Cold Flame: A gripping thriller with a breath taking twist (DI Grace Dalton Novel Book 1) by Natalie Hames

Author:Natalie Hames [Hames, Natalie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beyond Fiction Publishing
Published: 2018-01-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

A gentle tap on her shoulder woke Hannah from her sleep. Rubbing her eyes and squinting, she was just able to make out Ella’s outline as she waited patiently by the side of her bed.

“I’m hungry,” her small voice whispered. “Can I have some breakfast?”

Hannah let out a groan and fumbled under her pillow for her phone, lighting up the display and illuminating the time. She hoisted herself out of bed, her body still not awake and gave Ella a quick cuddle. Her tiny body was thin and cold beneath a grubby nightdress and Hannah grabbed one of her fleece jackets and wrapped it around her shoulders.

“Where’s mum?”

“Asleep on the sofa,” Ella whispered.

Hannah let out a ‘tsk’ and crept out of their bedroom past the unconscious mound which represented their mother and through to the small kitchenette. She rummaged around the cupboards, shaking cereal boxes and managing to empty the dregs of two different brands to make enough for a breakfast. Pouring on the last splash of milk, she snuggled up with Ella on one of the chairs to keep her warm while she eagerly ate from the bowl.

Hannah stared at her mother as she lay motionless underneath a faux fur throw. Her face was ashen. Old, stale make-up had formed a murky brown haze over the cushion beneath her head. She was used to seeing her mother in this state but since the night of the party her drug binges had become more frequent with her sleeping on the sofa nearly every night. It had got to be so regular, Hannah strained to remember how she used to be when it was just the two of them before Craig entered and ruined their lives.

Why does she stay with him?

She had asked herself this question thousands of times and the same answer always replied – drugs. The flat had always been humble but it used to be clean and tidy. Now, the kitchen was dirty and usually devoid of food. Cupboard doors were crooked, hanging on by single hinges after being slammed and kicked during the frequent rows. Every door had indentations where Craig’s feet had kicked viciously at them whenever they had tried to shelter from his drug-fuelled rages. Drug paraphernalia lined the coffee table, no longer kept secret and out of reach from Ella.

A tiny hand tapped her arm, breaking her from her nostalgia as Ella passed the empty bowl and reached for her iPad. Hannah snuggled her for a while to keep her warm, watching as her fragile fingers flicked expertly across the screen now almost opaque from the amount of use. It had become a substitute parent, keeping her company as she whiled away the hours confined to the flat.

“One day I’ll take you away from all of this,” Hannah said softly, kissing the top of her sister’s head.

The base of the seat had collapsed months ago creating a sunken hollow in the centre, and Hannah pushed and wriggled herself to the front so she could heave herself out.

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