Chapter 10
TEN
Morgan had stayed with Tori until her dad arrived, explaining the situation to him.
The poor guy had struggled with what he was hearing.
He told her had no idea they had gone out onto the fell last night in such awful weather because he’d have told her not to, and he’d had to swipe at his eyes several times.
He kept looking from Morgan to his daughter, who was still in shock and not really reacting to anything she said.
He’d hugged Tori and sat next to her, holding her hand, which Morgan took as a good sign.
He wasn’t going to lose his shit with her just yet because the last thing the girl needed right now was someone yelling at her and making her feel even worse than she already did.
‘I don’t understand it, Tori, why would you go out there so late when it was such poor visibility without telling anyone.
That was so dangerous, you’re not like this, you’re my good girl.
Ever since your mum left you are all that I have and the thought of something terrible happening to you.
’ Her dad still had tight hold of his daughter’s hand, but it began to tremble and he was on the verge of tears. Tori sobbed.
‘It was just a bit of fun, that’s all, Dad.’
‘A bit of fun that has left your two best friends’ parents living the kind of hell that is every parent’s worst nightmare. How will they ever get over this?’
Morgan felt so bad for the pair of them and hugged Tori and Macy before she signed herself out and left the hospital.
Cain was waiting outside for her in a plain car. Tugging open the door, she got in and sighed as the aircon blasted warm air onto her face.
‘Ah, this is so good.’
‘You’re okay then? I was surprised you agreed to go to the hospital, Morgan. You’re as hard as nails.’
‘Thanks, is that some kind of compliment?’ She laughed. ‘I went so I could speak to Tori before anyone else could.’
Cain looked at her. ‘Crafty, nice one, Brookes, and what did she say?’
‘Not a lot to be fair, she said they didn’t tell anyone they were going there and her dad was horrified to hear about it, although she couldn’t speak for Scarlett or Dawson, but it was a spur-of-the-moment decision so I kind of believed her.
Unless we find anything out to disprove that.
Whoever hurt them must have stumbled across them by accident.
I’ll give a full update at the briefing. Where’s Ben?’
‘On his way to the station. He’s been at the scene for hours.’
‘And you?’
‘He made me leave to come check on you.’
Cain’s face looked drawn, his eyes haunted by the trauma of losing his partner Angela in such a violent way by a guy they had both worked with, who was on their team, one of them.
The betrayal was too much to bear when she really thought about it, so she tried not think about Stan and his evil ulterior motives.
Morgan reached out and squeezed his shoulder. ‘How are you, Cain? I’m not sure coming back to work so soon and walking into the scene tonight was the best idea you’ve ever had.’
His eyes glistened in the glow of the lights outside of the accident and emergency entrance.
‘It’s hard, I’m not going to lie or say that it isn’t, and you’re right, I could have done without tonight but—’ His voice broke and he coughed into his hand.
‘But I can’t be at home in that house all day every day with nothing to do.
I mean it’s Angela from the crystal doorknobs to the pink walls and kitchen cabinets.
Even the bathmat is pink, and it hurts deep inside of here.
’ He thumped his hand against his heart several times.
‘I don’t know what to do with myself. I don’t know how much longer I can stay there if I’m honest. I keep asking myself why she didn’t feel as if she could tell me about having a son who was taken away from her.
It wouldn’t have made any difference to how I felt about her, I could have helped her.
I would never have let her go meet him on her own like that unless I knew he was okay. ’
Morgan squeezed his hand and kept hold of it.
‘It’s a beautiful home, but yes, it is very Angela and very pink.
As for her reasons for not telling you, maybe she was too embarrassed or waiting to see how he reacted to finding out she was his mum.
I don’t think for one minute she was being devious about it, she wasn’t like that.
I think she would have been planning to tell you.
Unfortunately for her, the son she longed to meet was a cold, calculating bastard. ’
He squeezed her fingers tight.
‘Could you stay with Amy for a bit? I bet she would love to have some company and help with the baby. That could keep your mind off things for a little while.’
‘I don’t want to impose; she might think I’m throwing her out if I turn up with my suitcase.’
‘I don’t think she would. If not, you’re welcome to stay with me and Ben. He has a spare room, well technically he does, Kevin has kind of moved into it, but he’s okay.’
‘Kevin?’ He arched one eyebrow at her.
‘Des’s cat.’
Cain laughed. ‘God, I forgot about him. I thought you’d moved some bloke in called Kevin, which would not surprise me at all. Thanks, Morgan, that’s very kind of you but I don’t know if I could live with my boss and his crazy partner either.’
‘Crazy? Me?’
Cain shrugged. ‘I don’t mean that in a bad way, you’re crazy in a good way, and I appreciate the offer, I really do but it would be a bit too weird.’
‘Well then, even more reason to speak to Amy. I can ask her for you. Or what if you swapped houses for a bit, she could live in Angela’s, and you go back home, where she is now. That would work, maybe.’
‘Maybe, but could I expect her to move all her stuff out to do that? It’s a lot of messing around with a baby, and she’s also grieving too, even though she won’t admit it, but I know she loved Jack and the way it all ended was so horrible for her.’
‘Which is why the pair of you should house share for a couple of months until you’re ready to decide what you want to do with Angela’s house.
I mean the pair of you would be able to help each other.
I think she’s lonely and a bit down. Every time I talk to her, she looks a little bit lost. Having to look after you would cheer her up. ’
‘Christ, you make me sound like I’m some gawky kid who needs mothering.’
Morgan laughed. ‘All men need mothering to some degree and don’t tell me you wouldn’t enjoy being around Ava Rose. She would love it. She adores you; it just makes perfect sense, that’s all. At least think about it.’
He nodded. ‘I will, I take it you’re going to go home to get changed. Although you look kind of cute in those scrubs. Don’t tell Benno I said that, I mean that in a mate’s kind of way, not any other.’
‘I do? Thank you.’ She winked at him. ‘I’m no grass, unlike someone I could mention.’
‘I don’t grass, I just occasionally tell Ben stuff because you scare the shit out of me at times, and I think someone has to reel you in, so you don’t get yourself killed, although you still go and do stupid stuff regardless.
That was reckless going into that water tonight, Morgan, brave but utterly stupid.
The visibility was so poor you could have gone under, and nobody would have found you. ’
‘Madds did.’
‘Yeah, lucky for you he did, he gave everyone a heart attack. I never knew he had it in him. It was a relief not to mention a surprise when he unzipped his body armour and kicked off his boots. You really must take better care of yourself though; I mean that as one of your best friends. I worry about you more than I worry about anyone else. Mainly because I don’t know anyone who is as crazy as you, but you know… ’
She let go of his hand to punch him in the bicep.
‘Ouch, police brutality.’
‘You deserved that. Take me home, Cain, I’m frozen. I want to put at least five layers of clothes on. Can you wait for me to get dressed then I’ll go to the station with you.’
‘Of course.’
‘Thank you, I appreciate that you care so much even if you do insult me more than anyone else, I know.’
Cain’s laughter made her smile and her heart ached for her friend; she would maybe mention how he was feeling to Amy and see if Amy could suggest anything to help.
He hadn’t deserved this. To lose Angela when they were so happy was the cruellest blow that life could have given him, but she was determined to help him through his grief the best that she could.
Morgan stared out of the window, her mind replaying what Tori hadn’t been able to finish saying before she got too upset.
What hadn’t she wanted the killer to know?
What was she hiding from her? Had the two girls not been as friendly as Tori had made out, was there some kind of rivalry going on?
Morgan knew all too well the complications that teenage friendships could hide underneath the skin.
She heard Scotty’s voice over the radio saying that Tori was being released and going home with her dad.
Morgan said to Cain, ‘We should go speak to her now, before she goes to bed. She might talk a little more freely now she’s not in the hospital and has her dad with her.’
Cain nodded. ‘Whatever you think.’
Morgan gave him the address and hoped that Tori and her dad got there before they did.