Atmosphere by Robert Innes

Author:Robert Innes [Innes, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-12-02T14:00:00+00:00

7

“Betty, don’t eat that,” Harrison said, pulling on the rope.

Betty the goat turned her head around lazily and kicked the ground, still trying to get to the hedge by the fence. Normally, Harrison let her eat what she liked when she was in the garden, but Blake had taken such a painstakingly long time trying to get the garden looking somewhat presentable, possibly to distract him from the dreams he had been having, that Harrison would have felt guilty if Betty had messed it up.

As he sat on the garden wall and watched Betty snuffle around in the grass, he wondered exactly how Blake was going to cope throughout the day with no sleep. He knew all too well what his boyfriend could be like when he was in the middle of investigating a case – he would completely immerse himself in interviews and file notes and forensic photos. At one time, this had been a challenge to Harrison, who had felt that the relationship was somewhat suffering as a result of Blake’s insistence of working as many hours as he could to get a case solved, but now he had realised that it was just who Blake was and that it was no reflection on him. Harrison was worried, however, about Blake’s current mental state. He knew Blake well enough to know he was stressed and while he did have some time away for Sally’s thirtieth to look forward to, Harrison also was fully aware that if whatever case Blake was working on at the time was not totally wrapped up, Blake would very likely forgo his time off altogether.

“You spoil that goat.”

Harrison closed his eyes in dread as he turned to see Tom standing in the doorway to the cottage across the road. He put his hands in his pockets and strolled across the road towards him.

“I just give her what she needs,” Harrison replied. “She’ll try and wreck the place otherwise.”

“I always wondered how Blake feels about the idea of a goat running rampant about the place,” Tom mused as he watched Betty chew the head of a geranium. “He doesn’t seem to be the type who would appreciate all the mess that this one could make.”

He scratched Betty underneath the chin. As she stretched her neck up appreciatively, Tom grinned at Harrison. “She likes me.”

“She always seemed to,” Harrison replied, nodding. “I wish I could say the same about Blake. She tries to headbutt him any opportunity she gets.”

Tom chuckled. “Bless her. Is Blake alright?”

Harrison frowned. “Blake? Yeah, he’s fine, why?”

Tom shrugged nonchalantly. “Mum was saying that he’s been a bit on edge recently. Something about bad dreams?”

Harrison could only imagine Blake’s reaction to Tom knowing about his nightmares.

“No, he’s just had a lot on at work, that’s all. You know what it can be like if you’re stressed, it can make it hard to sleep sometimes.”

“Not surprising he’s stressed with what went on with that girl at the magic show,” Tom mused “How can someone

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