Read Online The Donaldson Case by Diana Xarissa - Free Book Online Page A

read until you fall asleep.”
    “I only read
the classics,” Joan argued.  
    “Maybe it’s
time to try something new,” Janet replied.   “I suggest Agatha Christie.   She’s a classic anyway, in her genre.”
    “Detective
fiction,” Joan sniffed.   “Not really
my cup of tea.”
    “Stop being
such a literary snob,” Janet said.   “There’s nothing wrong with reading just for fun.”
    Joan looked as
if she was going to argue, but Janet spoke again.
    “Think how
wonderful it would feel to simply lose yourself in a
book right now,” she said persuasively.   “Get lost on the Orient Express.   I highly recommend it.”
    Before Joan
could argue further, Janet rushed up to her room and found the book.   She handed it to her sister with a
smile.
    “Really, try
it,” she said.   “If you hate it, you
can stop reading after chapter two.”
    “I’ll think
about it,” Joan said stiffly.   She
took the book and walked away towards her bedroom.
    Janet smiled
as she watched her go.

 
    Chapter
Seven
    When Janet’s
alarm went off the next morning, she climbed out of bed and took a longer than
normal shower.   They weren’t in any
great hurry to get to Derby, she told herself.   And once the guests arrived, showers
would be hurried affairs.   Joan had
breakfast ready when Janet finally made her way down to the kitchen.
    “I was
starting to think you’d overslept,” Joan said in a mild tone.
    Janet could
tell that her sister wasn’t happy.   “I’m sorry.   I took a long
shower to make up for all the quick ones I’ll have to take once the guests
arrive.”
    “I wish I’d
thought to do that,” Joan muttered as she put plates of food on the kitchen
table.
    “Maybe you
should have a nice long bath tonight,” Janet suggested.   “You prefer baths, anyway, and we should
be back from Derby in plenty of time.”
    “I might just
do that,” Joan said.   “I just hope,
I mean, oh, never mind.”
    Janet knew
exactly what Joan was hoping; that by the evening they’d have Michael’s problem
all sorted out.   Joan wouldn’t be
able to relax properly until the police had the drug thief in custody.
    They ate
quickly, with little conversation.   Joan had pulled out their maps of the area and had already worked out a
route to the hospital in Derby.   Now
she showed Janet what she’d found.
    “This little
side street is where the chemist shop is,” she said, showing Janet.   “We should be able to park at the
hospital and walk from there.   It
isn’t far.”
    Janet
nodded.   “I think I’ll drive,” she
said softly.
    Joan looked as
if she might object, but then shook her head.   “You probably should,” she agreed.
    The drive
wasn’t a bad one and traffic was lighter than Janet had feared.   They were in Derby earlier than they
expected and quickly found the hospital and its vast and confusing car park.
    “Do we know
which building Owen is in?” Janet asked as she turned onto the road that went
around the hospital complex.
    “I didn’t realise the hospital was this large,” Joan replied.   “I have no idea.”
    They drove
slowly around the entire facility, trying to read signs as they went.   Eventually Janet shrugged.   “I suppose we can walk if we have to,”
she said.  
    “Let’s try the
main building,” Joan suggested.   “We
know he isn’t in the maternity hospital or the children’s wing, after all.”
    Janet pulled
up to the gates for the car park for the main hospital and took a ticket from
the machine.   After a moment, the
gate lifted and she drove through it.   It took the women a few minutes to find an empty space and Janet sighed
with relief as she turned the car off.  
    “I love to
drive,” she said.   “But I hate
having to park.”
    Joan
laughed.   “I know what you mean,”
she said sympathetically.
    The pair made
their way towards the hospital’s nearest entrance.   Once inside, they followed signs