Chapter 2
Alex couldn't let go. She clinged to her daughter like a magnet and the force was so strong it was impossible to fight against it. She didn't want to fight against it, she just wanted to stay in this moment for ever. Her daughter, Molly, back in her arms for good. No one was going to separate them - they came as a team. There were no surroundings, no other people in the world, just Alex and Molly. "I love you, I love you so much," she kept saying whilst embracing her. And then she was gone- disappeared into the air. Alex looked at the empty space where she had been. "Molly!" She screamed so loud her throat suffered sharp pains as the lump that held back the tears gave way. She feel to her knees and cried uncontrollably in the darkness. Once again, her daughter had been taken away from her and she had no idea when she would ever see her again. She then heard loud, booming sounds coming from somewhere and she slowly opened her eyes...
"Bolly! Bolly! Open this door!" Gene's angry voice made her feel somewhat comforted, despite the pain she was feeling. She woke up on the floor by the sofa, tangled in the thin blanket that had stains of red she had not noticed before. Then she spotted the empty bottle laid on the floor by her head. The previous night she had drank a full bottle of red wine. How unprofessional she thought. But Alex wasn't the only one getting fed up.
"I said open this door! We have work to do!" Gene wasn't going to give up.
"Alright, alright!"
She stood up cautiously, praying that the wine wasn't going to result in a hang over. That was the last thing she needed - there was already one hang over she couldn't get rid of. Gene barely gave her chance to open the door before he barged in.
"Chuffin' hell Bolls," Gene said as he noticed the bottle. "Why wasn't I here last night?"
"Sorry Gene, I'll be on my way shortly. Now if you don't mind..." she held her hand to the door.
"Chuckin' me out so soon, I'm not going anywhere. You're cleanin' yourself up and then you're coming with me. Chop chop!"
Alex sighed with frustration as she headed to the bathroom. Today was going to be a long and awkward day. She splashed her face with cold water and re-applied her make-up, all the while knowing that Gene was nosing around her flat. She didn't even put it past him for trying to get the last dregs of red wine out the bottle. Once she was ready, she walked past Gene, swinging her hips seductively. She loved teasing him.
"Find anything interesting? Any clues that might help with our case?" She said sarcastically.
"Very funny. Come on, we've got a sick bastard to catch."
The emphasis he put on the word 'bastard' had a sour tone to it. Himself, as well as Chris and Ray, were more confident today of catching the culprit. 'Supermac' had given them a no-nonsense lecture earlier that morning that they needed, but it was Gene's short and sweet contribution that he spat at them afterwards that put them all in the right frame of mind – 'You've seen what they're capable of. Now we're goin' to grab this twatface by the bollocks and squeeze them so hard his eyes pop out!!! Understand!'
Absolutely.
*****
Gene slammed the Quattro into reverse as he carelessly parked by the block of flats. Gene flung the file onto Chris' lap – he clearly didn't have time to inform himself on the case.
"Mrs Henderson, flat 12A, neighbour of the two young girls." Chris filled in. Gene set the orders.
"Fabulous. Chris, Raymundo, you two ask anyone on the other floors if they heard or saw anything, you know how it goes. Bolly, you and me will deal with Mrs Hilton."
"Henderson"
"Whatever."
Gene made sure that his knocks were heard on the bottom floor. It took five minutes and a few loud curses from Gene until there was any answer. Both Alex and Gene flashed their ID in unison at the woman who answered the door. Her extravagance made Gene flinch ever so slightly as he observed her from head to foot. Her cigarette was placed in a five inch cigarette holder, the crimson red nails were filed to a point and her bleach blonde hair was permed and combed back at the sides. Layers of thick, vibrant make-up caped her face and her chunky figure was wrapped in a leopard print dressing gown.
"Hello, Mrs Henderson is it?" Alex asked politely. She was also taken aback by the person standing in front of her. She also spotted something on her chin. No Alex thought it can't be.
"Yes," she said in a deep, gravelly voice. She was right. On her chin Alex spotted stubble. This was no woman.
"Um, could we talk to you. Just a few questions, that's all." Alex smiled faintly.
As they entered the flat, the stale smell of cigarette smoke lingered in the air. As soon as they entered the living room, Gene was wasting no time.
"So, Mrs Henderson. It's not everyday I get to nick a tranny and I'm hoping that this won't be that day! You were the last one to have seen the two girls next door alive, am I right?" His tone was stern and fairly intimidated. On first sight, he was fooled that Mrs Henderson was a woman, only now it was too obvious that she wasn't.
"I think you are." he said. "I was like a mother to those girls. Yes, a mother!" he had a private giggle to himself. "There real mum has been gone for weeks. Lovely woman, she was. Brought her daughters up to be little darlings. Katherine, especially. Helen, the youngest, was always a nuisance but I still cared for them equally as my own when she left."
Tears filled Mrs Henderson's eyes as she thought about them.
"Oh, how touching." Gene was done with sympathy. Not that he had ever had it to begin with. "If you were the last person to see... Helen and Katherine, then you must know a little of what happened to them." Gene flinched again as Mrs Henderson crossed his legs tightly. "And that's not natural!"
"Oh, don't worry, I've been doing this while. And to be perfectly honest, I have no idea. I loved those girls, if you take anything from me then take that. They didn't deserve what they got. Not one bit!"
Gene wasn't falling for such nonsense.
"Bull shit! You were the last one to see them!" he blasted whilst pointing stiffly at him.
"Alive! I was the last one to see them alive! No get out of my flat! I have nothing more to give you!"
Alex needed to sooth the situation. She knew by now that she should have spoken to him as Gene was too immature to handle a transvestite.
"Well thank you. I know this must be hard for you. We'll be leaving now." Alex threw Gene a sinister look as the left. Ray and Chris met them both at the Quattro.
"So, you two gather anything useful?" Alex asked.
"Not really, no one 'eard or saw anything. I mean, 'alf of 'em were stoned, like." Ray informed them.
"So, seems no one heard or saw anything. Seem unusual Bolls?" Gene was baffled by the fact that no one knew anything. After all, Sam had always said 'you need evidence'. Of course, over time this got nailed into his head. Good old Sam, he missed him more than he liked to admit. He missed that complete toss pot.
"It does. I want to find out more about there estranged mother. She must have a significant connection."
They all jumped back into the Quattro and headed back. It was now time to find an estranged mother. This should be fun Gene thought.
