“Yes, you do. I’ve seen the messages. And the answer isno, by the way, I do not want a baby shower.”
Oliver frowned. “It was a surprise.”
“Yes, well, do you know what else was a surprise?”
The stench of stale sweat and damp clothes was ever present as they walked between the tightly packed metal lockers. Oliver’s was unfortunately right at the end.
“It wassurprisingto receive a phone call from Lucas that night. When the two of you left, I thought you’d go straight home, have some angry, possessive sex, and then give each other the bite. But then he calls me from his car and tells me you fucking dumped him. I mean, what thehell, dude?”
Oliver sighed and wrenched open his locker. “It’s…you don’t…I just don’t want to cause anymore issues for him.”
“By lying to him?”
“I didn’t lie. I just didn’t tell him who Patrick was.”
“And what was your plan, Ollie? He was always going to find out.”
“Not necessarily. I thought… well, I thought if I could just get the diffusion day done, then I wouldn’t have to see him again and I could just move on with my life. We deal with people we don’t like every day. I thought Patrick would just be another one.”
“Except he’s not, is he? He’s the fucking psycho that nearly ruined your life, not to mention?—”
The pregnancy. Matteus wanted to say the pregnancy, but it had become a taboo subject between them. Oliver pulled on his stab vest, rolling his shoulders as the teflon plates shifted into place. Turning to his brother, he placed his hands on his shoulders. “It’s okay, Matty. We can talk about it. Fuck knows, I’ve told enough people recently.”
Matteus huffed, his eyes turning glassy. “I know. And, I just wanted to say that it was a really brave thing you did. Writing that report.”
Oliver tilted his head. “How do you know about the report?” Matteus flushed, his gaze dropping to the floor.
“When I arrived this morning, there was no one else around. The Inspector’s door was open and I could hear Lucas and DS Smith talking about Patrick. I kinda…maybe…eavesdropped for a while.”
“Matty—”
“I know, I know. Terrible of me. But they were talking about Patrick’s history and all the?—”
“I don’t want to know.”
“Yes, Ollie. Yes, you do. They were saying how, in the last six years, he’s drifted around from county to county, taking up different local authority positions.”
Oliver huffed, zipping up his vest. “That’s not unusual. Loads of social workers get sent to the highest demand areas. I mean, look at Shirley Spencer, didn’t she say she’d been throughninedifferent local authorities before settling in West Newton?”
“Yeah, I know, but Shirley probably didn’t wrack up a shopping list of domestic abuse reports wherever she went.”
“What?”
“After you, it looks like he didn’t stop. He just kept going from omega to omega.”
“But… wasn’t he married with kids at some point? His name was Danny-something?”
“Danny Delahey. Yeah. But it sounds like ‘Danny’ was just as fucking shady as Patrick. He’s in an omega prison, Ollie. They probably only married so Patrick couldn’t be compelled to give evidence against him. Both of Patrick’s kids are in care.”
Oliver’s mouth hung open as he clipped his utility belt into place. He’d known Patrick moved on pretty much immediately, but a husband in prison and two kids in care?Shit, he was beginning to realise that the universe had done him a huge fucking favour.
“Then how the hell is he still a social worker?”
Matteus shrugged. “Christ knows. Something, somewhere, clearly slipped through the net. You know how it is, everyone’s so overworked. There was probably an administrator that forgot to click a button or something.”
“Maybe, butcome on, that’s a pretty big mistake to make.”
“I know, but… don’t you see, Ollie? Everyone’s trying to protect you. Me, Lucas, Blake, the Inspector. I mean,shit, even the DCI and Superintendent have gotten involved. You don’t have to do this alone.”
