Before I Wake by Clare Revell

Author:Clare Revell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Published: 2020-04-20T00:00:00+00:00

12

Isabel rang Zander as the DI drove to the crime scene. His service car had lights in the grill and windows and a siren. Which was just as well, as he didn’t bother to stop at the red traffic signals, but only slowed sufficiently to get through safely.

She groaned as the phone went to voice mail again. “Zander, it’s me for the third time. Answer your phone, will you?” Ending the call, she tried ringing the landline. It rang and rang. As she was about to hang up, someone answered.

“Zander’s phone.”

Isabel put the call on speaker. She assumed it was Mike. “I need to speak to DS Zander Ellery, please. Put him on.”

“You the chick he lives with, right? We met briefly this morning.”

“I’m calling from Thames Valley Police, and I need to speak with him urgently. Put him on the phone.”

“Yes, ma’am. Keep your hair on.” Thudding followed. Then a raised voice. “Hey, Zander. Get your drunken behind out here. There’s a bossy cow on the phone for you.”

Isabel cringed, wishing she’d hadn’t put the call on speaker. “That’s his rather inebriated mate who apparently crashed on the couch last night.”

“Is Zander drunk?” DI Holmes sounded even shorter than he had when they’d left the nick.

“He says not, though he stank like a brewery when I left.”

Clunking echoed from the phone. “Who is it?” Zander asked sharply.

“DC Bossy Cow,” she snapped. “You’re on speaker, and I’m with DI Holmes.”

“Isabel?”

“How many DC Bossy Cows do you work with?” She’d love to slap him right now, but fortunately for him, he wasn’t within reach. “I need you to snap out of whatever you’re on and—”

“I’m not on anything. I told you that. What gives you the right to talk to me like that?”

DI Holmes pulled sharply to the side of the road. He stuck the hazard lights on. “Give me the phone.” He took it off speaker and opened the door. “Zander, it’s DI Holmes.” He slammed the door.

Isabel leaned back in the seat and folded her arms, so glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of the Guv’s wrath. Lord, I so want to be wrong about Zander. But this isn’t like him. He doesn’t drink. He doesn’t screw up and it has to be nothing more than a coincidence, doesn’t it? Him being AB negative, the same as the two victims at the crime scenes where he was covered in blood too? A coincidence he’s missing at the times the girls were killed?

The car door opened. DI Holmes got in and tossed her the phone. “Here.” His tone was curt, his eyes stony, and lips set.

“Thank you.” She wanted to ask but didn’t.

“I’ve asked Austin to collect Zander and take him to the nick. He won’t be driving anywhere until he’s been breathalysed.”

“You really think he’s drunk?” she asked quietly. That was better than what she was thinking.

“Either that or he’s putting on a front for this mate of his.” He started the car and pulled out, lights and sirens going again.

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