Read Online Watching the Ghosts by Kate Ellis - Free Book Online

next door? Would you say she’s attractive?’ He wanted to see the man’s reaction.
    â€˜Can’t say I’ve noticed.’ The reply was quick and Joe didn’t believe a word of it.
    â€˜I’ll need the name of the person you visited. To eliminate you from our enquiries.’
    Proud recited a name and address. And from his confidence, Joe guessed that his alibi would stand up. Perhaps this one wouldn’t be so easy after all.
    â€˜Where’s the money? Don’t you want Daisy back?’
    According to the caller with the robot voice, Melanie hadn’t delivered the money he’d given her. Which meant that the ten grand he’d placed carefully in the holdall had vanished into some black hole. He dismissed his earlier nagging suspicion that she’d found out about his relationship with Yolanda and the liberties he’d taken with their bank account and staged Daisy’s abduction, absconding with the money as some sort of twisted revenge. He didn’t really think that was Melanie’s style.
    He sat on the sofa and put his head in his hands. He’d had his reservations about involving the police but now he knew that he was out of his depth. And the longer he delayed, the worse it would look. His father had been a policeman and he knew how their minds worked. At the time he’d been glad that Melanie hadn’t kept her appointment with Emily Thwaite, but now he just hoped that the woman had a forgiving nature.

EIGHT
    F orensic hadn’t found anything useful in Lydia Brookes’s flat. The man they called The Builder had been careful as usual. Joe reckoned the bastard had been watching too many cop shows – everyone with a TV was an expert in avoiding detection these days.
    â€˜I’m worried about that note he left,’ Joe said as he and Emily got into the car.
    â€˜Yes, it’s a departure from his previous MO. And when criminals start branching out, I start getting worried.’
    â€˜I might call on Lydia Brookes later to see how she is, give her a bit of reassurance and check her security while I’m at it.’
    Emily gave him a knowing wink. ‘Yes, she’s a good-looking lass.’
    â€˜I didn’t mean . . .’
    â€˜I’m a woman of the world, Joe. I know about these things. It’s about time you had a bit of female company.’
    He felt a stab of irritation that she felt she had the right to interfere. His private life was none of her business, provided it didn’t affect his work. On the other hand he knew she was probably right. He wasn’t the type who flourished in isolation. Maybe that’s why he felt annoyed. Because the truth hurts.
    â€˜Is something the matter?’
    He turned to her and saw that she had put her head to one side, waiting for a response. ‘No. Why should it be? What did this Jack Hawkes say?’ It was safer to return to work matters. Love and sex were things he’d rather not think about at that moment. He’d lost everything when his wife, Kaitlin, had died soon after their wedding so he knew love could be bad news. On the other hand, so could loneliness.
    â€˜I’m not sure why I’m rushing there at his beck and call. His wife bloody stood me up yesterday.’ It was the third time Emily had mentioned this; Melanie Hawkes’ cavalier attitude to her valuable time clearly irked her. ‘He said it was urgent but I’m just not sure whether I believe him. I’ve met him a few times at PTA meetings and he struck me as the sort who’s full of himself . . . the sort who likes playing games.’
    â€˜What sort of games?’
    â€˜Power games.’
    Joe didn’t answer. Emily had obviously taken a dislike to Jack Hawkes on scant acquaintance and he suspected her animosity wasn’t only due to his wife’s no-show at their appointment. But he’d wait till he met the man before he decided for himself.
    Emily drove