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

of the stairs. Suspicious, she quietly made her way down and paused, her head cocked to one side as she listened intently.

Silence reigned, and she pulled open the door, sticking her head outside and glancing around the rear yard. There was no one there.

Must be my imagination, could’ve sworn that sneeze was real. All the crap this morning must have me on edge. Definitely in need of caffeine!

She made her way back upstairs and within minutes was seated back in the briefing room. Taking a moment, she glanced around. Mac and Doc were both sat together, and Mac looked pale, but his eyes were sharp. Doc looked relieved. Marlo knew it had been hard seeing his friend collapse like that. Connor looked exhausted, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had dark circles shadowing his cheeks.

Edging a little closer to him, she quietly said, ‘You OK? You look like hell.’

‘Gee, thanks, Marlo. Had no idea how shit I looked this morning.’ His sarcasm was evident but before she could respond, he sighed and added, ‘Parent issues. Been up all night trying to keep my mum calm. She has early onset Alzheimer’s and last night was a bad one.’

‘Sorry, hon. Do you look after her on your own?’

‘No. Dad looks after her, but sometimes … well sometimes he just can’t cope. So I help out. She should be in a home, somewhere that can give her the care she needs, but Dad’s stubborn. He won’t even entertain the idea. He’s old-school where his marriage vows are concerned.’

‘Nightmare. Is there anything I can do?’

‘Take the lead if we get a job? I could so do with not diving today.’

Marlo nodded, and was soon interrupted by Sharpie as he said, ‘Right folks, we have a job.’

Both she and Connor sighed as he told them the details.

Dive Team HQ, South Shields – 10 November

Elvie froze after a sudden sneeze escaped from her without warning. Her heart started to thud in her chest as she heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

Someone heard! They’re going to find me!

She held her breath as the footsteps approached, hearing her heartbeat pounding inside her ears. She was convinced whoever was coming down the stairs would find her, and then what? She’d be in big trouble, that’s what.

Her eyes widened as the woman came into view. Elvie was well hidden by the tarp. The woman would have to actually come looking, but it didn’t stop the fear. She felt bile rise up into her throat from her tummy. All that junk food was doing nothing for her constitution.

She saw the woman cock her head to one side, listening intently, and almost gasped as the woman opened the door that led out to the yard.

For a moment, Elvie contemplated running. Just pushing past the woman and heading out of the door as fast as her legs would carry her, but she couldn’t. Deep down she knew if she ran she’d get caught. Then the police would do whatever police did in this country. She had no reason to believe that would be anything good. In her country, they would take her to the station, and she’d be treated with disdain, if not violence. They operated under the pretence that they were law enforcement, but the reality, especially in the outlying small villages, was that any enforcement was on their terms. Sure, there were a few good ones, but they didn’t come with a flashing sign on their heads saying, ‘I’m a good guy’.

So she stayed where she was.

She heard the woman mutter under her breath, and then the woman’s boots thudded as she made her way back up the stairs towards the break room.

That was close. I need to find somewhere else to hide. Maybe I should just leave, go and find Nita and we can find somewhere together.

‘Yeah right,’ her conscience argued back, ‘As if there’s anywhere to hide for two girls who don’t have any money or know the country. You wouldn’t know where to start.’

But I can’t stay here forever.

‘No one’s saying stay forever. But you go out there and there’ll never be anyone to help you. Stay here and figure it out.’

Elvie felt a giggle rise and quickly put her hands over her mouth, stifling it. What the hell was she doing? Arguing with herself? The nervous laughter dissipated.

What on Earth was she going to do?

Sunderland City Police HQ – 10 November

Ali juggled the three files with a cup of steaming coffee as he made his way to the meeting room on the floor above his office. He wasn’t happy. The team had their own meeting room next door to the office – it was used for all the forensic strategy meetings, the daily briefings, and so on. But the superintendent had booked it solid for the next month. Ali didn’t even know what for, but it all seemed very hush-hush and it didn’t sit well.

He bent slightly using the elbow he held the files in to open the handle to the meeting room door and then used his hip to push it open. His coffee sloshed precariously close to the edge of the cup, but somehow stayed inside.

He glanced around as he made his way to the top of the table, at which point his files dislodged slightly and went to fall. He put his cup down first, spilling half his coffee on the desk, and swore as he used his free hand to grab at the tumbling files.

Acting sergeant Charlie Quinn pulled a wad of tissue from her bag and mopped up the coffee, flashing him a grin.

‘One of those days, boss?’ she asked.

‘Every day’s one of those days at the minute. Right, let’s get started. Where are we at with the Burton murder?’

He turned his gaze towards Tony Cartwright first. He