her abusive ex-husband Terry tumble down the stairs to his death would always haunt her. She’d never be able to switch off that association, but things had been getting better – that was until she’d read the letter.
Gina followed Jacob across the road through the gap in the traffic, just before a lorry rumbled past. ‘I don’t envy Bernard and the team in this weather. They’ve been at it all night and are still searching the area for more.’
‘I think we drew the long straw for a change. I can’t think of anything worse than scrutinising mud all day for the tiniest of clues, in the rain.’ As Jacob opened the café door, the gale force wind almost blew them in.
Two mothers were enjoying a hot drink while their babies slept in prams. Gina tried to hide her face as she spotted June and Cyril. The scarf the elderly lady was knitting dangled on the floor. Her chunky needles stopped clicking and she looked up. ‘Hello, dear. Where’s that lovely man of yours today? It’s so nice that you can be happy now.’
Cyril nudged her. ‘Don’t take any notice. She doesn’t know what day it is.’
Gina’s face flushed and Jacob’s brows arched. ‘Who’s this man?’
‘No one and it’s none of your business.’ She concealed her angst with a jokey smile and turned away from Jacob. It’s so nice that she can be happy now – what was June on about? ‘He’s just a friend, June.’
‘Well, he’s a nice man. He’s definitely a looker.’ She stopped clicking and poured her tea from a pot.
They dodged the chairs and waited at the counter for someone to come back in to see them.
‘So, who’s this friend then?’
She tutted and looked up. ‘It was only Briggs. We were just having a coffee here the other day while talking about a case, that’s all.’ She didn’t mention the other times they’d met there after work. Briggs had insisted that it was only coffee, and that two friends and colleagues should be able to talk over coffee. Gina heard Lucy humming from the kitchen. A door slammed and she approached.
‘Oh, what can I get you… don’t tell me your name… I should remember.’ She clicked her fingers with her eyes closed. ‘Gina. Is that right?’
Gina nodded. ‘You remembered.’
‘I aim to please. What can I get you both? I know you like an Americano with a splash of milk.’
‘You’ve mellowed, guv. You don’t normally have milk.’ Jacob undid a few buttons on his coat.
Lucy began twisting her hair, as a fair few women always would when they came across Jacob. He didn’t give her much of a glance. He didn’t give anyone a glance any more, not since being loved up with Jennifer.
‘We’re on official business, actually, so no time to sit around enjoying one of your lovely coffees today.’
Lucy tightened her ponytail and redid her apron, nipping in her waist a little more. ‘Is it about those kids the other day? Is that boy alright, the one they were all picking on?’
‘He managed to run away from us once we’d dusted him down. It’s not about that. Unfortunately, we lost them. On that same night, do you remember that man, the rude one who was moaning about the price of sandwiches?’
Her nose scrunched as she thought. ‘Yes, I don’t think I’d forget him in a hurry. What about him?’
‘We’re trying to identify him and we need your help.’ Gina gulped. ‘Do you have any CCTV in the café at all?’
Lucy glanced up above Gina and pointed to the camera in the corner of the room. ‘That’s all we have and it points straight towards this counter. I thought it was a good idea just in case we were ever robbed.’
Gina felt her heart racing. She and Briggs were sitting almost underneath it but there was a chance they may appear in the corner of the frame. ‘May we take that footage? It would really help.’ Gina pulled a memory stick from her pocket and passed it to the woman.
Lucy shrugged and took it. ‘I can’t see why not. Can you watch the shop for a few minutes while I head out the back? I just have to go through it on the computer then save it onto your stick.’ She turned and poured two filter coffees. ‘Here, these are on me while you wait. Take a seat.’
‘Thank you.’ They both sat and sipped the coffee. Gina glanced at the camera once again.