The Half Truth(82)

‘You still pissed off?’ Martin’s voice came across the desk.

‘Mind your own business,’ he said. John picked up a file and pretended to study it, although none of the words were actually registering.

‘Why don’t you simply go and see her?’ said Martin. ‘She might have calmed down by now.’

‘As I said, mind you own.’

‘Have it your own way,’ said Martin, hooking his feet up onto the desk as he sank back into his chair. ‘I suppose that means you would rather I went and saw the lovely Mrs B to find out what she wanted to do with the body?’

John shot his partner a look. ‘What’s that?’

Martin sat up again, a big grin spread across his face. ‘Aha, that got your attention, didn’t it?’ He picked up a piece of paper and passed it over the desk to John. ‘Coroner’s report all done. The body can be released for burial, cremation or repatriation. That is if she wants to ship it off to Russia. If she does, she needs to get the undertakers to embalm it and issue a certificate.’

‘Yeah, all right, spare me the detail. I know the score.’ John felt irritated. Martin had certainly hit a nerve. ‘I’ll go and see her myself.’

‘Thought you might,’ said Martin, who made now attempt to hide the smug look on his face.

Adam came out from Brogan’s office and called over to John.

‘Boss wants to see you two.’

John exchanged a look with Martin, who shrugged. ‘Don’t ask me.’

‘Better go and see what’s up, then,’ said John leading the way.

Brogan was sitting at his desk, paperwork spread in front of him. John noticed a picture of Pavel Bolotnikov on a report sheet.

‘You wanted to see us, Sir.’

‘Yes, come in. Sit down.’ Brogan waited while the two officers seated themselves on the opposite side of the desk. ‘Need to close this Porboski case as soon as. We haven’t got much time. If we’re going to do anything, we need to do it now.’

‘Sir?’ said John. He felt his blood pump a little faster around his body. This was what he had been waiting for. He had put his proposal to his superior the day before. Now it looked like it was going to be given the go-ahead.

‘How’s your Russian?’ said Brogan.

John resisted the urge to pump his fist in the air and shout ‘Yes!’ Instead he replied with the calm voice of the professional he was. ‘Good enough,’

‘Mummy! There’s someone at the door.’

Tina heard Dimitri call up the stairs to her. She had just got in from work and was changing out of her uniform. ‘Okay. I’m coming down.’ She pulled on her jeans and hurried out onto the landing, fastening them as she went.

‘Mummy, it’s John!’ The delight in her son’s voice was apparent. ‘I saw him out of the window.’ She heard the chain on the door being slid out of position and jangle as it swung free.

‘Don’t open the door!’ she called down the stairs. John was here. Her heart bobbed like a yoyo to her stomach, then to her throat and back into place. She hadn’t heard from him all week and, although she was still angry and hurt, she couldn’t deny that she had missed him too.

She hurried down the stairs, reaching the half landing as she heard the door open and Dimitri shouting in delight at their visitor.

‘Hey there, little man,’ said John. ‘How are you?’

Tina reached the bottom of the stairs and held onto the door. Seeing John standing on the doorstep, ruffling her son’s head, who had gripped John’s waist in a hug, was almost too much to bear.

‘Hello, John,’ she said. Suddenly she felt shy and unsure. His face was giving nothing away. In fact, he was looking very business-like. ‘Is this an official visit?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’d better come in.’ Tina prized Dimitri away. ‘Come on, let John in.’

‘Can we play football in the garden?’ said Dimitri. ‘Have you caught any bad men?’

John gave a laugh. ‘I’m a bit tired today, I don’t think I’ll be able to play football, I’ve been catching too many bad men and I’m all worn out.’

‘Hmm.’ Dimitri folded his arm, sticking out his bottom lip.

‘Leave John alone for a moment,’ said Tina. ‘He’s just finished work and needs to talk to Mummy. Go back and watch the TV for a little while.’

‘I’ll see you before I go,’ said John. ‘Be a good lad for your mum.’

Reluctantly Dimitri scuffed his way back to the living room.

Tina took John into the kitchen, using the few seconds to try and get a grip on her feelings. John had said he was here on official business, not pleasure. He obviously didn’t care about her as much as she thought he had. She had hoped to hear from him sooner to say he had changed his mind about the money or that he wasn’t handing all of it in. She had so wanted him to do something to quash the opinion he had forced her to make about him last week. What she wouldn’t give for him not to be the cold-hearted bastard who had taken away the only hope of a sick child.