Read Online Killing for Keeps by Mari Hannah - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mari Hannah
Ads: Link
a
child at the arse-end of a school day, too grumpy and too tired to move. She didn’t hold on for fear that it would be interpreted as another pathetic attempt at reconciliation.
Jo looked happy and relaxed. Kate could hardly remember what it felt like to take a day off and chill. It was warm and cosy in the house. There was a faint whiff of alcohol in the air, and she
could hear music, a constant in both their lives when they hung out together. Just being there brought a rush of memories flooding back.
‘Heavy day?’ Jo asked.
Slipping off her shoes, Kate avoided eye contact. ‘The first few hours are always the worst. It’s bedlam in the office and this one’s not straight by any stretch of the
imagination. We’ve got victim IDs and bugger-all else. My guys are still in the haystack searching.’
‘I wasn’t sure you’d come this late.’
‘I nearly didn’t.’
Kate checked her watch – quarter to ten – almost nine hours since she’d promised to call Jo, sixteen since she’d started this particular shift. The role of SIO on the
Murder Investigation Team was her dream job, one she’d worked hard to secure, but there were times when she questioned what she was doing with her life, when the position asked too much of
her. Right now, she wished it would vanish, if only for a few days, until she recovered from the influx of cases that had wiped her out.
‘Sure you don’t mind?’ she said. ‘We can do this tomorrow.’
‘We’ll do it now. You look like you need a good talking to.’
Jo moved away, her tapered trousers and skinny T-shirt accentuating her figure as she walked towards the kitchen. Kate followed, trying to ignore her own reflection in a full-length mirror at
the end of the hallway. She looked dreadful, longed for a soak in a hot bath and a change of clothes.
Inviting her to sit at the table, Jo handed her a bowl of soup and a chunk of brown bread, told her to eat while she poured them both a glass of wine. ‘I take it you’re finished for
the night – unless that damn phone of yours summons you back.’
Mid-mouthful, Kate nodded.
The soup tasted good. It was homemade and warmed to the perfect temperature. A few feet away, Nelson, Jo’s young Labrador, was curled up asleep in his basket next to the Aga, so peaceful
she wished she could lie down beside him and drop off.
When she’d finished eating, Kate followed Jo through to the living room, her stomach churning as she walked through the door. The lighting was soft – very personal – and it
wasn’t for her. A couple of candles were burning away and there were signs of an intimate evening: two champagne flutes, wine glasses, empty bottles, corks and CDs littering the place.
Quite a party.
For a moment, Kate pictured Jo and A. N. Other. Shoes off. Snuggled up on the floor, listening to music, as they had once done. Sharing a joke. Possibly planning their next jolly jaunt. Making
out.
Jo stifled a laugh. ‘You should see your face!’
‘Face?’ Kate felt her cheeks burning even as she said it.
‘No need to panic, Kate. The lads have been round: a celebration for James’s graduation, remember? I asked you to join us.’
‘Ohmygod.’ Kate palmed her forehead. ‘I totally forgot, I’m
so
sorry.’
‘Don’t worry about it. You missed them by minutes. They’re off into town to meet some mates.’
With her jealousy out of the way, Kate could see more clearly. There were three, not two, wine glasses in the room. One had been left on a side table and there was a third champagne flute
abandoned in the hearth of a fabulous marble fireplace, the pride of the room. She felt silly and a little emotional. Fatigue sometimes had that effect.
She cleared her throat. ‘Am I allowed to ask how he did?’
‘He got a 2:1.’
‘Fantastic!’
‘Bloody amazing for someone who put no work in whatsoever.’ Even though Jo was smiling, her eyes were not. James had been tipped for a first but had been too busy shagging his
child at the arse-end of a school day, too grumpy and too tired to move. She didn’t hold on for fear that it would be interpreted as another pathetic attempt at reconciliation.
Jo looked happy and relaxed. Kate could hardly remember what it felt like to take a day off and chill. It was warm and cosy in the house. There was a faint whiff of alcohol in the air, and she
could hear music, a constant in both their lives when they hung out together. Just being there brought a rush of memories flooding back.
‘Heavy day?’ Jo asked.
Slipping off her shoes, Kate avoided eye contact. ‘The first few hours are always the worst. It’s bedlam in the office and this one’s not straight by any stretch of the
imagination. We’ve got victim IDs and bugger-all else. My guys are still in the haystack searching.’
‘I wasn’t sure you’d come this late.’
‘I nearly didn’t.’
Kate checked her watch – quarter to ten – almost nine hours since she’d promised to call Jo, sixteen since she’d started this particular shift. The role of SIO on the
Murder Investigation Team was her dream job, one she’d worked hard to secure, but there were times when she questioned what she was doing with her life, when the position asked too much of
her. Right now, she wished it would vanish, if only for a few days, until she recovered from the influx of cases that had wiped her out.
‘Sure you don’t mind?’ she said. ‘We can do this tomorrow.’
‘We’ll do it now. You look like you need a good talking to.’
Jo moved away, her tapered trousers and skinny T-shirt accentuating her figure as she walked towards the kitchen. Kate followed, trying to ignore her own reflection in a full-length mirror at
the end of the hallway. She looked dreadful, longed for a soak in a hot bath and a change of clothes.
Inviting her to sit at the table, Jo handed her a bowl of soup and a chunk of brown bread, told her to eat while she poured them both a glass of wine. ‘I take it you’re finished for
the night – unless that damn phone of yours summons you back.’
Mid-mouthful, Kate nodded.
The soup tasted good. It was homemade and warmed to the perfect temperature. A few feet away, Nelson, Jo’s young Labrador, was curled up asleep in his basket next to the Aga, so peaceful
she wished she could lie down beside him and drop off.
When she’d finished eating, Kate followed Jo through to the living room, her stomach churning as she walked through the door. The lighting was soft – very personal – and it
wasn’t for her. A couple of candles were burning away and there were signs of an intimate evening: two champagne flutes, wine glasses, empty bottles, corks and CDs littering the place.
Quite a party.
For a moment, Kate pictured Jo and A. N. Other. Shoes off. Snuggled up on the floor, listening to music, as they had once done. Sharing a joke. Possibly planning their next jolly jaunt. Making
out.
Jo stifled a laugh. ‘You should see your face!’
‘Face?’ Kate felt her cheeks burning even as she said it.
‘No need to panic, Kate. The lads have been round: a celebration for James’s graduation, remember? I asked you to join us.’
‘Ohmygod.’ Kate palmed her forehead. ‘I totally forgot, I’m
so
sorry.’
‘Don’t worry about it. You missed them by minutes. They’re off into town to meet some mates.’
With her jealousy out of the way, Kate could see more clearly. There were three, not two, wine glasses in the room. One had been left on a side table and there was a third champagne flute
abandoned in the hearth of a fabulous marble fireplace, the pride of the room. She felt silly and a little emotional. Fatigue sometimes had that effect.
She cleared her throat. ‘Am I allowed to ask how he did?’
‘He got a 2:1.’
‘Fantastic!’
‘Bloody amazing for someone who put no work in whatsoever.’ Even though Jo was smiling, her eyes were not. James had been tipped for a first but had been too busy shagging his
Similar Books
