Dying Breath by Helen Phifer

Author:Helen Phifer [Phifer, Helen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781786812759
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2017-11-22T18:30:00+00:00

Lucy, Mattie and Browning were crammed into a corner of the busy Italian restaurant at the last vacant table. They had ordered a combination of pasta, pizza and garlic bread to share, along with a bottle of white wine. Lucy’s phone vibrated in her pocket and she pulled it out to see she had a voicemail. It was too noisy in the restaurant so she stood up, excusing herself, and went outside. She heard Tom’s panicked voice and immediately knew that something was wrong. She rushed back in to where the best al forno she’d ever tasted was waiting for her and looked longingly at it, knowing it would never be finished.

‘I need to go – that was a message from the boss asking me to go to his house. He said it was an emergency.’

Just then Mattie and Browning’s phones rang in unison, both from unknown numbers, which meant it was more than likely work. Browning signalled to the waitress for the bill. Pulling some money out of his wallet, he passed her fifty pounds. All three of them left, jumping into Browning’s estate car, which was bigger than Lucy’s but easier to park than Mattie’s truck. The other customers in the restaurant had watched amazed as they’d rushed out, leaving all their food and full wine glasses on the table.

Browning, who knew where Tom lived because he’d picked him up on numerous occasions, drove as fast as he could to get there. It was Lucy who broke the silence.

‘What do you think is wrong?’

‘Maybe he’s snapped and killed his wife for feeding him all that vegan crap.’

Lucy gasped. ‘Mattie, I can’t believe you’ve just said that.’

‘Why? We’ve been called out to a murder scene and he’s not dead because he phoned you.’

Browning shook his head. ‘Oh Christ, I hope not. He’s a decent bloke.’

He turned into Tom’s street, which was illuminated at the last house by the flashing red-and-blue lights from the police van. An ambulance was parked behind it.

‘At least it’s not Tom’s house; his is the one in the middle.’

Browning drove towards the end house and they all jumped out. The two officers walked towards Lucy, who flashed them her warrant card.

‘Where’s the DCI? He rang me himself to tell me to come here.’

A loud thudding emanated from inside the van and both of the officers turned even paler than they already were.

‘Holy fuck, he was telling the truth. I think I arrested him and put him in the van.’

Mattie looked at Browning and the pair of them grinned at each other.

Lucy shook her head and ran towards the van, pulling open the doors to the cage. She was greeted by the angriest looking version of her boss that she’d ever seen.

‘Tell those fucking morons to uncuff me right now. Thanks for getting here so fast, Lucy.’

He stood up and she held out her arm to support his elbow whilst he jumped down.

‘I’m sorry, sir, I didn’t know who you were. I had to be safe – for all I knew, you were the killer.

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