2
Ronnie frowned, knowing that Matt and his younger sister had barely spoken to their mother since they were children. The death of his Nanna years earlier had devastated both Devlin siblings. Ronnie had no idea how they'd react now.
"Matt!" He jogged back towards the car as Matt stalked away from him. "Oi! Some of us have just as open eart surgery!"
Matt stopped in his tracks. He felt sick, knowing that the woman in the ditch was his mother. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath, trying to fight the nausea.
"Matt!"
"I'm ok."
"Keys." Ronnie held his hand out. "You are not driving."
"I said, I'm ok." Matt handed him the keys anyway. "I need to call Kathy and Alesha. That's all. She stopped being my mum when she let that thug into our lives. I lost my mum along time before today."
"I'm taking you home."
"No. I'm not stewing there." Matt glared. "There's no way they'll let me work the case. Biology and all that." He got into the passenger seat of the car.
"You're right there. You are not working your mother's murder case. I doubt very much they'll let me anywhere near it."
"Well, you are supposed to be in light duties until the cardiologist gives you the all clear." Matt stared out the window. Ronnie shrugged. He'd been back in work less than a month since his heart surgery. The fact he had almost died still frightened him.
"I am not taking you back to work."
"Ron, I'm fine."
"If you say so." Ronnie started the car engine. "Humour me. Ok?" He pulled the car away from the park as blue police lights bathed the scene.
Xxxxxx
"Morning." Sam yawned, tugging on his tie as he walked into the office. Angie rolled her eyes. The new DI was still finding his feet but she could see he was still far too inexperienced. Part of her wondered why the powers that be hadn't promoted Ronnie. Sighing she handed him a mug of coffee.
"White female, mid sixties found dead in local park this morning." Joe stated. "Ronnie, Matt and the Guv are on scene. The SOCO are there too; suspicious."
"ID?"
"Identified as Carole Rose George." Natalie stated as she headed into the office. "Matt's mum."
"Our Matt?" Sam asked. Natalie nodded.
"Yes, so I want you overseeing this one. Joe and Angie to work it. Me and Ronnie are too close. Joy said the tox screen should be in tomorrow. The PM will be done later today."
"How's Matt?"
"Dunno. But you treat this like every other murder case. Carole George was killed. I want the culprit under arrest. Sharpish." She headed into her office, worried sick about the younger man.
Xxxxxx
Ronnie parked the car on the edge of the hillside cemetery. Killing the engine he turned to Matt.
"Humour me. Ok? Then, if you want I'll get you back to the Nick. You can call Alesha and your sister then. Ok?"
"Ok." Matt frowned. "Why are we here?"
Ronnie frowned, glancing out of the car window he shrugged.
"Cmon. I need to show you something." He left the car, leaving Matt no choice but to follow him.
Xxxxxx
Joe stared at the witness statements from the young joggers who had found the body. Both seemed straightforward but neither had the bit of information that could lead them to the killer. Getting the CCTV would possibly help but he wasn't holding out much hope.
"Anything?" Angie sighed as he shook his head.
"Not yet. It's early days. Any news on Matt? I'm going to have to talk to him about this. Aren't I? Victim's family." Joe slumped in his chair, feeling wretched at the thought.
"Yes." Angie frowned. "But I'll do it. No offence. I've known Matt longer. It might be better coming from me."
"Ok." Joe sighed.
"Wimp." She watched him raise an eyebrow as she smirked.
Llllllll
Ronnie shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked towards a grave he knew well. The worn, grey tombstone caught his attention as Matt walked silently next to him. Matt took a deep breath as he read the gravestone.
"Ronald James Brooks."
"My father." Ronnie stared at the inscription. "Ronald James Brooks, born April 19th 1935. Died 5th May 1990. Fifty five years old. I was thirty when he drank himself to death. Violent, sexist, racist, spiteful drunk. His favourite hobby was using me and mum as a punchbag. He killed her. Never convicted of it. I knew he pushed her to it though. Did I tell you? My old mum died three years before him? Suicide. His fault."
"Ron."
"I swore I'd never be like him. That the only similarity would be our names. But I was wrong. I became like him." Ronnie narrowed his eyes. "Never raised my hand to my kids or a woman though."
"You're not like that. Your kids adore you. I've seen you with Louisa and Ben. No way would you be Cameron's Godfather if I thought you were anything like that." Matt watched as Ronnie's expression darkened.
"He was a drinker. I'm an alcoholic."
"Recovering."
"I hate him. I seriously hate him, I've never hated anyone the way I hate him. The day he died." Ronnie paused. "I cried like a baby. Broke my heart. See? I hated him and I was bloody furious with the way I was treated and my mum but he was still my dad."
"Ron."
"All I'm saying is." Ronnie turned to look at him. "Your mum died. Doesn't matter what your relationship was like; she was your mum and you are allowed to grieve for her. So's Kathryn. Ok?" He turned and walked away as Matt closed his eyes. He just couldn't make himself feel something he didn't. Sighing he turned, following his best friend back towards the car.
