The Graveyard Shift: A Ryan Jarrod Tyneside Crime Thriller (Ryan Jarrod series Book 9) by Colin Youngman

Author:Colin Youngman [Youngman, Colin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Seaward Partners
Published: 2023-11-21T16:00:00+00:00

SEVENTEEN

The next few days passed without any substantial advances in the case. Despite the team accepting that the results on Matty Neill’s post-mortem meant Ryan’s theory was now the most likely lead, Jarrod remained downbeat.

The team’s efforts focused on known homophobes with a penchant for violence and sociopathic sadists held on record, of which there were significantly more than anyone expected. None of them had a background in anatomy or medicine.

Danskin despatched an embarrassed squad of uniformed officers to the dodgy nightspots Muzzle had told Ryan about, only for them to be met by walls of silence. None of the establishments kept a list of members, much to Superintendent Maynard’s chagrin.

Ryan’s mood wasn’t enhanced by missing the Borussia Dortmund Champions League match or its result, nor the news his Gran had contracted Covid despite the plethora of vaccinations she’d received. More especially, the fact Hannah attended her twenty-week scan without his knowledge really annoyed him.

He needed a break. A bit of man-time. Ryan invited Gavin for a pint at The Telegraph inn but O’Hara declined. Todd Robson was next in line but he feared another trip to the pink triangle and had a sudden pressing engagement. Trebilcock was on lates, Ravi didn’t drink for religious reasons, and Danskin for the sake of his sobriety…which left Lucy Dexter.

Ryan almost asked her even though she quite clearly wasn’t a man, but he wasn’t convinced the torch she carried for him was out of battery power.

He settled for walking the hind legs off poor Kenzie. When the dog could take no more, Ryan had no other option but to ring Hannah.

‘Out your huff yet, then?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ was his sharp reply.

‘Good.’

‘Looker, I don’t want to go over old ground but you should have told me about the scan; at least give me the option of saying no.’

He heard her sigh. ‘I told you everything was okay, didn’t I? You were busy, Ry, and you, me, and little ‘un need you to focus on your work. If we’ve an extra mouth to feed, we need the promotion for you.’

Ryan’s turn to sigh. ‘Aye, but we won’t have an extra mouth to feed. You will. You’ve made that quite clear.’

‘So much for not going over old ground,’ she mumbled.

‘Reet. Point taken. Listen, do you fancy going for some scran?’

‘Yes, but I don’t want to be late back.’

‘How about the Jamdani or maybe Chutney’s?’

‘I like them both, but why don’t you come over here? Florence on Osborne Road, maybe?’

‘Good grief, I’ll need that promotion to keep you in the lifestyle you’re accustomed. Have you seen their prices?’

‘The starters are pricey but the mains are okay and well-worth it. And, as a bonus, you get to stay over at mine, nudge-nudge wink-wink.’

Ryan considered the offer. ‘I need to put this case to bed, love.’

‘And you’d prefer that to putting me to bed? You’ve driven a stake through my heart, Ryan Jarrod,’ she joked. After a moment’s silence, Hannah realised what she’d said. ‘Oh God. That was inappropriate, wasn’t it?’

‘Just a tad.

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