Read Online In Guilty Night by Alison Taylor - Free Book Online

yourself. Collapsing marriages cause a huge convulsion in the personality, I’m told.’
    ‘Denise isn’t having problems, from what I hear.’
    ‘She’ll sort herself out in her own way. Women usually cope much better.’
    ‘I hear she’s found someone to take the edge off her misery.’
    ‘I know. It’s nothing to do with me. She’s a free agent.’
    ‘Not everyone will be so magnanimous. She’s still Mrs McKenna to most folk, and her cavorting around with a boyfriend isn’t good for you. Either tell her to be a bit more circumspect, or give her a divorce. She’s dead wood you’re carting around, and unless you hope to have her back, youshould finish things properly, before you fall in the shit-pile she’s busy making. She’s holding you back.’
    ‘From what?’
    ‘From going forward. Life’s all about moving on, isn’t it?’
     
    ‘Mr Tuttle’s gone tilting at windmills, Detective Constable Miss Janet Evans buggered off without condescending to say where, and nobody can make head or tail of the crosswords,’ Dewi said. ‘Dr Roberts telephoned. The local paper and BBC and HTV’ve been pestering us, so I referred them to HQ, which went down like a lead balloon. BBC want to know if it’s true Arwel got hit by a train, HTV want to know the same, and the local paper wants to know how often Blodwel kids go on the run without anybody telling us.’
    ‘Stop sniping about Janet Evans,’ McKenna snapped. ‘I’ve warned all of you. She’s interviewing Elis’s maid. What did Eifion Roberts want?’
    ‘He said there’s no chance of releasing Arwel’s body. Apart from waiting for tissue and sample results to come back, somebody else might be asked to PM the boy to make sure he didn’t dream up the sexual abuse. And there’s been no inquest yet.’
    ‘Nobody’s asked him to release the body.’
    ‘Apparently, sir, Councillor Mrs Rhiannon Haf ab Elis talked to the hospital management on behalf of the Thomases and those caring souls in Social Services. People want Arwel six feet under as soon as possible, so they can get on with the business of grieving and recovery. Personally, I reckon folk hope out of sight’ll put the boy out of mind. Should one of us tell the lady councillor to mind her own sodding business, sir?’
    ‘She’ll keep. Why can’t anyone solve the crossword clues?’
    ‘They’re like codes.’ Dewi riffled through sheets of photocopies, and pointed to the word “Elijah”. ‘I remember Elijah from Sunday School, but proffwyd doesn’t fit, because it’s eight letters, not five.’
    ‘Try the Welsh form, Dewi. I’m sure you’ll find “Elias” will fit perfectly.’
     
    ‘Dewi Prys says you’ve been tilting at windmills,’ McKenna said.
    ‘I might as well’ve been.’ Jack shivered. ‘God! It’s cold!’ He glanced through the window of McKenna’s office. ‘And bloody night-time again already. Will we ever see the sun again?’
    ‘Arwel won’t.’
    ‘Why don’t you stop laying it on with a bloody trowel? We know he won’t! That’s one of death’s tragedies, whatever age you are.’
    ‘The inquest is fixed for next Tuesday. Will we have anything to say?’
    ‘“Arwel Thomas is dead, enquiries are proceeding”.’
    ‘People want him buried.’ McKenna lit a cigarette. ‘Do we need to delay the funeral?’
    Jack shrugged. ‘Leave it to the coroner. We might’ve witnessed a revelation by then, but I doubt it.’ He shivered again, and moved his chair nearer to the radiator. ‘I swear it’s colder than last night.’
    ‘Anything to report apart from the state of the weather?’
    ‘Nothing much. We can probably write off the parents, even though you think they’re capable of violence towards either of their kids.’
    ‘I said Peggy Thomas is overly concerned with what the neighbours think. She punishes Carol enough.’
    ‘Her sort never do anything though, because they’d have nothing to carp about after. Anyway, there isn’t even a hint