I came up with absolutely nothing I hadn’t said already. It hadn’t worked before and it wouldn’t work now. Will moved to stand in front of us. He was still ignoring me in favor of staring Ryan down. “So. What part of one good punch did you not understand?” “I had to make it look real.” “I made it...
I flicked on some lights, threw my bag and coat on the sofa and shook off my heels, leaving them capsized in a corner. Derwent stood in the middle of the living room, watching me. I moved around without looking at him, putting on the heating, filling a glass with water, drinking it in one long sw...
In reality, I could think of a few things I’d have preferred to be doing than standing in the rain in the middle of the night, catching pneumonia. Things like cleaning out a blocked drain bare-handed. Watching snooker on a black-and-white TV. Being doorstepped by a Jehovah’s Witness early on a Sa...
We had survived the stop–go suburban roads and made it through the dark heart of Kingston’s one-way system but it had tested Derwent’s patience to the point of failure. He was on edge anyway, as he always seemed to be at the start of a case. I recognised it as fear of failure. In Derwent, that fe...
The sun was shining and it was actually warm for a change. The people of Port Sentinel and the holidaymakers had better things to do than rummage in a charity shop when there was a beach to sit on and ice cream to eat. I stuck a bucket and spade in Marilyn’s hand and put a floppy straw hat on Bre...
The bathroom was tropical and he’d used all the hot water. He swiped at the glass with a towel and succeeded only in smearing it. He still couldn’t see himself clearly enough to risk shaving. ‘Fuck my luck.’ He ran a hand over his chin, feeling the velvety fuzz of a day’s ...
I had a hearing to attend at the Old Bailey, a shooting that was on its way to trial. It was beyond restful to sit in Court 18 and stare at the oak panelling while the hearing dragged on, the barristers playing a polite game of one-upmanship. I had nothing to do. Chris Pettifer was more than happ...
Very late. I lie in bed and cuddle my toy pig, frowning at the clock on my bedside table. It’s nearly eleven o’clock and he hasn’t called. It’s not like him to be so late. Every time a car drives past our house, which isn’t often, I get up and look to see if it’s him. I don’t know why I care. Eve...
I slumped down in my chair a couple of inches, not quite hiding behind the computer screen in front of me but definitely trying not to attract his attention. Derwent was even less subtle, plunging under the desk opposite mine as if he’d dropped something. I rolled back my chair so I could see him...