Inferno (DCI James Hardy Series Book 5) by Jay Gill

Author:Jay Gill [Gill, Jay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-08-24T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty-One

Barton found Mrs Crabb sitting in her office doing the crossword.

“Knock, knock, Fiona,” said Barton, a big friendly smile on his face. He knew he looked good.

“You startled me; I was miles away. I’m stuck on four down. Stewed vegetable rat.” She pointed to the crossword. “You’re not supposed to come back here.” Mrs Crabb leaned back in her leather office chair. “How can I help? Is the room comfortable?”

Barton gently closed the door behind him. He strutted over and perched on the desk beside her. “My late wife loved crosswords,” said Barton. “Sudoku too. Any sort of conundrum.”

“You were married?”

“I was. Best years of my life. She passed away twenty-seven years ago. Twenty-seven long, lonely years.” Barton stroked Mrs Crabb’s hand. She blushed and moved it away. “I’ve found being alone very difficult. Being a passionate, tactile man, the lack of physical contact is hard. The intimacy of a partner to share everything with. I think it’s in our nature to seek human contact. Wouldn’t you say?”

“I suppose I would. Since my husband left, I will admit I’ve felt isolated. There are certainly times when I miss Ian’s companionship. We used to do a jigsaw puzzle on a Thursday afternoon. Sometimes afterwards we’d get a little carried away, and we’d...”

“Yes?”

“We’d do some baking. Cakes. Carrot cake was his favourite. It was our special time together, an opportunity to be close.”

“And what about real intimacy, Fiona?” Barton inched closer; he leaned forward and gazed into her eyes. “You look like a woman full of dark, dormant, untapped desires. You may have been forced to suppress your sexuality, but I can feel you’re a passionate woman waiting to be unleashed. In my opinion, there is nothing more arousing than a beautiful, mature woman, needing to express and explore and exult in her erotic appetite.”

“I don’t know about that.” Mrs Crabb nervously moved her favourite crossword pen from the desk to the orange plastic stationery organiser. Her cheeks reddened; she suddenly felt very warm. “Ian wasn’t very physical, if you know what I mean. He was never very active in the bedroom department.”

“That’s unforgiveable, Fiona. A crime.” Barton appeared mortified. “A woman like yourself should be savoured. Every pleasurable inch examined and probed.”

“Goodness, you almost make it sound normal and proper.” Mrs Crabb suddenly felt restricted in her mustard M&S cardigan. “Yet, I’m here all alone. Where would I find a man to take someone like me and shine a light on something so elusive? Feelings padlocked and buried for so long.”

Barton turned Fiona so she was facing him. He moved along the desk and placed a leg either side of her chair, his tight blue jeans front and centre. “I can help you, Fiona. It would be an honour.”

Mrs Crabb looked at her hands, which she clasped in her lap. She got up and walked to door. She put a hand on the handle.

“You’re right,” said Barton. “I should leave. I’ve offended you.”

Mrs Crabb didn’t open the door. Instead, she took a key from off a heavy-duty four-drawer filing cabinet and locked it.

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