The Devil Among Us by Ramsay Sinclair (easy books to read txt) 📗

“A Mr Cooper?” The delivery driver made sure this was the correct address. It smelt delicious, as my hunger had only multiplied since earlier.

“Yes, that’s me. How much do I owe you?”

“Forty-seven-fifty,” the delivery driver replied, my ears nearly dislocating from my skull. Most I’d ever paid for a takeaway is twenty-five.

“Right, uh. Yes,” I patted my pockets down for extra cash. “Let me get some extra cash.” By the time I’d collected enough notes, the food was practically cold.

“Ahem,” The delivery driver coughed to hurry me along. “I’ve got other appointments to make.” Staying silent, I exchanged our meal for two with an extortionate wad of money.

“Tip?” The delivery driver’s eyes shone in excitement. My door slammed rudely in his face.

“Robbing bastard,” I muttered and carried through the sizzling carrier bags. Abbey’s almond-shaped eyes widened in greed, barely waiting till they were set on the table to rifle in there and grab a prawn cracker “Oi, greedy. Save some for me.”

Abbey grinned, crumbs littering her chin and glistening lips alike. How could anyone be grumpy for long when they’re greeted with a puppy dog stare as adorable as that? After sliding the DVD into its slot, the opening credits started up. Abbey dished out the takeaway onto separate plates and we tucked in.

“E.T.?”

I’d picked up the first DVD possible. It wasn’t exactly the romantic film I’d quite imagined it was going to be.

“Crap, I didn’t really see what film I’d chosen,” I protested with a mouthful of egg fried rice. As I heaved my body up off the comfortable, leatherette sofa, Abbey yelled out.

“No!” she said a bit over-enthusiastically. “I think E.T. is rather cute. I used to watch it over and over as a kid.”

“You always know exactly how to surprise me,” I grinned fondly and relaxed.

Images flashed on and off screen whilst we ate, most of which wouldn’t be retained by us tomorrow. Aliens, blah, blah, blah. Elliot. Blah, blah, blah. E.T., was, in its entirety, an excellent film. A cinematic masterpiece, way ahead of its competitors. But no matter what film we chose, nothing could disguise mine and Abbey’s romantic tension. I tried to put one arm affectionately around her shoulders once the plates were discarded, but I ended up looking like a wooden puppet. Laughing, she lay her head onto my chest affectionately.

“How did the people get shot today?” she randomly spoke up. “I thought CID didn’t handle weapons.”

“We don’t, normally. Our team didn’t shoot them, it was armed response,” I explained, loving that she showed interest in my career. “The criminals were carrying guns though. Guns, drugs and money.”

“A dangerous combination,” she noted, innocent eyes distractedly glued to the screen. If I had my way, we’d forget all about the film.

The discussion of today cast my memory back to DCI Reid’s office and to our gala subject talk. I’d have to tell Abbey before I forgot, which was plausible. These days, my memory is severely lacking.

“Abbey, I have something to ask you--” She turned apprehensively. Wherever someone mentioned that sentence, it could be taken negatively. “It’s nothing bad. Well, I hope it isn’t to you. I actually think you’ll quite like the idea--”

“Finlay,” Abbey interrupted, tossing her dyed red tresses behind her petite shoulders, displaying the collar bone that juts out. “You’re rambling.”

“Thanks. Well, DCI Reid is hosting a gala in a couple of weeks. All proceeds go to the force. Our station specifically. Anyway, I wondered if you wanted to come with me?” I waited nervously for a reply, uncertain why asking filled me with a sense of dread. Tenterhooks, rather.

“Are you asking me out on a proper date?” She glanced up, hair tickling my arms from where it was spread out.

“If you wanted it to be?” We shared a moment of silence.

“I’d love to!” Abbey suddenly squealed excitedly, threatening to pierce my eardrums. “I’ll get to meet the rest of the team I haven’t already! McCall’s going, isn’t she?”

Woah, I didn’t expect quite a huge reaction. DCI Reid had been right with this hunch.

“Yeah, we kind of have to.” The two of them got along like a house on fire.

“This will be fun,” Abbey assured, placing a chilled hand on my cheek. “I never thought we’d get to do something like this together. You hate these kinds of things.”

“It’s your lucky day.” The position we were entangled in was surprisingly soothing. Closing my eyes, I listened intently to her breathing. “DCI Reid is on all accounts, forcing me to go.”

“Then I’ll thank him when we see him.”

6

We awoke with a start at the sound of my phone vibrating on the coffee table. Blinking through the haze of sunlight peeking through the living room window that emphasised the dust flying around, I saw our plates of finished takeaway were still there too.

Abbey stretched out, as we’d stayed cramped together on the sofa, presumably having fallen asleep there last night. The television static sounded, as the DVD had long finished and images of aliens gone blank. Her body was heavy from tiredness and we yawned groggily in unison. I picked a piece of her hair from my tongue, which must’ve gotten there as a result of our tossing and turning.

The scent of strawberry-scented shampoo filled my nostrils, and the phone rang out due to my sluggishness.

“What time is it?” Abbey groaned and fluttered her heavy lids which had thick black makeup smeared all over them. Looking down, I saw the same stuff had coated my decent shirt, from where I’d been a makeshift pillow for the long hours.

Stacks on stacks of container boxes, some filled with cold rice, others completely empty, taunted us to finally get up and clean except neither of us fancied moving.

“I don’t care,” I whimpered and covered my sensitive eyes from the impending light. It took a second for yesterday's event to come rushing back to the forefront of my mind, filling me with a second of dread. “Crap, that’s probably work.”

“Good