Time To Play by KA Richardson (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

the case would be handed off to someone other than him, and he would likely never even find out the outcome. And Elvie deserved more than that.

Deciding he had time to take the official route, he looked the girl up and down. She looked exhausted. Her skin ashen as she struggled to stay awake. Getting up, he pulled the throw from the chair behind him, and covered her shoulders, telling her to go to sleep.

Motioning with his head at Marlo to follow him, he headed to the kitchen.

‘Is she OK?’ he asked, concerned.

‘She took a dip in the sea trying to get away from me, had to give her mouth to mouth. She’s fine. coughed up all the water, but she’s had a lot to deal with. I think it’s probably just stress and exhaustion to be honest. Do you think I should take her to hospital?’

‘No,’ Ali shook his head. ‘That’d just open up a whole can of worms. I’m sure you’re right; she’ll be exhausted with everything she’s put up with.’

‘She’s been hiding in the dive HQ building. Stealing food and the like. She’s been there at least the last few days.’

‘Few days?’ said Ali incredulously. ‘How on earth does someone hide in a police station for a few days? When that gets documented no doubt the shit will hit the fan.’

‘For sure,’ agreed Marlo. ‘Listen, I’m sorry I woke you to deal with this. I’d have called my sergeant, but he has kids and I figured he’d be flaked. Besides, he’s a stickler and probably would have just woken the super for advice. Just figured you’d probably know what to do for the best. Can’t believe this sort of stuff happens on our doorstep. I’m a bloody cop, and I’d never thought for one second that human trafficking would be happening here.’

‘Know what you mean. It’s some scary shit. All we do and see, you’d think we’d be better equipped to stop this stuff happening, or at least be more accustomed to it all.’

‘What’re you gunna do?’

‘Honestly? I should ring this in now, get immigration up to speed and get her interviewed. But that stuff can wait. She’s already stressed to hell. I think she could use a day to get her head straight before she has to start answering the questions that will be asked, don’t you? I’m happy to take the fall if there’s any blowback. Though, I’m sure we can get around the red tape with a bit of explaining. She’s welcome to stay here until I have to make the report. Right now, how about we put the world to rights with a cup of tea?’

Marlo shook her head with a smile. ‘I’d best not to be honest, I’m supposed to be on rest days, but I know Bravo Team was called to assist with a search down near Barnard Castle late yesterday afternoon. They’ll be tied up with it for a couple of days, and you can pretty much guarantee we’ll get called in to deal if something comes in.’

‘Yeah, you’re right. I’m on earlies too, swapped shifts with Alex again. One day I’ll call in these chips – reckon he owes me a fortnight so far.’

‘Must be nice having a brother on the force too?’

‘Yeah. Dad was killed in the line of duty. It was the only thing me and Alex ever wanted to do. We virtually passed our training at the same time with the same grade. Mum worries of course, but she knows we do it for the love of the job.’

‘Sorry about your dad.’

‘Ancient history, but thanks. Was pretty tough growing up without him like, but Mum was amazing. I truly don’t know how she managed to do it. We all take care of her now, though.’

‘Must be nice,’ Marlo’s voice had turned wistful without her realising, but Ali had picked up on it.

‘What happened to your parents?’

Marlo paused, her usual lie of a ‘car accident’ turning her tongue sour. Deciding on the truth, she answered. ‘Never knew my dad, he’s not listed on the birth certificate so I wouldn’t even know where to start looking. And Mum was a junkie. She overdosed. I must’ve been about four, I think. I don’t really remember. The care home told me as I got older that I’d been lucky. She’d died with me in the house, surrounded by needles and filth, apparently. I was too old to be wanted by the people looking to adopt, and the number of foster carers was as scarce back then as it is now. I grew up in a communal home.’

‘What was that like?’ asked Ali.

‘Awful,’ she said with a grim smile. ‘This was back when kids fell through the cracks with social services, not like now where they try to dot every i and cross every t. I slept in a small room with four other girls. The beds were bare even in winter. There was damp on the walls and the bathroom was disgusting. We had to bathe in the same water once a week. Mrs Reay had a water metre so didn’t want to waste good money. She fed us enough so questions didn’t get asked and clothed us in second-hand clothes. Needless to say, it wasn’t very nice.’

‘Jesus, I thought places like that only existed in musicals like Annie. How’d you end up turning out so right with all that crap to deal with?’ He had the grace to look embarrassed at his slip.

‘I had a good teacher at school, Mrs Black. It was the stupidest thing. She saw something in me I didn’t even know was there, and she encouraged me. She paid for school trips so I didn’t miss out. Gave me extra tuition so I could stay at school longer. Without her guidance, God knows what would have happened.’

Marlo paused. Mrs Black