Nick firmly knocked on the door of the cottage. "Can you open the door please?" he called "Its PC Rowan - I've got Nurse Bolton with me."
"Oh go away!" an agitated voice screamed through the door. Nick raised an eyebrow at Maggie as the baby's crying reached new levels.
"Nick, we need to get in there," Maggie said anxiously.
"Don't worry, we will," he replied. He knocked again. "I need you to open the door please otherwise I'm going to have to force entry. I need to know the baby is okay."
There was a silence then they heard the door being unlocked. Tricia Crossley glared angrily at them from the doorway. She'd obviously been crying and Nick caught the whiff of alcohol on her breath. Her long blonde hair was untidy. She couldn't have been more than twenty and looked incredibly vulnerable.
"I can't stop a baby crying can I!" she snapped, clearly angry and over-wrought. "That nosey old sod next door rang you didnt he -"
"That's enough." Nick took her arm and moved her back into the cottage so Maggie had a free run to go up the stairs to where they could hear the baby crying in one of the bedrooms. "Now if you come with me Tricia and Nurse Bolton is just going to look at your baby."
"She's not bloody taking her!"
"No one is taking her. Now come on, settle down," Nick said gently. "Lets go in the kitchen and make some tea shall we?"
"No you can't go in there!" Tricia balked at this, moving in front of the kitchen door which was shut.
"What don't you want me to see Tricia?" Nick asked.
"Oh don't be daft, I'm not carving anyone up in there am I?" She moved away from the door resignedly. "Its just a bit of a mess." She sighed realising Nick wasn't backing down and reluctantly opened the kitchen door. Nick followed her in.
She was right. It was a disgrace. Pots, pans and plates piled up in the sink, filthy oven, dirty floor, rubbish piled up in the corner rather than being taken outside to the bin, washing draped over various airers and clothes horses. It all summed up a picture of someone being unable to cope. There was an empty wine bottle on the sink. Tricia had sunk down onto a chair at the kitchen table and she caught Nick glancing at the bottle
"Half a bottle tonight," she said. "The other half last night. No law against it is there?"
"No unless you were putting your child at risk because you were too drunk too look after her - that's a different story."
"I'm not drunk! For God's sake!"
"Was it just half a bottle tonight?" Nick asked. "Or all the bottle?"
She looked away then said, "You've no idea, have you? No bloody idea at all."
The baby had stopped crying. They could hear Maggie moving about the bedroom. Nick looked back at Tricia. "No idea about - what?"
"Have you even got kids?" Tricia snapped at Nick.
"Yeah, as it goes."
"Bet its easy in your world isn't it? You don't have to bring up a kiddie on your own, watching every penny, not knowing how to make ends meet."
Nick did not look at her, concentrating on putting the kettle on to make tea. Admittedly he had Eileen's support but he would never have thought he would have been bringing up a child on his own. It felt terrifying sometimes knowing he was responsible for making the decisions, planning her future alone. And when Kate had died other things had changed. Practical things. Kate had always earned much more than he had, it was something he had just got used to and of course now there was only his wages which meant a significant difference in terms of daily living. There had been a substantial life insurance sum following Kate's death but that was in trust for his daughter. So perhaps he could relate to Tricia's circumstances more than she thought. But he wasn't crossing that line. He needed to stay objective. And right now he was concerned for both Tricia and her daughter.
He put a cup of tea in front of Tricia now thinking it was a miracle that he had managed to find any fresh milk. He had noticed as he moved round the kitchen there was baby milk in the house and a supply of nappies. There were clean baby clothes on the airers but the house did feel cold.
"Thank you," Tricia said a little more calmly as he put the tea in front of her. She looked fearfully at Nick. "Are you going to take her off me?"
Nick said, "That's not my job and for what it's worth I don't think you've had that much to drink. But you need to take the help that's offered to you."
He looked up as Maggie came in with the baby. The child was a pretty little thing and was quiet now. She reached out for her Mum and Maggie passed the baby over. "Here's Susan, Tricia. Her nappy was dirty," she explained. "I've changed her."
"It just got too much tonight," Tricia muttered. "I'm sorry." She looked fearfully at Nick and Maggie. "Please don't take her off me."
"You need to accept some help Tricia," Maggie said, sitting down opposite her. Nick stayed standing by the kitchen sink watching carefully.
"Yeah, okay."
"I will make a recommendation that you have some help from Social Services," Maggie said.
"No!" Tricia's eyes were wide with fear.
"Tricia." Nick spoke gently. "For Susan's sake." He nodded at the baby. "Look, having Social Services involved doesn't mean they're going to take Susan from you."
"Not at all. They will offer you help and support," Maggie explained. "Help you to look after her. That's got to be better than struggling like this hasn't it?"
Tricia wiped away a tear. She looked up at Nick. "Am I in trouble with you lot?" she asked.
Nick looked at Maggie then back at Tricia. "I will need to make a report," he said steadily, "because I've been called out here tonight. But if you work with Nurse Bolton and follow her advice, and take the help offered, I'll tell my Sergeant we don't need to be involved any more."
Triica nodded pulling her baby closer to her. "Thank you," she whispered.
Next morning saw Nick in Blaketon's office at Ashfordly. The Sergeant was reading his Constable's report carefully. He looked up at Nick. "You recommend no further action?" he asked.
"Yes, Sarge. I couldn't see any evidence the baby was neglected. Granted, the house wasn't clean but there was baby milk and clean clothes for her. And Maggie Bolton confirmed she was in good health. I just think that her mum is struggling to cope and she has agreed to co-operate with help from Social Services. I think we should turn it over to them and let them get on with it Sarge."
Blaketon sat back in his chair and took off his glasses. "Aye well," he said, "Its not as if we've nowt else to do has it? And I hate wasting police time on these things. All right Rowan, we'll consider this one as closed."
"Thanks, Sarge."
"However." Blaketon leaned forward in his chair. "There is another matter which isn't closed."
"Yes Sarge." Nick spoke resignedly having hoped they wouldn't have to come back to this one. "I'll go and speak to Claude Greengrass now." He hesitated then, "But I don't think he's guilty this time Sarge."
"I'm not interested in what you think, Rowan!" Blaketon said acidly. "I'm interested in making sure Claude Jeremiah Greengrass knows the law applies to him same as everyone else! And that, in case you've forgotten Rowan, is your job! So deal with it!"