Four Roads Cross by Hayden Mark

Author:Hayden, Mark
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paw Press
Published: 2021-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

18 — Rustling

Cordelia stared at her phone as if it were toxic. Maybe even radioactive. Was the Goddess sending her a message? Had She inspired Commander Ross to summon Conrad this morning so that Cordelia would be tested alone?

‘You look like you’ve heard a really tasteless joke,’ said Matt from the other end of the kitchen. ‘You’re horrified and laughing at the same time.’

‘Sorry, Matt. Just thinking about whether the Goddess could move Commander Ross.’

He had a tea towel in his hands while he administered a thorough polishing to his Denby mug (the blue one), and he paused to consider the idea. ‘So long as She moved through Mrs Ross, I think that’s entirely possible. What’s up?’

‘Our first case has come in, but Conrad’s been summoned to Cairndale.’

He didn’t hesitate. ‘Do you want me to come?’

She smiled at him. ‘That’s really kind, but I’ve been given a man already. Barney Smith is going to take care of me.’

Matt snorted and put his mug away. ‘Other way around, more like.’

Cordelia had already got up and was looking for the dishwasher, until she remembered that she’d been looking at him. Matt Eldridge did not believe in labour saving devices. ‘Can I dump this? I need to get moving.’

He stepped back from the sink. ‘I told you: breakfast washing up is mine to do. What’s come up?’

She put her crockery in the sink. ‘UFO lights and missing sheep in Furness.’ She was about to head out when he frowned, lost in thought. Matt took a lot of getting used to, and one (of many) annoying character traits was that he made her forget he was an experienced assessor because he never talked about it. She decided to push him. ‘Any thoughts?’

‘Have you got a location?’

‘Not yet.’

‘If it’s just east of Barrow and west of Urswick, then it could be the site of an old sídhe. And I’m talking really old. The Radiant Queen was gone well before the Black Death. I used to cover Furness when Petra was on holiday, but I never went there.’

Matt had mentioned the late Petra Leigh a few times. Enough to make her wonder. ‘Were you and Petra ever an item?’

He looked alarmed at the question. The file on Petra’s murder included a marginal note from Conrad: M.Eld. Says not in rltnshp. Fine, but that was the present. The past is another matter.

‘You’ve got a case, Cordy. I don’t want to hold you up. But call me if you need me. Please.’

‘Thanks, Matt. See you later.’

When she’d finished loading her car, she checked her phone. An unknown number had messaged: Best to meet at the Swan. I’ll be there at nine. How do you take your coffee? B.

She added Barney to her contacts and replied, Strong and black. No sugar.

She had no idea where he’d got the takeout coffees from when she finally found the Swan Hotel. It certainly wasn’t from the extensive upmarket hotel by the River Leven, the top half of which was glistening white in the sun.

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