Janine had an infantile moment when she considered burning the lot before shrugging it off. He would not spoil her day. No, sir!
She dumped the pile on his desk and went off to join the rest of the team in the bar down the road.
They greeted her with a round of applause. As boss she did the honours and bought another round. She waited at the bar, tired but pleased with herself. Gazing into the mirror behind the bar she caught Richard’s eye, held it a moment too long. Shook her head. What was she going to do with him? Nothing for now. Never make decisions when you are tired, stressed or emotionaclass="underline" that ruled out most of Janine’s waking life.
He walked her back to the station when she’d made her excuses and left. Looked like Shap and Butchers were settled in for the night.
She and Richard stood beside her car. ‘I could ring you; maybe do something later in the week? Go for a.’ he tailed off.
‘I don’t know.’
‘Not an outright no, then? There is a chance?’
She gave him a frank look. Shrugged.
‘I can wait.’
‘Some things are worth waiting for.’ She smiled, opened her car door, got in and started it up.
He stood back and watched her pull away. Watched until the car disappeared from view. Then turned on his heels.
Tom was home, safe and happy and in bed. Michael had fallen asleep listening to his headphones. She eased them off and switched off his telly. Thought momentarily of Dean and Ferdie and all the young lads who had the odds stacked against them from the word go. The bubble bath was deep and just the right temperature. She slid into the water, leant her head back against the edge of the bath and breathed in the fragrance.
I did it, we did it. Oh, yes! Bone tired but home and dry – well, so to speak.
The weight off her feet was a blessed relief. She massaged her stomach, felt something solid to one side, head, hip? Stroked it. Boy or girl? Didn’t matter, did it, so long as all was well.
She was drifting off when Eleanor’s voice came bawling up the stairs like a banshee. ‘Mum, the washing machine is leaking!’
Please, she thought, oh, please. Give me a break!
Acknowledgements
Adapting a book for television, and then back again, means many people helped shape this story. Special thanks to Carolyn Reynolds at Granada TV for the amazing opportunity and for encouraging me to write my first script and to Jane Macnaught for helping me through unfamiliar territory. For advice on police matters thanks to Inspector Roger Forsdyke, Inspector Peter N. Walker (Retd.) and Detective Superintendent Patsy Wood. Thanks to the cast of Blue Murder who made the characters theirs – and then some. A toast to Ann Cleeves from Murder Squad who first tipped me the wink and then kept nudging. And finally thanks to Tim – I couldn’t have done it without you.
CATH STAINCLIFFE
Cath Staincliffe is an established novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV's hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis, which attracted an audience of 8.4 million viewers. Cath’s books have been short-listed for the Crime Writers Association Best First Novel award and for the Dagger in the Library. Looking For Trouble launched private eye Sal Kilkenny, a single parent struggling to juggle work and home, onto Manchester’s mean streets. Crying Out Loud is the eighth and latest title in the series. Cath’s newest novels, Witness and Split Second examine hot topical issues and tell stories of ordinary people, caught up in the criminal justice system, who face difficult and dangerous choices. Cath writes the Scott & Bailey novels based on the popular ITV1 series. She lives in Manchester with her partner and their children. Cath is a founder member of Murder Squad see www.murdersquad.co.uk
www.cathstaincliffe.co.uk
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