Read Online Who is Sarah Lawson: A Captivating Psychological Thriller by K.J. Rabane - Free Book Online Page B

of tea in the pot.”
    Later, with Bruce at his heels, he left his car in Bernard’s drive and headed for the lane leading into the field. It was dry underfoot and Bruce lost no time chasing rabbits back to their burrows, making the occasional sortie into the undergrowth and returning like a homing pigeon whenever Richie whistled.
    The dog was a perfect cover. No one questioned a man’s right to roam, if he had a dog in tow. He became invisible, no longer a private investigator, but simply a dog walker exercising his pet Labrador. He knew that even if Hannah Lawson saw him from her bedroom window she would never link the man walking his dog, wearing an anorak and a baseball cap, with the dark-suited researcher from the council carrying a clipboard.
    As they neared the woods, he called Bruce to heel and attached his lead. A trodden down pathway through the wood led to the houses on Bramble Lane so he followed it until the trees began to thin. Sunlight penetrated the foliage and dappled his shoulders as he walked towards the boundary of number thirty-four. Careful inspection of the property earlier , via his computer, had given him all the information he required.
    Bruce raised his head as Richie removed a small rubber ball from his pocket. The dog barked.
    “Ssh, not now; we’ll play later, I promise,” he whispered, throwing the ball high into the air. It sailed over the fence bordering number thirty-four as the dog strained at the lead.
    Skirting the rest of the houses until they reached the main road, he pulled the peak of his baseball cap lower and walked back towards number thirty-four. The yellow car was just reversing out of the drive so he walked past the gate until the car disappeared down the lane in the direction of town.
    It was Saturday morning. Sandy would be locking up the office about now he thought glancing at his watch. Hannah Lawson had been alone in the car. A black BMW stood in the drive. As he approached the house he noticed the absence of children’s vo ices. It was a pleasant morning, why weren’t they out playing?
    Ringing the bell, he waited, Bruce sitting obediently at his heels. After a while the door was opened and a tall thin man with thick dark hair stood back in the shadows. “I’m sorry to bother you. We were walking through the woods and I’m afraid my dog’s ball landed in your back garden.”
    It looked as if the man was going to shut the door wi thout comment but then he said, “And you want me to search for it, I suppose?”
    Assuming a sympathetic expression Richie said, “I know I’m a terrible nuisance bothering you like this but it’s his favourite.” It sounded lame even to him. “My kids would go mad if they thought I’d lost it. They love the dog to bits but as usual I’m the one left to exerci se him.” He took a step back. “I could go around the side - search for it myself - I really don’t want to put you to any trouble.”
    The man sighed. “If you take the side door, I’ll join you in the back garden.”
    “Very kind, I appreciate it,” Richie said, urging Bruce forward.
    The garden was larger than it had looked on his laptop. When his client had described the property she’d told him a gardener still called to keep it in order, as it was too large for her to manage. The lawn was unkempt and in need of a good trim. The border plants also showed some evidence of neglect, although it looked recent.
    “Do your children have any pets?” Richie asked as he searched the undergrowth.
    “Nah, kids are enough trouble without having animals as well,” Andy Lawson replied kicking at a shrub with the toe of his trainer.
    “My sentiments exactly. I was duped into caring for Bruce. They conned me.”
    “ It’s what kids do.”
    The conversation about children flowed as they searched.
    “Lovely houses these, spacious, my place is bursting at the seams. Been here long?” The question sounded innocent enough
    “Here it is.” Lawson held up the ball.