Page 99 of No Saint

“This morning officers were tipped off to a site on the edge of the city. A body was found.”

“My stepfather.” I state.

“Yes.” He sighs, “I understand this may be distressing for you.”

I open my mouth to speak but Gabriel places a hand on my arm, subtly shaking his head before he, himself speaks, “How long have you worked with us?”

“Years, Mr Saint.”

“So, you understand the tolerance we have for child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic and the like?”

“Yes sir,” The chief nods excessively, “A zero tolerance for it in this city.”

His hand squeezes my thigh.

“So, what of my wife?”

The chief’s brows pull down.

Gabriel settles back in his chair, one hand holding mine while the other rubs his mouth thoughtfully.

“Nine years ago, you received a distressed call from a girl. They claimed they were being abused. You sent officers who clearly state signs and evidence, but the case was dismissed. Another call was made only months later of a girl screaming but the call was disconnected and never reengaged. One year later a woman called and tried to explain her abuse only for her call to be terminated. Again.”

“Mr Saint, you have to understand…”

“Understand what?” He growls with every ounce of venom he owns, “Understand you let a woman suffer at the hands of her stepfather, let a woman go through the years of abuse when youknewthe horror she was living through.”

“He told police he knew the Saint’s!”

We both freeze.

“I never took on the case,” The chief sighs, “Otherwise I would have known. It was a routine call, no one flagged anything.”

“I listened to those calls,” Gabriel states, “That wasn’t nothing.”

I turn my head to him so quickly I swear I give myself whiplash.

How!?

The chief sighs, “What do you want me to say Gabriel? I didn’t take the case.”

“My wife suffered for years!” His fist pounds down onto the table, “I expect you to do your job!”

“They claimed they worked for you!” the chief fires back, “I never worked on it to correct them, so they didn’t report it!”

Gabriel stiffens at my side. “What?”

“Miss Doyles – Mrs Saint’s,” He corrects, “Her guardian claimed ties with the Saints. That everything they did was approved by you.”

“And you didn’t think to check!?” Gabriel bellows.

I felt his rage, how he would take on this burden.

I stand abruptly, “I know my stepfather, myguardianis dead. No, I am not sorry for it. I will identify his body and then I want to leave.”

“We failed you, Mrs Saint.”

I felt the weight of his regret in his words, in the way he looks at me.

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