Beautiful Child Read online

  Matt took hold of Charlie’s hand. ‘Are you sure you do, Charlie? You know how I’ve always felt about you but I can’t have you messing with my head. That would finish me off on top of everything else just lately.’

  Charlie caressed the side of Matt’s face with his hand. ‘That’s why I’m being absolutely honest with you,’ he said. ‘Matt, I don’t know yet how I’m going to handle the physical side of things and you’re going to have to be patient with me. But I do know that I love you and I want to give us the best I’ve got.’

  ‘Then we’d better pick the boys up from school together and tell them,’ said Matt.

  ‘They’ll be absolutely thrilled.’

  ‘Not half as much as I am,’ said Matt, ‘you’ve got your fears but we’ll sort through them. We’ll be a family. The four of us.’

  ‘It’s going to be a bit of a shock for some people.’

  ‘We’ll be sensitive,’ said Matt, ‘but they’ll have to deal with it in the end.’

  They kissed to seal the deal and then they wrapped their arms round each other and went for the full-on tongues down throats like they’d done before in the surgery. Charlie hadn’t felt this happy for a long time and he just hoped he wouldn’t let Matt down.

  ‘How do you feel?’ asked Matt.

  ‘Excited,’ said Charlie, ‘and nervous. It is the right thing to do though, Matt. I know that much. I just hope that I can live up to what you deserve.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that’ said Matt, ‘just relax and the rest will follow.’

  ‘I am sure about this, Matt’ said Charlie, ‘I really am.’

  ‘I’m going to make you so happy’ said Matt, tearfully.

  ‘That’s going to work both ways’ said Charlie who was equally unable to stop the tears from flowing.

  Susie had stopped on the top of the landing to listen in. She was delighted. Her big brother was going to get his man finally and nobody could be happier for him then she was. She went halfway down the stairs and paused.

  ‘Charlie, just one thing?’ she said.

  ‘What?’ asked a startled Charlie, still embraced with Matt.

  ‘My brother has been waiting for this moment for twenty years,’ said Susie, leaning on the banister and looking down on them. ‘And I know there were times when he never thought it would happen.’

  ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘That you might have bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate!’

  Matt burst out laughing. ‘You were listening?’

  ‘Too right!’ said Susie, ‘So, the champagne?’

  Charlie was laughing now too. ‘It’s in the car. I’ll go and get it.’

  ‘And I’m taking you all out to dinner tonight’ said Susie. ‘I think I need to get to know the boys a little better now that I’m their Aunty.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Superintendent John Hargreaves and Sara were sitting in Sara’s office and having a good laugh at the news that the McDermott brothers were claiming incapacity benefit. It seems they couldn’t go to work because they’d been traumatised at having seen the murder of Rita Makin take place. This was from the brothers who’d been trying to set themselves up as the local lads who could “see to things” for you. Sara said she didn’t doubt that it wasn’t a pleasant experience to watch someone being murdered by someone who is known to you, but they’d been on the front page of the Manchester Evening News as Phillip Evans ‘forgotten’ victims. What a joke.

  ‘I’m glad we can find a laugh from this case,’ said Hargreaves, ‘it’s been so bloody awful.’

  ‘I know, sir’ said Sara, ‘it’s not been the easiest. But at least now that Andy Cook has been sent down for ten years for the murder of Phillip Evans, some justice can be seen to be done.’

  ‘Some people might say that Evans was a victim’ said Sara. ‘And Andy Cook too in his own way. But it all started with the policies of the government of the day and the Catholic Church. None of us can be proud.’

  ‘Forcibly transporting children halfway round the world was a pretty nasty business,’ said Hargreaves.

  ‘And telling them they were orphans when they weren’t.’ said Sara. ‘ However long I stay in this job it’ll never cease to amaze me how people think that their actions will never have a consequence.’

  ‘Like Ann Schofield?’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Sara who was painfully aware of the personal territory she was stepping on. She just had to hope that the son she gave up for adoption is happy and with a family who love him. She told herself that the difference was that he was still a newborn baby when he left her arms. Sean Patrick O’Brien was a five year-old child capable of comprehending the kind of emotional damage that would stay with him forever and lead to him making all the wrong kind of decisions.

  ‘And how could Bill Schofield have made Ann make that choice?’ said Hargreaves. ‘I’m not a perfect man but that wouldn’t even cross my mind if I was in a similar situation.’

  ‘No’ said Sara, thinking back to when she’d backed off from making Tim Norris choose between her and his then fiancé Helen. She wouldn’t have had to give away Tim’s baby if she had told him about it but she still thinks she made the right decision. She’d have been second best to Helen in Tim’s heart, they’d have split up eventually and she’d have been left a single mother. What she did made sure that they all had the chance to be happy. ‘I know what you mean, sir.’

  ‘But your instincts were sound once again in this case, Sara.’ said Hargreaves. ‘You said fairly early on that they were executions that were taking place and you were right. Well done.’

  ‘Well thank you, sir, but I just wish we could’ve got there sooner.’

  ‘No matter. We got there in the end and it wasn’t easy with no obvious link at the start.’

  ‘You can say that again, sir.’ said Sara. ‘Now there is one other thing I need to talk to you about.’

  ‘Okay?’

  ‘Adrian Bradshaw was having a sexual relationship with Matt Schofield. Adrian is denying it but Matt Schofield confirmed it and I’ve no reason to believe that he was lying. Besides, it all fits with why Penny Bradshaw was at Matt Schofield’s house.’

  ‘I see’ said Hargreaves. ‘Well I could understand in normal circumstances why he’s denying it, Sara, but although his desire to keep his relationship with Matt Schofield private wouldn’t have had any bearing on the case we’ve just concluded, it does sound warning bells in my head for the future. He’s a widower living with a pretty big secret and those things combined could affect his professional judgement.’

  ‘I don’t want to take him out of the squad, sir’ said Sara, ‘he’s a good officer.’

  ‘I agree but you’ll need to keep your eye on him, Sara, I’m in no position to judge on infidelity, as you know. And neither have I got a problem with anyone being gay.’

  ‘Me neither, sir. I’ve no patience with any degree of homophobia.’

  ‘But this is not someone who’s being honest about themselves though, Sara. That’s what makes the difference.’

  *

  Later that day when they’d all finished, the squad retired to the pub and Superintendent Hargreaves joined them. Kieran had been on early shift that day and she didn’t ring him to ask him to join them in the pub. She felt a bit naughty about that but lately he’d been hinting that he wanted to, as he put it, ‘normalise’ their relationship. That meant that he wanted to go out for dinner, meet up with mutual friends, go to the cinema on a Sunday afternoon, meet up with her and her colleagues in the pub after work and Sara hadn’t wanted any of that for a long time. She was happy to conduct their relationship entirely in bed with the odd bit of conversation thrown in. Why did men have to spoil all the fun by getting serious?

  Tim Norris had now returned to work after his paternity leave and was delighted with the baby daughter that he and his wife Helen had adopted. He was showing pictures of her all over the place and Sara would agree that she looked as cute as anything.
It still sent a shiver down her spine though. Especially when Tim looked at her and their thoughts collided. They both hoped that their son, a baby Tim didn’t know Sara had given birth to until she came to work on the squad last year, was being loved and taken care of. He’d be six now and the revelation of his existence had threatened to wreck their working relationship with obvious effects on the rest of the team. But after a tricky start it had got better, a fact for which they were both glad, even though it was still not perfect and probably never could be.

  Much merriment was being made at the bar around the behaviour of the new barman, Finlay. Although he wasn’t camp or obvious in any other way, he was making no secret of the fact that he was gay and that he’d taken a shine to Adrian. Sara and the superintendent exchanged knowing looks. This could turn either way.

  ‘You’re in there, Adrian,’ said Joe, ‘nice to know you’ve got options, mate.’

  Oh my god, thought Sara. They don’t know what they’re saying.

  ‘Yeah well if I need to push shit up a hill I’ll use a wheelbarrow.’

  ‘Oh that’s gross!’ Sara cried, her face squirming.

  ‘So is men sleeping with other men’ said Adrian. ‘Why it was made legal I just don’t know.’

  ‘You’re not homophobic are you Adrian?’ Tim asked, slightly surprised.

  ‘It’s just that there’s gay this and gay that everywhere’ said Adrian. ‘Nobody can get away from it. It’s being put across as normal and yet it’s not.’

  ‘Come on, mate,’ said Joe. ‘It’s normal to you if you’re gay and Finlay knows what the score is. He’s only having some fun.’

  ‘Yeah, well I don’t get the joke.’

  ‘Oh come on, Adrian’ said Joe. ‘Lighten up for God’s sake.’

  ‘Look, just because nobody, man or woman, gay or straight, would ever fancy you in a million years, then that doesn’t mean that I have to accept every pervert’s attention.’

  ‘DS Bradshaw, that’s enough!’ Sara charged. ‘Apologise to your fellow officer!’

  ‘Alright, Joe, I’m sorry.’ said Adrian. ‘I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.’

  ‘Apology accepted’ said Joe. ‘ My shoulders are broad.’

  ‘It’s just that straight is normal, Joe,’ Adrian emphasised. ‘Gay just isn’t. That’s just how I feel.’

  ‘ It doesn’t bother me.’ said superintendent Hargreaves. ‘I’m not gay myself but why should it bother me if other people are? I always watch Graham Norton’s show and Paul O’Grady’s. I think they’re both hilarious. The fact that they’re both gay wouldn’t mean that I wouldn’t want to sit down and have a drink with them. I’ve also got a nephew who’s gay. He and his partner seem to live a normal life like any other couple. I don’t even think about it. They’re just good people to be around and certainly liven up any otherwise tedious family gathering.’

  ‘Gay people do always seem to have good senses of humour’ Tim agreed.

  ‘Yeah’ said Joe. ‘That’s why Finlay fancies Adrian.’

  They all laughed but Adrian’s face wouldn’t budge from the stone cast he’d put it in.

  ‘Joke, mate’ said Joe. ‘Just a joke.’

  ‘Why don’t you all just shut the fuck up,’ Adrian fumed.

  ‘Adrian, I’m surprised at you’ said Sara. ‘I thought you’d think a bit bigger than this.’

  ‘Why is everybody jumping on the flaming bandwagon!’ said Adrian through clenched teeth. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Excuse me, I’m going to the toilet.’

  There were raised eyebrows exchanged by everyone else in the squad as they watched Adrian stride very purposefully to where the corridor leading to the gents was.

  ‘So what was all that about?’ asked Joe.

  ‘Who can say’ said Sara.

  ‘Makes me wonder if he doesn’t protest too much’ said Joe.

  ‘I was thinking exactly the same thing, Joe’ said Tim.

  ‘Or maybe he’s just missing his wife’ said Sara. ‘Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt before we rush to judgement.’

  Adrian came out of the toilet and bumped straight into Finlay who was on his way to the kitchen at the back of the pub.

  ‘Have you got a tight arse, Finlay?’ asked Adrian.

  ‘Tight enough for you, big boy’ said Finlay. ‘I finish at eleven and usually I’m home about half past.’

  ‘Where’s home?’

  ‘Old Trafford.’

  ‘Give me your address and I’ll be round later.’

  ‘Okay’ said the waiter who took a piece of paper out of his pocket and wrote down his name and address on it before handing it to Adrian.

  ‘Thanks’ said Adrian. ‘ But look, just don’t flirt with me in front of my colleagues. They don’t know.’

  Finlay smiled. ‘Oh sorry, I didn’t realise.’

  ‘It’s okay’ said Adrian, ‘I’ll see you later.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to it’ said Finlay. ‘You didn’t tell me your name?’

  ‘It’s Matt.’

  ‘I thought I heard them calling you Adrian?’

  ‘It’s Matt,’ repeated Adrian, firmly.

  ‘I see.’ said Finlay who then looked down at big boy’s wedding ring. He smiled. ‘I see.’

  *

  Joe Alexander got home and just hated going into his house when it was all in darkness. His coffee cup from that morning was still sitting in the sink waiting to be washed. This wasn’t what life should all be about.

  It was only nine o’clock and he ran upstairs to get changed. He fancied a couple of pints in the pub and he’d be down there by a quarter past.

  He was just about to leave when there was a knock on the door. He opened it and Carol was stood there with her two kids and a couple of suitcases.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said, sobbing. ‘He’s found out about you and he’s thrown us out.’

  *

  Adrian got to the flat in Old Trafford where Finlay lived and pressed the security buzzer at street level. Finlay answered through the intercom and let him in. He went up to the second floor and the door to number seventeen was slightly open.

  Finlay was a good looking young guy. He had flawless skin and his blond hair was perfectly cropped. Anybody, man or woman, with a mind to be with a young guy like that would be happy that he was there waiting to please. But Adrian hadn’t come for that. He hadn’t come to feel the pleasure that had got him into such trouble before. Boys like Finlay needed to be taught a lesson. They couldn’t just go around trying to seduce straight men like Adrian. Because Adrian was one hundred percent straight and the likes of Finlay had to learn to respect that.

  ‘Hi’ said Finlay, smiling broadly, ‘I’m really glad you came.’

  ‘You might not say that after I’ve gone.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  Adrian smacked Finlay across the face from the right, then from the left, then from the right again, then from the left again. Finlay cowered and tried to protect his face with his arms but Adrian wrenched them open and made sure that his fists made contact with Finlay’s face.

  ‘Don’t hurt me!’ Finlay pleaded. ‘ Please, don’t hurt me!’

  ‘Hurt you? You think I’m going to hurt you? You have tragically underestimated me, my friend!’

  Finlay wound himself up into a ball on the floor and Adrian kicked him repeatedly in the back, in the groin, in the legs.

  ‘Scum like you are poison! Do you know that? You’re poison! You get hold of decent, honest straight family men like me and twist our needs and our desires until we don’t know ourselves anymore. You’re scum! Twisted, immoral scum!’

  What Finlay then went through would stay with him for the rest of his life. He was powerless against this much stronger man who in a matter of seconds had his trousers and pants down and was raping him repeatedly. He cried. He tried to scream but Adrian placed his hand tightly across his mouth. The ripples of pain seared through his body like bolts of electricity an
d his ordeal seemed endless.

  ‘Not in control now, are you, scum!’ Adrian sneered as he thrust himself violently into Finlay whose muffled groans of pain he ignored. ‘Dirty, perverted scum! Enjoying yourself? Is this what you like your men to do? You freak of fucking nature!’

  Several minutes later Finlay couldn’t move from the position he’d been forced into on the floor. Everything seemed to hurt.

  Adrian got to his feet and zipped his trousers up.

  ‘You can relax’ said Adrian. ‘ It’s over. Oh and don’t bother calling the police. I am the police and we look after our own.’

  *

  Sara was more pleased than she’d admit at seeing Kieran sitting in her living room when she got home.

  ‘Hi’ she said as she switched the lamp on next to where he was sitting. ‘This is a nice surprise. What are you doing here?’

  ‘I came to find you earlier’ said Kieran, standing up. ‘They said you were in the pub with the rest of them. You didn’t call to see if I wanted to join you?’

  ‘Oh look, Kieran, I…’

  ‘…so anyway, I’m here to give you this back’ said Kieran as he held up the key to her flat that she’d given him. ‘I won’t be needing it anymore.’

  Sara didn’t want to but she could feel her heart breaking. ‘Why?’

  ‘Sara, these past few months have been the most tremendous of my life.’ said Kieran, ‘We’ve had a lot of fun together and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.’

  ‘But?’

  ‘But you know how I’ve been feeling lately.’

  ‘I know you’ve been a moody bastard.’

  ‘Well if that’s how you want to put it,’ said Kieran, ‘but the fact is, I need more than just great sex.’

  Sara swallowed and struggled to retain her composure. This wasn’t what she wanted. She didn’t want to break up with Kieran. But he was right. It was only about having fun.

  ‘I thought I did too’ said Sara.

  ‘And?’