BLOOD STAINED an unputdownable crime thriller with a breathtaking twist (Detective Claudia Nunn Book by Rebecca Bradley (whitelam books .txt) 📗

Dominic bristled.

Sharpe folded her hands on the desk in front of her. ‘Look, we’re not apportioning blame here and even if we were, there’s plenty to go around, let me assure you.’ The way she said it Claudia got the impression Sharpe had been on the pointy end of a ticking-off herself.

Sharpe looked to Claudia. ‘You’re going to lead this task force, Claudia.’

There was a quick intake of air from Dominic.

Sharpe ignored it but turned to him. ‘We also want you on the team, Dominic. You have a wealth of experience hunting a serial killer like Tyler. He connected with you for some reason.’ She paused. ‘I don’t know how you’re feeling about the job after everything that’s happened. Maybe you want to step back and take a more sedate role? We’d fully understand that and be supportive of it.’

Dominic looked to Claudia, whose eyes were like saucers. She hadn’t expected this. She hadn’t expected the new task force, to be the DI leading it and she certainly hadn’t expected to have her father as a DS on the team under her. Especially after everything he had gone through. What she did expect was for him to turn this down and for Sharpe to accept that decision.

Dominic cleared his throat. ‘I can manage the position.’

‘You know you’ll be answering to Claudia?’ Sharpe said.

He looked at Claudia. ‘Of course. I’ll do anything to be a part of this team.’

‘Okay, good. I know it’s unconventional. Having father and daughter working together this way, but there’s nothing in the regulations that prevents it, so Connelly has signed off on it. I’ve already outlined why we want both of you on the team. And as well as yourselves, we’ll be bringing people together from various incident room teams, particularly the Strangler team as they know that specific case inside out. But we’re starting afresh. You two are going to work together and stop complex crimes in their tracks before they manage to take hold the way this last one did.’

Claudia smiled, accepting her new position. She was to lead her father, newly grieving, into complex crimes. She only hoped he was not a broken man after what he’d been through. Things were about to get serious and she needed to be able to trust him.

THE END

Acknowledgements

It is my name is on this book cover, but many people have provided their precious time, expertise and enthusiasm to bring Blood Stained to life and I couldn’t have done this without them.

Huge thanks to my editor, Emma Grundy Haigh, for her encouragement, enthusiasm and insight throughout the editorial process. Thanks also to Laurel Sills for editorial input and Anna Harrisson for doing such a great job with the copyedit; Annie Rose for marketing and Jill Burkinshaw for the blog tour; and to all at Joffe Books for such a seamless process, getting this story from rough draft to polished and published book.

I couldn’t have done this without my amazing agent, Hannah Weatherill; so many, many thanks to her. With calm and determination, she brought this book to life. I am thankful for both her editorial vision before submitting to publishers, and in keeping me calm when stress crept in. I am extremely lucky to have her by my side. Thanks also go to Sophie Burdge, marketing assistant, and the rest of the fabulous team at Northbank Talent Management for the support and tireless work they do.

I have to thank Clare Mackintosh for giving me the push to write this story when she confirmed my own recollections on police policy — that there are no specific rules in place to stop you interviewing your own family. Even if it is slightly unusual. The police do not follow the same rules as doctors, which is where some confusion might come from.

Finally, thanks to Graham Bartlett, my police advisor, for answering my questions. Time away from the job has made my memory a little hazy on some subjects.

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