Chapter 2:
Katy, Josh and Maggie felt the change in the air as soon as the plane touched down at Heathrow. It was cold, and raining, about 3 degrees Celsius. She had managed to find a few warm sweaters for the kids on the island and warm coats through catalogues from America, but they would need to buy some warmer clothes in London, as in a tropical climate such as Jamaica, they had no need for such things. Katy had left most of her warmer clothes in her old house in Greenwich, but she assumed Tony Stamp had given them away to charity. She considered going down to knock on his door and find out how he was keeping, but decided not to. If, when he chanced upon them on the beach, he didn't feel it necessary for an explanation, then he must be alright and probably didn't want to know. It was just as well that he didn't because the last thing they need is for a rumour to start that John is actually alive and well, living in paradise with a fat pension, and the proceeds of many years' burglaries, which had been invested well, to allow them to live a highly comfortable lifestyle.
As they stepped outside through the customs throng, to the taxi rank, they had to wait for a cab. All three of them had started to shiver, unaccustomed to the cold after so many years of living in the Caribbean.
"Mummy. I'm cold," Maggie said, stating the obvious.
"I know sweetheart, we're all cold. We're next in the queue so we should get a cab soon."
Their cab pulled up and they got inside. It was lovely and warm inside, despite the freezing cold weather outside.
"Where to?" the cabbie asked.
"The Savoy, please." It was 11:30 AM, and by the time they got there, they could probably be able to check in. The kids were both very tired, having not had much rest on the airplane. Katy as well was ready for sleep. She dozed off in the back of the taxi and was jarred awake by the doorman opening the door at the hotel. Quickly regaining herself, she paid the taxi driver and let the concierge take care of their luggage.
After checking in and going upstairs to their room, she struggled with the dialling codes to call John. After managing to get through, the phone rang 10 times before he picked up.
"yeah, hello." the voice on the other end mumbled, full of sleep.
"Hi honey, we're here in London!" Katy exclaimed, trying to make up some enthusiasm.
"Katy. hello love!" At the sound of her voice, John gained some enthusiasm. "How was your flight?"
"Pretty nondescript. The kids watched a Disney movie. I watched some shite comedy thing. The food was bog standard British Airways slop. But we're here, in the Savoy, and they've still got immense beds."
"I remember when we were there." John was definitely awake now. "Do you?"
Katy laughed, "That was years ago!"
"Still. I miss you. The bed is too big here and too empty. I don't know how long I'll be able to wait for you," he whinged down the phone.
"Two weeks, maybe?"
"Yeah. Two weeks. Just about."
"How are the kids?"
"Fine." Katy glanced over at their children. Both of them had gone from bouncing on the beds to sound asleep on them. "They've just fallen asleep." She yawned.
"You sound like you need some too."
"Yeah. might go shopping later."
"Alright. I'll call you in a couple of days. What's your room number?"
"214."
"Ok my love. Take care and kiss the kids for me."
"Will do. I love you baby. Be good."
"I'm always good," John grinned. Katy could feel the warmth of his smile down the phone.
"Bye my love."
"Bye."
Katy hung up and looked at her sleeping children. Two flame-haired angels, so like their father in looks. While Josh was a Boulton through and through, from looks, to expressions, attitude and mannerisms, Katy felt that Margaret was taking more after her. Maggie was a quiet, studious child already at 4, and enjoyed spending ages just playing on her own. She read books at a frightening pace, and wasn't at all athletically inclined. While John and Joshua would spend hours on the beach playing sand-footie, Maggie was most content indoors reading, or playing with her dolls. She loved her daddy very much and John adored her, and would often make up stories to tell her. John always tucked her into bed with a special story every night. He was a terrific father to their kids, just like Katy always knew he would be. She was so happy, and their life was every bit as perfect as she hoped it would be, during her dark years when she was inside. Now that was all a distant memory, in the face of the life she had made for herself.
Laying down next to her daughter, she closed her eyes and fell promptly asleep. They would need to go shopping soon but it could wait a few hours.
* * *
"Come on, Chris, I really want to see the lights!" Detective Constable Charlotte DeCaux was sitting in the lounge at Chris Deakin's apartment. Ever since he was her professor at Hendon, they had been lovers. At first it wasn't serious, but as time went on, neither of them had met anyone else. Charlotte had been with a few men since then, one of which she almost married, because she believed she was pregnant. Unfortunately, the pregnancy test she had taken turned out to be a false alarm, and her relationship fell apart. Throughout it all, the one constant in her life had been Chris.
Even though he was considerably older than her, she had a soft spot for him, because he was her first. She was beginning to think that he might ask her to marry him this Christmas; after all, he must love her to have waited for her all this time, and he wasn't getting any younger.
Chris rolled his eyes at his young lover and said, "Not on a Saturday! Oxford Street will be mad! It's only a week until Christmas!" He was preparing breakfast for them in the kitchen. A proper English fry-up. Hell for his cholesterol, but ever so tasty.
"So? What else do we have to do today? You know, you're a right Scrooge. You don't even have a Christmas tree up in here. Besides, it's never as good after Christmas." Chris brought their breakfasts out and sat at the table. He sat down, not waiting for her, and started eating. Charlotte looked at him from the sofa.
Chris looked up from his plate, meeting her gaze. She was silent, not moving, just looking.
"Alright! Alright, we'll go. Just. come here and eat your breakfast. You owe me."
Charlotte bounced up happily and walked over to the table. She leaned down behind him and whispered in his ear, "I'll be sure to make it up to you later."
Chris groaned to himself. She had the stamina of an 18 year old. He felt like the only thing between them, the only thing that had ever been between them, was sex. Sure, she was fun, and they made a good looking couple, but she was so much younger than him, it didn't take him long to find himself just going along with her. It was better than being alone, he reasoned, but it wasn't what he wanted.
What he wanted, or more specifically, who he wanted, mysteriously disappeared seven years ago. He remembered the day that he had called her house only to have Tony Stamp pick up the phone. He was ready to have a go at her for not returning his calls but was shocked to hear that Katy didn't live there anymore. Tony told him that Katy had given him her house and car, and just disappeared. Something about a matter that she thought was dead and buried had resurfaced somewhere. He told Chris that was all he knew about it.
Since then, Chris had tossed that phrase around in his head numerous times. A matter that she thought was dead and buried had resurfaced. What could it mean? Chris suspected it had something to do with John, but wasn't sure. Could it have been Don Beech blackmailing her for something? If it was, Chris was sure she would have came to him for help. Even though he was at Hendon, he was still a DI, with the same powers of arrest and the abilities to investigate a crime. One night, laying awake, not sleeping, with Charlotte laying next to him, where Katy had laid, Chris decided that the best course of action would be to let it go. He had no choice. Tony had no idea where she had gone, he had no way of tracing her passport available to him at that moment, and the trail had probably gone stone cold a long time ago. Wherever she was, whatever the matter was, he just hoped she was safe and alright, and would get in touch with him when she resurfaced, so they could pick up where they left off. She was the one for him, he knew that.
Not a day went by that Chris didn't walk up the stairs and look at the step that they had made love on and think of her. He knew he wasn't being fair to Charlotte. They never agreed to an exclusive relationship, but he was sure she would take a fit if she knew that he had slept with Katy. In fact, she was dropping hints that she wanted to get engaged soon. If there was one thing he was not going to do, it was to get engaged with her. He liked her, enjoyed her company, but he most categorically was not in love with her. Besides, he didn't do the whole children and small dogs scene. And he was sure that Charlotte was thinking of starting a family.
He finished his breakfast, and got up, taking his plate into the kitchen. Charlotte was still eating. "I'm going to go get ready then, if I must be dragged into central London on the busiest shopping weekend of the year."
Charlotte said nothing, but took a sip of her coffee. Chris stared at her, both annoyed and slightly amused at the same time. Going upstairs he knelt down and touched the step. He would never get rid of this flat, simply because of that one reason.
Katy, Josh and Maggie felt the change in the air as soon as the plane touched down at Heathrow. It was cold, and raining, about 3 degrees Celsius. She had managed to find a few warm sweaters for the kids on the island and warm coats through catalogues from America, but they would need to buy some warmer clothes in London, as in a tropical climate such as Jamaica, they had no need for such things. Katy had left most of her warmer clothes in her old house in Greenwich, but she assumed Tony Stamp had given them away to charity. She considered going down to knock on his door and find out how he was keeping, but decided not to. If, when he chanced upon them on the beach, he didn't feel it necessary for an explanation, then he must be alright and probably didn't want to know. It was just as well that he didn't because the last thing they need is for a rumour to start that John is actually alive and well, living in paradise with a fat pension, and the proceeds of many years' burglaries, which had been invested well, to allow them to live a highly comfortable lifestyle.
As they stepped outside through the customs throng, to the taxi rank, they had to wait for a cab. All three of them had started to shiver, unaccustomed to the cold after so many years of living in the Caribbean.
"Mummy. I'm cold," Maggie said, stating the obvious.
"I know sweetheart, we're all cold. We're next in the queue so we should get a cab soon."
Their cab pulled up and they got inside. It was lovely and warm inside, despite the freezing cold weather outside.
"Where to?" the cabbie asked.
"The Savoy, please." It was 11:30 AM, and by the time they got there, they could probably be able to check in. The kids were both very tired, having not had much rest on the airplane. Katy as well was ready for sleep. She dozed off in the back of the taxi and was jarred awake by the doorman opening the door at the hotel. Quickly regaining herself, she paid the taxi driver and let the concierge take care of their luggage.
After checking in and going upstairs to their room, she struggled with the dialling codes to call John. After managing to get through, the phone rang 10 times before he picked up.
"yeah, hello." the voice on the other end mumbled, full of sleep.
"Hi honey, we're here in London!" Katy exclaimed, trying to make up some enthusiasm.
"Katy. hello love!" At the sound of her voice, John gained some enthusiasm. "How was your flight?"
"Pretty nondescript. The kids watched a Disney movie. I watched some shite comedy thing. The food was bog standard British Airways slop. But we're here, in the Savoy, and they've still got immense beds."
"I remember when we were there." John was definitely awake now. "Do you?"
Katy laughed, "That was years ago!"
"Still. I miss you. The bed is too big here and too empty. I don't know how long I'll be able to wait for you," he whinged down the phone.
"Two weeks, maybe?"
"Yeah. Two weeks. Just about."
"How are the kids?"
"Fine." Katy glanced over at their children. Both of them had gone from bouncing on the beds to sound asleep on them. "They've just fallen asleep." She yawned.
"You sound like you need some too."
"Yeah. might go shopping later."
"Alright. I'll call you in a couple of days. What's your room number?"
"214."
"Ok my love. Take care and kiss the kids for me."
"Will do. I love you baby. Be good."
"I'm always good," John grinned. Katy could feel the warmth of his smile down the phone.
"Bye my love."
"Bye."
Katy hung up and looked at her sleeping children. Two flame-haired angels, so like their father in looks. While Josh was a Boulton through and through, from looks, to expressions, attitude and mannerisms, Katy felt that Margaret was taking more after her. Maggie was a quiet, studious child already at 4, and enjoyed spending ages just playing on her own. She read books at a frightening pace, and wasn't at all athletically inclined. While John and Joshua would spend hours on the beach playing sand-footie, Maggie was most content indoors reading, or playing with her dolls. She loved her daddy very much and John adored her, and would often make up stories to tell her. John always tucked her into bed with a special story every night. He was a terrific father to their kids, just like Katy always knew he would be. She was so happy, and their life was every bit as perfect as she hoped it would be, during her dark years when she was inside. Now that was all a distant memory, in the face of the life she had made for herself.
Laying down next to her daughter, she closed her eyes and fell promptly asleep. They would need to go shopping soon but it could wait a few hours.
* * *
"Come on, Chris, I really want to see the lights!" Detective Constable Charlotte DeCaux was sitting in the lounge at Chris Deakin's apartment. Ever since he was her professor at Hendon, they had been lovers. At first it wasn't serious, but as time went on, neither of them had met anyone else. Charlotte had been with a few men since then, one of which she almost married, because she believed she was pregnant. Unfortunately, the pregnancy test she had taken turned out to be a false alarm, and her relationship fell apart. Throughout it all, the one constant in her life had been Chris.
Even though he was considerably older than her, she had a soft spot for him, because he was her first. She was beginning to think that he might ask her to marry him this Christmas; after all, he must love her to have waited for her all this time, and he wasn't getting any younger.
Chris rolled his eyes at his young lover and said, "Not on a Saturday! Oxford Street will be mad! It's only a week until Christmas!" He was preparing breakfast for them in the kitchen. A proper English fry-up. Hell for his cholesterol, but ever so tasty.
"So? What else do we have to do today? You know, you're a right Scrooge. You don't even have a Christmas tree up in here. Besides, it's never as good after Christmas." Chris brought their breakfasts out and sat at the table. He sat down, not waiting for her, and started eating. Charlotte looked at him from the sofa.
Chris looked up from his plate, meeting her gaze. She was silent, not moving, just looking.
"Alright! Alright, we'll go. Just. come here and eat your breakfast. You owe me."
Charlotte bounced up happily and walked over to the table. She leaned down behind him and whispered in his ear, "I'll be sure to make it up to you later."
Chris groaned to himself. She had the stamina of an 18 year old. He felt like the only thing between them, the only thing that had ever been between them, was sex. Sure, she was fun, and they made a good looking couple, but she was so much younger than him, it didn't take him long to find himself just going along with her. It was better than being alone, he reasoned, but it wasn't what he wanted.
What he wanted, or more specifically, who he wanted, mysteriously disappeared seven years ago. He remembered the day that he had called her house only to have Tony Stamp pick up the phone. He was ready to have a go at her for not returning his calls but was shocked to hear that Katy didn't live there anymore. Tony told him that Katy had given him her house and car, and just disappeared. Something about a matter that she thought was dead and buried had resurfaced somewhere. He told Chris that was all he knew about it.
Since then, Chris had tossed that phrase around in his head numerous times. A matter that she thought was dead and buried had resurfaced. What could it mean? Chris suspected it had something to do with John, but wasn't sure. Could it have been Don Beech blackmailing her for something? If it was, Chris was sure she would have came to him for help. Even though he was at Hendon, he was still a DI, with the same powers of arrest and the abilities to investigate a crime. One night, laying awake, not sleeping, with Charlotte laying next to him, where Katy had laid, Chris decided that the best course of action would be to let it go. He had no choice. Tony had no idea where she had gone, he had no way of tracing her passport available to him at that moment, and the trail had probably gone stone cold a long time ago. Wherever she was, whatever the matter was, he just hoped she was safe and alright, and would get in touch with him when she resurfaced, so they could pick up where they left off. She was the one for him, he knew that.
Not a day went by that Chris didn't walk up the stairs and look at the step that they had made love on and think of her. He knew he wasn't being fair to Charlotte. They never agreed to an exclusive relationship, but he was sure she would take a fit if she knew that he had slept with Katy. In fact, she was dropping hints that she wanted to get engaged soon. If there was one thing he was not going to do, it was to get engaged with her. He liked her, enjoyed her company, but he most categorically was not in love with her. Besides, he didn't do the whole children and small dogs scene. And he was sure that Charlotte was thinking of starting a family.
He finished his breakfast, and got up, taking his plate into the kitchen. Charlotte was still eating. "I'm going to go get ready then, if I must be dragged into central London on the busiest shopping weekend of the year."
Charlotte said nothing, but took a sip of her coffee. Chris stared at her, both annoyed and slightly amused at the same time. Going upstairs he knelt down and touched the step. He would never get rid of this flat, simply because of that one reason.
