Read Online Referendum by Campbell Hart - Free Book Online Page B

double bed with a small 12” TV perched on a bracket seven feet in the air; he had to crane his neck from his bed to watch in anything approaching comfort. The room smelt of damp and the wallpaper was peeling and brown at the corner nearest the window.
    He opened the door to go to shower; the house had shared facilities and chat was an unfortunate by-product of this short term arrangement.
    “An inspector calls,” Arbogast knew the voice. His heart sank as the prospect of another long-winded conversation with Paul Meek beckoned. He turned around and nodded to his neighbour, “How are you doing?”
    “I’m fine, but I thought you were away for a couple of days?”
    “No,” he lied, “Just for the day, that must be your mistake.”
    Paul looked puzzled but Arbogast wasn’t in the mood, “I’m sorry mate, I really have to go; call of nature.”
    Under the jet of hot water from the misfiring shower Arbogast knew that he had to make a change for the better. He’d allowed himself to wallow in self-pity for long enough. His relationship with Rose was over, he knew that and he had an alternative, whether it was one he was going to persevere with was another question – one that might be answered tonight.
     
    Back from the gym Beckie Arnold took time to assess the progress. She looked good and she knew it. Beckie had always been pretty active but at 35 was taking more effort to keep herself in shape. The daily routine in front of the full length mirror was starting to get a bit obsessive but the hard work was paying off. Beckie could see greater definition in her abs, and when she turned side on the slight folds of fat on her side were being beaten back. She twisted and turned. She was pleased with the progress.
    It hadn’t been easy to juggle time for fitness with the demands of work. As manager of the Continental Gold Hotel, it had been a busy month. There were no hotel spaces left in Glasgow, the Games had seen to that, so business was good. Busy, but good. If it was like this all the time there’d be no need to worry.
    Then there was the cop, John Arbogast. They’d met online. He’d seemed surly at first and she hadn’t been keen. But he’d persevered; she’d given him a second chance and slowly they’d begun seeing more of each other. He was OK for now. From her bedside table she could see her phone moving slowly to the edge, she’d left it on silent/vibrate.
    “Speak of the devil. Hi, John, what’s up?”
    “Just thought I’d give you a call,”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah, are you busy just now?”
    “Just back from the gym,”
    “It’s nine o’clock at night.”
    “When else am I going to get to go? Let’s cut to the chase here, what are you after?”
    “What are you doing tonight?”
    “The night’s nearly over, John, you said yourself it’s nine o’clock. Time for bed.”
    “Can I come over?”
    Beckie knew she had him right where she wanted, “Are you not going to ask me what I’m wearing,” she was whispering now, putting on the voice he liked. She heard a chuckle at the end of the line.
    “So, what are you wearing Beckie?”
    “Not a thing, can you imagine it? A woman like me, home alone and exhausted after all that exercise.”
    There was no answer from the other side, “John, are you still there?” but the line was dead. About 20 seconds a ping signalled a new message on her phone.
     
    Be there in 5 xxx
     
    Beckie laughed; at least she didn’t have to go to that dingy hole he called home. Who knows this might be the last night they spent together. Depends on how he does.
     

July 22 nd
     
    Rosalind Ying was exhausted. The Games started tomorrow and her final duty before the main operation swung into place was to entertain the press. Every interview was more or less the same but given the international interest there were more of them to do than normal. She’d lost count after 15 but the press officer said there had been 24 in total. It was important to get the right