Page 38 of Three for a Girl

“What?”

Chad followed her gaze, she was eyeing up some kid with a cone. The boy dropped it, took a few seconds to stare at it, before wailing his heart out.

“I feel you kid, I feel you. I’d do the same.” Ally said.

“You’d start screaming over ice cream?”

“I don’t think there’s a more worthy thing to scream about.”

Chad smiled, shaking his head. Ally darted a look over her shoulder, then crowded closer.

“When the DI goes back to the station, I’ll get us some.”

“I wasn’t actually talking about the ice cream.”

“The DI’s sending officers door to door, and he’s gonna do an appeal for witnesses. There’s a lot of shops opposite, someone must’ve seen something.”

Chad lifted his chin towards the motorbike. The DI, Josh, and Faye were all gathered around it, along with two forensic officers. They were taking pictures, and swabs of the bike. A crowd had gathered on the other side, watching them, whispering to each other.

“Back wheel is flat. Kerion would’ve known it wasn’t right as soon as he walked up to it.” Ally sighed. “It’s a beauty of a bike.”

“You’re into bikes?”

Ally snorted. “I hated them at first, called them death traps, swore I’d never get on one.”

“What changed?”

“My husband…”

“Your husband?”

“He loved them, and if you can’t beat them, join them right?”

“It’s not always that easy though, is it?”

“Best piece of relationship I can give you, is learn to compromise. I gave in to the bikes, learned to love them for the sake of my husband, and he gave up meat for my sake, and became a vegan.”

“He could’ve been having a sneaky sausage on the side.”

Ally flared her nostrils. “He wouldn’t have dared. I would’ve been on him like a vulture on a carcass.”

Chad grimaced. “What a lovely image.”

“I haven’t been on a bike since he died. His Harley is gathering dust in my garage.”

“You’re not tempted to ride it?”

“I can’t ride it,” Ally laughed.

“Oh.”

“I clung on to him and prayed I wouldn’t die.”

“Sounds terrifying.”

“It was, but it was exhilarating, too, and it made him happy. Some of my best memories were us on that bike.”

Footsteps pattered closer. Before Chad had a chance to turn, Josh grabbed his shoulder. He shrugged away the contact, trying to look casual.

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