Taste of Fury by M Comley (dark academia books to read txt) 📗

to go for a walk in the damn forest at dusk? Why not during the day like normal couples? Oh, don’t mind me, my mind is racing. I have so many bloody questions running through it right now.”

Katy offered the woman a weak smile. “That’s understandable. Did they go to the forest regularly?”

“Yes, at least twice during the week and once at the weekend. There’s a five-mile circular walk they take down there. You know, to keep fit. Well, look where that bloody got them in the end.” She bowed her head and the tears slipped down her cheeks once more.

“No one could have foreseen this happening, Fiona,” Vanessa said, softly.

“I know. It’s me being silly as usual. I’m going to miss them both so much, especially with Melinda’s wedding in a few weeks. Now, we’ll have a funeral to sort out as well as the wedding. How on earth am I going to cope with that?”

Mr Ody squeezed his wife’s shoulders. “We’ll be here for you. There’s no point thinking about that now, love.” He glanced up at Katy. “Do you need to be here now? Shouldn’t you get out there on the hunt for the killer?”

“If you’re sure you no longer need us. I’ll leave you my card, be sure to ring me if you need to discuss anything you might have forgotten to ask. Again, we’re so sorry for your loss.”

Mr Ody got to his feet and took the card from Katy, then walked into the hallway. “I’ll show you out,” he called over his shoulder.

Katy smiled at the other people in the room. “I’ll be in touch as soon as I get any news regarding the killer.”

“Make sure you do. Don’t go burying your head in the sand on this one. I’ll be keeping you on your toes by ringing you often,” Zac warned, harshly. His wife slapped his arm again.

“Leave the poor young ladies alone. They have a tough enough job on their hands without you breathing down their necks.”

He grumbled something indecipherable and sat back with his arms folded.

“It’s okay. You have my assurance that we’ll be putting in extra hours on this one,” Katy promised them and then she and Charlie left the room to find Mr Ody standing at the front door, glancing up at the clear night sky.

“They’ll be up there now, looking down on us.”

“I’m sure. We’ll be in touch soon, Mr Ody. Sorry to have met under such circumstances.”

“Do your best to find the person concerned swiftly, for all our sakes, eh?”

“That’s the plan, sir. Goodnight.”

He closed the door gently behind them.

Katy and Charlie walked back to their cars. “What now?” Charlie rubbed her hands together to ward off the chill of the swirling wind.

Katy let out a long breath. “I can’t go home, not knowing the killer is still out there. I’m going back to the station. No pressure for you to join me though, Charlie.”

“I’ve told you before, if you’re out here, then I’m with you all the way.”

“I’m going to have to run things past AJ first. I’m also going to need to stop off and get something to eat. We haven’t eaten for nearly seven hours, have we?”

“Around that time. I’ll stop off at the chippie close to the station and catch-up with you, if you like?”

Katy opened her car door and dragged out her handbag. She flipped open her purse and took out twenty pounds. “No arguments, this one is on me. I’ll have haddock and chips.”

“Are you sure? I can buy my own.”

“Do it. It’ll make me feel better.”

“Okay, on the proviso I buy the next one.”

“Deal. Let’s go. We have lots to do.” She slipped into her seat and selected first gear.

Once she was back on the main road, heading back towards the station, she rang home. She’d rehearsed what she was about to say dozens of times, but when it came down to it, the words failed to appear. “Hi, darling. Bad news, I’m afraid.”

“More bad news, you mean. What now, Katy?” AJ sounded pissed off, and rightly so.

“I was called out to a murder scene that turned out to be three murders, not just the one. I’m sorry, AJ. I need to tackle this one and stay on the trail of the killer. You understand, don’t you?”

“I’m not some ogre, Katy, stop making me out to be one. Of course I understand your dilemma. I know how much you’d prefer being here, with us. It’s your job. It’s important to catch this person, but then again, you need your rest.”

“I know. Charlie’s with me. With both of us doing the legwork, we should have it wrapped up soon enough. I miss you and Georgie. I’m sorry for letting you down.”

He snorted. “You’ve never let us down. Do what you need to do, we’ll be here to welcome you home. Let’s hope that’s soon. Don’t work yourself into the ground, love, nothing is worth that, you hear me?”

“I hear you. Thanks for understanding. Now I know why I love you so much. Not every man would be as accepting as you when it came to the crunch. I appreciate all you do for me, AJ.”

“I know you do. You can make it up to me when you get home.”

“You have my word on that, I promise. See you soon. Give Georgie a hug from me.”

“She’s in bed. Long past her bedtime.”

“Sorry, no idea what the damn time was, not really.”

He chuckled. “Go.”

“I’m gone. Love you.”

“I love you too, it’s a good job, right?”

“It is.”

8

With their bellies full of battered fish and chips, Katy bought them both a cup of coffee, and they got to work.

“Crikey, I’m that bloody full, you’re going to have to give me a nudge now and then to make sure I don’t drop off,” Charlie complained. She flattened her hands across her distended stomach.

Katy laughed and placed the coffee on the desk in front of her. “We’ll need to keep periodically nudging each other to