Read Online Guilty Innocence by Maggie James - Free Book Online

beyond her to accept it might have happened the way he says it did? That he was forced into going along with events by the more dominant Adam Campbell?
    The answer is yes. She can’t, she won’t, allow herself the luxury of such a belief, even though part of her remains desperate to do so.
    No, she’s made the right decision in cutting Mark adrift. Natalie doesn’t intend to waste any more of her life on him. He’s a vicious killer , she reminds herself. Forget him . Her resolution sorted, her stomach more settled, she heads for the biscuit tin. As she crams the sweet chocolaty comfort into her mouth, Natalie clamps down hard on the nagging voice inside her brain. The one telling her she’s misjudged Mark.
     

6
     
     
     
    INSANITY, OF COURSE
     
     
     
     
    ‘Women,’ Tony Jackson says.
    Mark’s guts tense.
    ‘Been seeing anyone in particular?’
    Mark shakes his head. If Natalie Richards has been off limits before in his conversations with Jackson, he’s certainly not going to mention their relationship now she’s dumped him.
    He shrugs. ‘No. Not my style, as you know.’
    Jackson gazes at Mark, causing the knot in his belly to tighten, pulling it tauter, the constriction surging upwards to compress his lungs.
    ‘You’re aware you need to come clean if you’re getting in deep with anyone. We’ve been over this a thousand times.’
    ‘There’s nobody.’ Mark’s tone is emphatic. Besides, it’s true.
    Tension squeezes the air between them. Jackson’s no fool; three decades in the police force have imbued him with a stellar internal radar for bullshit. Thing is, though, he’s screwed if Mark’s unwilling to divulge details of who he’s been shagging. Besides, other things matter more; Mark’s ability to hold down a job and keep out of trouble. Tony Jackson shrugs, evidently willing to let it go, and turns back to his notes.
    It’s the day after Natalie walks out on Mark. The two men are at his flat, where their monthly meetings always take place after Mark finishes work. As usual, Jackson wears civilian clothes to hide his role as Mark’s monitoring officer. He’s somewhere in his early fifties, carrying too many pints of beer around his middle, and prone to large sweat patches under his armpits. A tad florid and more than slightly bald. Mark likes the man; Tony Jackson has always behaved professionally. Whatever emotions he might have about Abby Morgan’s murder are kept shelved. Never once has he fired barbed comments about kiddie killers Mark’s way, unlike plenty of other law officers have done. Moreover, he has a granddaughter who’s now the same age as Abby Morgan was when she died. Making Jackson’s professional detachment all the more remarkable.
    An impartiality that will definitely end should Mark reveal not only has he been dating a woman regularly, but also that she’s unmasked Joshua Barker. Something of which he’s well aware Jackson needs to be appraised. Right here. Right now.
    Mark stays silent, however. The meeting, never very long these days, ends; Jackson gets ready to leave, all boxes on his list satisfactorily checked.
    ‘See you next month,’ he says. ‘Keep your nose clean and your arse out of trouble.’
    Later on, after his usual seven-mile run, Mark slides into the hot water of his bath, willing the heat to relax his muscles after the punishing workout. He switches his mind back to Natalie. Impossible to blame her for sneaking into his flat and discovering the letter. Not if he accepts responsibility for his own behaviour. How his reluctance to move their relationship beyond the casual has obviously inflamed every one of her insecurities.
    In a way, he’s glad the pretence of being Mark Slater, regular guy, is over and she knows the truth. Even if he’s been rejected because of it. The constant need for subterfuge where Natalie’s concerned has weighed heavily on him. Is it really finished between them, though? Is it so impossible that he can be loved