The Last Case: A DCI MacBain Scottish Crime Thriller (DCI MacBain Scottish Crimes Book 10) by Oliver Davies

Author:Oliver Davies [Davies, Oliver]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-27T16:00:00+00:00

FIFTEEN

“I want you to stay,” Lena said.

She leaned her head in towards mine with no words necessary. I mirrored her, and in an out-of-body experience, we shared a kiss for the first time in fifteen years.

There wasn’t a bit of me that wanted to stop, and going by the passionate way she was kissing me, Lena told me we were on the same page. I pulled her on top of me to save me the embarrassment of struggling off the couch and hobbling to the bedroom, and then Lena made me forget all about my cane.

Afterwards, Lena took me into Tullaghcullion and showed me her local pub. As well as providing accommodation for tourists, it had a cosy pub downstairs, which was much more up my street than what The Gellions had become. It had a traditional wooden, varnished bar, rickety old stools, and leather seats as worn and beat up as most of the patrons. After a few rounds, sitting in our own wee bubble in the corner, it felt just like old times when Lena and I enjoyed each other’s company at Gellions, with nothing heavy weighing us down.

For the first part of the night at the pub, I occasionally thought about my work commitment with Clarence the following morning and told myself to call it an early night. However, as the night wore on and the drinks flowed, I had a misjudged confidence and convinced myself that somehow I’d be okay and feel fine to work at nine the next day.

The pub closed at midnight, and when Lena nipped to the toilet, I bought a bottle of whisky for twice what it was worth to take back to Lena’s with me.

“Thanks for the night,” I said to the barman. “You’ve got a good place here.”

“You’re more than welcome. Will I be seeing you tomorrow?”

“Aye, maybe, we’ll see how it goes.”

“Callum?” Lena inquired.

I looked to my right and saw Lena frowning at me.

“What are you doing with that?” she asked, referring to the bottle of whisky I was holding.

“I thought I’d get us a carry-out.”

Lena blew out a gust of breath. “Not for me. I’ve had more than enough. You drank me under the table. I’ve not drank like that since I—since I was with you.”

“Suit yourself, but I’m celebrating.”

Lena shook her head more in surprise than disapproval, and we got the half-hour walk back to her house underway.

“Are you going to be okay getting up tomorrow for your book meeting?” Lena asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I usually get up early, anyway.”

“Even when you’ve drunk as much as you have?”

“It wasn’t that much.”

Lena’s brow shot up. “You had twelve drinks, and now you’ve got a bottle.”

“I didn’t realise you were counting, but seeing as you were, it was only six.”

“Yes, but they were doubles, so it’s the same as having twelve.”

A couple of them were triples, I thought.

“Och, I’ll be fine,” I said. “Trust me.”

I felt the feel-good vibe we’d cultivated constantly since we wound back the clock on Lena’s couch, threatening to derail for the first time.

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