Stop Dead (DI Geraldine Steel)

that, she decided to spray all six insecticides around the window sill and hope at least one of them worked. Clutching the cans, she went into the bedroom. There were no insects in sight. That made her nervous because she knew they were waiting, out of sight, until she was in bed. As soon as she lay down, they would come back. And when they did, they would hurt her. Unless she stopped them.

CHAPTER 51
     
    G eraldine was only five minutes away from home. Tired and dispirited, all she wanted to do was get in, kick her shoes off, put her feet up and watch some rubbish on television. When she heard the shrilling of her phone she had a horrible presentiment that another body had been discovered. The thought made her feel slightly nauseous. She desperately hoped she was wrong as she drove on, doing her best to ignore the fact that her phone was ringing. Nothing could be so urgent it wouldn’t wait for five minutes, but knowing someone was trying to contact her spoiled her anticipation of reaching home at the end of a frustrating day and relaxing with a glass of wine. Closing her front door she went into the living room, reluctantly fished her phone out of her bag and sat on the sofa. She resisted pouring herself a glass before she had found out who had called. Allowing herself to relax would be tempting fate.

     
    It was a pleasant surprise to see the name on the display. Detective Inspector Ted Carter had acted as Geraldine’s mentor in Kent when she had been training for promotion to inspector. He had been consistently helpful, an unusually attentive listener. She leaned back on the sofa and was just wondering if it was too late to return Ted’s call when he phoned again.
    ‘Geraldine!’
    He sounded genuinely pleased to hear her voice and she couldn’t help smiling.

     
    ‘I thought you must be working. How have you been? I hear you’re in London now! Is it all bright lights and excitement there?’
    Geraldine felt a stab of guilt. Ted was one of the people she had intended to keep in touch with because she genuinely liked him, but time and circumstances had dictated otherwise. Although it worked both ways, he had more of an excuse not to have been in touch as he had family commitments in addition to work.
    ‘So how are you keeping?’
    Hearing his familiar voice reminded Geraldine how keen she had been, how hopeful about the future when she was first promoted, as though there was nothing she couldn’t achieve. The reality had turned out to be very different.

     
    The initial exchange of greetings over, he explained the reason for his call. He wanted to invite her to his retirement party.
    ‘I daresay you’re too busy to come along but –’
    ‘No,’ Geraldine interrupted him. ‘I’ll make the time. It’ll be great to see everyone again. Who else is going to be there?’
    Ted mentioned some names. A few were unfamiliar but she recognised most of them from her time spent working on the Kent constabulary.
    ‘And Kathryn said she’ll come,’ he finished, a hint of triumph in his voice. ‘I know she’ll be pleased to see you too.’
    Geraldine smiled on hearing the name of her former detective chief inspector. When she had first worked for Kathryn Gordon, Geraldine had found the older woman intimidating. Only when the senior officer had fallen ill had the two women begun to form a personal friendship. Geraldine felt another stab of guilt when she remembered her promise to keep in touch with Kathryn when she had retired.

     
    ‘So you’re in the Met now,’ Ted said. ‘I always knew you’d do well.’
    Hearing the smile in his voice, Geraldine tried to ignore the pressure of expectation his words engendered. It was gratifying to know that other people had faith in her ability, but she was afraid of letting everyone down. She almost launched into a diatribe about the disastrous case she was currently working on, getting nowhere as they investigated a growing body count. Nothing made sense. But there was no point concerning him with the details. He would only tell her to hang on, they’d get a result in the end. What else could he say? Only the same useless platitudes she would offer him if it was the other way round. Her problems were of no consequence to an older colleague on the point of retiring.

     
    ‘I’ll put the date in my diary straight away,’ she said cheerily.
    ‘We’re meeting about eight but it’s an informal gathering, no speeches and all that, so just come along when you