Vengeance On Tyneside

Chapter Three

Chapter ThreeThe evening was in full swing. The meal was over and the formal speeches had been made. Now, it was time to relax and enjoy the second half of the evening. At one end of the room, a band was setting up their instruments on the small stage. Very shortly, they would be ready to play the first waltz.

Agnes took the opportunity of a lull in the conversation, to glance around at the other guests. Everyone had made the effort to look their best for the occasion. Even Detective Constable Smithers, who usually wore extremely well-worn outfits, was very smartly attired in a dark grey suit and a bow tie. Perhaps he had found them tucked away at the back of his wardrobe. She had heard that it wasn't in his nature to rush out and buy something special for a function. Before his divorce, his wife almost had to drag him by his ear to the shops when he needed a new suit.

Agnes turned her attention back to the other four people seated around their table. It had been a foregone conclusion that Detective Sergeant Michael Andrews and his rather attractive fiancée, Sandra, would be joining them. Agnes had met Sandra a few times now. They had even been shopping together in the Eldon Square Shopping Mall. However, she had been a little surprised when Alan suggested Detective Constable John Morris and his latest girlfriend, Laura, should also sit with them.

Though Alan had never actually told her the full story, Agnes was aware he hadn't got on too well with the young man, due to something that had happened in the incident room a few months ago. However, it seemed all that had been swept under the carpet since Morris's fine job of undercover work at the hotel.

Agnes looked at Laura and smiled to herself. According to Alan, Morris seemed to have a new woman on his arm almost every week. How long would this one last?

“Would you like to dance?”

Alan interrupted her thoughts. The band had begun to play and already some of the guests had taken to the floor.

“Yes, thank you, Alan.”

“So what were you thinking?” Alan asked, once they were on the floor. “You looked so deep in thought, I was a little reluctant to disturb you.”

Agnes smiled. “I was wondering why you'd invited Morris to join us at our table – and before you start apologizing, I don't have a problem with it. In fact, I quite like him. It's simply because I understand the two of you got off to a bad start.”

Alan glanced across to Morris before he spoke. “Yes, we did. But, looking back, I wondered whether I was a little hard on him at the time, so I thought I would ask him to join us this evening. You know – lighten the mood a little.”

Agnes giggled.

“What's so funny?”

“You thought that inviting the young man and his latest girlfriend to join his superior officer at this function, when he could be with his friends at another table – would lighten the mood?” Agnes shook her head. “Oh Alan, you are priceless.”

Alan didn't reply immediately. Instead, he glanced around the large room. The tables, which had been neatly set for six persons when they arrived for the dinner, had been pulled together now that the formalities were over. Friends wanted to join each other for the rest of the evening and, judging from the laughter, it seemed everyone was in good spirits.

Morris, on the other hand, was looking a little subdued.

“I wasn't thinking straight.” Alan muttered, looking back at Agnes. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”

Alan and Agnes were returning to their table just as Morris and Laura were taking to the floor.

“John,” Alan said. “I've just noticed that the rest of the crew is grouped together over there.” He pointed across the room. “Perhaps you might like to introduce them to Laura.”

“Yes, thank you, I will,” Morris replied.

“That was very neatly done,” Agnes said, once they were seated.

“Thank you,” Alan grinned. “You see, I can get it right sometimes.”

He looked at his sergeant. “What about you? Would you like to join the fun crowd?”

“I think we'll pass,” Andrews laughed. “We're into the more sedate crowd at the moment.”

“Thank you, Andrews – I think.”

* * *

It was nearing the end of the evening, when Alan felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked around to find Superintendent Blake standing behind him.

“Can we have a word?”

Alan nodded and followed the superintendent across the room towards the door.

“I've just heard that the woman found in the Central Station earlier today died a short while ago,” Blake said, once they were on their own. “They did everything they could to help her and, for a while, they thought she might pull through. But it wasn't to be.” He paused. “This is now a murder investigation.”

After a brief discussion, the superintendent went to rejoin his wife. “What was that all about?” Agnes asked, the moment Alan re-appeared.

Alan beckoned for Andrews to lean forward so he could also hear what he had to say. He quickly told them what had happened. “I gather the young woman wasn't able give any information as to who had stabbed her.” He glanced at Agnes briefly before he continued. “All we have to go on at the moment is what Agnes has told us.”

“If only I had found her earlier,” Agnes said, quietly. “She looked so young – she had her whole life ahead of her.”

“We went through all that earlier. You did all you could.”

“I know, but, what if…”

“No buts or what ifs, Agnes. We are now looking at a case of murder.” Alan looked at the dance floor; they were playing a waltz. “In the meantime, let's dance before they start playing all that pop music again.”