Page 145 of Maybe Tomorrow

‘That would have made sense.’

‘But Malcolm…’

‘I know.’

‘And you say he’d been visiting prostitutes for a while?’

She nodded. ‘In his interview with us at the station he said he liked the risk, the excitement of potentially getting caught and even being watched. Jennifer wasn’t into anything like that, so he went elsewhere.’

‘It’s the fact that, all along, he’s been in the background, knowing everything that’s happened to Anthony in prison and he’s done nothing about it that I can’t understand,’ Chris said, fuming.

‘He’s a… what’s the word for people who only think of themselves and don’t care about the feelings of others around them?’

‘Narcissist.’

‘That’s it. He’s a narcissist. His political ambitions took him to a powerful position. There’s no denying he did good as the Home Secretary. He presented himself as a man of the people, a working-class kid made good. He and his wife were the ultimate power couple. Yet, there was a darkness inside him, and he thought he’d managed to cover it up.’

‘He’d probably have gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for getting caught driving through the level crossing. What will happen to him?’

‘Life in prison. I think the judge may even make an example of him. You know, nobody is above the law, that kind of thing. I think he’ll get a hefty minimum sentence.’

‘What will that do to poor Jennifer?’

Freya took a deep breath and sighed. ‘I’ve no idea. She was finally at a place in her life where she wanted to take a step back from work and have a family, and look how it turned out.’

‘She’s going to need a lot of help.’

‘We can help.’ She looked at him, hopefully.

‘Of course,’ he smiled. ‘It might be nice to look after a couple of babies.’

Freya snuggled up next to Chris, linking her arm with his. ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a baby.’

‘Don’t be silly.’ He put his arm around her. ‘You make it sound like I wanted one for Christmas.’

They sat in silence for a moment and watched hospital life pass them by.

‘I’ve been offered a promotion,’ Freya said.

‘Really? DCI? That’s amazing.’

‘Do you think I should take it?’

‘Do you want to?’

‘I think so. It’ll mean more time behind a desk, but I’ll be able to delegate more, leave work earlier and give the late nights to the DIs. It would give us more time together.’

‘I’d like that. Bigger salary too?’

‘Of course.’

‘A more luxurious holiday next summer.’

‘Now, I definitely like the sound of that,’ Freya said.

‘Are you here for Mrs Ripley?’ a doctor in red scrubs said, approaching them. She looked tired. Her black hair was a mess and the bun she’d tied it up in was on the verge of falling apart.

‘Yes,’ Freya said, sitting up.