Cold Sanctuary: A Yorkshire Murder Mystery (DCI Harry Grimm Crime Thrillers 8) by David J. Gatward

Author:David J. Gatward [Gatward, David J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Weirdstone Publishing
Published: 2021-12-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

Matt’s knuckles were white. At his feet, Harry’s new dog, Smudge, was fast asleep, curled up in a ball and snuggled up on an old jacket of his.

‘You okay, there?’ Liz asked, as she tore down a narrow lane, their patrol car bouncing along almost as though it was enjoying itself.

‘Oh, yes, I’m absolutely fine and dandy!’ Matt said, not quite able to bring himself to take his attention away from the road ahead to look at Liz as he spoke. ‘Never felt better!’

Liz slowed down, dropped a gear, brought the car around a sharp bend with the ease of someone who could drive the lane blindfolded and in reverse, then accelerated out of it again.

‘You don’t look exactly relaxed.’

‘Don’t you worry about me,’ Matt said. ‘You just focus on your driving.’

‘I always focus on my driving.’

‘If you say so.’

Liz said, ‘Relax, have a Werther’s!’

Matt was pretty sure that he and Liz had very, very different views as to what he meant by being focused. He was also sure that a caramel sweet popped into his mouth wasn’t going to help any.

At last, Liz again slowed down, took a right, and kept her speed at something that meant Matt could blink again.

‘Caldbergh,’ Matt said. Then added under his breath, ‘At last.’

Smudge must have noticed the change in pace as she sat up then and rested her head on his legs. He gave her soft, dark head a little scratch. Harry had done well, here, Matt thought. Smudge was a bonny dog, as Gordy would say, with eyes on her that could melt the coldest of iron hearts.

‘Never actually been here before,’ Liz said, as they drove around a right bend, shaded by trees, then along past a house on their right before easing left into the village itself.

Passing along a short lane, with a small number of large houses on either side of it, Liz brought them to a stop.

‘It’s a place you need a reason to come to, if you know what I mean,’ Matt said. ‘The road doesn’t go anywhere, just splits off down a couple of lanes that fade off into the fells beyond.’

‘It’s nice though,’ said Liz, looking around.

‘Holiday cottages mainly, I think,’ Matt said. ‘It’s a sign of the times, I know, and it brings money in, but sometimes, I do wonder if we’ll get to a point where the dales are just holiday cottages and nowt else, some huge leisure park for those slightly better off than the rest of us.’

Liz stared over at Matt, shaking her head.

‘Bit doom and gloom for you, isn’t it?’

‘You know what I mean though, right?’ Matt said. ‘And all it does is just push up prices, displace locals…’

Matt’s voice died off.

‘What’s got into you this morning?’ Liz asked.

‘Oh, just ignore me,’ Matt said. ‘Just being a grumpy old man.’ He looked at the houses around them, found himself thinking of Joan, of their soon-to-arrive new family member. ‘Imagine living in one of these though, eh? Would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?’

‘Ah, so that’s it, then,’ Liz said.

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