No Going Back by Casey Kelleher (black male authors TXT) 📗

and profile a murderer who had, so far, managed to slip beneath the police force’s radar for the best part of two decades.

‘I’m happy to have a look at the files,’ Zack said finally, the look on his face showing Lucy that this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. He’d seen this coming, suspecting that this might be the reason that Lucy wished to speak with him since having the conversation with DS Morgan, and he’d clearly given it some thought.

‘Even if I decide not to go ahead with it all and reopen the case? It’s a lot of work.’

‘Even if you decide not to proceed. I know what you went through must have been horrific, Lucy. Really, I can’t even imagine,’ Zack said then, selecting his words carefully. Not wanting to show Lucy how sorry he felt for her. He could see that she didn’t need his sympathy. What she needed was his help. ‘I’ll be happy to do whatever I can to help. Whatever you decide.’

‘Thank you, I appreciate it.’ Lucy smiled then. Relaxing now that the hard part of the conversation was over as she saw the waiter lingering once more near their table, with his notepad in his hand ready to take their order.

‘Now, maybe your first port of call is going to be helping to translate the menu for me.’ Lucy grinned. ‘What would you recommend?’

21

‘Right!’ said Vivian, scrutinising the Scrabble board before eyeing her letter options for the umpteenth time. They were almost at the end of their game, but there was still everything to play for. ‘I’m only in the lead by a few points.’

‘Well then, everything counts on this last go,’ Winnie said. The confident gleam in her eyes told Vivian that the woman had been dealt a good hand of letters this time. Unless Winnie was doing her usual and pulling the ultimate poker face on her. Either way, Vivian was in a dilemma.

‘I’ve got a word, but I don’t think it’s appropriate,’ Vivian said, pursing her mouth and wondering if she should just play the damn letters. ‘It’s a swear word. I don’t think swear words count?’

‘Course they do. Though, personally, I find them vulgar and offensive… but if it’s all you’ve got,’ Winnie said pointedly with a shrug. Her eyes challenging the younger woman to play her word and defy her. Which only made Vivian chuckle.

This was the Winnie she had grown to love. And tonight, the woman was on top form. Completely in the zone, forgetting entirely that this was just two friends playing a friendly game of Scrabble to pass the time. Winnie was acting like she was a contender in the British Scrabble championship.

‘Okay then. Well, I’m going to play it. Sorry if it offends you, Winnie. It is all that I’ve got. “Shit.” That’s seven points.’

‘Shit?’ Winnie said, turning her nose up in disgust.

‘I take it you can do better, Winnie?’

‘Better than your “shit” attempt.’ Winnie smirked. She arranged her own letters on the board quickly and looked at Vivian with triumph in her eyes.

‘Fuckers?’ Vivian squealed indignantly. ‘You said swear words offend you? I almost didn’t play mine!’

‘The term is calling your bluff.’ Winnie shrugged, grinning now from ear to ear. ‘And I don’t like some swear words, but fuckers, now that’s a proper swear word. How many points is that?’

‘Sixteen,’ Vivian said, shaking her head. ‘So, your final total is a hundred and twelve.’

‘Ooh, which makes me the champion! Not bad, eh? Considering I’ve never played the game before,’ Winnie said, with no memory of the countless other games she’d played with Vivian and Lucy over the years. ‘So, that means that I get the last Jaffa Cake!’ She shoved it into her mouth triumphantly before Vivian could protest. Or remind Winnie that she’d eaten the majority of them already, anyway.

‘Well done, Winnie,’ Vivian said, showing the lady that she was not a sore loser and she would take her defeat on the chin. ‘Christ, if anyone could see the intellect that goes on in our games, Winnie. You’re a bad influence, did I tell you that already?’ Vivian laughed and started packing the game away as Nurse Hamilton came into the room.

‘All done, Winnie?’

‘I won!’

‘Oh, well I didn’t expect you not to.’ Nurse Hamilton smiled.

‘Same time tomorrow, Winnie?’ Vivian said.

‘If you can face the humiliation of losing to me again,’ Winnie said, her tone deadpan. Winning the game had completely gone to her head.

Vivian played along.

‘Oh, I don’t know. I’ll give it my best shot. Night night, darling!’ She got up and gave Winnie a kiss on the cheek before turning to leave and smiling at Nurse Hamilton. ‘Night.’

‘Lucy didn’t make it again?’ Nurse Hamilton said, knowing how time-consuming Lucy’s job could be. She’d been due to visit tonight.

Vivian shook her head.

‘She sent me a text to say she’d been held up. She’ll be kicking herself. But fingers crossed she’ll see her tomorrow.’

‘Indeed,’ Nurse Hamilton said, leading Winnie away as Vivian let herself out the main doors and made her way across the car park.

She stopped abruptly as Lucy’s car drove through the entrance and pulled up next to her. Lucy wound down the window.

‘I’ve missed her again, haven’t I?’

‘She’s just gone off to bed, but don’t worry, she kept me busy this evening,’ Vivian said, giving in to another of her raucous laughs. ‘It never fails to surprise me how that woman is still as sharp as a knife when it comes to her Scrabble games. Sometimes, it’s as if she’s not sick at all. Though tonight she thought she had beginner’s luck. She had no recollection of all the games she’s made me play before now, bless her. Oh, she’s as crafty as they can get when she’s on top form.’ Then seeing the crestfallen look on Lucy’s face, Vivian added: ‘Hey, there’s always tomorrow, Lucy. Don’t be hard on yourself. You’re working and, let’s face it, you don’t have an easy job.’

Lucy nodded. Grateful that Vivian was here tonight when she