gears of his new bike which was upside down on the kitchen table. ‘She’s a beauty, isn’t she?’ he said proudly. ‘And I managed to get the seller down another two hundred quid.’

Jessica shook her head and sighed. ‘You’ve spilled oil on the table. Can’t you do that in the garage?’

He shook his head. ‘My other bike is on the stand. Anyway, I’ve finished now. I’m taking her for a quick spin before it gets dark.’

‘What do you want for dinner?’

‘Whatever you’re cooking will do. How’d the job interview go?’

‘Fine. I’ll find out if I’ve got it tomorrow.’ She couldn’t face going over the details again.

As David lifted the bike off the table, his face tightened and he arched his back, clearly in pain. He dropped the bike, knocking the uncapped oil can off the table. As the oil began to spill onto the floor, Jessica grabbed the kitchen roll and started mopping it up. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to . . .’

‘It’s all right. I’ll clean it up . . . as usual!’ Jessica couldn’t help adding.

‘Why are you always so anal about tidiness?’

‘I’m not . . .’

‘Yes, you are. You hoover and dust in the morning before work and again in the evening.’

‘No, I don’t.’

‘Yes, you do. In fact, at weekends, you sometimes do it three times a day!’