Living Death by Graham Masterton

Author:Graham Masterton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, Thriller & Suspense
ISBN: 9781784081409
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2016-05-31T07:00:00+00:00

25

Conor’s room was at the very top of the guest house. Katie climbed up the steep white-painted staircase with its blue floral carpet and she could hear Conor right behind her, his shopping bag rustling and knocking against the banisters. She felt as if what was happening to her now was unreal, and that perhaps she was an actor, and this was nothing more than a play. Yet she was completely sober, unlike most of the first times that she had been with men. She was climbing these stairs because she wanted him – she wanted Conor, and for no other reason.

He unlocked the door of his room and let her in. Before he switched on the lights she walked over to the windows and looked out. She could see almost all of the city centre, from Kent railway station to St Finbarr’s Cathedral, and all the streetlights glittering, and traffic crawling along the quays like fireflies. And of course the River Lee itself, black and black-hearted.

Conor turned on the bedside lamps rather than the main light. The room was comfortably furnished, red-carpeted, with a king-size bed and gilt mirrors and antique-style chairs, and it was warm.

‘I have to make one call,’ said Katie. ‘I have a girl at home who’s dog-sitting for me. I have to tell her that I won’t be back.’

‘Of course,’ said Conor. He came over and helped her out of her raincoat, and then he took off his own coat and carried both of them over to the wardrobe. ‘We have to take care of our four-legged friends. What is he? Or she?’

‘Barney’s a boy. An Irish setter. And he’s pure smart. I don’t think he even realises that he’s a dog.’

She rang her home number, and Bridie answered, ‘Detective Superintendent Maguire’s residence. Bridie Mulligan speaking.’

‘Oh, Bridie, this is Katie. How’s the form?’

‘All quiet, Katie. Nothing to report. Himself had a sleep this afternoon and now he’s watching the telly. He’s looking forward to you coming home.’

As she was talking, Conor came up behind her and eased her tweed jacket off her shoulders. She changed hands with her iPhone so that he could slide the sleeves off. He took off his own jacket, too, and laid both jackets on the nearby chair.

‘That’s the thing, Bridie,’ said Katie. ‘It looks like I won’t be able to make it back home tonight. We’ve had an emergency here and I don’t know how long it’s going to take to deal with it. Is it all right if I ask you to stay over? You can sleep in my bed if you like, and you’ll find a clean nightdress in the press and clean towels on the shelf in the bathroom. I’ll make it worth your while.’

‘That’s no bother at all, Katie. I always fetch my toiletry bag with me, in case I have to stay late.’

Conor lifted Katie’s hair and kissed the nape of her neck. The soft brushing of his beard against her bare skin sent a tickling sensation all the way down her spine.

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