Flesh and Blood (A DI Amy Winter Thriller) by Caroline Mitchell (best love novels of all time .TXT) 📗

the Met. He had confided as much to her earlier in the corridor, although it had been a challenge to get five minutes with him alone. Donovan was a popular man; today several officers had filed in to say hello to him. Half of them were female, and one even had the cheek to ask him out for a drink.

Amy flushed as he caught her staring. She tried to keep their personal relationship separate, but she needed to be alone with him again. She had never felt this way about anyone, not even Adam, her ex-fiancé. Taking a deep breath, she immersed herself in the conversation, chiding herself for her momentary lapse.

‘We could try strengthening the link between victims,’ Molly Baxter chipped in. ‘Spread our net, speak to extended family and friends.’ She pulled a bobble from her wrist and tied it around her errant hair. ‘The victims could have been part of some online group. Or maybe they owe money to the same person.’

‘But these men come from different social circles,’ Steve said. ‘There’s no evidence to say their paths have crossed. They’re financially independent, with money in the bank. That much we know.’

‘What if a killer is targeting random tourists, just because they can?’ DC Gary Wilkes fiddled with his bright pink tie, which clashed with his orange shirt.

Perhaps it was because they were under scrutiny, but Amy sensed competitiveness emerging in her team. It felt like each officer was going out of their way to outdo the others. Things had changed since their TV appearance, and she wasn’t sure that she liked it.

‘We need to work together on this,’ she said. ‘I’ve set a series of tasks on the system. Paddy will liaise with you to get them completed in time.’ As with many of their cases, they were working against the clock. She nodded towards her sergeant, knowing she could trust him to keep on top of it. ‘We need to tread carefully. We don’t want to panic the public, not at this early stage.’ If the pattern was there, the next drowning would be in ten days. Ten days. She tapped her marker against the board. The tap, tap, tap sounded like a timer ticking down.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Amy rubbed her hands beneath the dryer in the ladies’ toilets, her thoughts with the case and how the victims’ families must be suffering. She did not hear the door close as someone came in. A strong hand clamped on to her shoulder, making her gasp. Donovan stood before her, a roguish smile on his face.

‘What are you doing in here?’ Her stomach flipped as she turned to face him. ‘You almost gave me a heart attack!’

‘Sorry, I . . .’ He paused, pressing his lips upon hers. His kiss was warm and welcome, a hint of salt on his lips. Donovan smiled as they parted for air. ‘I’ve wanted to do that all day.’

‘Anyone could have come in.’ Amy rested her hands on his chest. ‘And have you been eating chips?’

‘I stole a couple from Paddy. He said the sea air is making him hungry. He polished off the doughnuts too.’ Donovan took a step back. ‘Hey, you won’t blow me out tonight, will you . . . ? Dinner with Bicks,’ he added, registering the confusion on Amy’s face.

Damn, she thought. She had completely forgotten about it. If it were anyone but Donovan asking, she would have cancelled for sure. ‘Do I have to?’ she said. ‘We’ve got so much on.’

But Donovan was not quickly put off. ‘Everything’s running like clockwork. Please. I don’t want to go to Bicks’s place alone. It’s been years since we socialised.’ He brushed his knuckles against her cheek. ‘Afterwards we could go for a walk on the beach. I need some alone time with you.’

‘All right.’ Amy relented.

‘I looked through the diary,’ Donovan said, in no rush to leave. ‘She mentions some teenagers she was talking to but there’s nothing concrete.’

‘I’ll have a look at it when you upload it to the system.’ Amy smiled, keen to move Donovan on. But the look on his face told her that he had yet to share what he had found. ‘Donovan . . .’ Amy shook her head. ‘All the times you told me off for not going by the book and now you’re the one withholding information.’

‘It’s personal,’ he whispered, ‘and it has little bearing on the case.’ He tutted in mock annoyance. ‘You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?’

‘I’m discovering a whole new side to my DCI. Now go, before anyone sees you . . .’

‘You’ve got a visitor in reception.’ He flashed her another smile as he pushed open the door. ‘Grab some fresh air. You look like you need it. I’ve got things covered here.’

‘Who?’ Amy called after him. She did not like surprises. Not any more. But he was gone. She fixed her hair in the mirror, frowning at the blush that stained her cheeks.

She checked her watch as she entered reception, registering surprise to see her sister Sally-Ann standing there.

‘What’s wrong?’ Her thoughts immediately went to their biological mother, Lillian.

‘Nothing.’ Sally-Ann offered a smile. She was holding a tote bag, looking every inch the tourist in her sun visor, capri pants and T-shirt. ‘I had a day off. I came down to surprise Paddy.’

‘Oh, do you want me to get him?’ Amy half-turned back towards the door. But Sally-Ann’s expression told her there was more to it than that.

‘No, no, I’ll see him after work. Can we have a quick chat?’ Sally-Ann’s eyes twinkled with amusement. ‘I bumped into your hottie, he said he could spare you for ten minutes.’

‘Hottie?’

‘Donovan.’ Sally-Ann chuckled. ‘Who else?’

Amy’s eyes darted left and right as her sister mentioned his name. ‘Not here. Walls have ears.’

‘What? I was only saying he’s hot, not that you’re slee—’ But Sally-Ann’s words were cut short as Amy yanked her outside by the arm. From the look of triumph on Sally-Ann’s face, Amy realised she had been played. Her sister knew how hard