Out of the Ashes_A DI Maya Rahman Novel by Vicky Newham

Author:Vicky Newham [Newham, Vicky]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008240714
Goodreads: 43308980
Publisher: HQ
Published: 2019-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

Maya, 10.45 p.m.

I left Indra with my thoughts spiralling. It had been a long, exhausting day and part of me wanted to go home and collapse into bed, but my mind wouldn’t settle until I’d told Dan about Simas’ mistress, and found out whether we’d received news on Ali.

Questions were tumbling over in my mind when I arrived back at the MIT offices, and I hurried over to see if Dan was still here. For once, the office was quiet, and children’s giggles and shrieks rang out in the incident room. Dan was still at his desk, captivated by whatever was on his screen, and didn’t seem to hear me approach. An empty sandwich box sat next to his mug, and his planner showed a page-view of the months in 2020. The full-screen view on his monitor showed his two daughters, Kiara and Sharna. One was spooning breakfast cereal into her mouth while the other plaited her sister’s hair.

‘You’ve been saying that for ages,’ Sharna’s voice was thick with disappointment.

I froze.

‘Can you come for my party, Daddy?’ Kiara joined in. ‘Please say you will.’

‘Very soon, I promise.’ Dan’s voice was gentle. ‘It depends on my job here, you see.’ He was trying to sound cheerful, but I caught the despondency in his tone. ‘And Mummy’s been offered a new job outside Sydney, so we’re still figuring out how to arrange things.’

‘But Daddy, Christmas was ages ago. Like, months and months . . . ’

Dan was massaging his neck muscles and rotating his head. ‘I know, sweetheart, but these things take time, and . . . Kiara, eat properly. You’ve dropped milk on your uniform and Mummy . . . ’

I decided to pop to the loo and give them a bit of space.

In the toilets, I perched on a plastic chair and dumped my jacket down. Dougie would be at home, so I gave him a quick ring and checked my emails for developments. When I stood up, my reflection in the mirror made me chuckle: hair everywhere and barely a scrap of make-up remaining from this morning – but I didn’t care.

When I got back to our cluster of desks, Dan was off Skype. He was hunched over the desk, with his head resting on folded arms.

‘Phew,’ I said loudly to announce my arrival. ‘What a day.’ I dumped my bag down and realised I’d left my jacket in the loo.

‘You can say that again,’ he grunted towards the floor.

‘There’s a cuppa here for you.’

He sat up. ‘Think I need something stronger than that.’ I’d rarely seen Dan cry but his eyes were pink and bloodshot.

‘What’s up?’ I hoped he hadn’t heard me come in a few minutes ago.

‘I thought Aroona was coming round to the idea of moving over here but she’s been offered a job in the outback. It’s a one-year contract to start with, and she’s just told me she wants to take it.’

Everyone in the team knew how much Dan struggled with being apart from his family.

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