PEEL-BEHIND THEIR EYES. Book 1 (Complete)

Chapter 9. Gaw

The skies above Grimsby were bright and clear; the sun had sailed past midday and was dragging white cool clouds behind, and grayer wetter clouds behind them. The town took no notice as it ran to its daily schedule, workers journeyed to and from work, shoppers shopped, and mothers prepared to begin the afternoon school run. Seagulls high above flew around and around in vast flocks over the fishing docks, 'gaw, gawing' as they dive bombed trawlers as they off-loading their days catch, and stole discarded fish guts as they were tossed into the many skip's that littered the dock area.

Like an arrow slicing through the air towards its target, the metallic green Rover raced in from the countryside and scythed its way through the busy town traffic, and without hold ups due to its flashing lights and wailing siren, it soon screeched to a halt outside Victoria street police station.

The driver's door flew open and Peel jumped out "Right, you go and join Havers at the Barringers house. And Muck, break the news gently, I can't imagine what it would be like to hear that the man who killed her family and took her eyes maybe back to finish the job". Peel slammed the door, looked up at the cacophony of birds in the sky over to the Humber estuary, and then rushed into the station as the Rover screeched away.

Robert, without nod or acknowledgment, hastily walked passed the booking desk, waving away Officer Bentley, who was about to ask him how he was, as he always asked him, with a large smile and jovial red cheeks. Robert quickened his pace towards the stairs, took two steps at a time until he reached first-floor hallway, he raced along fumbling for his keys. Approaching his office, he eventually picked the correct key and unlocked, opened and then slammed the door behind himself. Beginning to hyperventilate, Robert pressed his back, now soaked with sweat, against the door. Dropping his keys to the floor he felt around for the deadbolt, his groping fingers finding it, he quickly slid it across and locked himself in.

Holding both his hands up, Robert could see as well as feel them shake, also, his heart was racing and his chest rose and fell increasingly faster.

"For fuck sake Robert, get a grip will you," he scolded himself. He knew the signs of a panic attack well, it was a panic attack that had previously had him suspended on medical grounds, he had thought he'd been having a heart attack at the time; the anxiety attack had been so painful. Robert knew he had to calm himself, to slow his heart and breathing, if he could do that he'd be OK, he hoped.

Sitting heavily in his chair, behind his desk, Robert unlocked the desks top draw and pulled out the aged folder. He allowed it to fall open as he placed it down in front. There on top was the photo, where it had always been, ever since his father had, for the last time closed the file. The picture of Julia Barringer, unlike the black and white photo in the paper earlier, was the color original.

Robert reached further into the draw and pulled out a glass and the bottle of scotch, he had promised himself he would not drink from it again today, but he needed it, he needed the burn in his throat and stomach. Two large gulps finished off the bottle and also had the desired effect on Roberts nerves, soon he felt back under control and able to think again.

Picking up the photograph he looked at how happy Julia seemed, and thought of how she must be now and shook his head sadly. Everything had changed for them now, the cold case was beginning to heat up, and he knew it was going to burn them. Robert reluctantly picked up his mobile and dialed a couple a rings and the other end answered.

"Newgrove nursing home, how can I help," the warm female voice asked.

"Hello, yes, I was just phoning to check on my mother, Mrs. Lila Peel, I'm her son, Robert Peel," he waited for a response.

"Let me check for you, won't be a Mo," Robert could hear her tapping away on a keyboard, her voice came back online, "Ah yes here we are, everything's fine, she's spent the morning in the common room in our craft class, and has had dinner. Everything's fine, would you like to speak with her again, Mr. Peel"

Robert automatically nodded and then realized his idiocy and said yes, but what the nurse had just said hit him, "again"?

"Sorry, but you said again, again, as in when?" Roberts gut was churning, something was wrong.

The nurses sounded unsure as if she realized she had just said something wrong, but didn't understand what it had been, she said "Since you spoke to her this morning, Sir"

Robert kept his breathing steady, and said "I never spoke to my mother this morning, are you sure she spoke to someone"

The nurse spoke quickly now, she obviously wanted to be done, Robert guessed she was worried that the home had made a mistake "Yes, your mother has been telling everyone that her son had phoned, she's been in a delightful mood ever since"

Robert thought and then asked, "do you keep a record of all calls, names, times, and such".

Again he heard the tap of keys and then a knowing "Ah!"

"I see now, Mr. Peel, it wasn't you who phoned earlier, your mother must have been confused, no, it says here that it was a Mr. Barringer, he called at about 930am. Sorry for the confusion"

Robert felt nauseous, his heart began to beat faster again, and a cold sweat chilled his skin, which penetrated through to the bone. He thought "He's not targeting the Barringer girl; he's targeting me, but why"? Lifting the phone back to his ear, he said coldly "Please, do not let anyone but myself, see or talk to my mother from now on, do you understand"

The nurses, confused and now growing suspicious, asked "How do I know that you are Mrs. Peel son, I mean, you haven't given any identification or anything. If you must place restriction on her access, I'm afraid you will have to come here to do so, sir"

Trying to keep calm and not to bite at her sudden frostiness, Robert compromised, "In my mother's file you will have my contact number here at Grimsby police station, please hang up and call that number and ask for Detective Chief Inspector Peel, they will patch you straight through to me, will that suffice, Miss," the nurse agreed and quickly did as he suggested, and set his mother's accessibility authorisation to Robert only.

As soon as he hung up, Robert pressed the button on the landline for the main desk and asked them to patch him through to Louth police station, immediately. The sound of a familiar voice greeted him, "Robert, twice in one day, how is it that I am so lucky all of a sudden," Detective Mason sniggered.

Robert, in no mood, cut through the banter "No time for that shit Mason, now listen, I need you to go to the Newgrove Nursing home, on the outskirts of Louth, you know the one. I need you to place two officers there, to keep an eye on my mother. Mason, I think I know why the girl was dropped in Louth, the killer is targeting me, I guess For whatever reason he's decided to come out of retirement, he has some unfinished business with my father, and as he's long gone, I suppose I will have to do. It explains why the body was dumped in Louth, my mother's there. He's making me aware of whom he is, he's making the first move. Jesus Mason, I think he was playing a game with my father, and now I think he wants to play the game with me"

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