out a trump and someone started a coughing fit. Cressy rang her tinkly bell. Regan sat up and gave the door a hard stare.
‘Any observations this week that anyone would like to share?’ asked Cressy, her gaze falling on Regan.
‘I almost lost my temper this week. I very nearly took a swipe at someone in front of a police officer.’ She chewed the inside of her mouth. ‘But I tried to remember what you’d taught me and it was enough to keep things off the boil.’
‘Well done,’ said Cressy, leaning forward. A muttered chorus of well dones echoed around the circle and Regan felt pleased with herself. At the same time, she wished Charlie had been there to witness it. She’d come a long way since he’d pulled her off Alex in the revolving door. She had picked herself up and started to sort her life out, and a lot of that progress was down to him.
She got chatting to Wendy in the break, although she was mainly watching the door in case Charlie made a late entrance. Wendy stopped talking about the benefits of alpaca wool and followed her gaze. ‘Oh, Charlie won’t be coming this week. Didn’t Cressy say?’
Regan tried to appear nonchalant but it was a waste of time. ‘Er, no. Why’s he not coming?’ She suspected he was probably off on a mission to save whales, or orphans, or both.
‘Hot date apparently.’ Wendy was trying to wink and failing badly. Regan was momentarily worried she was having another stroke and was relieved when she stopped.
‘A hot date,’ repeated Regan. ‘Lucky him.’ Her heart cracked a little bit more and she folded her arms across her chest as if to protect it from further damage.
Chapter Twenty
Regan caught up with Bernice as the market was closing down for the night. It had a different atmosphere with most of the people gone – sort of eerie. Regan followed behind Bernice whilst she strode about.
‘I wanted to let you know I’d like to take the stall up by Malcolm, and I also wanted to speak to you about that kid who nicked the speaker yesterday,’ said Regan.
‘Don’t let that put you off,’ said Bernice. ‘Thieving is rare. I’ve got a zero-tolerance policy for the vagrants, which keeps it under control.’
Regan bristled. She didn’t like Bernice’s assumption that the homeless were all thieves. ‘That kid wasn’t homeless. He’s a thieving little sod.’
Bernice stopped to check a lock on a shutter. ‘He’s just out of control. Hopefully he can be helped.’
Regan struggled to keep calm. ‘He doesn’t need help. He needs locking up. I saw him kicking the cr … hell out of someone.’
‘Well, that’s a bit different.’
Regan feared that if Bernice knew the person was homeless she might change her view. ‘I was after the kid’s name so I could report the assault properly.’
‘I don’t have his name, but I do have a crime number, which should help the police to link it up. This way.’ Regan dutifully followed Bernice back to her office.
Bernice rifled through the paperwork in a tray on her desk, pulled a sheet out and then paused. ‘Have you considered the impact your accusation will have on the young man?’
Regan knew her eyes had popped wide. Was Bernice for real? ‘I’m afraid I’m more concerned about justice for the victim he assaulted.’
‘Yes, of course. Do you have any siblings?’ asked Bernice.
‘Nope. There’s just me.’
Bernice openly sighed and her eyes wandered off. ‘I’ve got a brother. Dale.’ She glanced back at Regan. ‘He’s older than me, so I really looked up to him as a kid, but when he hit his teens, he went completely off the rails. Drove my parents round the bend. He got into all sorts of trouble. He even stole a moped once.’ Regan raised her eyebrows. ‘I know. But he changed. He straightened himself out and he joined the Royal Navy. My parents were so proud.’
Regan could see where this was going. ‘I guess some people can change …’ Regan wasn’t convinced about the youth who attacked Kevin – that was malicious. ‘But that’s assuming there’s some good inside them in the first place. This may be the wake-up call he needs to turn his life around.’
‘Or it might seal his fate as a criminal,’ said Bernice.
‘Look,’ said Regan. ‘I’m glad your brother turned out well and you’re a big happy family but …’
Bernice was shaking her head. ‘We lost touch. I haven’t seen him for years.’
‘Right, well.’ Regan was feeling awkward. ‘I’m