Reckoning Point, стр. 14
Alex moves in front of Noah, redirecting her attention to him. “I’m worried about Elian, I need to find her and that’s why I’m here. You know I’m not breaking in, you remember me, right, you saw me here before?”
She narrows her eyes, looking him up and down and Alex can see that she’s trying to decide whether to trust him or not. He moves in for the kill.
“Mrs …?”
“Ms, to you,” she snaps and then appears to soften before his eyes. “Jeanie. Jeanie Fowler.”
“Jeanie, do you know where she went? Did Elian tell you anything before she left? It could be very important, if it wasn’t, do you think I’d risk my licence, my very livelihood by doing this?” Alex implores her, still trying to block her view of Noah who, in anyone’s opinion, is not the most professional appearing side-kick. Rather, he is exactly what he seems; a product of desperation bought in by a concerned boyfriend.
“No, she didn’t say anything to me, but I know you. I know you were good to her.” Jeanie takes an age as she scrutinises Alex and then with surprising speed she withdraws into her flat.
Alex watches as her door swings softly to a close and he turns to Noah. “Does that mean we can proceed?” he wonders out loud, and is about to put Noah back to work when Jeanie’s door opens again and she reappears.
“Save yourself some trouble,” she says and holds out a key ring with five keys hanging from it.
The key to Elian’s flat! Alex reaches out, thanking her profusely but she cuts him off.
“If this isn’t kosher, then I know where to send the police to find you.” Jeanie nods at his I.D card, still clutched in his hand. “Put the keys back through my letterbox when you’re finished.”
Alex darts forward and takes the key from her, holding on to her hand for a second. “You won’t regret this, Jeanie, and I’ll do my best to bring her home very soon.”
After her door closes again Alex turns to Noah. “Guess you’ve done your bit.”
Noah is looking at him, wide-eyed, and Alex sees himself not for the first time through this young man’s eyes. Noah has always seen Alex as someone who has plenty of money and a cool job but is still an old guy. Now Alex has his own issues, and like anyone, he’s not indestructible and he can still fall foul of the same problems as anyone else, no matter their class or status.
“I can help you, blud,” Noah says seriously. “I owe you anyway, seeing as I didn’t get you all the way in.”
Alex regards Noah, he feels that it would be right to let this street-kid in and show him the way it can be for adults, what hard work and determination can buy you. Probably all of Noah’s life he’s been pushed out and pushed aside. “Come on, then,” he replies. “A fresh pair of eyes can’t do any harm.” And together, they push open the door and enter Elian’s world.
13
THE DOCTOR
HOLLAND SPOOR
4.7.15 Daytime
Bram has another half dozen girls traipse through his office and each of them wants to discuss the shock of yesterday’s news of Gabi’s demise. Their opinions and theories differ but they all share one common emotion: fear.
“I could be next!” wails Agnetha, his final patient of the morning, plaintively.
Bram takes deep breaths to steady his nerves. “You could get another job,” he says in reply.
“Oh, like what?” she snarls. “Do you have any jobs going, doctor? Maybe you want to hire me as your receptionist.”
When he doesn’t reply she barks out a laugh, though there is no humour in it.
Bram sends her on his way and locking his office door he retreats to his chair by the window. He does his best for these girls, he really does, but all he gets in return is attitude and wisecracks. He knows he should be used to it after so many years, but it still hurts. Don’t they realise that he is the only one who takes care of them?
Bram opens his desk drawer and peruses the selection of brandy bottles. They are small; the kind that they serve on airplanes and Bram collects them. It’s unusual for him to allow himself a tipple in daylight hours, but he reasons that it has been a harrowing morning so far. He picks up the Hoppe Vieux and is just unscrewing the cap when he hears a sharp rap at the outer office door. Grumbling, he replaces the bottle.
It’s a young man, one who Bram doesn’t recognise but who is dressed in the uniform of the local police.
“Doctor Bastiaan?” The young man tilts his head to one side, reminding Bram curiously of a dog. “My name is Inspectuer Erik Fons, I wonder if you can spare a moment?”
Bram plasters a smile on his face and opens the door all the way; allowing the young officer in. “Is this about Gabi Rossi?”
“Yes, did you know her?”
Bram returns to his chair, gesturing to his guest to take a seat the other side of his desk. “Not so much, she was rather new, as I understand it, Constable.”
His deliberate slip of the man’s rank has the desired effect, Bram notes, as the young man flushes a deep shade of red. Almost the same colour as his hair, thinks Bram, nastily.
“Inspectuer,” clarifies Erik and looks back down at his notes. “So, she wasn’t registered with you?”
“Where’s Dennis? Is he delegating again?”
“The Commissioner is working alongside me.”
Bram stifles a smile at the Inspectuer’s tone.
Then, the Inspectuer says nothing more, he closes his notebook softly and leans back,