Page 87 of Copper Script
“I wanted to see the DS,” Challice said calmly.“So I came.With my friends.”
She walked all the way into the sitting room, followed by Sergeant Hollis and a uniformed constable whose name Aaron couldn’t recall.They both stared at Colthorne, at the revolver he held.
“Get out,” Colthorne said, but it didn’t have nearly enough force.
“You should put that away, sir,” Hollis told him, voice very level.“Not safe in a domestic environment.”
Colthorne’s face was trying for rigid, but his throat worked spasmodically; Aaron could see the muscles twitch and jump.He was running calculations in his head, trying to find a way forward, but there was none at all, not any more, except self-destruction.His eyes flicked to Aaron, and Aaron could see the thought, theAt least I’ll take him with me, filling his mind—
“Please give me the gun, sir,” Challice said and stepped forward, directly in front of the revolver.
There was an endless, horrible moment in which nobody breathed, then Colthorne lowered his weapon.“I am your Divisional Detective Inspector,” he said thickly.“Mind your damned business, girl.There will be a reprimand.”
He turned on his heel and strode out.Nobody moved for twenty seconds or more, and then Challice said, “Are you all right, Mr.Fowler?”
“He’s been holding me hostage for three hours,” Aaron said through a cracking throat.“I don’t think he’s a danger to the public, but if anyone forces a confrontation—”
“We’ll get after him,” Hollis said.“Challice, call it in to the Yard and the nick.Come on, Farrell.And—I’m sorry, mate,” he told Aaron.“Colthorne said things about you that I oughtn’t have listened to.”
“That’s all right.Thank you.”
The two uniformed men left at a jog.Aaron told Challice, “Use my telephone.Warn people.Put a man outside Joel’s lodging house, he might go there.Where is Joel?”
“At the Italian restaurant on the corner; we thought Colthorne oughtn’t see him.He wasn’t awfully happy about it.Shall I get him?”
“Call the Yard first,” Aaron said, and sat down hard.
Challice made the calls, speaking urgently, while Aaron drank a lot of water and had a few private moments to recover his composure.She went out after that, and Aaron waited for what seemed like hours, although it was barely long enough for the kettle to boil before she returned with Joel in tow.
Aaron wanted nothing more than to grab him, to grapple him close and kiss everything he could reach and never let go.He said, “Hello.”
“Evening,” Joel said.“Is that tea?Oh thank God.So I was right?”
“Joel got your letter and telephoned me, saying he thought you were in grave danger,” Challice told Aaron.“It seemed obvious whatthatwas likely to be, so I found some help.It was a bit touch and go, because all I had to show was a perfectly ordinary letter, but luckily Sergeant Hollis remembered Joel, and Malcolm was happy to help.Constable Farrell, you know.He’s very sweet.Really, they both were.”
“And you didn’t twist their armsat all,” Joel added helpfully.
Aaron would have liked to know more, but not at this moment.“Thank you.Thank you so much for coming, and thank you for seeing that, Joel.”He couldn’t help a shudder.“He had a gun to my head when I wrote it.”
“Yes,” Joel said, with an air of polite interest.“It did rather feel that way.”
“I must say, I’d quite like to see this gift of yours in action, rather than just take everyone’s word for it,” Challice remarked.
“You get free readings for life,” Joel assured her.
She gave him a beaming smile.“So I should hope.What now?”
“I’ll make a complaint of wrongful imprisonment if it’s required.Tomorrow.”Aaron was absolutely exhausted, he realised.“Today has been rather wearing.You may know, I resigned earlier.”
“Yes.I’m very sorry.”
“It was unavoidable.You’ve been a joy to work with, Challice—Helen—and I’m grateful.I look forward to watching your rise; I expect we’ll see you in Scotland Yard soon enough.”
She glowed at him.“That’s very kind.Do you want me to stay or send for anyone, in case he comes back?”
“No.No, I think I’ll just lock the door,” Aaron said, with a weak smile.“Thank you again.”
“I’ll just finish my tea,” Joel said.“See you, Helen.”
