Although seven in the morning it was pitch black as Kate Rowan drove her Triumph Herald into the yard of the police house. She pulled her coat tighter around herself as protection against the bitter January cold and, getting her medical bag and handbag out of the car, hurried into the Police House. Lights were on in the kitchen; through the window she saw Nick, already in uniform, ready for work, sitting at the kitchen table with a mug of tea. He came to meet her as she came in.
"What time did you get up?" she asked him as he took her coat from her. "Thanks."
"About half five. I was worried, Kate." He went to get a mug for her as she sat down at the kitchen table to pull her boots off.
"That baby seemed to take ages to come," Kate said with a sigh. "But all's well now thank goodness."
"Talking of baby," Nick replied, putting a mug of tea in front of her. "Kate you're nearly seven months gone. You said you'd stop the night calls."
She looked at him. "Pregnancy isn't an illness Nick!"
"No but you can start to take it a bit easier!" he retorted, sitting next to her. "You'd be saying the same to one of your patients, you know you would."
"All right. I admit, I'm shattered," she confessed. "I'll speak to James. Its time we got a locum in now anyway so we can get them in the way of things before I finish to have the baby."
"I'm not going to push you on this one Kate," Nick said, "but you are going to finish soon aren't you?"
"I said I'll cut down gradually and finish at eight months Nick. That's plenty of time."
"All right. I just worry love."
"Don't. I'm fine, baby's fine." Kate rubbed the back of her neck. "I think I will just go and grab a few hours sleep though. I've spoken to James, he's not expecting me in Whitby today. And before you ask, yes, I'm cutting down on my Whitby days too!"
They were distracted as the phone rang. Nick went to answer it saying to Kate over his shoulder, "If this is a patient, James can deal with it Kate. You're going to bed!"
He picked up the phone, saying, "Aidensfield Police. Phil - everything all right. Oh, right. Okay, I'm on my way. Any idea what's up? All right. See you in a bit."
He put down the phone and turned to look at Kate puzzled. "Phil. Blaketon wants us all in as of now. No idea what's going on." He was pulling on his jacket and reaching for his greatcoat as he spoke. Crouching down, he gave Kate a kiss. "Bed for you. Promise?"
"Yes Constable!" Kate frowned. "And you take care - let me know what's going on."
"After you've had some sleep!" he retorted firmly.
When Nick arrived in Ashfordly Phil and Alf were in the duty room, heads down, at their desks. Phil glanced up as Nick came in but before he could speak the door of Blaketon's office opened and Blaketon came down into the duty room shouting, "Bellamy!" Get hold of Rowan again will you and find out where the bloody hell he is!"
"Here Sarge," Nick said mildly as he came through into the duty room.
"Well its about bloody time. What kept you!"
"Sorry Sarge." Nick shuffled over to his desk exchanging a glance with Phil as he did so. Nick supposed Blaketon wouldn't really want to know that the reason it had taken him so long to get over to Ashfordly was the fact the roads were lethal with black ice and Nick simply hadn't dared to put on any speed, or at least as much as speed as his motorbike could muster.
"Right." Blaketon began to pace up and down a sure sign of agitation. "I've just had a call from Division. Two nights ago, as you'll have heard, two bodies were found in a flat in London. Young lass, twenty-three, Caroline Soames and a lad, same age, called David Turner. Bad business, Miss Soames was five months pregnant." Blaketon paused "They'd been shot - the bullets used have been traced to a magazine and rifle which went missing from barracks in Aldershot. They went missing along with Private John Masters the night prior. It seems Masters on base in Aldershot found out Soames, his girlfriend, as he thought, was not only carrying on with David Turner but the bairn she was carrying which Masters thought was his was in fact Turner's."
"How did he find out? Do we know?" Nick asked.
"Aye. Caroline Soames was friends with a lass called Diana Barnes. Barnes was Turner's former girlfriend. The four of them used to go about together. When Barnes found out what was going on with Soames and Turner, she made sure Masters knew. She rang the base and told hiim."
Phil said, "She's got blood on her hands then."
"And have we definitely got Masters pegged for this Sarge?" Alf said.
"Neighbours heard the shots and saw Masters running from the scene, get into what turned out to be Turner's car and drive off," Blaketon said. "With that and the forensics from the gun, aye, he's pegged for it all right."
Nick frowned. "What's this to do with us Sarge?"
"Masters grew up in various children's homes," Blaketon said, "And the one he spent he longest time in, the place he liked the most, was Vale View outside of Whitby. Its closed now of course. Now its a bit of a long shot but there's a chance - a reasonable chance Division think - he may head back North, to his roots. There's also the fact that a store was raided just outside of Leeds last night and a gun was discharged. Luckily no one was hurt. The bullet comes from the same missing magazine and the description of the offender fits Masters. Also Turner's car was found nearby out of petrol. That same night another car was taken from the same street so it looks as if Masters got himself some new wheels. I'd say there's a fair chance if he is coming back to the area, he's here by now."
Nick took a breath. "He's bolting for home."
"Aye. So now you can see why Division are worried. He's disturbed, angry and he's killed twice and he's desperate."
"What do we do Sarge?" Phil sounded nervous but in truth they were all unnerved by what they had heard.
"We take precautions. I don't want any of you running into Masters on your own. So. Any reports you get of anyone hiding out in any remote houses or barns, you don't go off investigating on your own. We take every report as a possible that Masters has turned up. You all need to get out and warn the locals to make sure they keep sheds and outbuildings locked and their own doors after dark."
"It'll cause a panic Sarge!" objected Alf.
"Aye. But I think we need to cause a panic until Masters is safely behind bars," Blaketon replied. "Division are sending over some wanted photographs for him so we need to get those out in the immediate area as well."
"Sarge." Nick spoke quietly but they could all hear the concern in his voice. "I'd like to warn Kate - and James too, of course. This affects them too. In fact, any of the local doctors who are out attending remote calls and night call outs."
Blaketon nodded his expression softening slightly. "Aye lad. You can deal with that first." He glanced around the duty room. "We all need to look after ourselves and each other and I don't want any heroics from any of you!" He glanced around and his gaze rested on Alf who was losing interest and was discreetly inspecting his lunchbox. "Although," Blaketon went on dryly, "happen I don't need to worry about you too much in that regard Ventress!"