Two For Mirth

Chapter Seven - Part Two

18:00

Riley walked back into the task room and went over to Benjamin.

“Benjamin, have you had the pleasure of being introduced to the Chief of Pathology yet?” Riley asked, having had a text from Cecelia to say the report was ready for him. He decided this was the perfect chance to kill two birds with one stone. He liked to introduce new staff to her first, which made life easier in the long run. He’d learned his lesson on this one the hard way.

“Not yet sir, no. I haven’t had the cause to.” He said.

“Come on then, you can join me, she has some more information, and it would be good to get you to know her as you are my other DI and will no doubt have lots to do with her in the future,” Riley said. “Get yourself ready and I will grab my keys and coat.”

Benjamin turned to his partner Cherry. “Guess you are not invited.”

“I know her already, met her when I was a WPC.” She told him.

“What is she like?” Benjamin asked.

“She is nice enough, had a lot of trouble with the previous DI, the one who you have replaced. She is incredible at her job.” She said with a smile.

“Anything I should know?” Benjamin asked.

“Don’t get on her bad side.” She whispered. “Suzy found out the hard way what happens.”

“Duly noted.” Benjamin chuckled.

“Oh, and the DCI is due to marry her.” She said a little louder. “And Greg is stalking the Deputy Chief of Pathology.”

“Not stalking,” Greg said coming up behind her. “It’s more harassing than stalking. Cecelia is a peach, just don’t tell her how to do her job. She gets her back up then”

“Okay, lovely.” He said with a chuckle. “Good to know.”

“She really is harmless,” Greg said.

“It’s the other one you need to look out for. That Sally is a nightmare.” Riley said reappearing with his wool coat on, he pulled on his leather gloves. “Ready?”

18:30

They arrive at the labs to be greeted by a very cheerful blonde woman.

“Hello Kelly, how are you today,” Riley asked as he leaned on the reception desk.

“DCI Blackman. Oh, it is good to see you again, how can I help you?” The woman said cheerfully. She reminded Benjamin of a hyperactive bunny.

“Is the doctor in?” He asked with a smile.

“A few of them, which one do you want?” She asked obliviously.

“The usual one,” Riley said with a smile. He liked this girl, she made his day more interesting.

“Doctor Montage?” She asked.

“That’s the one.” He said trying to stop his smile from changing into a smirk, she really was a little dense, it was kind of adorable on her.

“Yes she is in her office, but she said she wanted no disruptions.”

“Give her a call for me Kelly, I think she will be happy enough to see me.”

“Of course DCI Blackman.” The receptionist picked up her phone and pressed a button. “Doctor Montage, sorry to disturb you, DCI Blackman is here, he thinks you want to see him.”

The woman talks on the phone for a few seconds more before hanging up.

“Well?” Riley asked.

“She said, yes I don’t need to ask when it’s you, to just let you straight through.

“Yeah thought so.” He said with a wink before they both were let through and walked to the bank of elevators.

“She knew?” Benjamin asked, a little shocked by the woman.

“Been here a few months, still not quite connected that Cecelia and I are due to marry.” He said. “It’s quite amusing actually.”

“Why was she hired?” He asked. “She doesn’t seem the type to be running a reception in such a place.”

“The last Receptionist kind of lost it and took it out on Cecelia not long after she became the Chief, she turned to Serial killing, she knew how to hide evidence, and how to make it very difficult for us, but like all serial killers she made a mistake, we caught her trying to kill Cecelia when she was in hospital after getting shot,” Riley explained. “So Cecelia thought she would hire someone with less knowledge.”

“Doctor Montage doesn’t have a hell of a lot of luck does she?” Benjamin pointed out.

“She just went through a bad period, she’s come out of it stronger though.” He said as they got into the lift and Riley pressed four.

“What is she like to work with?” He asked.

“I am sure you have had mixed reviews on what she is like. She is pretty harmless as long as you don’t try to arrest her like Suzy did, she will get on with anyone unless you try to tell her to do her job, or get snotty with her.” Riley explained. “She is the best in her field and she is the youngest ever chief of Pathology in Huntingdon.”

“She is well spoken of by most,” Benjamin said.

“Suzy tried to lay the Scientist Murders on her, she didn’t take it so well, and Suzy took it too far by going over my head to DCS Archer, which caused her to lose out on her promotion,” Riley said as the doors opened and they walked down the corridor. They turned right into the last door.

“Ok Gerry, thank you, I will look into it for you.” She said into the phone when they walked in. “I don’t think we have ever had so many malpractice suits as we have had this month.”

Riley knocked on the door frame and she swiveled on her chair to face them, she motioned for them to come in and take a seat. They did. “Send the body over, use Cardew and Sons and I will let you know. Look I have to go, honey, I have visitors.”

She hung up the phone and turned to the two men sitting in the chairs on the other side of the desk. “What can I do for you gentlemen?” She asked with a smile.

“Apparently you have some reports for me,” Riley said. She opened her desk and pulled out the file on the dead body.

“Everything is in there except for the Entomologist results but they should be with me within the next couple of days.” She told him, handing it over.

“I also thought I would bring my newest member of staff to meet you.” He said. “No doubt you will be working closely with him in the future, and I like to avoid mishaps like what happened with Suzy now.”

“Detective Inspector Benjamin Porter.” He said holding a hand out over the desk for her.

“It’s a pleasure, DI Porter.” She said with a smile. “Scottish?”

“Yes, I am, moved here a couple of months ago, my wife’s job moved her down here.”

“What does she do?” Cecelia asked out of politeness.

“She is an A+E Registrar.”

“Shelly Porter?” She asked.

“Yes, how did you know?” Benjamin asked a little surprised.

“I was just speaking to her boss.” She replied. “I met her when I went over there the other day to speak to Gerry about something. She seems very nice.”

“Wow, small world.” He said with a smile.

“So is that all you wanted DCI Blackman?” Cecelia asked.

“Yeah, I believe so,” Riley said with a glance at the couch where they had enjoyed each other for half an hour earlier that day.

“I have a question?” She said, her cheeks reddening as she noticed the glance he made.

“What’s that?” He asked.

“Chocolate?” She asked. He laughed and pulled out the two bars of chocolate he had got from the vending machine from his work for her and handed them over. Benjamin looked on confused.

“Craving.” Cecelia pointed out. “No doubt everyone already knows, he never could keep a secret.”

“Congratulations,” Benjamin said with a smile, just as a knock came at her office door, she looked up to see a tall bloke wearing black trousers and a white shirt, his tie was off and his sleeves were rolled up. His brown hair was cut close to the skull. He held a head in his hands.

“Zach, is that my skull?” Cecelia said, excitement in her voice as the other two stared on.

“Yes ma’am. It is.” He said in a thick American accent. “I hope I am not disturbing anything, I can come back later.”

“Look at that, your face is ready.” She told Riley as Zach brought the head into the room and put it on her desk. It was on a stand and it now had clay sculpted onto it. “I used brown eyes and brown hair, as it is an easier color for people to blot out when looking at it.”

“She was a pretty thing, wasn’t she? All the markers okay for you?” She asked. She had asked Evelyn to put markers on the skull before she left so that Zach could just get straight on.

“They were perfect Ma’am,” He said with a smile. As Riley pulled his phone out to take a photo of it.

“Thank you, Zach, it's home time.” She said with a smile, as she looked at her watch. “Thank you for your hard work on that at such short notice.”

“No problem Ma’am, you know where to find me if you need me in the future.”

“I do, and I am certain I will do.” Zach tipped his head and left the room, as he was leaving Sally waltzed in without knocking.

“It’s like a bloody turn style in here today,” Cecelia mumbled. “What can I do for you, Sally?”

“Can you go over this, there is something not right. I think I am missing something but I just can’t seem to place what it is.” Sally said before looking up and spotting Cecelia had company. “Oh hello.”

“Sally this is DI Porter,” Cecelia said. “He is the DI who has replaced Johnson.”

“Ah, it’s a pleasure, I am Sally Birch, the Deputy Chief of Pathology, no doubt you will get the pleasure of seeing Cecelia and I more often now.” She said with a smile before turning to Riley and in a curt tone she said, “Hello Blackman.”

“Birch,” Riley said just as curtly as she had.

“Sally,” Cecelia said holding out a hand for the file. Sally passed it to her.

“So what do we owe the pleasure of another visit from you?” Sally asked.

“Am I not allowed to visit my fiancée?” Riley asked.

“Do you actually do any work? All you ever seem to do is be here” Sally retorted.

“It really is a good job I like you, Birch,” Riley replied. “Or I might have to speak my mind.”

“Don’t let me stop you.” Sally grinned as she punched his arm.

“Anyway, I better get this all prepared for the conference tomorrow, now I have the photo, we can get it out there and hope for a response.” He said with a sigh as he stood up. Benjamin took this as the cue that they were to leave and stood also.

“I will see you tonight then Riley,” Cecelia said with a smile as he came and kissed her on the cheek before leaving with Benjamin in tow.

“Nice arse,” Sally said once they were out of earshot.

“Hmm?” Cecelia asked looking up at her friend.

“That new detective, he has a nice arse.” She said dropping heavily into the chair Riley had vacated.

“He’s married Sally and he works with Greg,” Cecelia said. “And we know his wife.”

“We do?” Sally asked.

“We do,” Cecelia replied, her attention returning to the paperwork in front of her. “Shelly Porter, the new Registrar that Gerry hired on.”

“Oh! She said he was a police officer but didn’t really elaborate, I didn’t put two and two together.” Sally said. “Doesn’t stop him having a nice arse.”

“Did you want to see me for something else Sally?” Cecelia asked handing the folder back to her. “There is nothing missing that I can see.”

“Yeah, it’s time to go home.” She said with a smile, just as Cecelia’s bleep started to go. She looked at it and sighed.

“You know how to jinx things don’t you,” Cecelia said.

“What is it?” Sally asked with a groan.

“They have found another body down at the field,” Cecelia said picking up what she needed. This was going to be a long night indeed.