Black & Blue: Where it all began…… (D.S Hunter Kerr) Read Online Free PDF

do.”
     
     
    - ooOoo -

     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    Edith Thompson flashed open her eyes and strained her ears. Something had disturbed her. She thought she’d heard footsteps in the kitchen.
    Is it the carer? Is it time to get up?
    She was confused. It was still dark.
    Now it sounded as if someone was shuffling around in the lounge the other side of the bedroom door.
    Lifting her head from the pillow she leaned across and switched on the bedside light.
    “Hello,” she called out. “Dan, is that you?” Sometimes her grandson came to stay when he’d fallen out with his mum.
    Silence !
    E dith pushed aside the sheets and swung her legs out of bed. She grimaced as a sharp pain registered in her right hip. Her arthritis was playing up again. She waited for it to subside and then planted her feet on the floor, tracing out her toes in search of her slippers.
    She took her time sliding them on. Then dragging her dressing gown from off the bottom of her bed she clenched her back muscles to support her and eased herself up.
    Putting an arm through one sleeve she listened again. Nothing! She shrugged her shoulders. She must have been mistaken.
    Never mind, I’m up now. I’ll get myself a drink.
    Opening the door into the lounge she was confronted by a wall of darkness which took her by surprise and it caused her to step back. Quickly fumbling for the light switch she turned on the light.
    The first thing she saw was the man dressed in dark clothing standing in the doorway that connected the kitchen. He made her jump.
    She felt her heart race and she clasped her chest.
    “Who are you?” she yelled. “What are you doing in my house?”
    “Police,” the man in black replied. “You’re back door was unlocked. I’m just checking everything’s all right.”
    She could have sworn she had locked up. She looked the man over. He didn’t look like a policeman - too scruffy looking.
    She remembered what her grandson had told her. “Show me your identification.”
    He stepped towards her, reaching inside his coat and Edith caught the look in his eyes. She knew what she should have done but her legs wouldn’t let her. A panicky fear enveloped her – froze her solid to the floor.
    She let out the start of a scream as he approached her and he swung out a fist. The punch rocked her sideways, buffeting her against the wall. She choked back the remainder of her cry as she tried to stop herself falling.
    Then he was on her, grabbing at the front of her dressing gown, hoisting her towards his menacing face.
    “I’ll fucking kill you if you scream!”
    She noticed that his breath smelt strongly of stale cigarettes. Her John used to smoke. Where’s your fucking money? Tell me where it is now, or I’ll hurt you?”
    She wanted to tell him that she didn’t have much, only what was in her purse, but the words wouldn’t come out. Her chest was getting tighter. The breath caught in her throat.
    He began shaking her and shouting.
    Edith couldn’t make out what he was s aying. The sound seemed distant. Bright flashes and stars cascaded before her eyes. She thought she heard her John calling after her and she smiled to herself. Then, she realised it couldn’t be her John. He’d been dead ten years.
     
    * * * * *
    Hunter was surprised to find the station so busy. Detectives seemed to be everywhere. He went into the locker room to grab his kit and found his tutor there.
    “What’s up?” Hunter enquired flicking his head back over his shoulder. “I’ve never seen so many CID.”
    Roger slipped on his pullover. “An old lass was attacked in her home last night. Aggravated burglary! She’s in a critical condition, and you and I have been hand-picked to be in on the job.”
    “Doing crime enquiries?”
    “Don’t get carried away young Kerr. Nothing so exciting. House-to-house.”
    “House-to-house!”
    “Yes, checking if there are any witnesses, seeing if anyone saw or heard anything, filling out forms. All that exciting kind of