The Morpheus Decision by Seeley James

Author:Seeley James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thriller
ISBN: 9781733346771
Publisher: Machined Media
Published: 2022-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 37

The day spread over the land. Pia and Tania turned down a trip to the hospital. The paramedics left with Cody in the back, a broken collarbone suspected and possibly worse. They insisted on x-rays.

Pia and Tania sat on the grass near the main road, still smudged with blood and dirt, their hair smoked and caked with ashes, their clothes torn and muddy. Some of the extra PCs packed up and left. The sun rose higher and filled the morning with warm daylight. The police came back with questions and more questions. Having been through a few investigations, Pia and Tania waited and answered patiently.

An Uber pulled up to where the cottage driveway met the main road. Abby Stokes got out and stood in numbed silence, surveying the scene. Claigeann Cottage’s bullet-riddled front door hung from one hinge. A fifteen-foot circle of blackened char marred her perfect thatch. Shards of glass lay beneath every window. Crime scene investigators swarmed the exterior.

Pia walked up to her.

Abby kept her eyes on her home while she said, “What the fuck, Sabel?”

“Got a bit stuffy, so we opened a window … or two.” Pia waited, hoping Abby would laugh and knowing she wouldn’t.

Abby teared up. After a few deep breaths, she appeared to bring herself under control. She sniffled a few times, then blew her nose like an athlete. Closing one nostril with a finger, she blew the other on the ground, then switched sides. She wiped on her sleeve.

She looked up at Pia and said, “Suppose you and your lot are OK then?” She pointed at Pia’s face. “Except for that cheek.”

Pia pulled up her top, revealing bruises across her midriff.

“Bloody hell, Sabel.” Abby looked sick. “Like playing France then, eh?”

“We need to talk.”

Abby stared at her for a long, silent moment, then backed up a step and pointed back at her house. “Oh, now hang on. You don’t think I had anything to with that, do you?”

“Yes,” Tania said.

At the same time Pia said, “No.”

Pia shot a silencing look at Tania, which Tania returned with equal ferocity. Facing Abby, but speaking loud enough to include Tania, Pia said, “You would’ve been caught up in the melee if you’d been home. We’re professionals and we barely got out alive. You’re lucky as hell I gave you a free ride to London.”

Abby stood still.

“One of the guys had this,” Tania thrust the crumpled orchid petal at Abby.

Their hostess stared at it, then looked back and forth at Tania and Pia. “They were in my bloody greenhouse!”

Pia said, “Tell me you have security cameras.”

“For a bunch of bushes and trees?” Abby held up her hands.

A limo pulled up. Tanner Wyatt stepped out, his silent, steely gaze surveying the land.

Pia said, “Let’s check it out, shall we?”

“How do you do that, Sabel?” Abby said. “A limo shows up in rural England with Rambo standing guard like you summoned it telepathically.”

Pia said, “Perks.”

Abby nodded. “Must be nice. What about Claigeann Cottage? It’s historic architecture. Was.”

“Unlimited remodeling budget, on me.

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