Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
Ben grabbed hold of Morgan’s shirt on the way out to hold her back, waiting for everyone else to file out of the blue room. He waited until it was just the two of them before closing the door.
‘You had me worried then.’
‘I know, I didn’t realise until I started to speak how much you would panic. I’m sorry about that, it’s just he wound me up so much.’
‘I get that, but please, for the sake of my mental health, don’t do that again. Were you referring to Scotty?’
She gave a half-hearted shrug. ‘Kind of but not really.’
Ben threw his hands in the air. ‘Morgan, stop it. You’re giving me heartburn for no good reason. Are you mad at me, is this because I didn’t propose to you in New York?’
She stared at him. A deep red flush rose up his neck and cheeks, and she thought, so here it is, he’s finally acknowledging it, and she wanted to put a stop to it for good.
‘Declan was really disappointed with me. I’m sorry I didn’t but I was too scared you’d say no, so I put it to the back of my mind and kind of forgot about it.’
‘What has that got to do with anything that’s happening here, right now?’
‘I don’t want you being so angry with me that it’s getting in the way of our working relationship.’
‘First of all, no. I am not mad you didn’t propose.
Declan has a bee in his bonnet about that.
He was checking my ring finger, and I didn’t even realise what he was getting at.
I never expected you to propose, if I’m honest it was the last thing on my mind.
I just wanted to have a break, and you all to myself whilst visiting one of my bucket list cities.
You made that dream come true and I appreciate that so much.
Why are you stressing about not proposing, Ben?
I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone in my life and if you asked me to marry you, I would say yes in a heartbeat.
But I don’t expect you to. I’m so happy the way we are, I wouldn’t jeopardise that for anything.
As long as you’re in my life that’s enough for me.
I don’t care about any kind of ring on my finger. ’
She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him to her.
He pulled her even closer and kissed her with far too much passion for a workday.
She had to break away from him to come up for air.
The door slammed open, and they tore themselves away from each other.
Cain was standing there grinning, and he winked at them.
‘Don’t mind me, you sneaky little lovebirds, and don’t shoot the messenger but Bigfoot wants you in his office now, Ben.
And I want to warn you that he’s moved himself into your office.
So, you know, do you want to do some deep breathing to calm yourself down before you go and throw him out of it?
Oh, and please don’t throw him out unless I’m watching, although I’m going to be frank with you, Benno, I think he could kick your arse in a fight. ’
Morgan doubled over with laughter whilst Ben sat down on the chair nearest to him, shaking his head.
‘I don’t think I can take much more today, you lot have done me in. And thanks for that vote of no confidence, Cain. Just because he’s built like a brick shithouse doesn’t mean I couldn’t take him in a fight.’
Cain laughed even louder. ‘Before you do, can we start a sweepstake? Take bets? We could all do with a bit of cheering up.’
Ben gave him the finger. ‘Get out of here now and take her with you, the pair of you are liabilities, you know that right?’
They both nodded and left him there, but Morgan softly closed the door behind her to give him a little headspace before he went back to face their newest challenge.
As they walked down the corridor, she whispered. ‘Did Angela message back?’
He shook his head. ‘She must be busy, or maybe she left her phone at home. It’s not like I have any trust issues with her, I just worry about her. She really is the best thing that ever happened to me, my life has changed completely since I met her.’
‘Aw, you really are a sweetie under that rough exterior. Has Bigfoot really taken over Ben’s office?’
He nodded. ‘Yeah, I told him it was Ben’s and that Marc’s office is on the second floor, but he said he didn’t want to work away from the team. He likes to be in the thick of it and said Ben wouldn’t mind sharing.’
‘Lord, the guy has no idea, does he?’
‘Nope, be fun to watch Ben tell him though.’
‘I think Ben’s had enough for one day, I’ve almost finished him off.’
‘Why, what have you done? The way you two looked guilty when I walked in, I thought you were about to get up to no good.’
Morgan slapped his arm. ‘Cain.’
‘What?’
‘We would never be so unprofessional.’
‘You wouldn’t be the first coppers to get it on in that blue room.’
‘Ugh, that’s disgusting. I don’t want to know what you’ve done in there,’ she said, putting her hand up to stop him from talking. ‘I’d rather be blissfully ignorant.’
‘Your call, I’m just saying that there are plenty of empty offices and cupboards in here that have seen a bit of action.’
‘Stop it.’
‘Come off it, Morgan, don’t tell me you’ve never got it on with anyone inside of here because that’s unheard of.’
‘And have you got it on with anyone inside of the station? Actually, for the love of God, please don’t answer that question.’
‘I’m a gentleman and a gentleman never boasts about his conquests inside or outside of work.
’ He winked at her. ‘Should I come with you to track down the person commenting on the Williams sisters’ social media posts?
Ben said he didn’t want you to go on your own and I could do with a break from Stan.
I already asked him to speak to the boyfriend, and he jumped at the chance.
He is so boring, I’d rather work with a premenstrual Amy.
She would get so violent, she would kick me and slap me non-stop for almost an entire eight-hour shift. ’
‘I can understand why she would, Cain, you can’t go around saying stuff like that.’
‘I can to you, you’re my mate.’ He rubbed the top of her head as if he was praising his pet dog.
Morgan pulled away from his hand. ‘You’re even more annoying today than yesterday and I wouldn’t have thought that could be possible.’
He nodded. ‘It’s a skill, I’ll tell you that for free. So, can I come or what?’
He was almost pleading with her, and she didn’t have the heart to say no. ‘If Bigfoot has a meltdown over it, you’re taking the blame. I’m not saying you can, or you can’t, you’re a grown man, you make your own decisions.’
Cain was grinning. ‘I can handle him, he’s only a foot taller than me and surely, he won’t want to fight more than one person a day. Not after he’s annihilated Benno anyway.’
‘Will you stop saying that, now I’m worried that Ben’s going to get beaten up on top of the stress he’s already suffering.’
He mimed zipping his mouth shut and followed her out of the rear doors that led into the car park.
She headed towards the plain car that belonged to their department, and they left the police station in silence.
Morgan had wanted to talk to Scotty’s neighbours, have a nosey at his social media accounts whilst she was away from prying eyes.
That wasn’t going to happen with Cain sitting next to her, he didn’t miss a trick, and she didn’t want to start any rumours.
She had been here before, thinking Scotty had been involved in another case when he hadn’t so she knew she needed to be extra cautious.
But the Williams sisters were killed by someone they knew, and finding someone who knew all three of them was an important lead.
‘Have we got time to go to The Coffee Pot for a decent coffee and cake?’
The thought made her stomach groan, but she shook her head. ‘Not now, on the way back we will unless we find somewhere in Bowness first.’
‘You’re the best, Brookes.’
She rolled her eyes at him but smiled to herself.