INVESTIGATIONS OF DCI BAXTER AND DR HIDE: THE BURNT CLUE

A New Acting DCI

The pitter-patter of rain hit the roof of the church drowning out the sounds of crying. Drops of water ran down the stained glass windows that showed images of Jesus’s crucifixion. Kirk sat on the uncomfortable wooden pews on his own; he wasn’t listening to the vicar’s speech about death and the afterlife but was thinking about the times he had had with his old boss, the former DCI.

     Kirk Baxter wore a black suit that was perfectly clean with a thin black tie under a long grey waxed coat. He was a little unshaven with short blond hair and a long neck that sat on top a round head. Sat in front of his bright blue eyes were glasses and across his hand laid a jagged scar. He sat perfectly straight and still and gazed into the distance of the church.

     When the service had finished everyone stood outside the church talking but Kirk stood on his own holding an umbrella to shield his suit from the rain. A tall, muscly man with arms like logs strode towards him. “Lousy funeral,” the man bellowed, “DCI Quinn was one of the best this department ever had.” Kirk wasn’t paying much attention to him “We’ve just got to hope that you will be as good as your boss, eh?”

     Kirk turned his head quickly in shock. “I get the job of DCI?” he asked.

     “You don’t get it that easily - we just need someone to take his place while we find a new DCI. So for now you can be acting DCI and maybe if you’re good enough it can help you if you apply for the job later.” The man spat. He walked away with no umbrella, his hair dripping onto his black suit. He turned around and shouted; “Your acting senior officer will be Amber Bell, and I think she is here somewhere so go tell her for me!” he carried on walking out of the church yard.

     Kirk stood under his umbrella for a while. He started to look around for female police officers. There were lots of them but he thought to himself ‘better start somewhere.’ He walked up to the closest police lady and said tapping her on the shoulder, “Are you Amber Bell?”

     The tall lady with long blond hair tied in a bun spun around, “She’s over there.” The woman answered pointing.

     Kirk started moving in that direction and whispered, “Thank you” as he passed her. He noticed that she had pointed in the direction of an elegant young lady with long, slightly ginger hair and that hung loose either side of her shoulders. As he walked closer he saw that her eyes were sore with tears and she had a crumpled tissue in a tight fist.

     She was sat on a wet bench on her own, soaked from the rain. Kirk sat next to her. She turned her head and said in a cracked voice, “You’re Kirk Baxter aren’t you? He was your boss wasn’t he?”

     “It’s DCI Baxter now and yes he was my boss. I knew him well.” Kirk said in quiet voice.

     “I’m sorry it must be hard” she replied.

     “How did you know him? You seem very upset.” Kirk passed her his umbrella.

     “Not really he was just kind to me once at the canteen when I had no money for my coffee but it’s just all been a shock really.”

     “Well the main reason I sat here was to ask you if you are Amber Bell.”

     A vague smiled swept across her face from the change in subject. “Yes I am, why?” she asked.

     “I have been told to inform you that you have been promoted to acting detective inspector and will be working with me.”

     “Really!” she almost shouted, a big grin had appeared across her face.

     Kirk whispered quietly, “You know, it’s making me sad here seeing everyone upset. Do you want to get a coffee and talk about my old boss and all the investigations we had?”

     “Yes that would be lovely.” She replied nodding. They both stood up and Amber passed the umbrella back to Kirk. It had stopped raining so he put it down as he walked out of the church yard and shock it off away from Amber.

     They both sat in the corner of the café talking. Kirk was sat opposite Amber talking freely about the adventurous murder investigations he had solved with his former boss. Amber was holding her coffee in two hands with her elbows on the table taking sips from her cup. Little movement was made to make these sips as she had her cup so close to her face to keep herself warm. She was smiling to all the stories Kirk said about him and DCI Quinn.

     Kirk stood up and started to put his long grey coat on. “Why are you going, don’t you have any more stories?” Amber asked before he could pick up his umbrella and leave.

     “No sorry I don’t that put us right up to…” he paused for a while and his smile faded, “when I saw him di-ie” Kirk snatched his umbrella and walked out quickly he didn’t like showing emotion but Amber saw the tear fall from his eye.

     “Sorry I didn’t mean to upset you.” She shouted after him as the door closed and he was gone.