Chapter Text
Robert Sugden let his mind wander as he stared out onto the dusty road in front of him. The wind ruffling his blonde hair as his green eyes observed the people walking by. The way cars drove through slowly and past the bus that seemed to be the loudest noise in the village. The cottages and businesses that lined that road hadn’t changed and seemed to stand as a testament to Robert’s history. He never expected to see that road or the people walking around again when he left all those years ago. He had prepared himself for this village to live in his memories like a bad nightmare that never fully leaves your conscience. The kind of nightmare that pops up even in a person’s daydreams.
Now that nightmare was a reality again.
Robert let out a sigh as he looked down at the morning paper and his Americano. A coffee made by Bob who felt it would be fun to tell Robert all about how the Americano came to be. Robert had tuned him out early enough to let his senses wander.
Bob had a tan line around his ring finger on his left hand.
He had spinach in his teeth.
He seemed to be jumping around with a renewed vigor he didn’t have before. Strong cologne smell too.
Option A: divorced and had a new girlfriend or Option B: Bob forgot to put his ring back after he had some fun with his mistress.
“That’s why its called the Americano!” Bob concluded bringing Robert out of his trance. He could hear someone coming up to stand next to him. Her light brown hair swishing with each peppy step she took.
“Fascinating story Bob. You should tell Laurel.” Robert said with a tight smile. He looked over at Laurel whose cheeks were blooming pink at the innocuous suggestion.
“Hey, Laurel. Usual?” Bob asked softly his eyes laser-focused on her face. Robert picked up his coffee and strolled away.
Option B.
Robert took a sip of his coffee and let his green eyes focus on his newspaper in front of him and the man staring up at him. The headline sounded like a typical whisper he heard around Emmerdale his whole life. Bold strokes but no facts.
Emmerdale Local Adam Barton Arrested in Connection with Finn Barton’s Murder
He skimmed the article noting all the ‘allegations’ popping up in print. Yup. Bold strokes indeed.
“I see we are having an easy morning.” A female voice asked him. He looked up and rolled his eyes.
“Shouldn’t you be at the office?” Robert asked.
“Shouldn’t you be at your office, detective?” Victoria asked as she plopped down across from Robert. She grabbed his coffee and took a sip. “God. Why can’t you drink normal coffee?” Victoria asked as she pulled back her brunette hair into a ponytail. Her brown eyes were trained on him as she waited for a response.
“Don’t you have receptionist things to do?” Robert asked pulling his drink away from her and holding it close to him as if she had hurt his Americanos feelings.
“I would if you had anything for me to do,” Victoria said sitting back in her chair.
“No clients? No phone calls? No tips coming in?” Robert asked as he took another sip of his coffee.
“No.”
“Business is booming then,” Robert said dryly rolling his eyes.
“Yeah. I’m going to head over to the Woolpack. Get started on prep.”
“I pay you to stay at the office until noon,” Robert argued as Victoria got up out of her chair.
“You pay me?”
“With hugs and brotherly love,” Robert said quickly back getting a laugh out of his sister. She moved in and gave him a quick hug before turning away. “Hey, Vic? Have you gotten hold of Andy yet?”
Victoria stopped short and turned back towards Robert. Her smile fading as she considered what to tell him. “He knows you are home. For good.”
Robert felt his heart drop at the response. “Alright.”
Victoria gave him a sad smile. “He has to come home sooner or later. Sarah and Jack are here.”
“I keep him away.”
“Robert. I asked you to come home. It was time you two…I knew what….” Victoria struggled to finish her sentence as Robert stood with his coffee and walked over to her.
“I know. I’m glad I’m home.” Robert said lying through his teeth. He gave his sister a reassuring smile as she gave him a big hug. The type of hug that brought back the warmer memories that he never seemed to recall first when thinking of his life in the village with his family. She pulled away and waved goodbye as she walked over to the pub. Robert watched her walk away his mind focused on his brother, Andy. He turned to walk back to his table his mind misting over to memories he had buried deep down in his heart.
He took two steps before he felt his center of gravity being knocked out of him. He saw a flash of grey as he fell to the ground, his coffee spilling all over his coat.
“Watch where you are going!” a voice growled at him.
“Aaron Dingle! You apologize.” A harsh voice rang out above him. Robert looked up and saw a woman with her black hair tied up into a ponytail and a distinctive mole near her lips. Her jeans and plaid shirt gave Robert a good idea what she did around here. She lent him a hand and pulled him back onto his feet. His empty coffee cup abandoned on the ground.
Robert felt himself grow angrier as he watched the short man with a grey hoodie and black jeans walking away.
“Idiot!” Robert roared in his direction. He saw him stop dead in his tracks. He turned around but didn’t move closer. Robert observed him. His gelled back hair. His beard that was trimmed neatly. His blue eyes that flashed with something he couldn’t read.
“Idiot?” Aaron roared back.
“Yeah. You are a Dingle, aren’t you?” Robert said back. Aaron bit his bottom lip before charging back towards him. Robert was mentally preparing himself to get hit when he saw the woman from before step in front of him.
“Aaron. Don’t do it. Do you want to be sitting next to Adam?”
Robert saw Aaron stop short. His angry expression softening at Adams name. His eyes seemed to lower at the thought.
“No. I don’t.” Aaron told her as he looked Robert up and down. His blue eyes matching up with his green. “Sugden isn’t worth it anyway,” Aaron said, his voice low and threatening. Robert raised an eyebrow at the threat. He could feel his lips turning upwards into a smirk as Aaron huffed and walked away.
“I’m sorry. Aaron is a bit out of sorts since Adam went in.” The woman said to Robert. His eyes watched as Aaron slipped through the doors of Dingle & Dingle Auto.
“Adam? You are his…” Robert asked, his attention turning back to the woman.
“Moira Barton. Adams mother. I guess you heard.” Moira told him. Robert got a good look at her. She was beautiful but looked like she was going through hell. Her eyes were tired and red. Her black hair that he noticed was pulled up earlier looked like she had been pulling it out of frustration.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Barton. Thanks for helping me out before.” Robert told her with a nod. He bent down to grab the empty coffee cup when he noticed she wasn’t moving. He stood back up and gave her a look.
“Are you Robert Sugden, the detective?” Moira asked quietly, wringing her hands.
“Yes.”
“I was on my way to see you anyway. I…need your help.”
“With Adam?”
“I think Adam is being framed. Can you help me?”
Robert considered the question for a moment before making his decision. “Why don’t you come by the office in an hour and we can figure it all out. My offices are over at the second flat next to The Mill. Ok?”
Moira gave a smile and nodded. “I’ll see you in an hour then.” She turned and walked into the café, a slight bounce in her step. Robert watched her go before pulling out his phone from his pocket.
“Hey, Vic? You got to come back into the office. We might have a case. A good one.”