Read Online Maloney's Law by Anne Brooke - Free Book Online

opened is mellow on my tongue. Not as punchy as whisky or as refreshing as a beer, but it’s a reasonable substitute. Jade’s lived in Stratford for two years, five months, and two weeks now, and it’s not a bad place. Not too far from the main shops and station, and near enough to some essential green space to be desirable. The area is up and coming. As opposed to where I am in Hackney, which is down and out.
    ‘Paul?’
    ‘Hmm?’
    ‘You haven’t told me much about the morning meeting with the CEO. Did you manage to get anything else out of Delta Egypt, apart from a bird’s eye view of The Nile? Mr. Kenzie didn’t let slip any mentions of Bluesky or anything useful?’
    I shift in my seat and put down my wine. ‘No time to ask. Blake saw through my feeble disguise in less than thirty seconds, made a series of threats, and then bounced me out of the building.’
    ‘What sort of threats?’
    ‘The usual, nothing to worry about.’ Picking up my wine again, I rock it in my hand and watch the liquid undulate ’round the glass. ‘Any plans for tonight at all?’
    Jade shakes her head. ‘I don’t know, all these years we’ve known each other and you think I can’t see through you. Don’t bother changing the subject. What threats?’
    ‘Honestly, nothing I didn’t anticipate.’
    ‘Except?’
    ‘Except he knew about Teresa.’
    Jade doesn’t reply, and when I look at her, she’s leaning forward, a frown on her face. ‘I didn’t think you talked to anyone about your sister.’
    ‘I don’t. Not now.’
    ‘So how did he...?’
    ‘I don’t know. Look, I’m sorry, but I think he was just trying for a reaction. And he got it. Can we talk about something else?’
    Reaching across, she pats my hand, her fingers cool, and then smiles, ‘In answer to your previous question, I don’t have any plans. Nothing social that is, present company excepted. Supper, wine, TV, book, bed. In that order. You?’
    ‘Same.’
    ‘Want to join up our action-packed social programmes?’
    ‘No, sorry, though it sounds tempting. I want to have at least another spin through the Delta Egypt files this evening. See if anything springs out.’
    ‘We can do that together now if you like.’
    ‘No, that’s okay. I’d like to look at it on my own first. Let’s leave any brainstorming session ’til Monday. I’m not planning to ring Dominic ’til then. There is one thing you could do for me, though.’
    ‘Name it.’
    Struggling up from the chair, I pad to the set of hooks I put up for her last year, reach inside my jacket, and find the object I’m looking for. ‘Could you keep this for me? Don’t do any work on it. In fact, I forbid it. Leave it to Monday. But it’s just in case—’
    ‘Sure, no problem.’ Jade takes the CD from my fingers and then wrinkles her nose. ‘Wait a minute. It’s not the one you were carrying when you peed yourself, is it?’
    ‘Don’t be stupid. Haven’t you heard of gravity? It’s safe enough. Anyway, it’s a copy. The original’s with me. I do have some taste and sense of propriety.’
    ‘Glad to hear it. Just testing.’
    ‘Yeah, sure, don’t tell me. I’m easy to tease. And after daring to forbid you to do something, I deserve it.’ I drain my wine and shrug my jacket over my shoulders. Not that I need it in this weather, but Dominic once told me how good I looked in it. ‘I’d best go. Thanks for the afternoon break.’
    ‘My pleasure.’ She takes a breath and then stops, as if drawing something back that hasn’t yet been spoken.
    ‘What?’
    ‘Nothing.’
    ‘No, go on, if there’s something else on your mind — apart from warnings about jumping out of Egyptian buildings and not going to the doctor — let’s hear it.’
    There’s a silence then she says, ‘It wasn’t anything special. All I was going to say was I’m having Sunday lunch with my parents tomorrow. Do you want to come? They’ll be thrilled to see you.’
    ‘A plan to cheer me up by putting