The Outcast (Ex-Detective Book 1) by Emmy Ellis

Author:Emmy Ellis [Ellis, Emmy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-24T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Ross stared at Tessa, wanting to answer her but not knowing what to say just yet. He’d known, when he’d told her things would be different back home, that in his case they might not have been. Her revelation that Joe was related to the local copper—and a dodgy one at that—had triggered memories. That phone ringing in Balaclava’s pocket had brought it home to Ross just how crooked his section of the police world was.

No different to here.

So why had he been shocked at what Tessa had said? He knew better than most how crimes were committed by the very people who were supposed to solve cases and catch criminals. How hypocrisy was rife. He’d had to get out. They’d shunned him for being gay—it wasn’t right to bully someone for their sexuality, an act he couldn’t accept from his peers, and fuck, he didn’t think he’d ever get over it.

“Look,” he said. “I can see how that would work in a place like this. You know, one brother wanting to cover up for another. How it could be covered up. I can even see how it can be done in cities.” In my home city, the capital of England, no less. “But it doesn’t make it right. An abuse of power like that—Joe’s brother shouldn’t be a copper. Someone needs to call him out on this stuff.”

She laughed cynically. “And who’s going to do that? Me, when the copper’s brother was allowed to batter the hell out of me even though I filed police reports? Reports that conveniently went missing? When the nurse who dealt with me got told to keep quiet? The reason I was granted a divorce was so I’d keep their father’s murder hushed up. If they find out I’ve told you…”

Ross went to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “No one needs to know you told me. I won’t say a word, I swear. But if there’s some way these men can be brought to justice without you being accused of talking…”

“There isn’t. The copper would find out.” She shook her head. “And then there’s Limmy. I know his temper, what he’s capable of. I don’t want to travel that road again.”

“So travel a different one. You reckon you can’t leave here, that you haven’t got the balls, but you do. Want to know what I think? They’re making you stay here. Another divorce condition. Threats were made, weren’t they? If you leave, they’ll come and find you, shit like that?”

She barely nodded, but it was enough. Ross’ anger went from simmering to bubbling.

“And, much as you might not want to admit it, I’d bet you my month’s wages Joe didn’t pull that trigger any more than his father did.”

She swallowed. “I wouldn’t like to say.”

“Wouldn’t like to—or too scared to?”

“Both.”

He squeezed her shoulder a little. “It’s Limmy we have to be mindful of, you know that, don’t you?”

“Maybe,” she whispered.

“So if he bothers you, you tell me.”

“Okay.” Hope sprang up in her eyes.

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