The Monk by Tim Sullivan

Author:Tim Sullivan [Sullivan, Tim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: A DS Cross Thriller
ISBN: 9781804545584
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

29

Cross’s train of thought was interrupted on Wednesday morning, which irritated him. It came in the form of a text from his father. Raymond was averse to texting and only did so in cases of emergency. He also knew that his son didn’t like being disturbed at work as it was an unwelcome distraction. This meant the arrival of a text worried Cross initially and then when he’d read it, thoroughly discombobulated him. Cross was due to go round for their usual weekly Chinese meal together that night. Raymond’s text, however, informed him that they would have a guest. Christine. Cross’s mother. He then listed her choice of dinner from the takeaway menu. This sent Cross into a tailspin. Not because he thought she’d over-ordered for one person which by the way he did but because Wednesday was their night when he and his father ate together. Alone. He hated change. It unsettled him in a way that people just didn’t understand. Except for his father. He understood. So why had he done this? Or had it been at his mother’s instigation? Probably not, as how would she actually know that they always ate together on a Wednesday?

Ottey could tell immediately that something was wrong with her partner. But when she asked, he refused to talk about it. His refusal came over as completely childish. In truth it wasn’t just that he thought it was none of her business, but he thought talking about personal matters on police time was unprofessional. She knew him well enough to know that if his current mood had been brought about by something at work, he would have been more brusquely businesslike and rude. She then remembered what day it was and thought it might have something to do with Raymond.

‘Are you seeing your dad tonight?’ she began by asking.

‘It’s Wednesday,’ he replied, as if this made the answer obvious.

‘Has something happened?’

Cross was silent and went about gathering up his bicycle accessories to leave.

‘It might help to talk about it,’ she insisted. But he was halfway across the office. Then she had an inspired thought. Cross didn’t have many people in his life so narrowing down the possibilities wasn’t too difficult.

‘He’s invited your mother round for dinner, hasn’t he?’

This stopped Cross in his tracks. He turned to face her with an expression of pained indignation. Mackenzie looked up from her computer.

‘I wish you would stop talking to my father behind my back,’ he said.

‘I didn’t.’

‘Then how could you possibly know?’ he asked.

‘Because some suspects are easier to read than others, George,’ she said smiling.

He turned on his heel and left.

‘So, what do you make of that?’ Ottey asked Mackenzie.

‘I’m not sure. But it made me think I might take tomorrow off,’ she replied.

*

Even Xiao Bao, the owner of the takeaway, knew something was up when after many years the order for that night was suddenly different.

‘Having company tonight, George?’ he asked. ‘Or are you guys just really hungry?’

George scowled and paid without saying anything. Xiao Bao smiled as his favourite and most regular, literally, customer left with his order.

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