Burn it All Down: An Edge-Of-Your-Seat Scottish Detective Mystery (DCI Bone Scottish Crime Thrillers Book 7) by TG Reid

Author:TG Reid [Reid, TG]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Glass Work Press Ltd.
Published: 2024-08-22T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-THREE

Walker settled as best she could into the lumpy passenger seat of Bone’s pride and joy.

As Bone coaxed the engine to life with a series of alarming coughs and splutters, Walker swivelled to him, a question on her lips.

“So, how did the meeting with the super go?” she asked, bracing herself as the car lurched out of the station car park, past a group of journalists huddled together, clutching takeaway coffees and breakfast rolls.

Bone shrugged, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “For the second time in two days, he agreed to everything without so much as a paddle, creek, or shitstorm. Seems to be a lot mellower since his wife’s health scare.”

Walker raised an eyebrow. “Really? That’s not like him.”

Bone sighed, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

“What?” she said.

“This is between us, okay?”

“Oh shit. Is his wife sick again?”

“No. He told me that head office wants him out. They’re offering him an early retirement package.”

“Seriously?” Walker’s eyes widened.

“Might explain why he’s so relaxed. Doesn’t give a shit anymore because he’s planning on moving to a golf resort on the Costas.”

Walker chuckled, shaking her head. Then she frowned. “Hold on. If he goes, then we lose our champion with the top knobs.”

“Correct. And he’s fended off the hatchets and accountants who’ve wanted to shut us down for years.”

“It’s a bloody disaster. Do you think he’ll take it?”

“I think he might. After his wife got sick, his priorities changed. I get the impression he just can’t be arsed with any of it anymore. Life’s too short, literally.”

“God. Who would they get to replace him? Would you take it if they offered?”

Bone laughed loudly, almost steering off the road. “You’re joking, right?”

“You are qualified, overqualified.”

“I’m a fucking pariah in Edinburgh. I can’t think of one person who has any respect for me at head office. They think I’m a washed-up nutjob who shouldn’t be on active duty and probably not even in the force.”

“Yeah, I know. But aside from that. Would you take it? In theory?” She grinned.

“Having to traipse up to lick the top brass’s arses every week and sit stagnating behind a desk the rest of the time? Are you serious? I’d last five minutes before I either killed someone or was banged up at Carstairs Psychiatric Hospital.”

“Speaking of which. If you’re up for that chat we talked about, I’m all ears.”

“It’s been an odd few months, but I won’t bore you with it. The short answer is, I’m now dealing with it. I’m going to the next group session this week, and I’ll corner my counsellor while I’m there, too. Vigilance. Always. Thanks for reminding me that I was behaving erratically again.”

“That’s good to hear. We wouldn’t want you killing anyone, or at least, the wrong people. And how’s Alice dealing with it?”

Walker’s question caught Bone slightly off guard. “Supportive, as always.”

She looked at him sceptically. “I hear a but.”

“I feel guilty every time this shit returns, however small. I don’t want to put her through any of it ever again.

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