BLUE MURDER a gripping crime thriller filled with twists (Detective Janine Lewis Mysteries Book 1) by CATH STAINCLIFFE

Author:CATH STAINCLIFFE [STAINCLIFFE, CATH]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Joffe Books crime thriller, mystery and suspense
Published: 2022-07-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Day 3: Monday, 24 February

Tom sounded a bit wheezy, Janine watched him as he ate a bowl of cereal. He looked well enough and he hadn’t said anything. Was she just fussing? It would be a nightmare if he had to stay off.

She had roped in her mum and dad to have them before school and to drop Eleanor and Tom there. Michael made his own way to high school. But if they had to mind Tom all day . . .

He noticed her eyes on him and beamed. She smiled back. He was fine. Don’t go looking for extra problems, she admonished herself, you’ve enough on. She heard the mail arrive and went to pick it up. Bills, offers of a platinum card and a home loan, a letter. Parents of Michael Lewis. She ripped it open. Read the contents with mounting dismay.

Dear Mr and Mrs Lewis,

I am writing to you because I am extremely concerned about the deterioration in Michael’s school-work and problems at school that have been brought to my attention. I would like to meet with you as a matter of some urgency and will be available during lunchtime recess every day this week.

Yours sincerely, Mr Corkland, Head of Year 10

She stuffed the letter in her pocket. She would try and get in today; the sooner she knew what was going on the better.

‘Yer Dad had a terrible night,’ her mum announced when they got there.

She felt guilty. ‘Oh, Mum. Look, get a taxi, save him driving.’

‘A taxi? It’ll cost the earth.’

Janine pulled out her purse. ‘I’ll pay.’

Her mum put up her hand. ‘We’ll manage.’ She was stubborn over money and would never spend anything she saw as unnecessary. Came from years of watching the pennies. Sometimes it drove Janine nuts — it wasn’t as if she and Pete struggled. They had enough money — just too little time.

* * *

The Lemon reacted pretty much as she had anticipated.

‘Three?! Good God, woman. The intention is to narrow down the number of suspects. Not keep adding to the collection.’ He gave an exasperated sigh.

‘Sir.’

‘This case. If it’s too much, in your condition . . .’

How bloody dare he! She gave him an icy stare. She noticed his computer had crashed again. Well, he could stay in virtual limbo for ever as far as she was concerned.

‘O’Halloran’s winding up the airport thing now. He should be clear by midweek. He can take the wheel if you’ve not made significant headway.’

She didn’t trust herself to speak. He couldn’t take the case off her. He couldn’t! She sat mutinous, feeling her blood rising. Watching him sneer and carp.

‘Cut to the chase, Janine. We are committed to an eight percent improvement in clear up rate, by next month. One cock-up and we’ll all be under the magnifying glass. You’ve got forty-eight hours.’

She finally lost it. Not prepared any longer to tug her forelock and toe the line. Just what exactly was his problem? She got to her feet. ‘Why are you constantly undermining me?’

He stared at her, incredulous.

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