Time To Play by KA Richardson (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

you alive with her there. Hell, she might just need you to stop her eating them alive. Or at least from grabbing their phones and launching them into the bay, huh, Marlo? Connor, you and Mac are on equipment checks. The 4x4 needs taking over to fleet management at HQ for its MOT at 10 a.m. My astute team may have noticed Bravo Team sitting quietly in the wings. They’re here on a training day, they’ll be using the Delta RIB. Play nice, boys and girl.’

He stood, effectively ending the briefing, but turned back just as everyone started getting to their feet. ‘The kids will be here in an hour; you might wanna get a cuppa first.’ His grin stretched wide and Marlo sighed. Bravo Team filtered out, taking the piss as they headed for the stairs, and Connor and Mac practically ran from the room, obviously raring to get stuck into the equipment checks. The whole team would prefer to chew off their own arms off than entertain a bunch of school kids, but the tours were good for PR and Sharpie rarely refused visitors.

‘Bleurgh,’ muttered Doc, lifting his head from the desk. ‘I think I may actually die. I am never drinking again.’

‘Aye, ’til next time. Come on, old man, let’s get some caffeine down your neck.’

Marlo walked to the door, knowing Doc would follow her to the kitchen.

Sunderland City Police HQ – 5 November

The pile of files on Ali’s desk was finally dwindling to a more manageable level. He had a steaming cup of coffee at his side, and a hot bacon butty had just been placed on the keyboard in front of him.

Any morning that began with rocket fuel and food from heaven was bound to be a good one.

He unfolded the foil, inhaling deeply as his mouth started to water at the smell. There really was nothing quite like it. Grinning like an idiot, he closed his teeth over the bread and bit down, sighing as he tasted the tang of brown sauce under the meaty strips.

‘Crap,’ he muttered, his mouth full as the phone rang on the desk beside him. Glaring at it, he chewed and grabbed the receiver. ‘McKay.’ Listening, he finished the bite and sat back in his chair.

‘Guv, it’s Inspector Monaghan from the control room. The call handler’s still taking the details, but it looks like we have a murder coming in. It’ll be log … 331 when you have a second. As I say, it’s still being updated. The caller’s said the victim is a foreign woman. She’s in the river not far from the big pond at the Washington Water Fowl Park. I’ve got a colleague on with Sergeant Sharp from the dive team. He’s assessing the log. Can I put you down as attending?’

‘Yeah, no problem. Where’s the RV point?’

‘I’ve tagged the car park near the visitor centre. Looking on the mapping at the location, there’s only access to the river either on foot or via a 4x4 vehicle. I’ve got marked units travelling with blues and twos. First on scene will set the cordons.’

‘Thanks, oh, and make sure Sharpie has my mobile number.’

Replacing the receiver, Ali brought up the log on the system. It was pointless leaving until he knew what was happening. He remembered a case when he had not long been qualified as a detective, and a call had come in from a hysterical woman screaming that she’d found a head in a bag. He had raced down to the scene, only to find it was the head off a mannequin. Now he waited.

God only knew when he’d be back in the office, so he picked up his sandwich and took another bite. But it felt like cardboard on his tongue. Silently, he wrapped it back up and dumped it in the bin beside him.

Dive Team HQ, South Shields – 5 November

‘OK guys, the body’s in the river to the rear of a pond in the waterfowl park at Washington. Just like the one at Durham the other day, it’s caught in the debris from the flood in a small weir. Bravo Team has been called off their training to assist down near Tees Barrage in Darlington with a search so this one’s all ours. I want us geared up and on the road asap. Mac, you’re lead diver. Marlo, you’re on standby. Connor, Doc, you’re on the tanks. Let’s go,’ said Sharpie.

Once at the park, they exited the van and Sharpie was pulled aside by Mac. After nodding his head, he motioned Marlo over to listen.

‘Can I swap with Marlo? My chest feels tight today. Don’t know if I’m coming down with something.’

Sharpie glanced at Marlo who nodded her agreement. They both watched as Mac hung his head slightly and went to help Connor with the equipment.

‘He OK?’ asked Marlo.

‘Not sure. He looks pale. Could just be the hangover, like. Him and Doc hit the bottle last night. I’ll keep an eye on him. Go suit up.’

Sharpie made his way over to Ali who was also just walking up the footpath back to the car park.

‘What’ve we got, boss?’

‘Can’t see clearly from the bank. Looks like a female, naked.’

‘Second water recovery in a few days. Gotta love this weather, definitely makes people act nuttier.’

‘Aye, you’re not wrong. You guys ready to go in?’

Sharpie looked back at the 4x4 which was just starting to manoeuvre with the RIB towards the water. ‘Yup. Hope the weather holds out ’til we’re done. Those black clouds don’t look too friendly.’

‘You’re not wrong. The temperature’s dropping too. Winter’s definitely on its way.’

‘God, I hope not! It’s only just November. I’ll let you crack on.’

River Wear, Washington Wild Fowl Park – 5 November

‘Mac, steady off and hold. We’re close enough,’ said Marlo, leaning over the RIB and looking