Ashes of Betrayal: A Yorkshire Murder Mystery (DCI Harry Grimm Crime Thrillers Book 18) by David J. Gatward

Author:David J. Gatward [Gatward, David J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Weirdstone Publishing
Published: 2024-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

When Harry awoke, he felt like he’d only just closed his eyes, but judging by the view through the window, that was very much not the case. Instead of little stone cottages and the green fells of Wensleydale, all he could see was traffic, and plenty of it. The outside world was bright, artificially so, thanks to the headlights keeping the growing darkness at bay.

‘Where are we?’

Jadyn leaned forward as though not entirely sure himself.

‘Glasgow,’ he said, his tone less than convincing.

Harry sat up.

‘You’re positive about that?’

‘Well, if it’s Edinburgh, I definitely took a wrong turn at some point.’

Harry shook his head.

‘Of course it’s Glasgow,’ he yawned. ‘But that’s not two hours from when we set off, is it? How long have you been driving?’

‘Just over three hours,’ said Jadyn. ‘I didn’t want to wake you.’

‘What? Why?’

Harry was groggy from his longer-than-expected nap, and a little annoyed that Jadyn hadn’t done as he’d ordered.

‘Actually, I did try to a couple of times, but you were having none of it. Kept right on snoring.’

Harry’s annoyance was swiftly replaced by embarrassment.

‘I was snoring? I don’t snore.’

‘How would you know?’

‘Grace would’ve told me.’

‘I wouldn’t worry,’ said Jadyn. ‘It was fine. Not very loud at all. Hardly noticed. More like a cat purring.’

Harry rubbed his eyes, yawned, stretched.

‘A cat purring? I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.’

‘Me too,’ Jadyn agreed.

‘Any problems?’

‘None,’ said Jadyn. ‘Sailed through actually; this is the busiest it’s been. That’s why I kept driving; wanted to make the most of the clear roads.’

‘Well, as soon as you can find somewhere to stop, do so; I’ll do the next leg.’

‘I don’t mind, really,’ said Jadyn.

‘Well, I do,’ replied Harry. ‘Anyway, I could do with a toilet break.’

‘Actually, so could I,’ said Jadyn. ‘I’ve been holding on because I didn’t want to disturb you.’

‘Just so long as you’ve not had an accident.’

‘Not yet, I haven’t,’ said Jadyn, then pointed at a sign ahead for motorway services. ‘There we go, we’ll stop there.’

The stop at the service area was brief enough for a toilet stop and to grab a snack, but also long enough to horrify Harry with the clattering cacophony of the place. Not just the cars either, filling the air with irritated horns, the squeal of breaks, and the stink of exhaust, but the crowds. There was a grumbling sea of people washing in and out of the service area, returning to their vehicles with the flotsam and jetsam of modern society on the road carrying over-sized coffee cups, burgers in paper bags, and carrier bags of snacks.

Harry was pleased not only to be leaving the service area, but to be driving, and soon had them back with the river of traffic flooding north, crossing the Clyde on the Erskine bridge to break apart on the opposite side. He declined Jadyn’s offer to listen to more of his podcast, instead opting to have the window down despite the chill in the air. Then, as dusk closed its eyes and the darkness

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