A Fatal Pact by H.J. Reed
Author:H.J. Reed [Reed, HJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-17T00:00:00+00:00
21
If thereâs one thing Iâve learned over the years, itâs that unconditional love tends to have conditions attached â except in one instance. Bluebell almost knocks me over in her joyful attempts to lick my face and stick her tongue in my ear. The fact that I abandoned her for almost two days is already, in her head, forgiven and forgotten. I wish I could forgive myself so easily. Once the mayhem has died down, and Blue is happy to alternate between chasing her tail and tangling herself in my legs, I make it to the kitchen, where Rosie is putting out plates of fish fingers and chips â cooked in an air fryer, she tells me as she gives me a hug, presumably to forestall any grumpy comments I might make about what Larson is letting her feed to my grandchildren.
âJohn told me what you found in Wales,â she says, sitting with us while we eat. âIt must have been awful.â
I throw Larson a glance, and he shrugs. I know how he feels. Being able to offload after the kind of experiences a murder squad detective gets confronted with is pretty much essential if you want to survive. Chrissie did her best, but was never able to take it in her stride. Rosie, on the other hand, is an altogether different proposition.
âNot the best,â I agree, managing to push down the feelings of envy and regret and giving her a smile. âBut we managed.â
Larson finishes his last mouthful. âIâd better go and check in with Ollie, see how heâs getting on,â he says, getting up and squeezing Rosieâs shoulder as he makes his way out and up to his office room. Ollie White probably got his head down an hour ago. My son-in-law just wants to give me and Rosie some father-daughter time.
âIâll bring you some coffee,â she says, and once heâs gone, she turns to me. âIâm worried about him, Dad. Is he really doing okay?â
âBetter than I thought he would,â I reply, for once unable to give anything but an honest opinion of my son-in-law. âWhat we saw in that tank got to more than one experienced officer, and I canât say he didnât turn a hair or two, but he stood his ground. Heâs got some balls, that husband of yours.â
She laughs. âYou should know that by now.â She gives me an appraising look. âWhy canât you admit you actually like him? It wouldnât kill you, you know.â
âMaybe not,â I say, âbut it might kill him. Right now, Iâm not just his father-in-law, Iâm also his boss, and I need him on his toes. Thereâs a dangerous man out there. We canât afford distractions.â
She sighs and makes to get up, but I put a hand on her arm, and she sinks back into her chair. âListen, Rosie,â I say. âThis is Johnâs first experience of a case like this, and itâs going to hit him at some point. My guess is heâs not sleeping much, burying
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
What's Done in Darkness by Kayla Perrin(25516)
Shot Through the Heart: DI Grace Fisher 2 by Isabelle Grey(18237)
Shot Through the Heart by Mercy Celeste(18180)
The Fifty Shades Trilogy & Grey by E L James(17792)
The 3rd Cycle of the Betrayed Series Collection: Extremely Controversial Historical Thrillers (Betrayed Series Boxed set) by McCray Carolyn(13206)
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson(12935)
Scorched Earth by Nick Kyme(11856)
Stepbrother Stories 2 - 21 Taboo Story Collection (Brother Sister Stepbrother Stepsister Taboo Pseudo Incest Family Virgin Creampie Pregnant Forced Pregnancy Breeding) by Roxi Harding(11079)
Drei Generationen auf dem Jakobsweg by Stein Pia(10232)
Suna by Ziefle Pia(10197)
Scythe by Neal Shusterman(9285)
International Relations from the Global South; Worlds of Difference; First Edition by Arlene B. Tickner & Karen Smith(8638)
Successful Proposal Strategies for Small Businesses: Using Knowledge Management ot Win Govenment, Private Sector, and International Contracts 3rd Edition by Robert Frey(8437)
This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay(7722)
Dirty Filthy Fix: A Fixed Trilogy Novella by Laurelin Paige(6469)
He Loves Me...KNOT by RC Boldt(5821)
How to Make Love to a Negro Without Getting Tired by Dany LaFerrière(5406)
Interdimensional Brothel by F4U(5321)
Thankful For Her by Alexa Riley(5185)