Cruel Justice (DI Lorne Simpkins (Book one)) Read Online Free PDF Page B

always a policewoman, I guess," she shrugged an apology.

    "You stink, the least you could have done was had a shower."

    Lorne shook her head. "Tom, I was buggered when I got home, give me a break, will you?"

    "I don't doubt that, you're always buggered lately," he snapped back at her.

    Without realising it she rolled her eyes and set him off again.

    "Don't bloody do that, you know I'm right. You're always too tired to do anything when you get home from that place, but that doesn't excuse you from not having a shower. You should've had one at work. What gives you the right to bring the smell of death into our home?"

    "Are you finished?" She folded her arms defiantly. "For your information I was at the mortuary last night —"

    "That much is evident," he retaliated with narrowed eyes.

    "As I was saying, I was at the mortuary and it was quicker to come home rather than go back to the station. I've never done that before, have I?"

    He shrugged and had the grace to look ashamed at his uncalled for outburst.

    Tom bent down and took a couple of cereal bowls out of the cupboard. "Do you want some breakfast?" he asked his tone much softer.

    "I'll grab a shower first and then have some, thanks."

    As she turned to leave the room, she heard him mumble an apology.

    "No problem," she called back over her shoulder and headed up the stairs.

    Half an hour later she found him at the hob frying bacon and eggs. "Not for me, hon, I'll just grab a bowl of cornflakes and head off. Sorry, but I have to be at the station for a nine o'clock meeting with my team."

    That was it. The storm clouds gathered again, he threw the frying pan in the sink and stomped out of the room like a five-year old.

    Why do I bother? Her appetite suddenly gone, she left the house moments later. She was tired of fighting. Tired of stepping on eggshells. Tired of saying the wrong thing.

    When did it all change?

    The happiness they'd once held so dear now seemed light years away. She didn't have a clue how, or if, they would be able to sort things out. Was their marriage really at breaking point or was it a case of her imagination working overtime?

Chapter Five

    "Morning, ma'am," the desk sergeant greeted her as she marched through reception.

    "Morning, Burt, anything I should know about?"

    "All quiet around here, ma'am, but the chief asked me to tell you he'd like a word ASAP."

    "What kind of mood is he in?" she asked the balding sergeant.

    "The usual, I guess," he replied vaguely.

    The chief was an unknown quantity to her team. But Lorne had been with him for many years and understood his quirky ways. He was her mentor, it hadn't taken him long to figure out her potential. He had pushed her to the limit, knew she'd have to work harder than any male under him. He had showed continued faith in her when others obstinately neglected to see her strengths.

    Without his guidance, she wouldn't be half the detective she was today, and would have probably been driven from the force years ago, like most of the female colleagues she had trained with at Hendon. The force, unfortunately, still lived in the dark ages where female recruits were concerned. Something that Lorne fought hard to combat daily.

    "So, Burt, retirement won't be long now."

    "Yep, looking forward to it after forty years on the job."

    "And exemplary service, it's been."

    "Nice of you to say so, ma'am."

    "And knowing you, you'll enjoy every minute of your retirement, eh?"

    He threw her one of his broad smiles that she would miss when he left.

    "I'd better see what the chief wants then. Can you contact the incident room for me? Let the team know the meeting will be delayed a few minutes?"

    "Roger that, ma'am," he replied reaching for the phone.

    "You wanted to see me, sir?" Lorne said, poking her head around the chief's door.

    "Come in. Take a seat, Lorne, I shan't be a moment." He didn't look up from the pile of documents he was signing and handing back to his secretary.

    He dismissed