Shooting Season: A DCI Harry Grimm Novel by David J Gatward

Author:David J Gatward [Gatward, David J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Weirdstone Publishing
Published: 2021-02-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Harry had the whole team gathered together in the community centre in Hawes. It was bright outside, though the promised heat of the sun was held at bay by a bite in the wind, the teeth of it sharp enough to gnaw through clothing. There were better days to start the week, he knew that for sure, but before they got to what had happened over the weekend, Harry had other news to deliver. And he didn’t know which he was looking forward to less.

‘You okay, Boss?’

Harry was making himself another mug of tea, his fourth since waking up at six from a nightmare that had him trapped in a cave and surrounded by headless bodies. It was certainly one of his more vivid dreams for sure. Matt’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

‘What? Yeah, I’m fine,’ Harry replied then held up his mug. ‘Want one?’

‘Never say no.’ Matt smiled, then in a hushed voice said, ‘Look, about what you have to tell everyone, about Alderson? I’m happy to do it if you want. I mean, I knew him, and it might be easier for me, that’s all.’

Harry handed Matt a steaming mug.

‘It’s all part of the job. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.’

‘Oh, I didn’t say I was worried.’ Matt winked, then sauntered away to join the others.

Harry watched Matt go, Fly bounding over to whip onto his back for a tummy rub at the DS’s feet. Then, when Matt sat down, the dog turned his attention to Harry, slinking over, head low, tail flailing around like it had a life all its own.

Harry dropped to a crouch and the dog nuzzled into his legs, reaching up to try and lick his chin. Harry smiled and scratched the animal’s head, which caused it to drop onto its back, legs up in the air. A brief tummy rub later and Harry stood back up and walked over to the rest of the team.

‘Right then,’ he began, ‘before we get onto what’s been going on over the weekend, I’ve something else I need to tell you.’

At this, and the clear and serious tone to Harry’s voice, everyone fell quiet and turned their attention to him. Even Fly, Harry noticed, and suddenly become still, sitting as he was under Jim’s seat.

‘As you all know, I had a meeting with Detective Superintendent Swift on Saturday.’

‘You’re not leaving us, are you?’ Jim said, sitting upright now, alert. ‘I mean, I know you’re not here permanently, like, but it wasn’t about that was it? You going back down south? Because you can’t, not yet, surely.’

‘It had better not be,’ Liz said, voicing her support for what Jim had said.

Harry smiled as the rest of the team joined in with nods and words of support. All things considered, it was nice to hear that they at least liked him. Harry wasn’t exactly used to that. Back in Bristol, his team had been excellent and professional and hardworking, yes, and the same could be said of everyone sitting in front of him now.

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