Read Online Playing with Fire by Peter Robinson - Free Book Online Page B

some money we’d saved on the boat, a couple of hundred. But that’s gone now, along with everything else. I’m not a sponger. I’ve got a job. I’m not afraid of hard work.”
    Banks remembered what Annie had told him about her interview with Mandy Patterson, about Mark’s dreams. “Someone said you wanted to be a stonemason, do church-restoration work. Is that right?”
    Mark looked away, embarrassed. “Well, I don’t have the qualifications, but I’d like to have a go. I just like old churches, that’s all. I’m not religious or anything, so I don’t know why. I just do. They’re beautiful buildings.”
    â€œWhat about clothes?”
    â€œThe clothes you took are all I’ve got,” he said. “Everything else went up with the boat.”
    â€œWe’re about the same size,” said Banks. “I can let you have some old jeans and stuff till you get yourself sorted.”
    â€œThanks,” said Mark, looking down at the red low-cost suspect overalls he had been issued with. “Anything would be better than this.”
    â€œCan you go home for a while? To your parents?”
    Mark gave a sharp shake of his head. Again, Banks knew better than to pursue the subject, no matter how curious he was to know what made Mark react in such a frightened manner at the mention of his parents. Same as Tina, most likely. There was too much of it about, and most of it still didn’t get reported.
    â€œWhat about mates? Someone from the building site, perhaps?”
    â€œI suppose there’s Lenny.”
    â€œDo you know his address?”
    â€œNo, but he’s in the George most lunchtimes. Besides, the people at the site know him.”
    â€œDo you think he’d be willing to put you up for a couple of nights until you find a flat, get on your feet again?”
    â€œMaybe. Look, don’t worry about me,” Mark said. “I’ll be all right. I’m used to taking care of myself. Can I go back to my cell now? I didn’t sleep, and I’m dog-tired.”
    Banks glanced at his watch. “It’s lunchtime. I hear they do a decent burger and chips.”
    Mark stood up. The two of them walked downstairs, where Banks handed Mark over to one of the constables on duty, who would escort him down to the basement custody facilities. Then Banks walked out into the market square and headed for the Queen’s Arms. He fancied a beef burger and chips, too, but he’d have to miss out on his usual lunchtime pint. He was going to Adel to talk to Tina’s parents, and he didn’t want the smell of beer on his breath when he spoke to Dr. Patrick Aspern.

Chapter 3
    A fter stopping off at home for a quick shower and a change of clothes, Banks headed down to Adel early that afternoon, listening to the same Beethoven string quartet that had been playing on the radio during his talk with Mark: number 12 in E flat.
    The fog had thinned to a mere gauze, except in patches, so it wasn’t a difficult drive, and the temperature was heading toward double figures. One or two hardy souls were out playing on the golf course near Harrogate, dressed in sweaters and jeans.
    Banks turned off the Leeds ring road onto Otley Road and stopped by the imposing gates of Lawnswood Crematorium to consult his map. A little farther along the main road, he turned right and drove into the affluent community of winding streets that was Adel.
    He soon found the large detached corner house, which also doubled as the doctor’s surgery. This wasn’t going to be an easy job, Banks reflected as he got out of his car. Mark’s allegations against Patrick Aspern might be groundless, and Banks was there to tell the parents that their daughter was dead and ask them to identify the body, not to interrogate the stepfather over sexual abuse. That might come later, though, Banks knew, so he would have to bealert for anything out of the ordinary