For Richer, for Poorer by Kerry Wilkinson

Author:Kerry Wilkinson [Wilkinson, Kerry]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Thriller
ISBN: 9781447280910
Google: 3QOrCgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 27212394
Publisher: Pan
Published: 2016-02-11T00:00:00+00:00

23

Jessica resisted the urge to go home because there was one thing she needed to deal with at the station first.

Always one thing . . .

There was marginally more chat on the journey back, with Jessica filling Rowlands in about the rooms upstairs in Teague’s house but there was no depth to anything either of them had to say. He didn’t even scold her or threaten to tell the rest of the station when she misjudged the speed of a cyclist and nearly gave him a friendly clip on the back wheel. The cyclist offered an angry, though justified, pair of fingers; all while Rowlands said nothing.

Back at the station, Jessica headed through to the main floor, standing over Archie’s desk as he typed away. ‘Got a minute?’

‘I’m busy.’

‘Leave it – I need a word.’

He nodded without looking up but his hair hadn’t been gelled into his usual tight curls and he hadn’t shaved. He didn’t even have a sports website open on his monitor. He slipped his jacket on and followed Jessica off the floor, through the corridors and into the interview room. Jessica closed the door behind him and took a seat.

‘Am I being interrogated?’ he asked, apparently serious.

‘Just sit down. No one’s going to bother us here and I don’t want any nosy bastards overhearing stuff as they go past my office to the canteen.’

‘What do you want?’

‘Why are you acting like a dick?’

Archie peered up from the table to actually look at her: ‘What?’

‘I’ve heard you’ve been acting like a knobhead all morning – what’s wrong with you?’

‘Why are you asking?’

‘Oh, for God’s sake. How old are we? What are you worried about?’

‘Things are different between us now, aren’t they?’

‘Do you want them to be?’

Archie squirmed in his seat, not wanting to give the wrong answer.

Jessica rolled her eyes – how hard was it? ‘Okay, I say this with the complete admission that last night was a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be – but we’re not going out, I’m not your girlfriend, you’re not my boyfriend, we’re not getting married and we’re definitely not in a relationship. I wanted one thing from you and you weren’t too bad at it. That’s all. All right?’

The reply rolled slowly from Archie’s tongue: ‘Oh.’

‘Oh what?’

‘Oh . . . I thought it was going to be really awkward.’

‘Do you want to be going out?’

‘Er . . .’

‘You can say yes or no.’

‘No, then . . . sorry.’

Jessica sighed. ‘Don’t be sorry – I’m not. It was what it was. I was satisfied, you seemed to enjoy your little self and now we’re back at work – yes?’

Archie sat up straighter, his whole demeanour altered. ‘Oh . . . right.’

‘Good – then stop being a dick and come with me. I’ve just given myself an idea.’

Jessica and Archie followed the path through the cemetery. The constable puffed his neck up past his upturned collar meerkat-style and sniffed the air. ‘This is Manchester.’

‘Are you sure it’s not decomposing bodies?’

He laughed.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
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.