Child's Play Read Online Free PDF Page A

him that one day he’d make senior detective. After working with him for three years, she had no doubt of the latter.
    â€˜Funny though, ’cause there was me …’ There was a glint in her eye when she met his glance. ‘There was me, thinking your mind was on the job and you were asking whether it was too late for Caitlin Reynolds.’
    â€˜Boss! My mind’s always on the job.’ Dave’s innuendo was as subtle as a flying brick with flashing lights and landing gear. Two or three times now he’d made his personal feelings clear. She knew she only had to say the word and their relationship would go beyond the professional. The potential pitfalls and myriad complications that could ensue –
would
ensue – were all that stopped her from crossing the thin blue line. As for the bottom line? He was well fancy-able. Not that she’d told him. She’d only recently admitted it to herself. She also knew that a relationship, fling, liaison, whatever was increasingly tempting. Like a lot of cops, Sarah was sick of going back to an empty house, lonely bed, solo breakfast. Maybe if fit guys were falling over themselves beating a daily path to her door?
    â€˜OK, you win, DI Quinn.’ He had in mind the verbal stand-off. ‘What about the girl? Is it too late?’
    â€˜You’re the budding Rebus. You tell me.’ The faux goading was more of a prompt; she’d formed her own take, didn’t want to colour Dave’s.
    â€˜Mole. Mountain. Storm. Teacup. Crown. Jewel.’ He stretched impossibly long legs into the footwell, laced fingers in his lap. ‘A looker like Caitlin? My money’s on her being with a bloke. Christ, if my ma had been anything like Nicola Reynolds, I’d have legged it way back.’
    â€˜You’re all heart, Dave.’
    â€˜You did ask.’
    â€˜Fair point. Well made.’ His assessment of the woman was even harsher than Sarah’s. Had he hit the nail on the proverbial? Nicola Reynolds to say the least had come across as flaky. But apart from gratuitous hostility, ‘least said’ had been the woman’s fall-back stance. Sarah hadn’t been able to read her at all. Surely if Nicola really thought her daughter was in danger, she’d have moved heaven and earth with a toothpick to help, not stonewall every question? Sarah waited while Dave, who was on a call, brought whoever was on duty in the squad room up to speed, then said: ‘So, you reckon the girl might’ve done a runner?’ He waggled an either-way hand, said it wouldn’t surprise him.
    They drove in silence for a while, Sarah mentally digesting Harries’ input. With all the moles in mountainous teacups, he clearly thought the mother was making too big a thing of Caitlin’s absence. She narrowed her eyes. ‘I don’t follow, Dave. Why jewel, crown?’
    â€˜Jewel
in
the Crown, boss. The Indian on the Moseley Road? Mind dropping by? I could murder a biriyani.’
    Smiling, she shook her head. ‘OK. You win.’
    â€˜Fancy playing something else, boss?’

FIVE
    S usan used her sing-song voice again. ‘Where …
are
… you? I’m …
coming
… ready or not.’ She giggled softly. Pauline’s high-pitched squeal had just rung out from the copse. The silly little kid got so lathered up with excitement she could barely contain herself. Susan raced across the long grass and hid behind the gnarly old oak tree. Its massive pitted trunk was smothered in dark green moss. Susan hated touching it when it was damp, but it was hardly slimy at all now. Her glance darted to all the usual hidey places, but she couldn’t spot any tell-tale sign. Usually she’d catch sight of Pauline’s tiny white sandal or glimpse her curls. Not to worry. Susan only had to bide her time; she knew it wouldn’t be long before she heard rustling or another squeal.
    Head cocked, she pricked her