The Phantom Ritual (DCI Morgan Chester: Case One)

Chapter Nine

"Elliott," Morgan called out when she saw him exiting through the main reception doors.

He looked up from his phone as she stepped out of the Uber parked in front of St. Thomas Hospital.

"I have spoken with Dakota. I am going to pick her up from the station now." He replied bluntly as he walked past her, his shoulder almost brushing hers. He was still furious with how she acted hours ago in the market.

Morgan swiftly gripped his arm to stop him in his tracks.

"How is the baby?" she asked quickly.

Elliott raised his eyebrows and let out a soft chuckle.

"Surprised that you care, she is going to be fine. I left her with a very nurturing midwife. What are you doing here?"

"The surviving victim is in a stable condition. I thought it would be good to get her to answer some questions while the attack is fresh in her mind."

Elliott nodded and fiddled with his car keys.

"I would like to apologize for my reaction this morning." She told him.

He turned back towards her and stuffed his hands in the pocket of his jeans, an amused smirk placed on his lips. Morgan rolled her eyes; he will never let her live this down.

"Wow, the great Morgan Chester is apologizing. I never thought I would live to see the day that would ever happen."

"Yes, well, don't get used to it. Keep me updated with what you find at Miss Ryan's address." She muttered and crossed her arms across her chest.

Elliott told her he would meet her back at the station and stalked towards the multi-story car park. He took the lift to the third floor. His Ford Focus was the only car parked in the visitor spaces. A child seat fitted perfectly in the back behind the passenger seat. Elliott climbed in and secured his seatbelt before he checked his mirrors and turned the keys in the ignition. The car purred to life.

The nine am news on Capital Radio was broadcasting about the attack in The Stables Market as he pulled out of the car park. The streets had started to build up with workers and tourists as he drove through Borough and onto London Bridge.

Dakota waited outside while puffing on a cigarette. A blue folder tucked tightly under her armpit as she typed using her free hand on her smartphone with impressive speed. She snapped her head up when she heard a car approaching her. Elliott waved to her as he parked in front of her. She stubbed the cigarette in the outdoor ashtray and climbed into the passenger side of the car.

"Good morning." Elliott sang as he rolled down his window. He detested the smell of cigarette smoke.

"Another wonderful day in the office," Dakota replied with a smirk as she pulled out a piece of paper from the folder. "This is the home address we have on record for the baby's mother."

"Any progress with the market case?" he punched the postcode into the GPS system built into the dashboard as Dakota read it out to him.

He moved the gear shift out of neutral and started to drive away from the station.

"Hallie is downloading and combing through the CCTV from that café you said about and food stalls. Cole has gone to this knocking shop that set up; she might have worked there. And Morgan is at the hospital interviewing the surviving girl."

"I bumped into her as I was leaving. She looked like a woman on the mission. I even got an apology from her." He chuckled.

Dakota scoffed as she flicked through the paperwork on her lap. "You know as much as I do, she never means her apologies."