Read Online DARK CRIMES a gripping detective thriller full of suspense by MICHAEL HAMBLING - Free Book Online Page A

plastic evidence bag.
    ‘A connection. I don’t know how it links them, or what it means, but this is it. A silk designer umbrella in burgundy with a flower pattern. Donna had this last night when she left the hotel.’
    * * *
    Sophie was curled up on the couch in her lounge, sipping coffee after the light supper that Martin had prepared. She’d changed into slacks and a cashmere jumper after a quick shower.
    ‘Are you sure you’ve had enough to eat?’ he asked.
    ‘Yes, thanks. It was lovely. I’ve been snacking during the day, so I wasn’t totally famished. And you’re a genius with pasta. I don’t know how you do it.’
    ‘Sheer talent,’ he said. ‘Coupled with the fact that the chicken was on special offer in the supermarket, as was that jar of posh sauce. Couldn’t go wrong. I got Jade to pop into the shops on her way home from school. She knows what you like.’
    Sophie glanced at their teenage daughter who was sitting in the corner of the room reading a geography text-book. ‘Thanks, sweetheart.’
    Jade yawned. ‘I’m off to bed. That hockey practice has worn me out.’
    She waved to her parents as she left the room. The TV was on, but Sophie paid little attention to it. She flicked through a small pile of photos that she’d taken out of her bag. This was the third time she’d looked at them. She was frowning slightly.
    ‘Something worrying you?’
    ‘Possibly, but I’m most likely being paranoid. I’m about to get the results of a DNA test on a couple of cigarette butts that still had a tiny amount of saliva on them. I was astonished that it hadn’t been washed off by the rain. It was pouring down for most of last night, and they must have been lying there for several hours.’
    She handed Martin the photos.
    ‘It looks as though they’ve been protected from the rain,’ he said. ‘I can see two butts, lying under a couple of leaves. A sort of umbrella effect? I’d say you’ve been really lucky. If that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have thought there’d have been any saliva traces left. But then, I’m no expert. Maybe it doesn’t get washed off by rain as much as I’d have expected.’
    ‘What’s the leaf?’ she asked. ‘What type of tree?’
    ‘Looks like a sycamore.’
    ‘That’s what I thought. There are a couple of sycamores in nearby gardens.’
    He examined the photos more closely. ‘Sophie, look at those fag ends again. They’re almost touching, probably about a centimetre apart. What are the chances of a smoker dropping two butts, and them falling that close together, and then a leaf or two blowing over them and staying there, keeping them dry?’
    ‘Well, if they are that close together, then it increases the chances of a leaf covering them, I suppose. But I do see what you mean.’
    ‘You know, that leaf doesn’t seem to be lying quite naturally on the ground. There’s something odd about its position. Maybe it’s just the photo. What do your colleagues think?’
    ‘Haven’t told them. There are a few things I haven’t mentioned. I just need some thinking time, and that hasn’t happened yet. It’s been non-stop today, and tomorrow won’t be any different. It’ll probably be even busier.’
    ‘Well, I could say that I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow, but it wouldn’t be true. Most of my thoughts will be on 11C’s maths mock exam results.’
    Sophie laughed. ‘As they should be. Though I do hope you think of me sometimes during your working day.’
    ‘Yes, but it tends to be only when I see that tall sixth-former who looks like you from the back. Sorry!’
    ‘And I’m really sorry that there are no tall sixth-formers who look like me from the front. The wrinkles and drying skin haven’t hit them yet.’
    ‘I’d take your face over theirs any day. Listen, I’m whacked and need to get to bed. And I think you need to as well.’
    ‘Yes, boss. This can all wait until tomorrow . . .’
    Sophie stopped talking and stared into space.
    ‘Sophie?